How to Start a Creative Blog in 2021

Creative people like to express themselves, and a blog is a perfect way to share that inner creativity. Whether you’re a painter, photographer, woodworker, potter, sewist, or any other type of creative, a blog can help you show people what you’re up to.

One thing I’ve noticed is that creatives are good at creating, but don’t always enjoy the tedious behind-the-scenes process needed to start a blog. If you’re not already into coding, you may not want to start. It’s easier to use Instagram and post your art than it is to learn the complicated parts of web development.

I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to be a computer whiz to start a blog. I know because I was able to start a creative blog and I have no background in web design (unless you count my Geocities website I started when I was 12.) I mean my pony adoption website was pretty sweet, but it wasn’t exactly a masterpiece.

In this post, I’m going to talk to you as one creative to another. I have three years of experience writing about blogging (in my freelance writing career) and we’ve been happily running our blog since August of 2018. I’m excited to teach you what I know so you can take your idea of starting a blog and make it a reality.

Note: This blog post contains affiliate links.

Table of Contents for Easy Navigation

A Quick Overview Of How We Started a Creative Blog

Our inspiration was we wanted to make a blog to showcase the things we make and the homestead we’re growing. So we created the Making Life!
We currently have GoDaddy for our domain name, but are hoping to switch to NameCheap soon.
We chose to use WordPress for our website builder.
We use GreenGeeks for our hosting because they’re eco-friendly, reliable, and have great customer service.
Our income comes primarily from affiliates (though we’ve always dreamed of adding physical and digital products as well)
Google has been our best source of traffic followed by Pinterest.

Step 1: Find Your Inspiration (Pick a Niche)

Before you can start your creative blog, you first have to ask yourself this question. What inspires you and what kind of niche do you want to have? Some things to consider when you pick a niche for your blog:

What kind of creative blog do you want to make?

Do you want to focus on photography? Are you interested in crocheting? Do you have several creative endeavors that you want to put into one blog?

One bit of advice I would give after starting our blog is to pick a more narrow niche. We have a lot of interests packed into one blog — homesteading, drawing, chainsaw milling, woodworking, gardening, beekeeping, kids activities, candle making, soap making, and basically anything else a person can make.

While we LOVE the general topic of “making” or DIY, it does make it more difficult to market, rank on Google, and gain followers. So my advice, especially if you want to make money blogging, would be to try to pick something fairly narrow that has enough rich content that you can write about for the long haul.

What makes your blog unique?

Another important consideration is what will make your blog unique from others out there right now. What makes your blog unique could be that you have better content than what’s out there. It could also mean that you have an angle that’s different than others, or it could be something that’s creative and completely different than everyone else.

The main thing here is to not blend into the thousands of bloggers in your niche only adding to the noise. There are a lot of bloggers out there, so think about what you would like to add that will benefit your readers.

What are you excited about enough to write about for the long haul?

This is also extremely important. As a creative, it’s hard for me to want to write about something for a long period of time that I have no interest in. As a freelance writer, I can write about a variety of topics because I know at the end of the day, I will be receiving a paycheck. When it comes to your blog, you may not see that payout for a long time, so make sure you pick a topic that you’re genuinely interested in to get you through the rough patches.

What are your talents and experience?

Another thing to consider is where your natural talents lie, and what experience you’ve already gained.

Do you have a knack for basket weaving? Have you spent years working construction? Do you spend a lot of your free time drawing pictures of celebrities? The things you’re naturally good at or have experience doing are the things you should lean into. If you love the idea of pottery, but you’ve never tried to spin a pot, people aren’t going to trust you as an authority. They want someone who has already destroyed a hundred items on the pottery wheel and is now mastering the art of making beautiful things.

Why make a blog about something creative?

What’s special about a creative blog? Making a blog is inherently creative. You’re making something and showing it to the world. Whether that’s through words, images, or videos, you’re taking something you’ve created for the enjoyment of others.

What kind of blogger are you going to be?

The last thing to think about is what kind of creative blog you’re going to make. I’m not talking about the topic (needlework or watercolor painting, for instance), I mean how are

you going to write it.

