Most of us have dreamed of the lavish lifestyle of a blogger; being able to work from a sun lounger, sipping a cocktail and sending out blogs yet raking in a fortune at the same time. That’s what dreams are made of, right? But this isn’t just a dream – it can be a reality.
At our latest Webgains Wednesdays event we were joined by Natasha Courtenay-Smith, author of The Million Dollar Blog and a guest panel of experts in affiliate marketing. Here is their step-by-step guide on how to start the journey to being a million dollar blogger.
- Publish, publish, publish!
As we all know, it’s getting started that is the hardest part. Stop procrastinating and start getting your content out there! There are endless reasons (excuses) as to why you can’t begin; such as not quite knowing your design, layout or website features quite yet. But the fact is that none of this really matters in the beginning. The truth is that your blog’s readership will be non-existent and these elements will be developed over time as you find your definitive voice.
You don’t need to be on par with William Wordsworth when it comes to your writing skills in order to be a successful blogger; you just need to be consistent in your approach. Writing is a habit. Write it, check it, then hit publish and get started on the next blog.
- Building your blog’s recognition
Now you have some content, it’s time to start building up your blogs recognition. This could be gaining the recognition of brands, popular bloggers, influencers and the like – but it’s important to consider how you are going to make your blog stand out. Many blogs online stand out and resonate with brands and audiences due to a variety of factors, including how long the blog has been around, its style, photography, content, industry and so on. So, for a new starter, working out your differentiator up front can be difficult.
However, recognition is built over time; so try to refine your content, style and blog design as you go and tailor it to your audience. It is important to continually write reflect, learn and evolve over time just like any business.
- Driving more traffic to your website and improving engagement
Of course high-quality content is going to drive traffic but there are other ways to get more visitors. It’s not always about volume but about the consistency of your posting activity.
Don’t discount the power of word of mouth. Start talking about what you do to friends, family, colleagues and other bloggers, and you can start to build organic traffic to your blog.
Using affiliate marketing to generate profits for your blog
Now for the fun part – how can you start monetising your blog through affiliate marketing?
- Using affiliate links
Join an affiliate network, like Webgains, and start getting connected to brands who understand the appeal of bloggers to their customers. It’s as simple as including links to relevant content, services and products in your posts or on your website. It’s essential that you include the right affiliate products – and by this we mean the kind of things your blog’s audience would be interested in. One successful affiliate campaign will lead to more, as brands recommend your blog.
- High-quality content is key in attracting brands
The modern customer understands that while brands will always champion themselves, bloggers can provide an objective view into those brands, enabling readers to make a more informed choice.
Blog communities therefore, while typically small, are great platforms for brands to get in and start to win over audiences. If brands can work together with bloggers who produce relevant, high-quality content and incorporate affiliate links in that content, brands can start to attract more and more people to their website – it is a win win for both publishers and brands alike.
Remember, keep your affiliate links relevant to the content you are producing and the community you write for – and your blog will be a successful revenue stream in no time!