Monetizing A Blog – Your Obsession Is Your Enemy

Last updated on June 5th, 2018 at 02:15 pm

You’ve managed to get through the techie stuff and now your blog is set up.

You’re probably wondering what it takes to start monetizing a blog. If this sounds like you, you’re definitely in the right place.

I am going to share how my obsession with profits caused me to fail in the past.

I’m not happy about my past failures and I don’t like sharing them on my blog.

However, if my failures can cut your learning curve in half, then it’s at least helped you.

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My Money Obsession Caused Me To Fail

Before I can share what it takes to become successful with monetizing a blog, I need to let you in on a little secret.

This isn’t my first blog, and it isn’t my second. I’ve failed several times and I owe my past failures to my obsession with making money online.

So why am I blogging again?

The truth is that I have no option. I don’t have enough school experience to get a JOB (not that I want one).

Everything I know about WordPress is self-taught and employers want someone with a degree.

I am an entrepreneur at heart and would rather work 80+ hours a week, as long as I am NOT working a job.

My goal is to turn this blog into a full-time business. It’ll happen, I just don’t know how long it will take to reach my goals.

Currently, I am working as a WordPress freelancer from my home.

In fact, I am offering my limited WordPress services on my blog, these are only offered to my loyal readers.

WordPress is my bread and butter and I love working with it. I’ve realized that my freelancing business is just like having a JOB.

There’s deadlines and difficult clients to deal with.

My goal with this blog is to help Non-techy bloggers like you start, grow and monetize your passion through blogging.

I’ve written some great WordPress tutorials that can help you start your self-hosted blog, you can check them out here.

Related: How to Start A Blog On SiteGround

Don’t Be Fooled By All The Overnight Success Stories

I started my first blog around 2010. I was a member of a community where success stories were plentiful. People sold products on creating overnight riches with a click of the button. I’m NOT going to reveal which community it was.

I don’t want you to get sucked into the promises of getting rich overnight.

Back then, I was extremely naive and didn’t know any better.

All I knew was that I wanted help monetizing my blog. So I ended up buying product after product.

I never stuck with one thing long enough to see the fruits of my labor. After the newness of the product wore off, I was off looking for something else.

That’s why I’ve decided to write this article. I am hoping that it sheds some light on what it actually takes to monetizing a blog.

Yes, it’s possible to make money from a blog. Many people have figured out how to do it.

So if you’re willing to stay the course, I am going to share some tips that you’ll find helpful.

Monetizing A Blog What You Need To Do

My hope is that these tips will keep you from becoming a victim of the “shiny object syndrome.” Start planting the seeds to a successful blog today and watch your blog blossom like spring lilies.

Pick the Right Niche: One of the biggest mistakes a new blogger can make is to enter a niche purely for the money. As a blogger, you’re going to be writing a lot of content.

It’s important to choose a niche that you’re willing to learn about or have some experience with. You don’t have to be an expert, as long as you are willing to continue learning so you can share your knowledge.

I use this keyword tool to help me brainstorm ideas for my blog posts.

Provide Value: If you want to make money with your blog, you’re going to have to provide tons of value to your readers. Give them a reason to visit your blog more than once.

Value can come in many different forms. From sharing your personal experiences with others (like my embarrassing mistakes), tutorials, shopping experiences, money saving tips and etc…

Be Helpful: Your readers are coming to your blog because they need information that is going to help them do something. If your blog solves their problems, there’s a good chance they’ll come back.

Remember, they’re actual people reading your blog. Don’t take them for granted just to earn a few pennies. People will see right through you and know you’re a phony.

Don’t take them for granted just to earn a few pennies. People will see right through you and know you’re a phony.

Network With Other Bloggers: Unfortunately, that mentality of “build it and they will come” just doesn’t work. You’re going to have to get off your blog and join some Facebook groups,

You’re going to have to get off your blog and join some Facebook groups, forums, and other blogging communities.

Start networking with other bloggers who are working towards the same goals as you are. Take the time to nurture those connections and turn them into friendships.

Over time these blogging friendships can turn into a valuable resource. You may be offered a chance to do a guest post or your new blogging buddy may help you spread the word about your new venture.

You may be offered a chance to do a guest post or your new blogging buddy may help you spread the word about your new venture.

Don’t start networking solely on gaining something in return. Be sincere and start looking to build real friendships.

Be Consistent With Your Blogging: It doesn’t matter if you post content once or twice a week. You need to create a blogging schedule that works for you.

Your readers will start to learn what your blogging schedule looks like.

Some of them will even come back every time you publish a new blog post.

Build A Professional Blog: No one wants to navigate a blog that is filled with tons of affiliate banners or sponsored ads. I know you want your blog to be profitable but take it easy on the ads.

You don’t have to be a graphic designer to start a blog, but you should make it look nice.

The great thing about using a self-hosted WordPress blog is that there are so many themes you can choose.

I’ve written an article that will walk you through on choosing the right WordPress theme.

Give It Time: It’s going to take some time to build your tribe of loyal followers. If you ask most successful bloggers, they will tell you it took years to grow their blog into a sustainable full-time income.

Write down your goals and keep them in front of you as you continue to work on growing your blog.

Know Your Audience: No matter what you blog about, your blog is NOT for everyone. If you try to help everyone, you’re actually not helping anyone.

Put Yourself Out There: As bloggers, we tend to hide behind our computers. If you want to build a real connection with your readers, you’re going to have to let your readers get to know you.

Open up with them and share the some of the mistakes you’ve made in the past. You’re not perfect and you shouldn’t try to pretend that you are.

We’ve all made mistakes, it’s what makes us human. Share your mistakes and stories. The right people will resonate with you and believe it or not your failures will help them succeed.

The right people will resonate with you and believe it or not your failures may even help them succeed.

Be Yourself: Don’t automatically warp into someone that you’re not. Many bloggers find themselves trying to change their online personality to make them fit in.

This isn’t high school and there’s no such thing as “cliques.” Stay true to yourself and just be yourself. People will start to like you for your personality and sincerity.

Stay true to yourself and just be yourself. People will start to like you for your personality and sincerity.

Final Take Away

Hopefully, you’ve learned something from my past experiences. I am ashamed to say that I’ve fallen prey to “shiny object syndrome” more than once.

Stop looking for the easy button, you’ll never find it. Choose a niche you’re passionate about and can monetize.

Don’t focus on the money. Instead, provide real value that helps your readers.

Write helpful content that helps them in the best way that you know how.

Keep working on your blog a little every day. One day you’re going to wake up and realize that you’ve learned the secret to monetizing a blog.

Hand Picked Articles For You

• Write Your First Blog Post
• Create A WordPress Editorial Calendar
• 11 Myths About Making Money

Let me know if you’ve fallen victim to the “shiny object syndrome.” Maybe I missed something that helps new bloggers learn the truth about monetizing a blog? Leave your comment below.