Category: Blogging FAQs

Are you tired of scrolling through your Facebook and Instagram feed, only to find that the only thing that pops up is your ex’s engagement photos? Well, fear not my fellow social media wanderers, because there’s a new platform in town that’s all about the visuals – Pinterest!

Now if you are brand new to Pinterest you might be wondering if you need to have a blog to use it.

You may have heard the term “blog” being thrown around a lot, but what exactly is it and why should your business care? A blog is basically an online journal where you can share your thoughts, ideas, and information with the world.

And let me tell you, the world is dying to hear what you have to say (or at least, your target audience is).

Here are some reasons why having a blog can be a game-changer for your business:

Welcome to the world of blogging, where you can be your own boss, work from your pajamas, and have the freedom to write about whatever your heart desires.

But, with the constant evolution of technology and the rise of new platforms, one may wonder – do careers in blogging have a future?

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to make money online, but it’s not as simple as just promoting products and collecting commissions. A key component of successful affiliate marketing is having a platform to promote products on, and that’s where a blog comes in.

But do you have to have a blog to make money as an affiliate marketer?

Blogging has become an increasingly popular way for people to share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences with a wider audience. But when it comes to starting a blog, one of the questions that people often have is whether or not they need money to get started.

Blogging has become one of the most popular ways to express oneself and share information with the world. But, one question that often comes up is whether or not you need a degree to be a successful blogger.

Everyone knows that putting images in your blog posts is a good idea. I mean, of course, that makes sense.

But do they really, truly need pictures? Like, can’t we just rely on the sheer power of our words alone to transport readers to a world of pure imagination? Who needs visual aids when we’ve got the written word, right?

Wrong.

Sorry to burst your bubble, folks, but yes, blogs absolutely need pictures. And no, not just any pictures. Good pictures. Quality pictures. Pictures that complement and enhance the content of your blog, rather than distract or detract from it.

Welcome to the world of online money-making! If you’re reading this, chances are you’re considering starting a blog or getting into affiliate marketing.

Both can be great ways to earn an income online, but they are very different beasts. Before you dive in headfirst, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each and which one is the right fit for you and your goals.

Today we’re tackling a question that’s been on everyone’s minds: can you blog about your life? It’s a loaded question, my friends.

On one hand, you could argue that you could blog about absolutely anything, including your own life. After all, it’s your life, so you can do whatever you want with it, right?

On the other hand, you might be wondering if anyone would actually want to read about the mundane details of your day-to-day life. I mean, let’s be real here, how many people are really going to care about the fact that you spilled coffee on your shirt this morning or that you spent an hour looking for your lost phone?

Have you ever been writing a blog post and wondered if you should cite the sources that you are using? Maybe you have been reading through some blog posts and they linked out tons of times but you realized you weren’t doing that.

Whatever the reason you are asking the question I’m here to answer it for you.

I know, I know. It’s a question that has plagued bloggers for centuries. You’re sitting there, typing away at your latest masterpiece, and you think to yourself, “Do I really need to cite that statistic I just pulled out of thin air? It sounds like it could be true.”

While it might be tempting to skip the citations and just go with your gut, it’s actually really important to back up your claims with reliable sources. Not only does it make your blog posts more credible, but it also helps to protect you from potential legal issues.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to the best blogging font size! If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent hours upon hours scouring the internet for the perfect font size for your blog.

And let’s be real, it’s a daunting task.

There are so many conflicting opinions out there on what the “ideal” font size is, it’s enough to give anyone a headache.

Welcome to the exciting world of blog websites! If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about starting your own blog, or perhaps you’re just curious about this whole “blogging” thing.

Either way, you’ve come to the right place.

The primary reason people start blogs is to become internet famous. Everyone wants to be the next Zoella or PewDiePie, right? Just kidding (sort of).

While some people do manage to turn their blogs into lucrative careers, the vast majority of bloggers are just regular people who enjoy writing and connecting with others.

So, what do people write about on their blogs?

Just about anything and everything! Some popular topics include fashion, beauty, travel, food, parenting, personal development, and more. There are literally millions of blogs out there, covering every imaginable niche.

The only limit is your imagination (and possibly your ability to commit to consistently posting content).

