Are you new to blogging, or have you been seriously considering it? Blogging isn’t new, and loads of people who blog never earn a dime. But some earn a great living from it. But is blogging still profitable in 2022?
Blogging has been and continues to be highly profitable for many bloggers who understand keyword research and competition analysis and publish 2 or more pieces of quality content consistently every week until a site reaches approximately 200 articles.
But for every 1 blogger who succeeds, thousands fail. Why?
Most fail because they gave up too soon. After all, when starting a new website it can often take 8 months before it takes off. And many lose motivation when they don’t see that instant gratification.
But others fail because they weren’t able to grasp the concepts I mentioned above in the bolded paragraph.
So, it is only normal to be curious if blogging is still a profitable business. Many individuals around the world are heavily dependent on the internet. Therefore, blogging can still be profitable and isn’t going away anytime soon.
However, it is not as easy as it sounds. It requires consistency, devotion, and hard work.
This article will explore the future of blogging, how to select a profitable niche and many other exciting topics. Let us dive in!
What is the future of blogging?
Blogging has a bright future, as it is here to stay.
The world has gone digital, and blogging is one strategy that remains relevant. Technology is advancing at a fast rate. Therefore, there will always be new software that optimizes online content.
Social media and video content are other powerful tools in digital marketing, but they cannot replace blogs. Instead, using blogging alongside social media is one of the best ways to optimize digital marketing.
But I DON’T mean sharing your articles on Facebook or Twitter; that’s an utter waste of time. I do mean consider starting a corresponding YouTube channel. Or, if you see yourself as an influencer, consider a corresponding Instagram business account.
Videos or podcasts may seem like a threat to blogs. After all, it is easier to listen to a podcast or watch a video for about 30 minutes than read a blog post of 4,000 words.
Blogging does not have to be all about words.
Now, people incorporate HD pictures and videos to complete the writing on the blog. This makes blogs more exciting and captivating. You would be surprised at how well you could pass a message with high-quality images or animated videos.
According to optinmonster:
“companies who blog get 97% more links to their websites. In addition, 77% of internet users read blogs. Blogs have also been ranked as the 5th most reliable source of online information.”
What should I blog about?
Exploring your passion and hobbies is probably the easiest thing to blog about.
Blogging can be fun when you pick a topic that interests you. This way, you are making money while doing what you love. Suppose you loved reading historical books before you got too busy with life.
You can reignite that old flame and blog about books or history. However, if you have something that has always been of interest to you, that would be a great start.
When considering a blogging topic, ensure it is something interesting AND something that someone getting into that topic for the first time would have questions about it they are likely to type into Google.
You may need to ask yourself questions like: would I enjoy reading this blog? Would other people find this topic engaging?
A positive response is a sign to go ahead.
Furthermore, it helps if it is a topic where you have vast knowledge. For example, you are good with computers and electronics. You could teach people about it. People will relate better to you because you are speaking from personal experience.
In addition, you can blog about gaps you have noticed in other blogs you have read.
For example, there is a women’s blog that you enjoy reading. You then realize that they talk about certain issues without providing concrete solutions.
You have identified this gap, and you can do something about it. You can create topics that speak solutions to these problems. People love blogs that give them answers to their needs. Once you provide adequate solutions to relevant issues, you are on your way to success.
Lastly, it helps if you have a target audience in mind.
For example, let’s say your target audience is nursing mothers. Suppose you are writing a medical article that addresses the importance of breastfeeding. You may need to simplify the big medical vocabulary.
However, this may not be necessary if your target audience is nurses, as they are familiar with medical terms.
But having used that example, unless you have medical credentials, it’s best to stay away from medical topics.
How do I choose a profitable blog niche?
Passion and interest
The first principle is to choose a niche that interests you.
People hear that blogging is profitable and jump on the train. They often quit after the first few months when they lose interest. Contrary to popular misconceptions, you don’t have to be an expert to blog on a topic.
You can write about your experiences to promote originality. However, avoid faking expertise as you may make mistakes that can ruin the blog’s credibility.
Target audience
Do not give in to the temptation to write on different unrelated topics to draw in more readers.
Although this may work for some bloggers, it may be difficult for newbies to manage. Instead, narrow down your niche to target a specific audience. For example, suppose your desired niche is fashion. You can narrow it down to wedding fashion.
Now you have a particular target audience, making it easy to build relationships.
Address a problem
One way to increase traffic to your site is to be a solution provider.
This means that your blogs will provide relevant answers to the audience. When you offer solutions, they can click on the link to view the products, and you earn your commission. In addition, you could register as an Amazon associate.
Then, whenever someone buys from Amazon (of whichever affiliate link of yours they click on), you earn a commission from every sale.
BUT you need an audience before the money starts rolling in.
