How to start a blog that I may monetize later

15 replies
Hi all

I have an idea for a niche blog I want to start. There is nothing out there it, but I think the potential audience is quite large and it's a topic I am passionate and knowledgable about.

I want to get some good content on there and attract a lot of visitors and eventually offer a course.

This in mind, how should I best start the blog? What should I have in mind from the beginning in terms of email lists, SEO, etc etc.

I am a total newbie when it comes to this - can anyone recommend any (preferably free) resources?

Thanks
#blog #monetize #start
  • Profile picture of the author seven4
    If you are looking for a free blog software then I would recommend Wordpress. It's simple to use, has a professional look to it and you are able to monetize pretty easily. I myself have used wordpress for years and I wouldn't choose any other software when it comes to blogs.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hersh
    Are you sure you want to go for a niche that has no competition? With all the respect to your passion, you want to have a combination of PASSION + MONEY when going after a niche market, so you might want to think twice before you go for it, and competition is definitely a good thing, not a bad thing.

    If you still want to go for your passion and you don't care about the money, Ryan Diess is teaching this stuff on Digital Marketer so you might want to take a look.

    Hope that helps...
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  • Profile picture of the author slammer81
    Keyword research bud. Start there... You'll find a sweet spot that if you work at it, you'll gain a footing.

    Goldilocks theory - not too tough, not too weak competition wise!
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    • Profile picture of the author coolrunnings
      Originally Posted by slammer81 View Post

      Keyword research bud. Start there... You'll find a sweet spot that if you work at it, you'll gain a footing.

      Goldilocks theory - not too tough, not too weak competition wise!
      Thanks guys! I'm always so blown away by how helpful you all are.

      What is keyword research and where should I start? I'm guessing it's looking at search engine data to see what has been searched for and how many times?
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      • Profile picture of the author Marco Moeschter
        Originally Posted by coolrunnings View Post

        Thanks guys! I'm always so blown away by how helpful you all are.

        What is keyword research and where should I start? I'm guessing it's looking at search engine data to see what has been searched for and how many times?
        Yeah that actually how it is. the most common tool to do keyword research is the Google Keyword Planner. There are also more than enough tutorials about this on Youtube and it's quite worth it to look up some of them.
        When you do keyword research and when you create the actual content remember not to write only for the search engines instead write for your readers and sprinkle in there your keywords. Writing freaking good content is the way to go when it comes to content marketing in 2015. The best thing is just to get started you can figure out the rest along the way. Annnd of course like you already said collecting mails to build your list should be a priority for you from day one.
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgeClicxy
    If it comes to platform WordPress or Blog spot are the most common as suggested above.

    It's a huge thing when you start wiring about something that you actually love, although make sure you have a clear idea how to monetize it when the time comes.

    Have you read this article? A Complete Guide On How To Build A Niche Blog - For Money, Of Course
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  • Profile picture of the author Ian McMullan
    Originally Posted by coolrunnings View Post

    Hi all

    I have an idea for a niche blog I want to start. There is nothing out there it, but I think the potential audience is quite large and it's a topic I am passionate and knowledgable about.

    I want to get some good content on there and attract a lot of visitors and eventually offer a course.

    This in mind, how should I best start the blog? What should I have in mind from the beginning in terms of email lists, SEO, etc etc.

    I am a total newbie when it comes to this - can anyone recommend any (preferably free) resources?

    Thanks

    Hi there

    As mentioned above, Wordpress is one of the easiest ways to create a blog or a monetized mini site.
    Very user friendly and quick to learn.

    I wouldnt sweat about SEO to start with.
    Get your blog up and running then start to work on collecting emails and SEO.

    Do one thing at a time.

    Sent you a PM

    Cheers
    Ian
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    Originally Posted by coolrunnings View Post

    Hi all

    I have an idea for a niche blog I want to start. There is nothing out there it, but I think the potential audience is quite large and it's a topic I am passionate and knowledgable about.

    I want to get some good content on there and attract a lot of visitors and eventually offer a course.

    This in mind, how should I best start the blog? What should I have in mind from the beginning in terms of email lists, SEO, etc etc.

    I am a total newbie when it comes to this - can anyone recommend any (preferably free) resources?

    Thanks
    I'd recommend with starting with Wordpress and pick a niche that you know about, like a hobby
    Start writing posts, when first starting try to publish 2-3 a day, after a few months scale back to 1 a day

    iMo when starting don't worry about the little things, just focus on adding content
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  • Profile picture of the author blueclcl
    Keyword research is a good way to see if there is a demand for your niche. Just run a broad search and see the traffic and also the traffic numbers for the whole year.


    You can also look on sites like Amazon to see if there any products ( books ) being sold in the niche and also other book sites aswell as Magazines.com.


    If there are books and magazines in your niche, then this is a really good sign that there is a targeted audience out there.


    Once you have determined this, then you need to build the blog.


    I recommend Wordpress for ease of use.


    As for the content then you want to make it as good as possible and do your research for the type of content your niche is craving for.


    As well as this you should write a free report that solves one problem in your niche. Use this as bait to build your list.


    Just get started with building your list from the beginning and the rest will
    fall in to place over time.


    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Slade556
    I also agree, go with WordPress.
    I'm assuming you already know that content is king, so start writing good, quality, informative articles, to gain traffic and fans.
    Promote your website as best as you can, especially since you're only starting out. Start with social media, that always works best!
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  • Profile picture of the author martinmarketing
    There is some dialogue out there on whether or not blogging continues to be relevant in today’s social media promoting setting.