Will your blog be a personal journey? Are you simply recounting your day-to-day as a creative? Will your blog be educational and teach people how to do what you know how to do? Will your blog mainly showcase the work that you’re doing to show people the next creative endeavor you’re pursuing? Will it be a bit of a mix of all three?

When we first started making YouTube videos and blog posts, we weren’t exactly sure what our angle was. Were we going to make inspirational content that showed people what they could make, or were we going to give them a step-by-step down to detail explanation so they could make exactly what we made?

Thinking about your game plan early on will help guide the way your blog develops in the long run.

Step 2: Think of a Blogging Business Plan

This may be one of the biggest questions you can ask yourself as a blogger. Do you plan to make money, or are you making a hobby blog to share with your friends and family?

If you have no interest in making money blogging, you can skip this step. If not, below are some of the best ways you can make money as a blogger and get something back for the hard work you put into creating your blog.

7 Ways to Monetize Your Creative Blog

One of the appealing things about blogging is you can make money from a variety of avenues. On one blog post alone, you can use several methods of monetization.

Here are 7 ideas for making money as a creative blogger.

Sell Your Creative Products

If you’re a maker, then selling your products on your blog fits like a glove. Small items that are easy to ship or digital goods are an excellent way to start your business. Once your business starts to grow, you may want to start selling larger products or large commissioned work for people local to you.

Ideas for items to sell include:

Homemade soap or shampoo bars
Bath bombs
Lip balms
T-shirts
Pillowcases
Candles
Jewelry
Art prints
Digital prints
Pottery goods such as mugs or dishes
Enamel pins
Wooden soap dishes
Peg dolls
Coasters
Baby quilts
Magnets
Stickers
Headbands
Cutting boards
Ornaments
Hats
Wedding favors
Cake toppers
Tote bags
Signs or wall racks
Spice rack (especially personalized)
Crochet items (like dishcloths)

*Note: It may be in your best interest when selling physical products to buy insurance to cover liability issues. This is really important for products sold for children or for candles since they create a risk in people’s homes.

2. Affiliate Programs for Creative Bloggers

One of the most popular way to make money blogging is through affiliate partners. Monetizing this way allows creative bloggers to do what they do best — create killer content — without having to focus on making or selling items to consumers. Instead, they promote other people’s products or services and receive a small fee when people complete a purchase.

Some affiliates available for makers include:

Amazon Associates — We use this program on our blog. Easy to work with and pays 1% to 10% per item. Cookies last 24 hours and you make money on whatever someone orders, even if they don’t order the item you refer them to.
Etsy the giant crafting marketplace also has an affiliate program. They pay a 4% commission rate (in most cases) with cookies that last 30 days.
Hobby Lobby has an affiliate program with a 3.2% -4% commission rate and cookies last 3 days. You can sign up for the Hobby Lobby affiliate program through Flexoffers or CJ Affiliate.
Cricut has an affiliate program with a surprisingly high commission rate. You can earn *up to* 25% on a sale and cookies last 5 days.
Blick Art Supplies offers an affiliate program with a commission rate “up to 10%.” Cookies last 24 hours.
Love Crafts is a website for crafting enthusiasts especially interested in textiles like sewing, knitting, and crochet. They offer a 15% commission rate and cookie duration of 30 days.
Highland Woodworking is a one-stop-shop for all sorts of woodworking needs including tools, classes, and accessories. Their affiliate program has a 5% commission rate and repeat commissions for up to 60 days which is a pretty sweet deal.
Arteza is a business that sells art supplies, and they also offer an affiliate program. They have a commission rate of up to 15% and a cookie duration of 30 days.
Rockler provides woodworking supplies to aspiring woodworkers and they have an affiliate program for bloggers. They offer a 5% commission rate and .75 cents for catalog requests. Cookies last for 24 hours.

Another good way to find affiliates is to contact companies of brands that you love. If there’s a product that you’re over the moon about (and likely already promoting on your blog and social media) why not try reaching out to them? They may be willing to be an affiliate partner — and there’s a good chance they’ll give a better commission rate than other affiliate programs.

