Work from Home – Blogging
This is the 5th in my Work from Home series where I am showing some of the many different ways you can earn an income working from home. You can find the others at Work from Home, Work from Home – Internet Marketing and Work from Home – Affiliate Marketing and Work from Home – Network Marketing.
Now we are going to take a look at blogging. In this post I am going to discuss what a blog is and how you can make money by blogging.
So what is a blog anyway? There are countless bloggers (me included) that have written on different aspects of blogging but for anyone starting out you may still be wondering just what the heck a blog or blogging is. It is what you are reading right now. This is a blog and I am blogging as I write. Okay now you know 🙂
A blog is a type of website that is made up of a series of “posts” (like articles) with the most resent “post” or entry usually at the top of the landing or home page.
Blogs are usually written by one person with sometimes the occasional “guest blogger” contributing. A good blogger will update their posts regularly.
Blogs can be on a wide variety of topics from travel, spirituality, photography, sport and just about anything else you can think of.
If you saw the movie Julie & Julia you will have seen Julia Child’s story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell’s 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child’s first book. Julie Powell’ s blog was picked up my a publisher and turned into a book and later a movie.
Blogging communities have sprung up where bloggers support each other and share ideas. I have made some amazing friends around the world this way.
In my last post The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award where I was a recipient of this award I nominated 7 women bloggers who I believe are deserving of this award. I suggest you go over to that post and visit the blogs I nominated as well as the two women who nominated me. They are all great bloggers and have different styles.
Now that you know what a blog is it is time to look at how you can make money from blogging.
I have just given the example of Julie Powell and how she clearly made money. It is somewhat unlikely that most of us can expect to have our blog content turned into a movie with Amy Adams and Meryl Streep playing our characters. But it is good to have dreams isn’t it? 🙂
In the meantime let’s look at the ways most bloggers use to make money. I should also say there are many bloggers who do not make any money. I know people who have started blogs as hobbies with no intention of monetizing them. If you are looking to work from home though then making money will be important.
Work from Home – Blogging – some ways you can make money
- Sell affiliate products
- Sell your own products
- Sell your services or coaching
- Use your blog to build your audience and have people join your network marketing opportunity
- Sell advertising space (you will need to have a blog that generates enough traffic so this will not happen from day one)
- Build your email list which over time can be very lucrative
For me personally I have a blog as I wanted to brand myself online. I was told I needed a home and that my blog would be the “hub” of my activities. At the time I did not really understand what any of it meant but followed the advice. It took me a while to really figure out how to write and what to say. I think most of us have to find our feet.
There are as many different approaches and styles to blogging as there are topics to blog about. My advice to you if you choose to have a blog is be yourself and be consistent.
That wraps up Work from Home – Blogging, another post in my Work from Home series. Please leave me a comment below and let me know any additional ways you know of to make money from blogging. If you found this post of value please share it with your friends.
Make it a great day
Sue Price
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Jens P. Berget says
Hi Sue,
Blogging is by far the activity I enjoy the most when I’m online. I love writing, and even though I love connecting with people via Facebook, Twitter and all the other types of social media, connecting via content and blogging is my favorite.
On the other hand, I have found it difficult to earn money as a blogger. I have tried to sell things on my blog as an affiliate, and it’s not that hard to earn $100 if you have an audience, but it’s hard to earn a substantial amount of money from blogging. But, the best thing about blogging is how easy it is to connect with people and build an audience around your brand.
Great tips.
Sue Price says
Hi Jens
If you love writing like you do I am sure it is easier to be a blogger. I know some people really struggle.
You are certainly not alone in your comment about making money as a blogger. I know many people struggle, well most really. As you say it is a good way to connect with people and build your brand. I think that is key to being a blogger.
Thanks for your comment Jens
Sue
Becca says
For blogging it is very essential to do your own research and write your own contents. Read a lot and do a lot of brain storming before writing killer contents. People will visit your blog to read new contents and you start earning for home.