So while it’s OK to have monetization in the back of your mind, make creating quality content as fast as possible your #1 goal.
You could also join an ad network to monetize your blog. Ezoic is a great one when you first start out, as they will take sites with very little traffic.
Having used Ezoic, Mediavine, and AdThrive though, I do think it’s worth moving to Mediavine when you hit 50,000 monthly sessions and then maybe moving to AdThrive when you get to 100,000.
More on this topic below.
Do your homework
Doing some research is crucial before you dive into a niche.
Suppose you have about three niche ideas. Conduct a thorough search to determine how much bloggers make from them.
Study the blogs and look for ads, affiliate links, and other products they promote.
This allows you to make an informed decision on the profitability of the niche that you have chosen. In addition, the research shows you if the interest in that niche is increasing, decreasing, or stable.
But how difficult is it to not only start a blog but actually make a living at it?
You can read a recent article that explores what it takes to start a blog that makes money. I get into exactly what I do, step-by-step, to make 5 figures a month.
Just click that link to read it on my sister site.
What type of blogs are in demand?
Food blogs
Everyone needs food to survive.
Food blogs are always in demand. Many people are interested in trying new recipes, healthy eating, and diverse options to spice up mealtime.
Some bloggers write about their experiences at various restaurants they visit. Your content can be baking, vegan diets, or other food-related aspects.
Having said all that, unless you have made a name for yourself in the food world, I would avoid doing a recipe site. There are a million of them, and it could take you a lot longer to start ranking.
Instead, focus on certain types of cuisines or common cooking problems, cooking for large groups, etc.
Health and fitness blogs
Health blogs may contain tips that prove useful in an emergency. Also, many people do not wish to go to a public gym. Instead, they would prefer to get workout tips from blogs.
But health can veer into the medical arena, so as I mentioned above, I would steer clear of topics that are likely already covered by Healthline or WedMD UNLESS you have recognized credentials in that area.
Fashion blogs
Fashion is a big industry with a global audience. you can hardly go wrong when choosing a fashion niche.
However, you need to have a good fashion sense to keep up. For example, you are a fashion designer. You can share tips for new designers and showcase some of your work through the blog.
Travel blogs
Travel blogs are gaining increasing popularity.
People want to know what to expect when they visit a location. You could write about the best places to visit, tips for the road, and perfect destinations for honeymoon or retirement.
Having said travel, it’s good to point out that most travel bloggers saw their business dry up almost overnight in 2020. And there’s no guarantee that won’t happen again.
So, consider adding other categories to the site to offset situations like that. Maybe make it a family travel website that also has a lot of articles about staycations and kids’ activities.
Finance blogs
The idea of making money from home and being financially stable runs through the mind of many people. As a new blogger, you could come in and offer practical solutions.
And that’s what I’m doing on this site of mine.
BUT if you notice, most of my articles aren’t trying to go head-to-head with Dave Ramsey. Like health topics, Google is picky about money topics, AND there are a lot of finance websites.
So unless you have financial credentials, consider a tangent of personal finance that has less competition and that Google is likely to see as less mission-critical.
Self-care and positivity blogging
Mental illnesses are more common than we imagine because many individuals are never diagnosed. You can do a positivity or inspirational blog.
Some people cannot find positivity in their lives. Therefore, they search the net, and you could offer tips for self-care for healthy mental health.
This topic, however, could be medical, and it’s definitely opinion-based. As a general rule, information websites are easier to get going and make money with than opinion sites.
DIY blogging
DIY blogging is another exciting niche. People are willing to learn how to do things for themselves. DIY can cover topics on art, construction, gardening, woodwork, and more.
Parenting blogs
New parents often face some challenges in caring for young ones. It could cover kids’ names, pet names for children, how to soothe a child, the type of food for kids of different ages, and more.
But again, and I sound like a broken record, steer clear of medical topics related to kids and parenting unless you happen to be a pediatrician.
Sports blogs
Sport is another interesting and broad niche. Different sports are unique to various countries all over the globe. You could write about sports stars, the latest sports gist, and more.
How hard is it to have a successful blog?
Blogging is not as easy as it sounds. However, you can have fun on the job if it is a niche that holds your fancy.
First, blogging requires commitment.
You need to put in the work to see good results. Secondly, do not underestimate the power of creativity. You are one-step closer to having a successful blog if your content is unique, original, and captivating.
Blogging does not seem difficult when you build relationships with expert bloggers. Another crucial step to successful blogging is blog promotion. It is not enough to create a blog, upload content, and then take a rest. You need to leverage social media platforms to promote your blog. In addition, your content should be search engine optimized to increase its rank and visibility during a search engine search.
But how quickly can you start to make $500/month?
I cover that in this recent article that talks about exactly what I would do if I started over today to get to $500/week VERY quickly.
