How to Make a Real Income From Your Blog

How to Make a Real Income From Your Blog

In today’s world you don’t have to know someone who knows someone who can help you get started. You just get started and you make those connections yourself via social media.

I mean, how amazing is it that you have complete control of whether or not you turn your blog into a business? There’s no more blaming the outside world for things beyond your control because the digital world puts the reigns in your hands. With that being said, no matter how big or small your following is, I’m going to show you how to make a real living from blogging.

Find Your Niche

I’m sure you’ve heard “find your niche” a thousand times but you probably haven’t heard why. Because there are so many bloggers trying to be everyone and do everything at one time, it’s rare you come across an expert in one particular field. I don’t know about you but I’m not going to ask a lifestyle blogger who dabbles in travel where to go for my honeymoon. I’m going to ask an expert travel blogger like Tuula Vintage.

Finding your niche makes you stand out in the noise, which is what will ultimately drive people to your blog. Not everyone is going to like what you have to offer and that’s ok because those people aren’t going to keep your blog alive. It’s the people who are searching for something specific that are going to fuel your endeavours

When all else fails, remember this quote, “Starbucks started with one cup of coffee”. Become a master at one thing and the rest will fall into place.

Solve a Problem

Once you find your niche, it should be pretty easy to find your readers’ pain points. Creating content around your niche helps you get feedback and opens a line of communication with your readers. And from those dialogues you’ll find common complaints. Those complaints are your ticket to add real value by solving them.

Fitness guru, Kayla Itsiness did this by inspiring girls to have a positive body image. She solved a problem by sharing how to get fit and healthy. She did this through creating simple at home workouts, healthy eating habits, and inspirational stories from girls all over the world. Genius!

Sell a Product/Service

The key to making a living from your blog is putting the solution of your readers’ problems into action by selling something. So Kayla Itsiness found her niche, found a solution to a problem in her niche, and then capitalized on it by selling workout guides, diet plans, workout gear, and a mobile app. And I don’t think she’ll stop there, but even so she certainly has this whole blog/business thing down. Wonder Forest founder Dana does this with phone cases, accessories, and home décor.

But again, don’t run into this thinking, ‘I want to make this, do that, and create this!’ because you’ll most likely burn out. Start with one product, and when that product is successful or not, make another one. Making a living from blogging is all about trial and error, finding what works for YOU.

Since I’m new to the WF family, I’d love to check out your blogs! Comment your blog URL below.

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By Brittany

Brittany is the blonde behind the blog Not Another Blonde. A self-proclaimed blogger for bloggers, she moved to NYC in pursuit of her dreams and is achieving them one day at a time while helping others to do the same. When she's not blogging she's bossing her boyfriend around on Snapchat, consulting brands and bloggers, and contributing to Zanita Studio. No idea is too big and it's never too late to start doing what you love.

41 comments

  7. Loved this post, so helpful! I’ve read more and more lately how important it is to have a niche to stand out, my expertise is in beauty (I’m a trained make up artist) and so I write a beauty blog, but there are SO many amazing beauty blogs out there already. I really need to find my niche!

    Here’s my blog 🙂 –
    Sophie x | SophiesMakeupBlog

    Reply

  8. I feel like finding your niche is more of a process overtime not something that just happens.Not sure if I’m right about that but I try to focus in on makeup and beauty with some lifestyle sprinkled in.Feel free to come take a look.(:

    http://www.cutieandherbeauty.com

    Reply

    1. I definitely agree with that. You have to test the waters and try your hand at different topics. Your niche should definitely fall in line with your passion but also meet the needs of your readers. Thanks so much for your comment. Hope you stay in touch! xx

      Reply

    1. Thanks so much Ana! I appreciate that. I totally understand where you’re coming from. When I first started blogging I was all over the place. I wanted to do fitness and music and beauty and health and fashion. It was overwhelming. If you ever have any questions feel free to shoot me an email [email protected] xx

      Reply

  10. Always a big fan of the inspiring posts on Wonder Forest! Such great advice, I am one of those people who wants to write about so many different things and I don’t think I am ready to choose one yet but I definitely think it will help building a larger following! X

    Here’s my link: http://www.marlinde.co.uk

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your comment Marlinde! Try giving your readers a survey to see what they like and want to see more of, or just come out and ask them! That helped me a lot. Hope you stay in touch. xx

      Reply

  13. Hey! This is such a lovely post to remind bloggers the basics on blogging….which is something I sometimes forget. I’m still trying to understand how to make my blog successful but like you said “Starbucks started with one cup of coffee.” I just need to find that one thing. I hope you like my blog if you check it out 🙂
    Love,
    Thays

    http://www.simplythays.com

    Reply

    1. That’s exactly what this blog post was intended for! Thank you so much for your sweet comment.

      Your blog is great Thays! You have a really nice aesthetic going on. Keep killin’ it. xx

      Reply

  14. I’m a lifestyle blogger who travels and you’re right, I need to find a specific niche so I can create content that meets a need, instead of simply blogging about stuff I’m into and places I’ve been. I’m just struggling to figure out that niche given that nothing in my life is niched! What can I offer that won’t bore me to tears to consistently write about, that is the question!
    thedameinternational.com

    Reply

    1. It’s a hard question to answer. But once you find your niche you can expand within that niche. Maybe you can start blogging about things to do in your state/country then expand internationally. Or you could just blog about the hotels you travel to or the beaches you travel to or the nightlife in the cities you travel to. There are so many options! xx

      Reply

  15. Helpful tips, thank you! As many others have commented, the real struggle is to find your niche, a subject that will keep your interest for months to come, if you want to see any real progress in marketing your blog. You need a distinguishable brand. And it’s a struggle exactly because some people, like me, are interested in many things and are “jacks of all trades, masters of none!”
    Anyways, my other struggle is battling procrastination due to perfectionism! I have a bunch of posts waiting to be published… that I keep editing. Here goes:
    http://www.aneternalwanderlust.com

    Reply

    1. I totally understand where you’re coming from Nicky! As I was once a procrastinator myself. In fact, I still have those tendencies. Being a jack of all trades is great but how does that make your content desirable? Why should people visit your blog over another “jack of all trades” blog, you know?

      Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Hope you stay in touch! xx

      Reply

  16. I really enjoyed this post. Everyone needs to lean on each other for sure in the blogging forest. A wonderful way to find ideas and inspiration. I look forward to reading more posts in the New Year!

    Reply

    1. Awesome Claudia! Thanks for reading.

      You have a cute blog! Try making your pictures the width of your blog posts so it’s more cohesive for your readers. That was a game changer for me. xx

      Reply

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