3. Courses For Creatives

If affiliate links aren’t your thing, or you want an additional source of income, you can try creating courses for your loyal site visitors. If there’s something you’re especially good at, you can create premium content.

For example, if your blog is about painting, your course might be a beginner’s guide to painting where you break down the best paintbrushes, paints, and canvasses. Then you might do a couple of paint-together videos where someone can follow your painting guides to create their own artwork and learn important beginner techniques.

To create a course, there are quite a few options. Some popular choices are:

4. eBooks For Creatives

Love creating content? Writing an eBook can help you turn a profit. You can sell the eBook on your site and also list it on Amazon to maximize your profits. You can also use an eBook to help grow your newsletter readership. You can offer a free eBook download in exchange for an email address.

You can create an eBook on Canva for free or upgrade to their premium plan.

Additional options are:

5. Sponsored Content

Sometimes brands will team up with bloggers and pay them to create content that promotes their products or service. These are sometimes called “native ads” because it’s a blog post that reads like other blog posts, but ultimately promotes something.

These posts should still provide value to your readers, and fit into your overall theme.

*Note if you write sponsored content you need to disclose it to your audience. People don’t like to be misled, and you don’t want to lose the trust of your readers, but disclosing it is also a part of the Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

6. Plans and Patterns

Selling a pattern or a plan for a project is the perfect solution for a creative to make money blogging. People will come to your blog to learn about your expertise in your chosen niche. If they like your style or craftmanship, they’re likely going to be willing to pay for your unique patterns or plans.

I like this option as well because it’s digital which means you’ll only have to put the work in once to create a passive form of income. Instead of making a new product every day, you can throw yourself into making amazing plans.

Here’s an example of a famous pattern by The Velvet Acorn. A few years ago people were often sending me requests with pictures of this little girl and her Mom’s incredible knit and crochet creations. Her price point is affordable, and the end result is obviously adorable.

This seller has made almost 400,000 sales, according to her Etsy page. At $5 a sale… that’s nothing to scoff at.

7. Ads

I’ll be right upfront. I’m not a big fan of ads. That’s why I’ve chosen not to use them on my blog. But they can be profitable, and they’re the most passive form of income that I can think of. Ads allow you to make whatever kind of content you like (that attracts visitors) without having to promote a specific product or service.

Many people just starting out like to use Google AdSense to start. This is a good option because you don’t have to have a massive website with a ton of visitors in order to start using ads. Basic requirements for Google AdSense are:

Unique and interesting content on your blog (not just copy and paste from another blog and avoid duplicate content)
Content that complies with AdSense Program Policies
The owner of the blog must be at least 18 years old

Some websites are rejected from the Google AdSense program, so it’s a good idea to have your blog for around six months with a good number of blog posts before you apply.

Other popular ad programs are:

One thing I will say about ads is to avoid over-saturating your content with ads. Running a lot of them is a turn-off to visitors and can greatly increase your bounce rate. It can also slow down your website which can jeopardize your Google search engine ranking.

Step 3: Choose a Blogging Platform

You have a blog idea. You have an idea of how you want to make money. Now you have to think about where you want to house your website. What blogging platform is the best fit for you?

I’m not going to take the time to talk about every blogging platform out there, but I will share my top recommendation as well as the pros and cons of some of the best-known options.

Wix Blogging Platform

Wix is an extremely popular website builder with a what-you-see-is-what-you-get interface. That means you can edit your website and blog in real-time and know exactly what it will look like in its published form.

When we first started the Making Life we chose Wix because they have great marketing and it’s insanely easy to use.

Pros of Wix are:

Easy to use
Everything taken care of for you like security, templates, email subscription, etc.. You don’t have to worry about much behind-the-scenes maintenance.
Lots of templates to choose from

Cons of Wix:

You can’t switch templates without starting over. Once you have a template you have to stick with it.
Not as flexible as other options (like WordPress which I will discuss below). I liked how easy Wix was to use, but when it came to blogging I found their blogging features extremely limited.
Fairly expensive. There are several plans to choose from (including a limited free plan) but it can be somewhat pricey.
You can’t migrate your site from Wix to another platform.