Just click that link to read it on my site.
How many times a week should I post on my blog?
Although there is no winning figure, most experts recommend two to four times a week.
You have to consider several factors when deciding the frequency of your posts. The first factor is available resources to generate quality posts.
Another factor is the goal of the blog.
Suppose you want to increase your ranking, more quality content will do that. In addition, you may need to edit old posts so that they are updated and remain relevant.
Nevertheless, remember that quality should not be affected if you post every day of the week.
But let’s do the math.
On average, each of my blog posts get around 800 page views per month. And I earn about $35 for every 1000 views.
So here’s what I would earn at different levels of publishing:
Number of Articles Published Number of Monthly Page Views Approximate Total Monthly Earnings
25 20,000 $700
50 40,000 $1,400
100 80,000 $2,800
150 120,000 $4,200
200 160,000 $5,600
But you can see how more is better as long as the quality doesn’t suffer.Now having stated that, I have some sites that do a lot better than that, and some that do worse. And some that are slightly seasonal, so they fluctuate.
How do I start a blog?
Are you ready to start a blog? Starting a blog is not a complex process. You can set up your blog within 30 minutes. This segment will cover a step-by-step process of how to start a blog.
Decide on a niche
The first step is to pick a niche, an area where you are interested. You cannot run a blog based on something that does not fascinate you.
The niche is the area that will determine the content of the blog. Examples of niches include health, lifestyle, fashion, food, and others. Once you have settled on a niche, you can move on to select a blog name.
Life experiences can influence the content of a blog.
Examples include a blog about being a teenage mom or your experiences as an animal groomer. In addition, you could personalize the blog content. This allows you to explore different areas of life.
Lastly, your hobbies and passion can be the driving force for picking a niche. Suppose you love the ocean. Your topics can revolve around animals, plants, and events related to the sea.
Find and register a domain name for your website.
Another critical thing to consider is the blog name.
The name of the blog is the first thing that the audience sees. Therefore, it should make a good impression. The blog name may reflect the topics you are covering, your name, or a combination of words.
Suppose you are not making progress with a blog name. You can try a name generator software. Remember, you can always change the blog name later in the future. So, there is nothing to fuss about. Here are some tips for choosing a good domain name:
Keep it short and simple
It is best to use “.com” but “.org” or “.net” could also work.
Try not to use numbers or hyphens; they are confusing
It should be easy to pronounce
It should be something that does NOT have multiple spelling options
You can use your name and niche or combine other words
Note: after choosing a name, you need to confirm it is available.
Suppose you hit a roadblock in generating names.
NameCheap is an affordable and reliable option for registering domain names. You could simply buy a domain name for as low as $0.99 from NameCheap.
In addition, you can register the domain name on the same platform. The registration fee ranges from about $8-$15 with a yearly renewal.
1. Get website hosting from NameCheap for as little as $1.24/month.
A web hosting service provides server space to host your website. You can read a recent article that provides details on building a website from scratch. At this stage, you are ready to go online. If you are looking for a price-friendly option to get your blog running, then you should consider NameCheap. Here are the benefits of using this web host:
Free domain and migration
Suppose you have a website elsewhere, and you decide to migrate.
Signing up for Namecheap website hosting services gives you access to free domain names. After the first year, you would need to pay the renewal fee for the domain. NameCheap will migrate the service from other hosting providers for free within a day.
30-day cash-back guarantee
NameCheap focuses on customer satisfaction. This means you have about a month to try out their features to know if it is the best for you.
However, if you are not satisfied with the experience, downtime, or plan, you can ask for a refund. Within 30 days of subscribing, you will get a full cash-back if you decide to quit.
Excellent uptime and load time
Uptime is probably the most important factor when choosing a web host provider. The average uptime is 99.97% which is quite impressive.
Nothing makes people lose patience more than waiting for a website to load. The second most critical factor is arguably the speed of the website.
If a website takes more than 5 seconds to load, it will experience little traffic due to a bad user experience. Most likely, people will cancel the page and head to another more responsive site. GOOGLE indicates that the optimal time for a website to load in less than three seconds.
NameCheap’s average page speed is about 458ms.
Great value plans
Most web hosts that offer cheap services only provide the barest minimum. The fact is that this is not enough. However, this is not the case with NameCheap. They offer more value than what you pay for compared to competitors.
With the least expensive plan, you enjoy unmetered bandwidth, which is rare. In addition, you get a free SSL certificate for the year, which requires renewal in subsequent years.
Another benefit is they offer free backups twice a week. With the basic plan, you get three websites. Furthermore, you get 50 MySQL databases and email addresses.
2. Use the Acabado theme for your WordPress site; it’s super-fast, great-looking, and inexpensive (what I use on my site).