    Regardless if you’re alittle business, or a international company, blogging is integral to your on-line content promoting strategy.

    Here ar four reasons you would like to blog:

    Drive traffic to your web site

    Increase your SEO/ SERP

    Position your whole as AN trade leader

    Develop higher client relationships

    Drive traffic to your website:

    Your journal offers you the chance to form relevant content for your customers.

    Use this as a promoting maneuver to drive traffic back to your web site.

    Make the journal on your web site the muse for all of your social media platforms.

    Your business may be on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, or anyplace else.

    Post links – with relevant visuals – of your journal articles to your social sites. offer your social followers a reason to click through to your web site.

    Additionally, post inward links directly in your journal articles, to drive traffic to specific landing pages of your web site.

    Increase your SEO/ SERP:

    Blogs increase your SEO.

    Recent content continues to be a key to beating out your competitors within the programme results page.

    Use keywords in your articles.

    List out the keywords, topics, and classes you wish your business to be found with. Use these words, and connected expressions once writing your posts.

    Of course, whether or not you actively request these out or not, blogging often concerning your business, industry, product or client fashion can naturally increase your search keywords. Being intent concerning your words can solely increase results.

    Keywords and topics on your web site} ar a major approach during which Google (and different search engines) realize your site for these searched words.

    Position your whole as AN trade leader:

    Well written articles demonstrate your company as AN trade leader.

    By posting topics that resonate together with your market and show your data, you’re promoting your skills for your business, service or product too.

    If you’re a distributer, as an example, write journal posts concerning your product.

    Your customers can get to grasp you because the data supply for the product they need.

    If you’re in B2B, post articulate, well researched articles concerning your service.

    Become the hub, or the place to be, for your trade.

    You are building trust, too.

    The additional you’ll be able to show that you just ar well-versed in your field, the additional seemingly your client can trust you to produce what they have.

    Your customers in addition have the benefit of the training you give them.

    Develop higher client relationships:

    Blogs give another supply to deepen the reference to your client.

    By connecting directly on your web site, your shoppers ar ready to get to grasp your business or product from the comfort of your on-line home base.

    Use this.

    Again, build trust by being a supply of data.

    Customers prefer to learn, and appreciate that you just ar the one teaching them.

    Additionally, even as on your different social sites, reply to comments and act together with your client.

    If they need questions on a product you’re writing about, reply to them directly on your web site.

    In contrast to several social sites, a journal is usually searchable on your web site for a few time.

    Your web site comments last longer than on a Twitter response or Facebook post.

    Different customers can see your interactions too.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert999
    Originally Posted by coolrunnings View Post

    Hi all

    I have an idea for a niche blog I want to start. There is nothing out there it, but I think the potential audience is quite large and it's a topic I am passionate and knowledgable about.

    I want to get some good content on there and attract a lot of visitors and eventually offer a course.

    This in mind, how should I best start the blog? What should I have in mind from the beginning in terms of email lists, SEO, etc etc.

    I am a total newbie when it comes to this - can anyone recommend any (preferably free) resources?

    Thanks
    1) Do proper keywords research before starting a blog on any topic. Select the topics on which you should write your content.

    2) Domain from godaddy, Hosting from hostgator. Install Wordpress.

    3) Write content yourself or hire someone from iwriter.com

    4) Do on-page SEO. You can find lots of articles online for this.

    5) Join getresponse.com and put a subscription box on your website from day 1 to collect emails of visitors. Engage with your subscibers by sending them regular emails.

    6) Create facebook fan page and post links of your website article there. Promote your page on facebook to get tons of likes.

    7) You can monetize your blog using Adsense, Clickbank affiliate products, Amazon affiliate products etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyler Pratt
    The questions is how do I start?

    Just start doing, you will learn along the way. Create content everyday, at first you will not be that good, but eventually you will get good.
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  • Profile picture of the author globalexperts
    Definitely use Wordpress to setup your blog it's the most use-friendly platform. Then setup GetResponse or Aweber for your email list. Upload your blog posts and start sending traffic to test your niche market.
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  • Profile picture of the author panditmarketing
    Originally Posted by coolrunnings View Post

    Hi all

    I have an idea for a niche blog I want to start. There is nothing out there it, but I think the potential audience is quite large and it's a topic I am passionate and knowledgable about.

    I want to get some good content on there and attract a lot of visitors and eventually offer a course.

    This in mind, how should I best start the blog? What should I have in mind from the beginning in terms of email lists, SEO, etc etc.

    I am a total newbie when it comes to this - can anyone recommend any (preferably free) resources?

    Thanks
    It has already been mentioned that if you have no competition in the niche, it means that no one is currently spending money in that niche. People could have a passion or knowledge in a certain area or topic, but they may not necessarily want to spend lots of money on it. So, bare this in mind and do your research. The google keyword planner will help you with this.

    I started a blog a few months ago and it's not where I want it to be yet, simply because I have not been consistent with it. You have to be consistent in terms of working on it all the time, writing posts at the same time everyday/week-whatever you choose to do. Also be consistent with your traffic efforts.

    Build your list and keep sending your subscribers back to your blog and keep building that relationship with them.

    In terms of actually setting up your blog, I use Worpress as most bloggers do. There's loads of tutorials on Youtube, so you''ll never be short on help.

    One important tip though, it's so easy to get bogged down with plugins and themes etc and trying to make your blog look pretty. Just get it up there and worry about making it look pretty later!

    Hope this helps.
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