Any Bloggers here?

[Barn Yarn Chicken]

Hi everyone! So I am wanting to start a profitable blog about farming, crocheting, and just diys! Any tips for starting blogs? What kind of blog software do you use? Thanks!

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

I use Wordpress. It is very secure and customizable (dozens of layouts to choose from) while still being incredibly easy, simple and free. (Here is my Wordpress website: http://thewayofthechicken.com).
Blogger.com is also free but I have little experience with blogger (you can see a blogger.com blog here though: https://thelittleredhenmc.blogspot.com)

Tips:

If you wish to keep your images from being stollen, put you website name/logo on them (like I do). Most photo editing apps do this. I have used many photo editing apps for the computer... I use and highly recommend 'PhotoScape X'.

Keep it loading quickly. To keep your site loading quickly, compress images (less resolution and smaller size) when possible. The Chicken Chick uses this technique for her website. I use 'Super Smush' (it is like an application for Wordpress that is called a 'plugin'). It compresses images to makes the website load faster.

SEO. I use yoast SEO (a Wordpress plugin/app) that helps me optimize my articles and content for the search engine (it basically tells me how to make the search engine 'see' my content more easily, making it rank higher).

Visit other blogs websites. Note what features you do or do not like about them (ease of navigation, appearance and general layout). This will help you create a quality website that is easy to use and eye-catching enough to keep people intrigued.

Keep it simple. Try not to complicate things (as it takes more work and is harder to keep organized). Choose a layout and keep it from getting 'cluttered' (to many menus, to many things in the sidebar and ect...). An overfilled website is more likely to be harder to navigate and less appealing to look at.

If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to help. However, most of my web experience is Wordpress based. Conveniently, most web-designing software has a subscription option. Subscribing means they will send you information and tips on how to build and grow your blog/website.

 

[aart]

(Here is my Wordpress website: http://thewayofthechicken.com).

But is it profitable?
Am very curious about how you can make cash money on a blog?

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

But is it profitable?
Am very curious about how you can make cash money on a blog?

Monetizing and getting sponsors.
Amazon is one example. They have an affiliate program (which the Chicken Chick is pretty into) where you provide links to their site from your site... and you get paid when someone clicks the link.
However, unless you learn to rank well in the search engine, you get a very small commission because they measure it in 'clicks' (how many people click the link). So, if you have few views, you get few clicks.
Some companies will sponsor you if you promote a specific product (if you get enough people to view your site and get it ranked well). This is why working on the SEO and ranking is so important.

 

[aart]

So what does it work to in dollars per hour?

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

Depends on how many views and clicks you get... which depends on how high you can get your site to rank in the search engine.

Some people make a living off of a website while others only get a few dollars per month (which basically just pays for the cost of the domain name).

Currently, I am not making anything because I turned down advertising offers (I am very selective about who I advertise for. I am currently working on monetizing and ranking my site so I can be choosey).

Many people sell things on their websites as well if they can get them to rank.
I am currently looking into and researching about selling animal feed supplements/supplies via my website.

 

[aart]

How do you 'monetize' if not with ads?

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

How do you 'monetize' if not with ads?

The word according to the dictionary literally means 'convert into or express in the form of currency'. For this reason, monetization (in a blog) can take the form of advertising. However, it can also mean selling merchandise on the website/blog (some of the most common and easily obtainable monetizations are: printable recipes, plans/directions, small products (easy to ship) and/or Ebooks).
As I mentioned though... I am only working on monetizing... not there yet.
It is a process that takes time and organization.