Here’s a glance at our old Wix blog and the editing interface:

Weebly and Squarespace

Weebly and Squarespace are also good options if you want easy-to-use website builders. Squarespace is image heavy and a good choice for people who have a lot of high-quality photographs. These websites tend to look sleek, minimalist, and professional. We did try Squarespace several years ago and didn’t find it as easy or intuitive as Wix.

Weebly is incredibly easy to use and like Wix has a free starter option. Weebly can also be a good choice if you’re looking to start an eCommerce store because they’ve teamed up with Square and even offer a (FREE) eCommerce store.

One thing to know about Wix and Weebly’s free website options is that your website will have their ad placements (which you will not receive compensation for) and your website address will also have the Wix or Weebly branding.

WordPress

We switched to WordPress a couple of years ago and though the transition was a little difficult, it was definitely worth it. I’m much happier using WordPress than I was using Wix. Wix is easier to use and has everything built into it, which I admittedly did enjoy, but WordPress gives me a lot more freedom to do what I want with my blog. (Please note that I am referring to WordPress.org and not WordPress.com)

Pros of WordPress:

Flexibility in every area. Your blog can look just the way you want it, especially if you know a little bit of coding.
You can monetize your blog any way you choose. Some blogging platforms have restrictions about how and when you can monetize your blog. With WordPress, it’s totally up to your discretion.
Thousands of templates and plugins to choose from. This allows you the freedom to do so much with your blog, even if you don’t know anything about coding.
WordPress is totally free to use. It’s an open-source platform meaning it is free for all and can be changed to meet each person’s needs. (You will still need to pay for a domain name and a hosting plan which we will cover in the next two sections).
Integrates well with third-party tools like SEO tools, email marketing, and payment gateways.
Ability to turn your blog into an eCommerce site with plugins

Cons of WordPress:

Although WordPress is generally easy to use, it has a higher learning curve than something like Wix or Weebly.
Requires more maintenance from the user. You will be responsible for things like security, platform, plugin, and theme updates, backups, and so on.
Does not have a drag-and-drop builder without adding a plugin.
Basic knowledge of HTML is a plus with WordPress which may turn some people away.

From here on out, this tutorial will talk primarily about starting your blog using WordPress, but many of the same ideas can be applied if you choose a different platform.

Step 4: Get a Domain Name and Choose a Name for Your Blog

OK. Okay okay okay. It’s time to pick a name for your blog. You might have the *perfect* name in mind or you might have been putting this off because nothing seems to fit.

If you’re stuck on choosing a name, I have some tips to help get your creative juices flowing.

Choose something that means something to you. Pick something that has personal meaning to you and won’t quickly lose interest in.
Avoid cliches. Try coming up with a name that’s unique or unusual or stands out.
What about a nonsense word? Your blog’s name doesn’t have to be a real name. Think about Ikea, or Nike, or Google. These are nonsense words that the companies branded into something most people know and recognize. The beauty of a made-up word is you can make it mean whatever you want and you have fresh start when it comes to marketing your name.
Try a domain name generator. You can use domain name generators like Name Mesh to come up with new names and find out what domain names are available.
Read a book or watch a movie. You might be able to find a cool name for your blog in a book or in a fun indie movie. Believe it or not, Yahoo! was named after creatures in Gulliver’s Travels. You can also crack open a dictionary and look for some interesting words. That’s what Twitter’s Jack Dorsey did when he founded his company.
Pick something that hasn’t been used. There are a LOT of domain names already being used right now, which means you have to use extra creativity for your blog name. Your blog might be about painting, but trust me, paint.com already exists. You can use Namecheap’s domain name search to find out if the name you want is available.

What is the Difference Between a Blog Name and a Domain Name?

I’m using these terms interchangeably here, but your domain name and blog name can be different. The domain name is the web address people will type into their search bar when they want to find your blog. Your blog name is the name you call your blog. Most people tend to make their domain name the same as their blog name because it’s easier to remember when people want to type in your address.