In short, a blog website is a place for people to share their thoughts and experiences with the world, and potentially make a little money while they’re at it. It’s a fun and rewarding hobby that can potentially turn into a career, if you’re lucky (or dedicated) enough.

Now that you have a basic understanding of what a blog website is, it’s time to move on to the pros and cons of starting one.

Before I go into more detail about some of the more important pros and cons of a blog website check out the table below that gives all of the pros and cons of blogging that you might experience.

Pro: Easy to set up and manage

Ah, the beauty of modern technology. Setting up a blog website has never been easier, thanks to the numerous platforms and tools available.

With just a few clicks, you can have your very own corner of the internet up and running in no time.

First, you’ll need to choose a blogging platform. There are several options to choose from, including WordPress, Blogger, and Squarespace.

Each platform has its own set of features and pricing plans, so it’s important to do your research and choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.

Once you’ve chosen a platform, it’s time to start setting up your blog. This usually involves selecting a domain name (the web address for your blog), choosing a design template, and customizing the appearance and layout of your site.

Most blogging platforms offer a variety of design options, so you can really make your blog your own.

Once your blog is set up, the fun really begins. You’ll need to start creating and publishing content, which can be as simple as writing a few paragraphs in a word processor and hitting “publish.”

Depending on the platform you use, you may also have the option to schedule posts in advance, so you can plan out your content and take breaks from the internet when needed.

Overall, setting up and managing a blog website is a breeze thanks to the numerous platforms and tools available. It’s a simple and enjoyable way to share your thoughts and experiences with the world.

Just don’t forget to back up your content and keep your site secure, or you may find yourself in a pickle.

Pro: Wide range of design and customization options

Ah, the joys of customizing your very own corner of the internet. With a blog website, the sky’s the limit when it comes to design and customization options.

You can really make your blog your own, whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist.

You’ll need to choose a design template for your blog. Most blogging platforms offer a wide range of templates to choose from, including everything from clean and modern to vintage and retro.

You can also usually customize the color scheme, fonts, and layout of your blog to match your personal style.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. You can also add all sorts of bells and whistles to your blog to make it stand out from the competition.

Want to add a banner image or a slider to the top of your site? No problem. How about a contact form or a newsletter sign-up? You got it.

You can even embed videos, audio files, and social media feeds to make your blog more interactive and engaging.

Of course, all of this customization can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re not particularly tech-savvy. But don’t worry, there are plenty of resources available to help you get started, including online tutorials, forums, and support communities.

And if all else fails, you can always hire a web designer to help you out.

Pro: Can generate income through advertisements and sponsored content

Who doesn’t love making a little extra cash on the side? If you’re lucky (or dedicated) enough, your blog website can actually generate income through advertisements and sponsored content.

Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it’s not exactly a walk in the park, but it’s definitely possible.

You’ll need to have a decent amount of traffic to your blog in order to attract advertisers and sponsors. This means consistently creating high-quality content and promoting your site through social media and other channels.

It’s also a good idea to invest in search engine optimization (SEO) to help your blog rank higher in Google search results.

Once you’ve built up a decent following, you can start exploring different monetization options. One option is to display advertisements on your blog, either through a network like Google AdSense or by directly selling ad space to businesses.

You can also earn money by partnering with brands and creating sponsored content, such as sponsored posts or sponsored giveaways.

Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that monetizing your blog takes time and effort, and it’s not a guarantee. You’ll need to be consistent, patient, and open to trying different strategies to see what works best for you.

And remember, your primary focus should always be on creating high-quality content that your readers will enjoy.

Con: Competition for readers and followers

Well, this is a bit of a downer, but it’s important to be realistic: starting a blog website means entering a crowded and competitive market. There are literally millions of blogs out there, all vying for readers and followers.

So, how do you stand out from the crowd?

A great way to stand out is to have a clear focus and niche for your blog. This will help you attract a specific audience and differentiate your blog from others in the same field.

For example, if you’re writing about fashion, you’ll want to focus on a specific aspect of fashion, such as sustainable fashion or vintage fashion, rather than trying to cover everything under the sun.

It’s also important to consistently create high-quality content that resonates with your audience. This means putting in the time and effort to research and write engaging and informative posts.

