THE BROKEN WALLET

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How to start a successful blog in 2024? Here’s what you need to know. 

Launching a blog isn’t difficult. But if you want to make money as a blogger, this will require work and patience. This isn’t meant to discourage anyone. The truth is, many people earn a pretty good living blogging. 

Case in point: I’ve been earning a living as a blogger for more than 19 years. When I initially started, my goal was to earn extra money to pay off debt and build a savings account. I didn’t think in a million years that I would actually make a living doing what I enjoy—writing. 

One blogging job led to another, and before I knew it, I was supporting myself entirely through blogging and freelance article writing.

So whether you’re looking to earn extra money or take control of your income, the start of a new year is the perfect time to get a blog off the ground. 

Here’s how to start a successful blog and make money online in 2024.

Step #1: What Do You Want to Write About?

This is your blog, so you can write on any topic you choose. 

Some bloggers don’t focus on a particular topic, but rather blog about different subject matters of life. You can go this route too.

But I’ve learned through experience that starting and growing a successful blog is easier when you focus on a particular subject. This way, you attract the right readers.

Remember, the goal is to build an audience – you want people to come back. If your blog has no rhyme or reason (meaning you’re blogging about everything under the sun), you risk losing your audience.

Take this blog, for example. It’s all about personal finance. We discuss topics related to credit, saving money, loans, debt, career, mortgages, etc. So when people visit, they know exactly what to expect.

Narrow down what you’re passionate about and focus your blog on this. It’s also smart to choose a topic you’re familiar with, or at least a topic you’re interested in learning about. This makes it easier to come up with fresh ideas to keep your content interesting.

Related: Get My Insider Tips to Becoming a Freelance Writer. Click here to download your blueprint and learn how to leverage your existing knowledge to supplement your income.

Step #2: Choose a Blogging Platform

The next step to starting a successful blog in 2024 is choosing a platform. Some bloggers choose a free platform like Blogger.com, so feel free to go this route.

Just know that blogging isn’t only a form of self-expression – it can become a lucrative career. And unfortunately, when you choose a free platform for your blog, you’re limited in how you’re able to monetize and earn money.

Therefore, I strongly recommend setting up a self-hosted blog. My favorite platform is WordPress because it’s easy to install, customizable, and you can choose from hundreds of free or paid themes.

Many people don’t realize the income potential of blogging. With a self-hosted blog, there’s the option of putting Google ads on your blog, sponsored ads, and affiliate links, etc.

As your traffic and audience grows, so does your income potential.

Step #3: Choose a Web Hosting Company

Once you’ve chosen a platform, the next step is selecting a web hosting company. The web host is where your website lives. And while you can choose one of many companies to host your blog, I highly recommend Bluehost. 

It’s inexpensive, user-friendly, and the company offers 24/7 customer service. I’m by no means a techie, yet I was able to set up my Bluehost account and WordPress blog in under 30 minutes. 

I also like Bluehost because the company streamlines everything. You can set up hosting, install WordPress, and register your domain through the company.

Click Here to Go to Bluehost 

Step #4. Choose a Name for Your Blog

Once you know your niche, choose a name for your blog. This name should reflect your topic, and it’ll also be the domain name for your site.

As you brainstorm a list of possible blog names, simultaneously check to make sure these names haven’t been registered.

Let’s say you’re starting a food blog with a tentative title, “Tasty Creations.” Do a quick search to make sure www.tastycreations.com hasn’t been taken.

Step #5: Write Your First Post

That’s it – you’re now ready to write and publish your first blog post!

The blogging world is an excellent way to offer advice on topics you know, express yourself, and earn a little money. But be patient, growing a blog doesn’t happen overnight, so don’t give up. 

Any successful blogger will attest that it can take years to build a solid audience. Some bloggers only make $100 within their first year of blogging. But the more they blog, the more they earn—and eventually, they make a livable income from this hustle.

You have to get the word out about your blog too. Share your post on your social media accounts, guest post on other blogs, optimize your posts with keywords, and engage your audience. Keep at it and you’ll not only start a successful blog in 2024, but also grow your audience.

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