Sue Price says
Hi Becca
Thanks for your comment. I agree it is essential to do your research and yes killer content will get you readers 🙂
Sue
Carol Lynn says
You hit two very important points: be yourself and be consistent. That ends up being trouble for many people. They just start writing but don’t really have a focus so they write about a lot of different things and then people aren’t sure what the blog is about, so they don’t bother reading it. You need to know who you are, so you know what your passions really are and then you can choose the focus that reflects you. And stick to it!
Making money blogging is definitely challenging. There are so many blogs out there! You have to be super focused on providing great content so you build a readership (yes, and an email list!).
Good for you, for learning the ropes and being where you are. It’s not easy!
Sue Price says
Hi Carol
I agree with you on the focus. I am amazed sometimes when I see people writing random topics and you do not know what their blog is about. I know when I started I was a bit all over the shop but I did have a target audience albeit was way too broad back then.
Oh yes making money from blogging a challenge. I think none of us expect it to be so difficult when we start out. Although I always saw my blog as a part of a plan.
You are spot on it is not easy. Out of the group of people I did my course with when I first came online most did not continue with blogging.
Thanks for your comments Carol
Sue
Adrienne says
Love this post Sue but you knew I would. I also agree with Carol, be yourself and consistent and everything else should fall into place.
I love blogging and I love letting people know who I am all while sharing content that can help them as well. There are so many people and so many blogs but this is how you can stand out from some of the others. By being yourself, certain people will resonate with you while others won’t and that’s perfectly okay. You only want to connect with people who want what you offer anyway.
Making money with your blog is a little bit more difficult but the connections you can make through your blog can really lead to bigger and better things. It’s just a wonderful way to get yourself out there in front of everyone.
Great post Sue, thanks for including this one in your series.
~Adrienne
Sue Price says
Hi Adrienne
When I was writing it I kept thinking you should be doing this one as a guest blogger 🙂
It is very clear to see you love blogging and that you are certainly yourself. It is wonderful to see. I think people need to understand they are so much more attractive when they are themselves.
You know I think it is in the connections we make that ultimately results in the dollars. I know when I buy something I always ask one of my online friends if they are an affiliate just like I did with SEO Pressor.
Oh yes and it is all about branding ourselves as we know. 🙂
Thanks for being an amazing example of a blogger.
Sue
Steve says
Sue hey and what an online home you have here! I love your style of writing and teaching so easy to read and understand. You do bring incredible value online thanks for all you do.
Sue Price says
Hi Steve
Thanks for your feedback Steve. I really appreciate it. Thank you also for your leadership.
Sue
Sylviane Nuccio says
This is a really great post, Sue. There are still people out there who don’t know or don’t exactly know what a blog is and what’s is it’s purpose. You have explained it all very well, and I like that you added the story of this successful blogger which life has been turned into a movie.
Thanks you for sharing your knowledge 🙂
Sue Price says
Hi Sylviane
Thanks for your comment. I have a lot of offline friends who say things like “so what exactly is a blog?” or “you what?” That is what inspired me to do this series.
I loved that movie and I saw it just as I was coming online. The funny thing is that even though it was a successful blogger story she worked her butt off. She had to cook all of those recipes for 365 days straight and then write about it!
Hope you are having a great week Sylviane
Sue
Barbara Charles says
Hi Sue. Great post. I think sometimes we don’t break down the basics for people and that’s exactly what you did here. Love it. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Sue Price says
Hi Barbara
Thanks for your comment. It is pretty amazing how quickly we pick up the jargon and forget others may not understand it 🙂
Take care
Sue
Dipa says
Blogging is fun-but also consists of hard work when one wants to make serious money from it. Content that is informative, simple yet non-boring is the key. Why should people visit your blog when there are millions like yours? You have to be different and stand apart in the crowd. Only then will a blog make its mark. Nice post-great info for newcomers.
Sue Price says
Hi Dipa
Thanks for your comment. I agree with you 100% a blog must stand out. Given the large amount of blogs out there that is not easy either.
