Do you already run an established blog, but want to take it to the next level? A hobby which earns you money while you do something enjoyable is the dream for everyone, and blogging very much enables you to do this. Here are some of the ways you can start the process of transforming into a business, and begin to earn money from your site.
Set up a space to work from
When it comes to any kind of work, you need a decent space to work from. Since blogging is something you’ll likely to be doing mainly at home, it makes sense to set up a home office or at least a desk in another room where you can sit down and be productive. If you’re the kind of blogger who reviews products and needs to take high quality images then you might want your camera and props setup too to save you having to get it out every time.
Don’t overlook branding
Branding is everything when it comes to business, and when you’re blogging for business it’s no different. Blogging is an extremely competitive field and so you need your site to be properly branded to stand out from your competitors. Branding creates a story and conveys the message of what your site is about, while helping you to look professional, trustworthy and reliable. Invest in custom web design for your site, and perhaps even outsource a marketing and design expert if you have the money to do so who can give you advice on what direction to take your blog in from a branding perspective.
Get properly set up
Once you start making money from your blog, you’ll need to ensure you’re informing the correct authorities. You will need to register as self employed (this is true even if you’re already an employee at a company- you can be employed and self employed at the same time). And register to pay the correct taxes. It sounds complicated but once you’re up and running you’ll simply complete a tax return once a year which will tell you what you owe (if anything).
Making money
The difference of course between blogging for a hobby and blogging as a business is in the latter, you’ll be earning money. But how exactly do you go about this? Well, there are a number of ways you can monetise a website that’s already established. First, sign up with Google adsense where you can make a small amount of money through clicks and page views of ads on your site. This probably wont be your main source of income as a blogger but it can provide you with a reasonable amount if you’re getting a good amount of views on your content. Next, sign up to sponsored post websites where you can ‘bid’ for jobs with your blog, if you’re approved you will either be asked to write content or publish pre written content with links for payment. Finally, make sure you’re contactable. Your main source of income will likely come through sponsors and advertisers who contact you and ask to work with you directly. Ensure you have a contact page with an up to date email address for when this happens.
