Are you passionate about writing and want to earn a livelihood creating content on your preferred subjects? You have arrived at the correct destination as this article will aid you in selecting the ideal blogging platform for monetary gains!
To begin with, let us discuss figures.
Out of the almost two billion websites existing in the world at present, over 600 million of them are classified as blogs.
Annually, more than three billion posts are published by personal blogs and brand websites.
Those individuals must be receiving some form of compensation to explain the extensive amount of time and energy they have invested.
Is it true that individuals are earning money through blogging?
Definitely!
However, it’s not a shortcut to becoming wealthy (and you shouldn’t contemplate engaging in such dubious methods).
Although it may not seem like a substantial amount, bloggers in the United States reportedly make slightly more than $31,000 annually, as reported by Indeed.
The extent of your blogging profits relies heavily on the number of individuals in your audience and the volume of traffic that you can attract.
Your pay increases as the numbers get larger, and there are bloggers who earn $100,000 annually or even more.
Note that if you’re interested in discovering their methods, refer to Gael’s piece titled “A Guide to Earning Income through Blogging in 2023.”
It is quite uncommon for new bloggers to earn a six-figure income.
Choosing the right blogging platform is crucial to make it happen.
What Is A Blogging Platform?
A tool or service that bloggers use for publishing and maintaining content is known as a blogging platform.
The content may take the form of a conventional blog, consisting of written words, or it could be more visually-oriented.
On occasion, the blogging platform allows users to construct their own website (possibly with a personalized domain name), granting them more room for customization and additional opportunities for earning income.
While using other blogging platforms, bloggers have limited customization options as they are confined within the platform environment, although they can benefit from the platform’s audience.
What To Look For When Choosing A Blogging Platform
Monetization
Keep in mind that we are discussing the most profitable blogging platforms.
Given the circumstances, it’s understandable that the primary focus is on earning revenue.
Starting an online business on a platform that is hard to generate revenue from is not a wise decision.
Numerous options are available to generate revenue from your blog, including:
- Offering a subscription to access your content
- Selling online courses
- Promoting products via affiliate marketing
- Selling ad space
Some blogging platforms are not compatible with all of those methods.
It is crucial to select a platform that aligns with your monetization strategy if you have one in mind.
Customization
Are you interested in starting your blog site from scratch?
Is access to the backend necessary?
Are you interested in implementing restrictions on who can view your content?
Free blogging platforms may not be the most suitable choice if you require full authority over your website and its content.
Cost
There are certain blogging platforms that don’t charge any fees.
All you have to do is create an account and begin writing blogs.
You may encounter several expenses when dealing with others, such as:
- Platform fees
- Web hosting
- Blog theme
- Plug-ins
- Email marketing software
- Security
The blogging platform you select could either include all those services and features in one payment, or offer them as additional options.
You should select a platform that is inexpensive at the outset, but has the potential to be expanded later.
Ease Of Use
The answer to this question varies based on your specific situation and preferences.
There are numerous free blogging platforms available that are user-friendly and do not require any technical expertise, which is ideal if you just require a basic content management system for composing, structuring, and releasing a blog post.
If you require the ability to experiment with code and utilize particular features to generate income, then those platforms cannot truly be classified as “user-friendly” since they do not fulfill your requirements.
Best Blogging Platforms To Make Money
Alright, we have identified certain elements that play a crucial role in selecting the most suitable blogging platform according to your needs.
Let us now delve into our selection of the top 2 blogging platforms that can aid in generating income.
1. WordPress.Org
Ideal for: A versatile blogging platform that can adjust to the requirements of your company.
You can get WordPress.org for free as it is an open-source platform. However, you may incur some expenses in selecting a hosting provider and domain name.
WordPress.org, which provides great flexibility, is a blogging platform that is self-hosted and should not be mistaken for WordPress.com (which is listed separately).
You have access to an extensive range of themes that are completely free.
You have the option of purchasing premium or customized themes to enhance your WordPress site.
You have the ability to incorporate a multitude of plugins, software, and functions to aid in your blogging efforts to generate income.
To make money from your blog, it is highly recommended to use search engine optimization tools and platforms such as Google Analytics, Rank Math, and Yoast.
It is relatively easy to begin with WordPress.org.
All you have to do is purchase your own domain name (or obtain a domain name for free) and select a hosting package.
Although there are a few blog hosting providers that offer free services, you may require the enhanced performance and features of a paid hosting platform. Monthly fees typically range from $3 – $10.
Afterwards, you can proceed to select a theme and produce content easily.
Having a WordPress blog comes with the added advantage that you retain complete ownership of all the content you post, which means that you have complete authority over your publications.
However, this does not apply to every blogging platform.
2. Medium
Ideal for those seeking a basic overview of blogging, with only a few opportunities to generate income through the internet.
Medium is a blogging platform that does not require payment as it is completely free of charge.
Starting a blog through Medium is perhaps the most rapid, straightforward, and cost-effective option.
Joining the platform is completely free of charge.
To begin with, all one needs to do is produce a complimentary account, pick a subject matter, compose an article on it, and subsequently release the blog post.
You can write about absolutely anything on Medium, provided that you adhere to their guidelines.
Being user-friendly has made it one of the most widely used blogging platforms globally.
Is it the most profitable blogging platform available?
