You’ve probably heard of success stories from people who make 6 figures online from blogging and you may be wondering if it’s actually true.

If you’ve always wanted to know more about how to start a profitable blog but don’t know how, then keep reading as I share my insights from over 10 years of experience in the online world.

Also make sure you check out our special Facebook Group where we dive deep into all of this and more!

When you tell people you blog, it sounds really sexy and cool – and it’s because my own experience of it has been nothing short of amazing. Blogging falls into two types – traditional blogging and video blogging.

Traditional blogging is where you publish your content to an actual blog that looks like a website; and video blogging is where you post videos to YouTube.

When I started out online over a decade ago, I really didn’t know what I was doing. I spent thousands of dollars on various courses and programs trying to figure out how to make money online… little did I know that something as simple as a blog would be my ticket to financial independence.

I’ve helped thousands of local business owners get started blogging, plus I’ve built countless blogs for private clients. My business seriously took off when I started video blogging. The nature of my business requires that I ‘show’ rather than ‘tell’ by posting tutorials on YouTube.

Interestingly enough, I’ve had countless people ask about how to start a traditional blog, so in this article, I really want to focus on the basics of blogging.

So here’s 7 crucial things you need to know before you build a profitable blog online:

1. Blogs And Websites Are Two VERY Different Things!

Now although they seem very similar, blogs and websites actually work in completely different ways. You may have heard some of the big name marketers out there speaking about the importance of having a blog. However, for those people who are totally new online, it can be confusing – should you have a blog or should you have a website, or do you need both?

Let’s clear the confusion!

A website consists mostly of static pages which mean that once your content has been added to the site, it more or less stays the same. A blog on the other hand has content relevant to your target audience which is updated on a regular basis.

This has a big advantage in that it allows you to keep content fresh and relevant, therefore giving visitors a reason to return.

This allows you to connect with your audience and engage them on a deeper level in a way that a website never can. In fact, if you don’t have a blog, you’re going to find it to very hard to build your brand and presence online…

Blogging also helps to build your authority, because the more you post useful and valuable information your audience wants and needs, the more you’ll be seen as the ‘go to expert’ in your field. I’ll talk more about this below!

2. Blogging Is Very Social

Another big difference between a blog and a website is that a blog enables your audience to comment on your posts, creating a conversation between you and your potential customers.

This is HUGE – because we’re in the age of relationship marketing. Those businesses that do the best are focused very much on their audience and a blog makes it super simple to do that.

Being able to engage with your audience and having a dialogue with them is a great way for you to build a relationship with your community and understand what their wants and needs are. It’s amazing what you can learn about your audience by paying attention to the comments they leave you!

This creates a win-win scenario because you can create products and services based on the wants and needs of your audience. Your followers will love you because they feel like you’ve really paid attention to what they want!

This is the single biggest advantage of a blog over a website – it allows you to connect one-on-one with your prospects and customers by encouraging conversation, creating engagement and building trust.

Plus, if your blog is set up correctly, you can make it easy for people to share your content on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Reddit etc, bringing a ton of natural and organic traffic back to your blog.

The aim of sharing via social media is to get your content to become viral – in other words, to be so good that people can’t resist sharing the content!

One of the things I teach my students is called the Ripple Method which is a simple but genius way to create engaging viral content WITHOUT having to spend days or weeks actually producing it.

3. Google And Facebook LOVE Blogs

One of the big advantages of blogs compared to websites is that search engines such as Google really love them. One of the reasons why Google is the best search engine in the world is that it works to deliver the most relevant content to people who are searching for things on its network.

Therefore, Google will boost content from sites which are fresh, relevant and most of all, engaging. Interestingly enough, Facebook has ALSO changed the way it works to promote posts which are content focused – meaning if you want to succeed online, then a blog is an absolute must for your business!

And every piece of content you publish on a blog will have tags and keywords associated with it, which work towards getting you better and better results in search engines like Google. Knowing how to correctly tag your content is one of the secrets of bringing in good quality traffic to your blog.

Traffic is what you need to be able to make money from your blog – because without traffic, no one is going to see your products, offers or services. Ultimately, your blog is there to make you money.

One of the core principles I teach my students is something called the Traffic Trifecta which is the fastest and easiest way to get an avalanche of targeted traffic to your products on tap.

4. Blogs Are Always Focused On Your Audience

While your website is great for telling people about your company, your products and services, it serves more as an online brochure for your business.

A blog is different because you’re focusing on your customer. The content you publish should be helpful and should educate your target audience about their problems and their needs.

