A lot of people like the idea of running a blogging business. They can write about things they love all the time; share information to help people; and make a mark on the web. Of course, it’s not as easy as it sounds.
In addition to creating content, there’s a lot of background work that has to be done. Here are three things you need to run a successful blogging business.
Run a Successful Blogging Business
Hosting and Design
Blogs have to have a good web host to be viewed online. Companies like Amazon Web Services can handle most of the hosting services for you. Consider hiring someone to manage the backend of your site so you can focus on creating content and running your blogging business.
You may also need to hire a website developer to design and built your blog. Many new bloggers handle this themselves. Sometimes it’s better to have a professional handle it for you. In addition to having a nice looking blog, your visitors will better interact with your site on mobile devices and apps.
Marketing
Like any business, a blog isn’t going to make money by itself. Once you have quality content, you need people to read it. This will require some marketing work. Effective marketing strategies include the SEO on your blog, social media activities, and other forms of advertising. There are several companies dedicated to helping bloggers expand their reach and their bottom lines.
Business Laws and Taxes
A business is much more than a blog, hosting and design and marketing. You have to consider everything that impacts small businesses when you’re working for yourself, including home business insurance and taxes.
With a home business insurance coverage endorsement, you can purchase coverage to protect yourself from unforeseen issues. It could also help when you run out of work to do.
The fifth and final business activity to consider: taxes. Businesses aren’t taxed like working people. When you work for yourself, your tax returns must be handled correctly or you could face hefty fines. To prevent this from happening, use software like Freshbooks to handle your accounting for you. You can easily track your business income and expenses, so when tax time rolls around all you have to do is print the information and give it to your accountant.
As you can see, having a blogging business is more than creating content. You have to have good hosting and design; you have to market your content and blog consistently; and you have to have knowledge of business laws and taxes.
What Did I Miss?
What else do bloggers need to run a successful blogging business? Let us know in the comment box below.
Image credits: Olu Eletu, Lee Campbell, Sebastian Pichler
Hi Marcie,
Out of all the things we need to run a blog, I do believe that Marketing is the most important thing on the list. If we don’t have knowledge about marketing its time to learn lol.
Because I had my own business offline before I cam online, I thought I had the marketing part all down, but then realized it was a different ballgame online. So I took courses, studied and applied marketing knowledge.
If anyone is a blogger it is imperative to know the marketing end.
Thanks!
-Donna
Donna, thanks for sharing your experience. I need to learn more about online marketing. I thought I had an idea about marketing but I need to do as you advised: learn marketing.