Without a domain name, people won’t be able to view your blog so it’s a very important part of starting a blog. It is an expense, but it’s a relatively small expense. Most .com websites run between $9 and $15 a year.

What Domain Name Registrar Should You Choose?

I recommend using Namecheap to register your domain name.

A few years ago when we first started our blog we used GoDaddy for our domain name, but when we have to renew I plan on switching to Namecheap. Their prices are competitive, they offer 24/7 support, and they aren’t aggressive on upselling. They also offer free domain privacy protection which means they’ll keep your personal information hidden when people search your domain name.

Step 5: Choose a Hosting Plan

A hosting plan is the other expense you can expect when you use WordPress to start your blog. There are many hosting companies to choose from, and you may have heard of the most popular ones like Bluehost and Siteground. These are reputable hosting providers and loads of people use them. I considered using Bluehost myself, but I fell in love with GreenGeeks because they’re eco-friendly and they’re one of the few companies that consider the environment as part of their business plan.

As a disclaimer, I am a GreenGeeks affiliate, but I wouldn’t recommend them if I wasn’t really happy with their service. Here are some major reasons to use GreenGeeks:

24/7/365 support
99.9% uptime guarantee
Fast page loads
Updated technology like PHP7
Free SSL certificate (security for your website and adds the “s” on your website address)
Nightly website backups
Free domain for the first year (they have their own domain name provider)
Easy WordPress installation
50GB – Unlimited web space depending on the plan
Competitive introductory pricing
Free website migration (if you’re coming from a different hosting plan)
300% renewable web hosting

Cons of GreenGeeks:

Increased pricing once the introductory period is over
No phone support available

From a personal standpoint, when I switched from Wix to WordPress I was a little lost about how to set everything up. I spent a lot of time using GreenGeek’s support and they were extremely helpful. A few times I had to use a ticket to get in contact with extra support but they resolved all my issues quickly and expertly. They had a good sense of humor and no one made fun of me for not having a better understanding of the backend of running a blog.

I once had a problem with a plugin update that affected my website. GreenGeeks used a backup of my website to start fresh and resolved the issue for me.

I haven’t had any issues in the two years I’ve used GreenGeeks and would really recommend them to other creative bloggers (especially for ones who are eco-conscious).

Step 6: Select a Theme

Selecting a theme for your WordPress blog takes some consideration. You can change your theme later, but it will mess with the configuration of your website and you’ll have to work behind the scenes to make sure everything looks right again. It isn’t difficult to change your theme but be aware that it will require some reworking.

I’ve rounded up some themes that you may want to use for your creative blog.

Ashe Pro

If you like the theme we use for our blog, it’s called Ashe Pro and it is made by WP Royal. We chose to pay for the premium version for extra features but there is a free version available.

This theme is:

Mobile-friendly
Easy to use
Integrates with drag and drop builders like Divi and Elementor
WooCommerce compatible
Several layouts to choose from
SEO optimization

2. Brunn

This theme is specifically designed with creatives in mind and is a good fit for people wishing to sell products on their blogs.

Some features included with this theme are:

WooCommerce integration
One-Click demo content import
Large collection of layouts
Very customizable
Compatible with Elementor

3. VESO

This is a minimalist theme that has a built-in drag n drop builder which allows you to see changes in real time.

Key features include:

Supports the newest version of WordPress
Customizable layout possibilities
Many custom elements
SEO optimized
Supports WooCommerce

4. Divi

Divi is a popular WordPress theme that has an integrated drag’n’drop builder. It’s one of the best WYSIWYG themes available for WordPress and it makes creating a blog or website easier (especially for us creative-visual types).

Some other features included:

In-line text editing allows you to add text wherever you want.
40 website elements like call-to-actions and sliders
Over 800 premade layouts

From their site: “Divi isn’t just a WordPress theme, it’s a complete design framework that allows you to design and customize every part of your website from the ground up. You have control over everything down to the finest detail.”

