If you would like to succeed as a blogger and earn an extra income or a full time living through your skills, it is important that you update your knowledge and invest in your education. There’s a lot of work going into making a blog popular, and you will have to master many of them before your site gets noticed by your target market. If you are just starting up, you can find a few tips on how to learn the basics you will need below.
Image via rawpixel
Web Design
Unless you would like to invest hundreds of dollars employing a web designer to create your unique blog, you will have to learn some basic programming. There are several online tutorials that will help you become a competent web developer in just a few weeks. Start with understanding what you need for Creating and Using a Sprite Sheet in HTML and CSS and experiment with different layouts and color themes to find the perfect combination for your blog.
Writing
Image via rawpixel
Of course, you might also want to enroll in an online or campus based writing course, so you can improve your written communication. Pay attention to your spelling and punctuation, as this will matter for many of your readers, and using the right grammar in your blog will make the content easier to read and comprehend.
Photography
Today’s blogs are more colorful and entertaining than ever before. Instead of going for the all-text, you should add images. To make them stand out and get your visitors to share them, you might want to learn some basic photography skills, so you can share something meaningful and beautiful at the same time.
Graphic Design
Apart from photos, you will also have to create book covers, infographics, banners, and other graphics. If you don’t want to waste your money on paying someone to do them every time you have an idea, you can learn basic graphic design skills. The good news is that there are plenty of great tools that make designing your banners and ads much easier, such as Canva, available for free.
Online Marketing
As you are looking to draw visitors to your site and profit from your blog, you will have to market it effectively. There are several online marketing guides available for small business owners that will help you master social media, blogging, image sharing, and collaborating with other brand influencers. You don’t have to be an SEO expert, but you need a basic understanding of the ever changing rules.
If you want to launch your own blog and make it a success, replace or supplement your income, you will have to invest time and energy in your education. You must learn the basics of web and graphic design, online marketing, social media, and master the skill of writing for your audience and hitting the right tone to connect with them on a personal level. If you want to make a living off blogging, it might be time to treat it as a real business.