It’s also a good idea to use visually appealing images and layouts to make your blog more visually appealing and easy to read.

Promotion is also key to attracting readers and followers. You’ll need to be active on social media, participate in relevant online communities, and reach out to other bloggers and influencers in your niche.

It’s also a good idea to optimize your blog for search engines to make it easier for people to find your site.

Of course, even with all of these efforts, it’s still going to be tough to stand out in such a crowded market. But don’t let that discourage you!

The best way to attract readers and followers is to be genuine, passionate, and consistent. And remember, it’s not all about the numbers. As long as you’re enjoying the process and connecting with like-minded people, that’s what really matters.

Con: Time and effort required to consistently produce high-quality content

Ah, the joys of being a blogger. It’s not all glamorous photo shoots and free stuff, you know. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into consistently producing high-quality content for your blog.

Are you up for the challenge?

When blogging you’ll need to be consistent. This means posting new content on a regular basis, whether it’s once a week or once a day.

Consistency is key to building a loyal following and keeping your readers engaged. It’s also a good idea to have a content calendar to help you plan out your posts in advance.

But consistency isn’t the only factor. You’ll also need to put in the time and effort to research and write high-quality posts that your readers will actually want to read.

This means doing your due diligence and thoroughly researching your topics, rather than just regurgitating information from other sources.

Of course, all of this takes time and effort.

Blogging is a hobby, but it’s also a lot of work. You’ll need to be disciplined and dedicated to consistently produce high-quality content. And even if you’re a natural writer, it can still be tough to come up with new ideas and keep your content fresh and engaging.

Con: The costs to start a blog

When starting a blog a major con is that you have to spend money before you ever make anything. You’ll need to choose a blogging platform, and depending on your needs and budget, this can be a free or paid option.

Some popular platforms, such as WordPress and Blogger, offer a free version with limited features, while others, such as Squarespace and Wix, have paid plans with more advanced features. It’s important to do your research and choose the platform that best fits your needs and budget.

Once you’ve chosen a platform, you’ll also need to consider the cost of a custom domain name. While some platforms offer a free subdomain (e.g. myblog.wordpress.com), a custom domain (e.g. myblog.com) generally requires an additional fee.

This can range from a few dollars per year to several hundred, depending on the domain extension and provider.

You may also want to invest in additional features or services to make your blog more professional and effective. This can include things like a premium theme, email marketing software, or a photography service. These costs can be worth it if they help you attract more readers and generate income, but they’re still an expense to consider.

Finally, there’s the cost of your time and effort. As mentioned earlier, blogging requires a significant amount of time and effort to consistently produce high-quality content, promote your site, and engage with your audience.

While this can be a rewarding and enjoyable hobby, it’s important to be realistic about the time and resources you have available.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, folks: a comprehensive look at the pros and cons of starting a blog website. As you can see, there are definitely some upsides to blogging, such as the ease of setup and management, the wide range of design and customization options, and the potential to generate income through advertisements and sponsored content.

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

There’s also the competition for readers and followers, the time and effort required to consistently produce high-quality content, and the cost of starting and maintaining a blog. These are all important factors to consider before diving headfirst into the world of blogging.

So, is starting a blog website right for you? That’s a question only you can answer.

It’s important to weigh the pros and cons and decide if the rewards of blogging outweigh the challenges. If you’re passionate about a topic, enjoy writing, and are willing to put in the time and effort, then go for it!

But if you’re not quite ready to commit to the demands of blogging, that’s okay too. There are plenty of other ways to share your thoughts and experiences with the world.

No, this isn’t another rant about leaving Medium because of how horrible it has become. No, I’m not upset that my “amazing articles” aren’t getting the reads or attention that they deserve.

What I do want to do with this article is point out what I see as some major flaws that are currently causing Medium.com to lose good writers by the droves and why so many people wonder whether Medium writing is worthwhile for them as well.

For me, writing on Medium is an experiment.

I currently have many other blogs that I could be investing my time and effort into that I know would bring good results.

I know this because those blogs are already bringing in good results and have been for a couple of years.

So by taking and investing time into Medium, even if I only spend a couple of hours a day writing an article and then engaging with other writers on the platform, that is time I’m not putting into my other blogs.