Take care
Sue
Joy says
Thanks for transporting us all back to the basics, the information you provided here are vital building blocks in making any blog successful.
Sue Price says
Hi Joy
Thanks for your comment and I appreciate you think the post will be useful for people starting out.
Have a good day
Sue
Kristine says
Thank you for sharing the valuable information you have about blogging and working from home. I definitely think that going back to the basics is something we should do once in awhile.
Sue Price says
Hi Kristine
Thanks for your comment I appreciate it. I decided to go back to the basics because we all needed to know them when we started.
Make it a great day
Sue
richa says
Great information you have shared here, Sue. Blogging can be a great work from home task for someone who is passionate about writing. I am a content writer and working from home offers me great flexibility of work. But in the time where there are so many blogs around, one needs to consistent with quality that can keep the readers coming back.
Sue Price says
Hi Richa
Great to hear you work from home writing. You are correct in that there are a lot of blogs around and we need to be consistent with quality. I know I had a time when I was very inconsistent and I paid the price.
Thanks for your comment.
Sue
Oliver Tausend says
Hi Sue,
thanks again for sharing your insights. Blogging can be a wonderful way to provide value to people and earn an income. But it can also be a great way to waste time and money and build yet another hamster wheel. So we should decide what we want to accomplish with our blog, act accordingly and be open to change the direction anytime. Nothing is set in stone.
Be blessed
Oliver
Sue Price says
Hi Oliver
Oh yes a hamster wheel. I agree with you and I have been through times when I think it is a waste of time. Especially when I started blogging I wrote to anyone and had a very broad avatar.
It is all a learning curve.
Thanks for your comment Oliver
Sue
Lesly Federici says
Hi Sue,
Wow, lot’s of information here! I warched your video and you have quite a bit of experience to share. I enjoyed your series on working from home. There are so many options today and more people are turning to the internet for income. It’s great to have sites like you to help sort things out!
Sue Price says
Hi Lesly
Yes I do have some experience to share, that is one good thing about maturity 🙂
I wrote this series to give people some choices as many people are losing jobs or fearful they will. It is good for them to know there is another way.
Thanks for your comment Lesly.
Sue
Sylviane Nuccio says
Hi Sue,
You know, Sue, as I was reading your post I was thinking how great it is that you are explaining the abc’s of blogging, because even in our “networking superstar” groups there are a few people who still have no clue even though they just joined a networking group such as this one.
Thank you for this sue, and I will refer any newbie who would approach me about blogging to your post-series over here 🙂
Sue Price says
Hi Sylviane
I know what you mean about people even in the groups we are in not having a clue about blogging. I am so glad I was taught by Kimberly Castleberry and even though I short cut some things and my blog needs a bit of a clean up I get the basics 🙂
Thanks for your comment Sylviane and please do send anyone to this series if you think it will benefit them.
Sue
Viola Tam says
Hi Sue,
Great article that covers the effectiveness in using blogging to make money online.
I am a network marketer. I have been doing forum marketing for a while before I was educated about ‘owning my own real estate online’ using my own blog as my hub. I later realized that it served much more than getting my own leads. Through my blog post and engaging with my visitors, I am now building relationships with my audience. I have since then been connected to a number of great bloggers!
The blogging community is a truly amazing one where like-minded people come from all over the world and share ideas, products they love or services that they feel can help others.
I am blessed to have entered this blogging world 🙂
Viola Tam
Sue Price says
Hi Viola
I too started my blog for the same reason you have stated. I must confess I sort of got lost in blogging and online and forgot I was doing network marketing for a while. I do not recommend that to anyone.
I love blogging and like you love the blogging community. I live in Australia and now have friends around the globe through blogging.
All the best with your business and blog.