Free Themes

WordPress also offers a plethora of free themes to choose from. Some of the more popular ones include:

Step 7: Choose the Best Plugins

Plugins are used for WordPress to enhance usability and offer more features. WordPress comes with some basic features out of the box, but plugins add a lot to your blog.

Some plugins you may be interested in using for your blog are:

Elementor is a plugin that allows you turn your WordPress blog into a drag’n’drop builder. They offer a free and premium version.
Jetpack is a security, performance, and marketing plugin that offers a free and premium version.
Yoast SEO. SEO or search engine optimization refers to the practice of making your blog land higher on search in a search engine. Yoast SEO will help you make your blog SEO-friendly. They also have a free and premium version available.
Akismet. When you have a blog on WordPress you’re likely going to be a target for spam. This plugin checks your comments and contact forms for spam.
Monster Insights. This plugin integrates with your Google Analytics so you can check in on these insights directly from the WordPress platform.
WooCommerce this plugin allows you to turn your blog into an eCommerce store.

There are lots of other plugins that can enhance your blog, so take some time to find the ones that work best for YOUR blog.

Step 8: Start Writing Blog Posts

Now for the big moment! You’ve put together a business plan and you’ve set up the technical parts of your blog. Now you’re staring at a blank screen thinking about what to write.

Where to begin? What should you write about on your blog? What would people want to read?

Here are some tips for coming up with your content that I think would be helpful for your first blog post or your 300th post.

1. What are you interested in?

This is the fun part. What do you want to write about? What is really catching your attention or what are you working on right now? What can you NOT wait to share with the world? Try to find topics that pique your interest and you’ll enjoy writing.

2. What is your audience interested in?

In truth, there are times as a blogger that you’ll have to write things your audience wants instead of your personal interests. Or to put it another way, you’ll have to pick topics that people actually search for. There are times that I’ve written blog posts that I thought were fun, but have received very little traffic because it isn’t something people put into a search engine.

For example, I once wrote a blog post about learning how to make things without YouTube. It’s a good concept, but it just isn’t something people naturally search for. I spent a lot of time writing it and I probably get one person a month reading it (if that).

3. What is a unique offering?

Part of blogging is not simply making a carbon copy of something that’s already available. There are a lot of times that I come up with blog post ideas but there are already really really good articles about it so I don’t even try to compete. I try to use this criterion when writing a blog post:

Am I writing about something new or different?
Can I write something better than what’s out there?
Can I change my idea enough to make it unique (if there are similar examples already)?
Am I making sure I’m not stealing someone else’s idea?

Sometimes I’ll make a tutorial of something I’m making/doing even if the competition is high just because it’s what I’m working on and my regular blog readers might enjoy it. For the most part, though, I try to pick topics that will give me new readers from Google and social media searches.

4. Write something you’re familiar with.

When I write a blog post I try to write about things that I’m personally familiar with (a project I’ve already completed or a skill I’ve developed). If I don’t have personal experience with it then I’m prepared to do a lot of research. As a freelance writer my super power is deep research and I don’t mind investing time learning about something new.

What I want to avoid doing is write about things I don’t know anything about and try to act like an expert. People will see through and I’ll quickly lose my reputation as an authority on that subject. If they can’t trust what I’m writing they’ll 100% go somewhere else to find the answer.

5. Write content that works together.

Think of topics that work together. For example, we have a blog post about how to render beeswax and a blog post about how to make beeswax candles. These two posts are a natural fit and we can easily link from one blog to the next to keep people on our site and lower our bounce rate.

Step 9: Come Up With a Content Plan

Have you ever taken those tests that tells you your personality? I took the 16 personalities test and my four letters are INFP. We tend to like to write and express ourselves in words, but we also struggle with organization and sticking to a plan.

So with my deepest sympathy, I’m sharing this part understanding that I am a failure at sticking to a content plan. Life is so so busy and I am always hanging on by a thread balancing the mom/work life, maintaining our little homestead, and trying to contribute to society from time to time. I’m also not the most organized or structured person. I’m a CREATIVE, OK? And if you’re an organized creative please drop a comment below because I need to know your best tips.