So why do I feel that so many good writers are leaving Medium and why do I believe that so many others who haven’t left are considering it?

1. Articles on Medium.com have no staying power

Above is my view graph from the last 30 days. As you can see in the middle I had a couple of articles start to perform pretty well… for about 2 weeks. Then the articles stopped being shown as much and my views dropped back off.

This is despite the fact that I continued putting out new good quality articles 5 times a week.

This is a major issue with Medium and truthfully it is the main issue that I believe hurts Medium the most in regards to losing both readers and writers.

Good articles simply stop being shown.

If someone wrote an excellent article 2 days, 2 weeks, or 2 months ago that got tons of reads, claps, comments, read time, etc. why would Medium then bury it? Now I get that some things are time sensitive (like news or trending things that happen) but so many articles that people wrote many days, weeks, or months ago are still valid and helpful…

But Medium buries them with their algorithm!

Since Medium buries these articles despite them still being helpful and relevant it seriously hurts both writers and readers. As a new Medium reader do you want to read the most relevant and helpful articles that might be a few weeks, months, or years old or do you want to read crappy articles that were written a couple of days again instead?

Obviously the former, right?

But Medium seems to stop showing articles after an incredibly short period of time. Which in turn hurts both the readers (cause they don’t see the best content) and the writers (since their content stops being seen).

My simple suggestion to fix this is for Medium to add sorting into all of the topic categories on both the app and desktop (desktop currently has sort by new but the app doesn’t for some reason). By allowing readers to sort by:

• new
• most popular within the last day, week, month, year, or all time
• most read within the last day, week, month, year, or all time

Medium will make it so that not only can writers with higher quality articles actually be seen more often but readers can also find the better quality articles far more easily.

2. Earnings On Medium have massive fluctuations

I believe this issue is mainly due to the issue mentioned above. Articles are shown for a short while and then stop being shown by the algorithm.

And because of that earnings have massive up-and-down fluctuations.

Now granted I’m pretty new to Medium but when you go from $15 one day to $4 the next day it’s hard to continue to put out good quality articles (and yes that’s an actual swing I had from one day to the next).

I’ve seen another Medium writer talk about going from $955 in June to $361 in July. And honestly… that’s just unacceptable.

How does Medium ever expect to keep good writers when they give inconsistent results like that from month to month?

Now I know it’s a “summer slump” or whatever other junk people want to call it but Medium needs to figure out its crap so writers don’t have gigantic fluctuations like this.

I have many regular blogs and yes earnings fluctuate from month to month as does traffic with the holiday season being the best for both types. However, my earnings stay relatively consistent from January through October and then November and December go up.

The above is a screenshot for June and July for my ad earnings from one of my sites. Despite July being a “down” earnings month and there being a “summer slump”, my earnings were only down slightly in July vs June.

Now compare that to the earning report below from Mike Lewis in his recent post

Like seriously Medium???

This is crap that needs to be fixed if you want Medium to actually be a platform with real writers rather than just a place where people stop by and write for a while before moving on to greener pastures.

There is nothing inherently wrong with writing for fun but with fluctuations like this serious writers will take their talent and go elsewhere where they can get an income that they can actually rely on month in and month out.

3. Writing articles On Medium quickly becomes a hamster wheel

This issue might also be caused by the first point but I’m not sure if it’s a chicken-and-egg situation or what.

For most people on Medium when they stop writing… earnings virtually stop as well.

Heck, I’ve seen people on here posting that they took a one-week vacation, and views, reads, and earnings plummeted. Seriously? One week?

That screenshot I posted above from my ad earnings hasn’t had a single article added in almost a year. But it keeps chugging along as it ranks on Google and I actually get paid for the people that view it via Google (unlike with Medium).

Now try and go a year without publishing something on Medium and see how well that works for you.

I get it, Medium is a different creature than an individual blog but what I don’t get is why it has to be. Why is Medium a hamster wheel of constantly having to write just to keep your current results while regular blogs aren’t?

I really feel it comes down to Medium limiting the people that read your articles through their read limits (for nonpaying members). Can you imagine a business telling people not to come into their store and browse?

But yet that’s what Medium does all the time!

I want people to come to my blog sites, the more the merrier. Because I have ads and even if those people never buy a single thing I make a few pennies for every person that visits and reads.

