Can You Make Money from Blogging?

Many retired people are turning to the internet to supplement their retirement, and one of the easiest ways to do this is through blogging. But just what does blogging entail and how can you make money from blogging?

What is a Blog?

A blog is another name for a website that is published in reverse chronological order, where the author makes regular posts or ‘logs’. The format of a blog is the same as an online journal or diary but, using the connectivity of the web a blog can be read anywhere throughout the world.

As a result, blogs are now widely used by various different businesses and individuals and are published on a wide variety of topics.

Is Blogging Difficult?

If you fancy yourself as a blogger, you’ll be pleased to learn that getting started is relatively simple. If you have access to a computer, can type an email or a simple document, then you should have no problem publishing a blog post online.

The hardest part is setting up the blog itself. There are, however, a number of ways to get one created. You can hire a freelancer or you can use blog publishing software.

The software will be the least expensive option, and you can always change the design of the blog to come up with something that suits your mood and the material you plan to post on the blog.

Once your blog is posted onto the world wide web, the blog is all yours to fill: it’s simply a process of filling in the blanks (titles, sub-titles and the body content of your posting). Once ready, click ‘publish’ and your blog will be posted onto the web. It really is that simple!

What Can you Blog About?

Ironically, having set up the blog, the next step is often the most difficult to negotiate. What should you write about? Of course you are free to write about whatever you want, particularly the things that interest you.

If you select a topic that you are passionate about, then the likelihood is that you’ll be inclined to write more often.

If, however, you are looking to make money from you blog then you should also be thinking about writing on a topic (or topics) that will generate lots of interest on the web.

How Can you Make Money From Blogging?

There are several ways for you to earn money from your blog. Some companies pay people to write blogs on specific subjects, such as film or television reviews or even political commentary (one of the most famous UK political blogs is written by a character named Guido Fawkes).

The simplest way to earn revenue, however, is to use commission-based software such as Google Adsense and Commission Junction. These earn the blog money through advertisements each time that a visitor reads the blog. For these commission-based revenue generators to work, you need to bring lots of traffic to your blog.

Have Patience with your Blog

When you start out with your blog, despite your best efforts it may not make much money, if any at all. The internet is full of people wanting to share their thoughts with others, so you are competing in a very wide and varied market place.

But it pays to have patience. Some people make enough to buy a cup of coffee each day. Other people can earn enough to pay their mortgage, If you enjoy blogging then there’s a good chance that your blog will grow over time. It really depends on how much time and effort you are prepared to put into it.