With that major disclaimer, I will tell you right now that your blog is going to be a lot more successful if you set up a content plan and stick to it.

So what does that mean exactly?

Take time to choose a topic. Use the criterion listed above and decide on at least 3-4 blog posts that you plan to write in the near future.
Set up a specific time of the day that you can dedicate to writing content.
Choose a day to post new content. Will you post once a week, every two weeks, or once a month?
Promote your work. Once you have a new post make sure you’re promoting it so you get eyes on your new content.
Begin again and continue growing your network of content.

Step 10: How to Promote Your Creative Blog

You launched your blog. You’re writing the content. You’re not getting the readers.

What’s going on? How do you get people to read your work? How do you gain people’s attention?

To become a successful blogger, you also have to promote your work. People won’t know you exist if they don’t see your presence on the internet. To begin promoting your job, try these methods:

Develop your brand. First, start by developing your brand. What does your blog look like? What does it feel like? How will people quickly recognize your content when they see it on social media? Here are some things to think about with branding:
- What blog name fits your branding?
- What kind of logo would match your style?
- What kind of slogan fits with your blog?
- What blog theme would work with your brand?
- What color palette appeals to you?
- What font do you want to use consistently on your blog and promotions?
- What part of your personality can come out in your branding? What’s signature to you? Will people recognize your “voice” in your writing?
Blast it on social media. I’ll be the first to say that social media can be a disappointment when it comes to traffic, but I’ll also be the first to say it’s a GREAT way to network. If you’re able to gain a following, it can also be a beneficial tool for driving traffic.

For us, Pinterest is a better source of traffic than Instagram, but I love Instagram for finding other makers and building up a network of like-minded people. If I find a blogger I like, the first thing I do is find their Instagram so I can keep an eye on new content that interests me.

Don’t forget that TikTok is a thriving social media platform that can help drive traffic to your blog. It’ll also give to the opportunity to lose half-hour portions of your life as the algorithm takes your mind on an escape.

When you want to make social media posts, we’ve found that Canva is really easy to use and we’re happy with the finished product.

3. Set up a newsletter. Personally, I prefer following someone on social media more than signing up for their newsletter. However, there are a few bloggers that I receive newsletters from when they post new content and I look forward to these updates. Having an email list is a proven way to gain return visitors to your blog. Instead of dropping by once, they’ll be informed of new content that might interest them and you have a better chance of them coming back to read again.

4. Use Search Engine Optimization

SEO strategies are incredibly important for driving traffic to your blog. We get the majority of our visitors straight from Google so we know how essential this practice is. There are a LOT of amazing tutorials about SEO on the internet. I thought about writing it all out here, but instead, I’ll direct you to my friend Ryan Robinson’s blogging website as he talks about 10 Blog SEO Strategies.

He’s an expert in the field and he has tried and tested information that will give you a great start on making your blog SEO-Friendly

5. Promote locally.

I don’t think people think about this strategy as much, but you can use offline interactions to promote your online work. Tell your friends and family about your blog and meet up with other people in your community who are interested in the same things you are. Join hobby groups and go to events related to your niche. Not only will you have an opportunity to promote your blog, but you’ll also be investing in the subject you’re passionate about.

Step 11: Be Patient With Progress and Enjoy the Journey

Blogging is a competitive field, but the chance to create passive income while expressing your creativity is an incredible opportunity. My best advice is to be patient as you grow your blog. You’ll hear about people who became overnight successes, but most people have to put in the hard work for a good period of time before they begin to reap the benefits of their work. Your first blog post probably won’t go viral, and you likely won’t make money immediately.

What I can tell you is the first dollar you generate does feel amazing. I know we celebrated that achievement!

So work hard, be patient, and enjoy the journey. I think blogging is for people who really enjoy the process as much as the achievements. Yes, you want to make money, but connecting to our audience, meeting new people, and sharing our creative endeavors is really what keeps us going.

If you’re thinking about starting a blog and have any additional questions, please drop them in the comments below. If you already have a creative blog, leave a link in the comments below. We’d love to see what you’re doing!