Blogging can be a great way to make a career out of your interests and passions. But what does it take to be a successful blogger?
If you’re wondering if blogging can be a full-time job, or even a career, the answer is yes! There are many successful bloggers out there who are making a living off of their blogs.
…And I’m one of them.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know everything there’s to know about blogging professionally. And whether a blogging career is for you or not.
Is Blogging A Job?
The first question you might have is: “Is blogging a job?” And the answer is YES! Like any other business, blogging can be turned into a full-time job or even a career.
There are many successful bloggers out there who make a living off of their blogs. In fact, some bloggers even make millions of dollars per year!
So, if you’re interested in making money off of your blog, then keep reading. I will show you how to make a career out of blogging.
But first, let’s take a look at the main differences between a hobby blogger and a professional blogger.
Main Differences Between A Hobby Blogger And A Professional Blogger
The main difference between a hobby blogger and a professional blogger is that a professional blogger makes money from their blog. In other words, they treat their blog like a business.
A hobby blogger, on the other hand, doesn’t make any money from their blog. They might blog for fun or to share their thoughts and opinions with the world, but they’re not in it for the money.
That said, one is using blogging to build a business, while the other is using a blog more for personal reasons. But that’s not the only difference between these two types of bloggers…
Professional bloggers also tend to have a more serious approach to blogging. They’re usually more consistent with their posting schedule and treat their blog like a job.
In other words, they take their blog seriously. They work on their blogs full-time, they invest in their business, and so on.
On the other hand, Hobby bloggers might only post when they feel like it. And since they’re not blogging for money, they’re usually not as consistent with their posting schedule.
So, those are the main differences between a hobby blogger and a professional blogger. Now that you know the difference let’s see if you have what it takes to become a professional blogger.
What Does It Take To Be A Professional Blogger?
There are a few things that you’ll need if you want to make a career out of blogging. Here’s what you’ll need.
1. A Niche
The first thing you’ll need is a niche. You can’t just start a blog about anything and everything. You need to focus your blog on a specific topic, or else you’ll be all over the place, and it’ll be hard to build an audience.
Your niche will be your blog’s main topic. For example, Nomad Life 101 is a blog about making money online and digital nomads.
2. A Unique Angle
The second thing you’ll need is a unique angle. There are millions of blogs out there, so you need to find a way to make your blog stand out from the rest.
Your unique angle will be what makes your blog different from all the other blogs in your niche.
For example, my blog is different from other digital nomad blogs because I focus on helping people make money online even if they don’t have any experience.
3. A Professional Blogging Platform
The third thing you’ll need is a professional blogging platform. You can’t just start a blog on WordPress.com or Blogger.com if you want to make money from your blog.
You’ll need to get a self-hosted WordPress blog, which is very different from a free WordPress.com blog. I recommend using Bluehost to get started because it’s only $2.95 per month and comes with a free domain name.
You can learn more by reading our step-by-step guide to launching a blog with Bluehost.
Alternatively, you can read more about the best blogging platforms and the best hosting providers for bloggers.
4. A Writing System
The fourth thing you’ll need is a writing system. To be a successful blogger, you need to treat your blog like a business. That means being consistent with your content and putting out high-quality articles regularly.
One way to do this is to come up with a writing system that works for you. This could be simple: batch-writing a bunch of articles at once and then scheduling them to be published over the next few weeks.
In the beginning, you might be writing all the content yourself, and eventually, hire people to help you out.
Personally, I use Trello to map out my content calendar, and I write many blog posts myself. That said, I also outsource some of the content creation. I recently started using Jasper, which is an AI content assistant.
It helps me write faster by doing things like coming up with topics, research, and even writing the first draft of articles.
5. A Marketing Strategy
The fifth thing you’ll need is a marketing strategy. Just because you have a great blog doesn’t mean people will automatically find it. You need to be proactive about promoting your blog if you want to drive traffic and grow your audience.
One way to do this is to guest post on other blogs in your niche. This will help you get exposure to a new audience and build backlinks to your blog, which will help with your SEO.
You can also use social media to promote your blog content. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are great platforms on which to share your articles.
Additionally, you can email your list whenever you publish a new article. If you don’t have a mailing list yet, then I recommend using ConvertKit to get started.
That said, my favorite way to get traffic is SEO. Writing content with a keyword strategy is the best way to get noticed by search engines. If you’re new to SEO, I suggest you join my SEO online course – designed for bloggers.
6. A Business Model
The final thing you’ll need is a business model. You can’t just start a blog and expect to make money from it overnight. You need to have a plan for how you’re going to make money from your blog.
One way to do this is through affiliate marketing. You can promote other people’s products and services on your blog and earn a commission whenever someone buys something through your links.
Another way to make money from your blog is to sell your own products and services. This could be anything from an online course to physical products.
You can also make money through advertising, sponsored content, or by offering consulting services.
The best way to figure out which business model is suitable for you is to experiment with different methods until you find something that works.
For example, on Nomad Life 101, I use a mix of different monetization strategies.
I make money with:
- SEO services
- Ad display
- Sponsored content
- Affiliate marketing
- Digital products
You can learn more about how I make money from my blogs by reading one of our blogging income reports.
7. A Strong Mindset
Last but not least, you’ll need a strong mindset. Blogging is not easy, and there will be times when you feel like giving up.
That’s why it’s so important to have a strong why and to stay focused on your goals. Remember why you started blogging in the first place and what you want to achieve.
If you keep your why in mind, then it will be easier to push through the tough times.
If you’ve initially started as a hobby blogger, you’ll need to switch your mindset. You can learn more by reading our tips on developing a solid blogging mindset.
When Should You Start Blogging Full-Time?
There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. It all depends on your situation and what you want to achieve with your blog.
If you’re happy with your current situation and don’t feel the need to change anything, then there’s no rush to start blogging full-time. You can continue blogging as a hobby and see how it goes.
On the other hand, if you’re not happy with your current situation and feel ready for a change, then it might be time to start blogging full-time.
Only you can decide when the right time is. But if you’re thinking about making the switch, make sure you can afford to.
If you’re going to quit a job to blog full-time, you need to make sure you can support yourself until you can make a full-time living out of your blog.
Final Thoughts On Blogging As A Career
Blogging as a job or career is a great way to make a living. It allows you to work from anywhere in the world, and you can make as much money as you want.
Of course, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. Blogging takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and consistency. But if you’re willing to put in the work, then it can be a gratifying experience.
If you’re thinking about starting a blog or switching to blogging full-time, then make sure you have everything you need before taking the plunge.
And if you’re already blogging full-time, then I hope this article has inspired you to keep going and to continue pursuing your dreams.
Need more help with making money blogging? Read one of the following guides about ads:
