It’s hard to count and categorize websites, as things change all of the time. Today there are an estimated 1.6 billion websites, with over 500 million of them classified as blogs. Despite what people say, blogging is a growing and evolving industry. New blogs are started every day. Niches like parenting and family, lifestyle and food are growing quickly.
Remember, in the early days of MySpace and other primitive blogging platforms, people shared information and photos with their family and friends. There were online journals and little more. Nowadays, blogs are much more. They are used for corporate websites, portfolios and video and photo sites.
Also, many bloggers have turned their sites into full-time careers. They release products like books and online courses; they meet the rich and famous; and their blogs unlock countless opportunities that bring substantial income.
If you are thinking about starting a blog, there are some things you need to know, like SEO and digital marketing. First, let’s take a look at the things you need to know before you get started.
No One Will Read It
Many new bloggers naively think that they’ll publish a post and thousands of people will read it. Then, five people – most of them relatives – may read it over three weeks. It’s easy to get demotivated and give up. But, know that this is normal.
The bloggers with large readerships spent years building up their sites and brands. If you stick with it, you’ll get there, too.
Be Willing to Learn
Blogging is much more than writing and publishing. You will need to learn SEO and photography. You might want to learn more about coding, CSS and HTML. You’ll even have days when you are so stressed out, and you need to reset Apple password on a Mac because your mind has gone blank.
Blogging has a learning curve, and its constant evolution means that there is always something new to learn. To avoid overwhelm and to prepare your blog before you start, get my Blogging Success for New Bloggers workbook and online course.
Blogging is Hard
Bloggers the get book deals and celebrity interviews work their sites full-time. Some of them have a VA or an assistant. Blogging successfully and profitably requires a lot of time and work. It can be great fun, but it’s rarely easy.
People Won’t Understand
Some people, including your friends and family, will think blogging is easy. They’ll think that you get free stuff and make money doing nothing. They won’t understand the stress and pressure you’re under; that you’re not always free to see them; and that you work hard and long hours. Help them understand everything involved in blogging, from planning to publishing to promoting.
What About You?
Are you considering starting a blog? What questions are you pondering? Share them in the comment box below.
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