Another critical choice to make is selecting a blogging platform. Several alternatives are available, but I use WordPress.
WordPress is easy to use and has an abundance of plugins that makes blogging super fun and easy. I work with the Acabado theme on WordPress. I love it and recommend it for designing your blog. Here are why you should use it:
Simplicity
Acabado theme is simple such that beginners would have no problems using it. One of the best features of the theme is its ease of use. Once you install it, you can get to work immediately.
Super-fast
Acabado is one of the fastest themes I have used as a blogger. It ensures your site loads very quickly. One of the best features of a website is the pages load super fast. If that is what you want, Acabado is the theme for you.
Mobile friendly
Choosing a mobile-friendly theme is important because more than half of users may access your blog from their mobile phones. Acabado theme is specifically designed to perform well on desktops and mobile.
SEO features
Acabado theme is built with various SEO features. With this theme, you have no use of an SEO plugin. This helps your blog work better and faster as extra plugins may slow down the website.
3. Use RankIQ to locate great topics to write about that will quickly bring traffic to your blog.
Now that you have designed your blog, you are ready to kick off. This is the part you generate exciting topics and content on your blog.
You can use RankIQ to locate topics that will generate more traffic to your site. RankIQ is a new SEO tool designed for bloggers. It was launched in 2021 and runs on artificial intelligence.
One amazing feature of this software is that it has keyword libraries.
It helps you to find the best keywords for your niche. The software keeps track of how many times the keyword has been taken up. Once it reaches a threshold, the keyword is withdrawn to minimize competition.
Another feature of RankIQ is that it can run reports on keywords or topics.
The AI will scour the internet and give you a detailed analysis of how to optimize your proposed keyword or topic.
In addition, you can use it to optimize old posts so that they rank higher in search engine results. Blogging cannot be successful without quality traffic to your page.
4. Plan to write at least two articles per week
One common question on the mind of beginner bloggers is: how many articles should I upload per week?
There is no magic number for blogs. However, I would recommend at least two articles per week. Some would argue that the more articles you upload, the better the traffic to your blog.
Nevertheless, an essential criterion in choosing the number of articles is quality.
There is no harm in writing more articles if the quality does not suffer. Suppose you can only manage two relevant articles per week. This keeps your audience interested and coming for more. However, writing ten poor-quality blog posts is like fetching water into a basket.
5. Plan to put between 100-200 articles on the site
Making money from your blog is not a day’s work. You need to post engaging content consistently.
Also, you have to use the necessary keyword to increase the article’s ranking on Google search results. In general, plan to upload about 100-200 articles on your blog. If you upload a minimum of 2 articles per week, it will take about 12 months to get to this number.
At this stage, you begin to earn good money from the blog. So, don’t make the mistake of quitting your job to blog because you think you are going to be cashing out big within a month.
6. Sign up for Ezoic
One of the easiest ways for bloggers to earn money is through ads.
You can register with an ad network once you get traffic to your website. There are other ad networks, but Ezoic is the easiest for beginner bloggers. The requirement for registering is to have at least 10,000 pages every month.
It also has a dashboard that is easy to use and understand. In addition, Ezoic does not slow down the speed of your site. You can withdraw your commissions after 30 days, and the minimum withdrawal value is $20.
7. If it makes sense for your niche, sign up for Amazon Associates
Another terrific way of making money as a blogger is through affiliate marketing.
They advertise products and earn a commission when a sale is made through your link. It does not matter if the product is within your niche or not. For example, your blog talks about food, and the products could be fashion-related.
New bloggers can sign up for the Amazon Affiliate program once they get at least 4,000 visitors per month. After registration, Amazon gives you a unique identification. Bloggers get paid a 3-4% commission when visitors click the link on their site to access Amazon products.
8. Avoid wasting time on Facebook or Twitter promoting your articles.
The primary relevance of Facebook is to connect people with their friends, and families and meet new people.
Therefore, people use Facebook to share pictures and videos and updates about their life.
On the other hand, Twitter is a platform that is ideal for sharing trending news. You could also connect with people from diverse countries.
Therefore, avoid wasting time on Facebook or other social platforms promoting your articles. Instead, employ SEO tools to ensure quality content that can drive traffic to your blog.
5-10 years ago, they worked for driving website traffic. These days it’s almost non-existent for most bloggers unless you are paying for ads (which I don’t recommend).
9. Pinterest can work in certain niches where the target audience is women
Pinterest allows you to share images. People come here to discover new photos of fashion, food, hairstyles, and more.
Suppose your niche is one where pictures tell lots of stories.
You can try Pinterest. For example, suppose your niche is fashion. You could upload images from fashion weeks, wedding dresses, prom gowns, etc. When people see an image they like, they click on it to bring them to your article.
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