Sue
Aayna says
This blog post can act like an introductory lesson for those individuals who are new to the field of blogging. Blogging is one of the best ways to portray your thoughts on various niches and make the world read it. It is a great way to make money, but at the same time it is a very daunting task. You need to act like a hands on mother to gain dedicated readers. The content of the blog needs to be good and at the same time the writing style must be impressive and appealing. Thanks for throwing light on this aspect of blogging.
Sue Price says
Hi Aayna
Thanks for your comment. Yes blogging takes all the skills you have mentioned. I love it and find it rewarding.
Sue
Mary says
I’ve always wanted to blog and earn from it, ever since earning from blogs started. But may I ask your advice on the style of blogging, does blogging on various topics make a blog successful? Like for me, I have various interests, not one in particular.
Sue Price says
Hi Mary
Thanks for dropping by here and commenting.
When I started blogging I did not know who my target audience really was and I was also not clear on my niche. I have since become clear and now blog for people wanting to work from home and have an online income.
I think you need to choose a niche. It does not have to be too narrow but know who you are writing to. For example I love yoga. Blogging about yoga one time then online marketing would be confusing. I could however talk about how doing yoga helps me be creative. Does that help?
Sue
Mary says
I guess I really have to choose a niche. Thanks for the advice.
Sue Price says
I think you do need to Mary 🙂
Abhishek says
Hello Sue! The information you just shared here is simply relevant and just what I needed to review the basics of blogging. We must all make an effort to re-learn and rediscover at some point because these are the factors that we normally neglect now that we have been in the business for a long period of time. Thanks and more power!
Sue Price says
Hi Abhishek
Thanks for your comment. There are many people who do not really know what blogging is so I hope it helped them. I get asked all the time “what is that?” when I say I blog.
I see you live in Bali. How lovely. I used to go there every year for holidays when I lived on the West Coast of Australia. I love it.
Have a great day
Sue
ravi patel says
Blogging is great way to earn money online from home. but to make money from blog you should concentrate on Quality content, keywords and SEO. Building backlinks is also necessary to make your blog come first in search engines. All these tips can make you to earn money online from your blog.
Sue Price says
Hi Ravi
Thanks for your comment and yes you do need all of those things to really have your blog work for you.
Sue
Atish says
Blogging is one of the best way to work from home. there are data entry works available over the internet but those are mostly fakes. Blogging is the safest way to earn money while sitting at home. We just need to work with passion on the blog.a
Sue Price says
Hi Atish
Thanks for your comment. I agree I too think blogging is great. It is not for everyone but there sure are a growing number of us.
Have a great day.
Sue
Emilia says
The industry has experienced tremendous growth over recent years and it’s slowly becoming the best alternative to working in an office and slaving away for hours! Thanks for sharing these great tips! More Power!
Sue Price says
Hi Emila
I agree with you in that the industry has certainly experienced growth in recent years. I am also with you on leaving the office behind 🙂
Thanks for your comment and have an great weekend.
Sue
Elaine Salt says
If you want to make money from blogging you have to make sure that you are familiar with the niche you are blogging. In addition, identifying your target audience is crucial. This will help you provide the information that readers will be interested in. Lastly, do not forget to promote and share your website in social networking sites.
Sue Price says
Hi Elaine
Oh yes knowing your niche is very important as is your target market. When I started blogging my target market was way too broad. It is easier to write when you know who you are writing to 🙂
And yes your point on sharing your website is critical. Sadly too much good content does not get found.
Thanks for your great comment here Elaine.
Sue
Nina Corales says
Blogging from can be useful in various ways, you can use it to introduce or promote your products, you can provide coaching services or you can use it to get a number of people to become part of your network.
Sue Price says
Hi Nina
Yes those are great ways you can use blogging. I love the community of people I have met online through blogging.
Thanks for your comments.
Sue
Life Insurance Vancouver says
Blogging from home is a great opportunity to earn money. I know a lot of people who get a huge monthly payouts from blogging.
Sue Price says
Knowing a lot of people earing good monthly incomes from blogging must inspire you I am sure. Thanks for your feedback.
Sue