Looking to start or grow a blog business? Then one of your first steps as a content creator is to define your success in blogging!
Defining what your own blog success looks like influences what type of blog you start, what you write about and how you approach your blog business. Below, I give 5 steps to have success in blogging, and answer some common blog success FAQ.
How to Have Success in Blogging: 5 Tips
#1: Define Blogging Success
In order for you to be a successful blogger, the first step is actually DEFINING what success is for your blog.
So take some time to think about why you’re starting the blog in the first place.
Here are some examples of how you might define blogging success for yourself.
Do you want to help people?
One reason for starting a blog involves sharing information or knowledge that helps other people.
Maybe you’ll monetize this some day, and that’s ok. But knowing that your primary current objective is to help people will give you your barometer for short term success.
Do you want to build authority?
Another reason for starting a blog is simply to build authority on a subject.
This is often the case with authors and certain professionals who want to build a platform for publishing books or other work, or who want to acquire speaking opportunities.
Is it important that you make money from the blog?
It’s possible that all you want to do with your blog is help people and build authority.
But if you need or want the blog to actually make money, make sure to have this goal in mind from the start. Building a blog to make money will influence how you grow it.
Are you building up a small side income as a hobby, or looking to replace a full time job?
If you DO want to make money from the blog – how much?
Does blogging success mean quitting your full time job ASAP? Then you’ll probably want to leverage the blog for higher cost services, or consulting.
If you’re ok with the blog building up income over time, you’ll probably focus on building up traffic and selling low cost offers (and leveraging ads and affiliates).
What is your timeline?
Your available time and timeline for reaching the goal that determines your own success also influences how you decide to grow the blog and in what order.
#2: Start Your Blog
Your next step in having blogging success is to actually start the blog.
Go here for details on the beginner steps to build your blog, and start creating content.
#3: Create Content That Aligns With Your Goals
The next step after you create the actual website / blog involves creating content for the blog. By content, I’m referring to blog posts, which are the heart of maintaining and growing a blog.
One mistake bloggers make with their content is writing about whatever is on their mind without regard to business goals. However, if you’ve done your homework, then you already know what your PURPOSE is for the blog. So if your goal is to build an authoritative platform for your life coaching business, then sharing recipes won’t be helpful.
Think about who you are writing for, what they need and how you can help them.
Then combine those topics with some basic SEO practices (search engine optimization, so you can get found on Google), and you’ll be well on your way to having blog posts that align with your goals.
#4: Market Your Blog
Next, you need to market your blog.
Choose one to two social media platforms you enjoy, and start building an audience where you can share more about your blog and content.
#5: Be Intentional About Your Purpose
Lastly, always keep your blog’s purpose top of mind. If your goal involves building authority, decide what that looks like. Does that mean you have 10,000 followers? Or maybe just 100?
Is your goal to quit your job ASAP? Then make sure to closely track your profit and loss, and prioritize what you plan to sell to your audience.
Is your goal to have a decent side hustle over time? Then your main priority in the short term is traffic.
When I say intentional, I also want you to hear this:
Don’t be SHY about what the purpose of your blog is. Promoting yourself and selling your offers isn’t selfish – it’s part of how you’re called to serve the world.
Successful Blogging Frequently Asked Questions
How often should bloggers post?
Generally speaking, publishing MORE often on your blog can help your blog have faster success in regards to traffic and search engine optimization – as long as your blog posts are high quality and genuinely informative.
That said, consistency matters most, because if you don’t quit, you can’t fail.
Aim to write at least one blog post per week that is around 1,000 words. Can’t write that much? Then scale it back. Have time to write more? Awesome! Go for it.
How much do successful bloggers make?
When it comes to income for successful bloggers, the sky is the limit – GENERALLY speaking, and depending on how you want to monetize.
If your goal is to monetize a high traffic blog through ads and affiliates, you better make sure you choose a niche that has the potential for high traffic, and a niche that you can rank for in a reasonable amount of time.
If your goal is to provide high ticket services or coaching, your success will depend much less on traffic, and more on quality.
And if you plan to utilize paid ads to contribute towards your blogging success, you can shorten your timeline and increase your income significantly.
This article has some great info on how much money blogs can make based on niche.
What are some success stories in blogging?
I have personal success stories from blog clients and other creative experts – go here to read some of Alison Reeves client testimonials and results.
And here are some more interviews with successful bloggers – some are clients and some are not.
- How to Become a Successful Blogger: Advice from $1000 Bloggers
- How Attaliah Pivoted and Became a Successful Blogger
- Blogging and SEO: How Debbie Bounced Back from Financial Ruin
- Blogging Success: How Shannon Grew her Frugal Living Blog to Six Figures
- Increase Blog Income: First Dollar to 1K
- How to Make Money as a Food Blogger: Success Story
Get Success in Blogging
Looking for more help to get success in your blogging?
Go here and watch a free blogging success training.
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