For example, if you sell skin products, your blog would be focused on solving problems for your audience. So some of the content you might publish would give you tips on looking after your skin and would answer specific concerns about the health of your skin.

Done properly, your blog can position you as an authority in your industry where your audience come to you for solutions and will trust you enough to buy your products and services.

In order to make the kind of money you see big name bloggers out there making, you need to have authority status. There’s an entire methodology behind taking someone from zero to expert as quickly as possible – and this is something that can be achieved using a principle I teach called the Authority Framework.

The Authority Framework shows you how to position yourself as the go-to expert in your industry, eliminating competition and creating a raving base of loyal fans.

Even if you don’t have your own products, the fact that you’re an expert in your field is enough to get people buying products you recommend.

A great example of this is Lisa Eldridge dot com – she’s a top British makeup artist with an amazing blog plus a YouTube video channel where she shares lots of tips and tutorials about makeup and skincare.

Lisa is definitely an authority in her industry and blogging has been a huge part of her success. While she doesn’t have her own product line, she makes money by selling the products she recommends through affiliate links on her blog.

This is why blogging is also perfect for you if you don’t have your own stuff to sell. As long as you’re an expert in your field, you can still help people through tips and product reviews and recommendations.

5. Building A Blog Is Easier Than You Think!

One of the best ways to get started with your blog online is to use something called WordPress.

Loved by Google and Facebook, WordPress is a simple web building tool which allows you to have your own website or blog up and running in less time than it takes to make and drink a cup of coffee.

If you’re confused, don’t be. WordPress was originally designed for the purpose of blogging, however it is so versatile that it can be modified and used as a website or a blog.

WordPress is super easy to use and is the perfect tool for you even if you’re completely allergic to technology! If you can send an email, you can use WordPress.

Plus, with WordPress, you can totally customize how your blog looks and feels because there are literally thousands of ready-made templates and themes you can choose from – and even these can be modified so you get the exact look and feel you want.

You can add video, audio, maps, contact forms and other cool things to your blog to really make it stand out. Plus, one of the best things about WordPress is that you can set it up to collect people’s email addresses direct from your blog.

This will allow you to build a list of subscribers so you can continue to market to them and eventually turn those subscribers into paying customers!

One of the key concepts I teach is called The Content Capture System which allows you to consistently capture highly targeted traffic and convert this into leads and paying customers.

6. You Don’t Need A Big Budget To Start A Blog

It’s a total myth that starting a blog costs a lot of money – in fact, you can set one up for less than the cost of a takeaway.

Because WordPress is so simple to use, you can build your blog yourself, meaning would never need to hire someone to set up your blog for you.

And unless you want to be super fancy, you don’t even need to hire a designer either! WordPress allows you to fully control how your blog looks and feels so updating it is a breeze.

7. Blogging Is a Labour of Love Which DOES Pay Off…

It’s EASY to start a blog, but here’s a little known fact about blogging. Each year thousands of people start blogs in the hope of making it profitable – but very few truly profit. The ones that are successful, end up making blogging a full time career.

The reality is that for your blog to really take off, you have to be consistent. Consistent in producing content that your audience wants and needs. Consistent in the quality of your posts. Consistent in how often you publish your content and consistent in engaging with your audience.

If you’re really dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives, you have to be willing to put in consistent effort to see blogging pay off. When I first started video blogging, I got a handful of views – but I most certainly didn’t let that put me off.

Pay attention to the comments you get on your content – even if just a few people find benefit in what you do, it’s so worth it because the comments serve as a measuring stick on how well you’re doing. Be gracious and thank people for their comments.

And yes, if you find negative comments, try and address them in a professional and courteous manner. Very often you’ll find that those who take the time to continuously create amazing content AND engage with their audience properly to be the most successful and have the most loyal followers.

So there you have it – 7 things you need to know before you start blogging. If you want to learn how to start your own profitable blog in an easy step-by-step way, then make sure you check out our special Facebook Group where we dive deep into all of this and more!

Also, make sure you leave a comment below and let me know if you found this post helpful!

James Stafford

www.WebsitesMadeEasy.Tv

About James Stafford:

James Stafford has helped thousands of people get started with their own online using his signature 3-step WTC system. The WTC System is designed to help you build a super profitable blog or website, get traffic to it and convert the traffic into paying customers.

James teaches a number of different frameworks, processes and methodologies which are designed to help you become an expert in your field and ultimately help you turn your passion into profit!

Join the WTC Facebook community where James will be sharing valuable strategies, posts and videos on how to start your own profitable business online using your blog and website.