It is unlikely.
You can earn (a small amount) through the Medium Partner Program for the duration of time that readers spend on your content.
Regrettably, since all blog posts are contained within Medium’s ecosystem rather than on a blogging platform that is self-hosted, your dependence on the site’s algorithm to attract visitors is notably high.
Roughly 60% of writers generate income on the platform, but almost 94% of them earn less than $100 each month.
Is Medium only worthwhile for the “fortunate minority,” or is it not worth the effort for everyone else?
It is possible that it may not be true.
While earning a bit of extra cash, this platform is great for experimenting with your content and discovering the most successful strategies.
As a long-term solution, we do not advise it.
Another thing to keep in mind:
Depending on your location, you may not meet the requirements to join Medium’s Partner Program, as it is not available in all countries.
Follow These Steps to Learn How to Start a Blog and Make Money as a Blogger Today:
Let us begin if you’re prepared to jump in and discover how to establish a blog that can eventually become a legitimate source of income online.
1. Pick Your Blog Name and Niche
Choosing a name and niche for your new blog should be your first step.
The name of your blog, such as yourblog.com, is the initial point of contact for readers. Therefore, it should ideally reflect the overall themes you will be addressing or may include your name, your business name, an innovative blend of words, or any other suitable option.
The subject matter of your blog is the overall theme that you will concentrate your articles on. Some illustrations are blog themes like travel, cuisine, clothing, way of life, technology, and more. Utilizing a couple of words that plainly suggest the topic of your posts in your blog’s title (such as fashionbyjane.com or hikewithryan.com) will be significantly advantageous for your potential readership.
2. Get Your Blog Online (Web Hosting)
To get your blog up and running, the next important task is to find a web hosting company. They will assist you in selecting a blogging platform and web hosting package to make your blog available online.
The blogging platform and web hosting that I utilize personally, as well as most other bloggers, is a WordPress blog that is hosted by Bluehost. WordPress is a free platform for publishing that has been in existence since 2003, and it presently powers over 60% of all blogs on the internet. Bluehost is regarded as one of the most dependable and well-established companies in blog hosting. We will be utilizing this combination to begin your blog, so let us proceed with setting up your hosting.
3. Design Your Blog with a Free WordPress Theme
If you want to start a blog and make money as a blogger, WordPress is the best blogging platform
To ensure your comprehension of why WordPress is the suitable platform, referred to as a Content Management System (CMS), to operate your blog on, we’ll go over some fundamental terms.
What is a Content Management System (CMS)?
Your blogging endeavors would rely on a Content Management System (CMS), where you can create, plan, and release your posts. A proficient CMS, such as WordPress, would provide a user-friendly interface, allow proper content categorization, multimedia uploads, and offer design customization options like blog themes and unique design elements. The most familiar CMS to you is perhaps WordPress.
What is WordPress?
Millions of bloggers use the popular CMS called WordPress, which is considered the most widely used in the world (even by me). Recent statistics about blogging revealed that more than 60% of all blogs rely on this CMS, including sites such as Forbes, New York Observer, TED, Thought Catalog, TechCrunch, NBC, and many more.
It’s important to exercise caution as WordPress has two distinct platforms: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Despite their similar names, these two platforms have significant differences.
The platform known as WordPress.com:
- Is free to use (with heavy restrictions)
- Doesn’t let you pick a custom domain name (i.e. yoursite.wordpress.com)
- Has very limited monetization options (you can’t sell your own ads)
- Doesn’t let you upload plugins (for email capture and other things)
- Has limited blogging theme support so you’re stuck with very basic designs
- You have to pay to remove WordPress branding and get your own domain like yoursite.com
- Limited SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and analytics
The website known as WordPress.org:
- Fully customizable design (using WordPress themes), unlimited plugin options, and no branding
- Your own custom domain name for your blog to run on (like ryrob.com)
- Total control over your own monetization efforts
- Powerful SEO features with great plugins (so people can find your site easier)
- Let’s you start or add an eCommerce store or membership site
- Small monthly fee (from the cheap hosting plan you use to get your blog online)
- A free domain name during sign up (with most blog hosting platforms)
Although the decision ultimately rests with you, if your goal is to fully utilize your blog, ensure its scalability over time, and generate revenue through blogging, it is recommended that you opt for WordPress.org (the same platform we have utilized throughout this tutorial). WordPress.org is the ideal content management system that will operate behind the scenes and fuel your blog.
Why Blog Design is so Important When Starting a Blog
Regardless of your personal interest in design, the layout of your blog can heavily influence the behavior of your readers. According to a 2012 study conducted by Google and the University of Basel, users form a perception of a website’s aesthetic appeal and functionality within 1/20th to 1/50th of a second. Moreover, due to the Halo Effect, people tend to extend their judgment of your blog’s layout to all other aspects of it.
Designing a good blog instills confidence in readers and indicates that you value your blog’s appearance. However, this does not mean incorporating complex animations or multiple fonts and colors. In fact, the most effective designs are uncomplicated, easy to comprehend, and visually pleasing.
After selecting the appropriate theme for your WordPress blog, it is essential to explore the vast array of WordPress plugins to enhance the customization of your blog’s design and functionality. This preliminary work is crucial to enable your blog to evolve into a profitable enterprise in the future.