Why doesn’t Medium do the same and end this stupid hamster wheel?

4. Medium does not enough reward for time/effort

This is an issue that I believe is caused by all the proceeding points. You can put in tons of work, and hours of effort, and write an amazing post, but unless Medium’s magical algorithm decides to show it you will only make a few cents.

It doesn’t matter if your article is the best one on the subject or the worst. The only thing that matters is whether Medium actually shows it.

As I mentioned in the article that I linked above, I feel like this would be fixed if Medium would simply allow much better sorting to take place in all the topics on both the app and desktop. Show everything under a new tab (so every article gets a chance) and then allow us to sort by popularity or most views.

By refusing to do that Medium is arbitrarily rewarding some writers while not rewarding others depending on their algorithm. Also how in the world is sorting by new (and a couple of other things) set up on desktop but not the app???

Want to make more money this month? Hope the algorithm favors you.

With my regular blogs, I can know that the more articles I put out the more money I’m going to make. Even if it takes multiple months for Google to rank them, once they are ranked I can make money from them for many years to come.

With Medium, it’s put in all kinds of effort and hope that it pays off.

And far too often it doesn’t… so writers leave and find a platform where their work is rewarded properly.

5. Time is better spent on your own blogs

For many people who write on Medium (myself included), this isn’t the only place they write. They might freelance, write on their own blogs, write on sub stack, write on Newsbreak, or many other places.

And every minute that is invested into content here is time that can’t be spent on content for those other places.

In my case, I have many other blogs I could be writing on. So if I’m writing 20 articles a month on Medium and only making $200 then I’m making $10 per article. If that grows as a normal blog does and I’m able to make say $1–2 per article per month for many months and years to come then it’s worthwhile.

But if on Medium those articles only produce income for a short period of time (days or weeks) and I max out at even $10–15 per article then it isn’t worth my time.

It would be better for me to invest that time into my own blogs where I could make $1–2 a month per article as within 10–15 months (at most) I would make more than on Medium. And those numbers on my own blogs would be on the extremely low end.

All of us writers have to determine if our time is better spent on Medium or on other platforms. And the way that Medium is set up currently it seems (at least based on many people’s articles) that the time spent on Medium is better spent elsewhere for a lot of people.

Final Thoughts

No platform is perfect, I get that. But if Medium wants to actually have a platform that has good quality content and keeps good writers around then they need to find a way to address these issues that are driving many good writers away or driving them to write less.

I love the idea of the Medium platform and the premise of it but until they figure these things out, keeping good writers around will continue to be difficult if not impossible.

Blogging has become an increasingly popular way for individuals to share their thoughts, experiences, and expertise on a wide range of topics. Many people start a blog as a hobby, while others use it as a platform to promote their businesses or generate income.

But, does blogging cost money to get started?

Blogging can cost money, depending on how you approach it but it doesn’t have to. If you want to create a professional-looking blog, you will likely have to invest at minimum in a domain name and web hosting.

Blog and vlog are two popular terms that refer to different types of online content. A blog, short for “weblog,” is a website or section of a website that features regular updates in the form of written articles or posts.

Although blogs and vlogs are similar in that they are content created by businesses or individuals they are far from being the same thing.

Blogging is a way to share information, ideas, and opinions online through a personal or professional website or platform. It has become a popular activity for people all over the world, with millions of blogs available to read on the internet.

The purpose of blogging can vary, but it is often used as a creative outlet, a way to share personal experiences and knowledge, or a platform to promote a business or brand. Many bloggers also use their blogs as a way to generate income through advertising, sponsorships, and product sales.

In this article, I will explore the advantages and disadvantages of blogging. I will look at some of the potential benefits of starting a blog, as well as the potential drawbacks that might make someone hesitate before starting one.

Bloggers and influencers are two types of online content creators who have gained significant attention in recent years. Both types of individuals use their platforms, whether it be a blog or social media account, to share their thoughts, experiences, and insights with their audience.

Bloggers typically create written content for their own platform, often with a specific niche or theme in mind. For example, a food blogger may create recipe posts, restaurant reviews, and cooking tips for their blog. Bloggers often have a specific area of expertise or passion that they focus on in their content.