Not so long ago, starting a blog was about sitting down with a half-decent idea and sharing your thoughts/feelings/whatever. Back then, readers were just looking for someone else who shared their life experiences. You could say, then, that there was no such thing as ‘blogger qualifications’ or skill sets. In fact, even without the slightest bit of specialist knowledge, those early blogging founders were able to start earning a fair amount off the ground.
Things have changed a fair amount since then. Current stats show that there are now more than 600 million blogs in the world, meaning that the good old ‘sit down and chat’ template simply isn’t enough to find success anymore. While the truth remains that you don’t need any specific qualifications to get started here, you do need the know-how to stand out, stand tall, and pull the highest possible profits.
That’s why countless bloggers are choosing to invest in their knowledge before trying to make a go of things. Does that mean you need to spend a fortune on expensive courses before you can write your first post? Of course not, but it does mean you might want to consider expanding your learning in the following areas to increase your chances of success.
# 1 – So, you think you know your subject?
Finding a blogging niche has never been more critical than it is now. Only by narrowing down your subject of choice can you truly stand above your closest competitors, and target the ideal market the moment you press ‘publish.’
Don’t think, though, that a cursory knowledge of, say, books, means that you can flourish in the world of book blogging. After all, this age of fake news means that readers are looking for trustworthy and knowledgeable sources. That is to say; you need to know a little more than the basics.
So, do you need a degree in English literature before you can start writing such a blog? Not at all, but you do need to do your homework. Sign up for publisher newsletters or outlets like The Bookseller, and start reading books pre-publication on platforms like Netgalley. Then, and only then, can you become a trusted resource and a blog that readers are willing to spend time on.
# 2 – Making up for your gap in marketing knowledge
You’re a budding blogger with a passion for a particular subject, but you are most definitely not a marketing master. If this is your first solo business venture, then the chances are you know next to nothing about this crucial aspect. Sadly, blogging is no longer a hobby that can lead to unexpected results. This is a venture like any other business, and your knowledge of marketing plays a massive part.
Again, you’ll be pleased to know that you don’t need a business degree to overcome this hurdle, but you may need to go back to the classroom in some way. Lucky for you, there’s all manner of affordable marketing courses out there, such as these affiliate marketing offerings from The Online Student. You may also want to look out for social media or SEO-specific options that can ensure you have a comprehensive grasp on every possible opportunity for boosting your earnings.
# 3 – The power of proper grammar
Another skill set that bloggers need but often overlook is that of grammar. The odd typo might have gone under the radar when blogging was a more intimate affair, but this is a platform where it’s now possible to reach hundreds. And, those hundreds will soon call you out on glaring grammar mistakes or apostrophes forever in the wrong place. You may even find that such rookie mistakes cost your audience, and that’s never good news.
Lucky for you, getting up on your grammar doesn’t require any extensive classroom time if you put the effort in elsewhere. For one, you should always check your posts through an extension like Grammarly, which will highlight any grammar mistakes, and help you to learn as you edit. Equally, spending plenty of time reading, either books or other blogs, can also help you to get a firm grasp on decent language usage.
Note, too, that you may want to take this further by researching things that particularly seem to trip you up. Possessive apostrophes are a good example here, as is the correct usage of their, there, and they’re. Either way, keeping your specific research limited like this means you should be able to get grammar right at last without even losing too much time to the cause.
# 4 – That wonderful website stuff
Don’t forget, either, that blogging is about more than just what you write on your page. A basic Blogger layout might once have sufficed, but readers now expect more, and you need to deliver if you intend to make this blogging thing work for you.
That means you must brush up on your website knowledge, from HTML to photo editing, design, and a whole lot besides. Admittedly, there are plenty of outside sources that can take care of this for you but don’t forget that these cost. That might be an expense you can’t weather right now, meaning that doing your homework is your best shot here.
Again, there are plenty of online courses that can take care of this teaching for you. You may also find it useful to use free resources online on how to make the most of WordPress, etc. Simply make a list of the web stuff you don’t know right now, then do whatever you can to find resources that help you overcome that knowledge gap.
Conclusion
As businesses go, blogging is a pretty easy place to start. As mentioned, you don’t need some extensive degree, or even a bright product idea to get going here. But, that doesn’t mean this is an entirely skill-less undertaking. Instead, you need to enhance your knowledge wherever possible to give your blog the best fighting chance from the beginning.
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