A word of hope for struggling bloggers

Time and again, I get emails from people interested in blogging as a business; and they ask what it takes to be a celebrated blogger. Some mention that they are Internet marketers and I ask what they are actually marketing and they cannot pin-point the precise value they are offering in order to make money online.

While becoming “Internet- famous” may be a quick way to becoming famous and make money, it is by no means easy. If I were paid for everyone who wants to blog, I should be a millionaire. For fun, I generally segment the interest of bloggers into several categories – professional blogger either blogging as a business or for their business; ex-blogger, blogger-to-be, casual blogger and the popular category – copy-and-paste bloggers.

The truth is that blogging is awesome. If done right, it can make you a generous income. It has the power to help you build credibility, authority and ultimately profits. In fact I believe everyone should blog because in the age of digital, building an online presence should actually start with a blog, not Facebook. Somehow so many people get disillusioned because they see the way Internet marketing experts tell them how much they make, how much you can make and invite them into seminars that make them more money than the actual way of making money online.

They eventually leave the so-called blogging seminars believing they will begin to make thousands of dollars almost with little efforts. But few months after they get discouraged, disillusioned and distraught.

Linda Ikeji is one of Nigeria’s foremost bloggers and recently celebrated her birthday and eight years of blogging. People love the super blogger Linda but rarely identify with the process of getting there. While there are some others who make money online, she is undoubtedly Nigeria’s most successful blogger who made her money from blogging. I have decided to use today to draw lessons from her work in answer to quick tips to being a super blogger.

Own your domain before you become a celebrity

You see everyone needs to register their personal domain name and business name as early as possible. The times are coming when the things you consider unnecessary will be critical to your business survival. Gist had it at one time Lindaikeji.com was obtained way long before Linda Ikeji considered registering it. Gist also had it that while Vincent Enyeama, Nigeria’s ace goal stopper was having a fantastic performance during the match between Nigeria and Argentina at the 2010 South Africa WorId Cup, someone was busy registering his name as a domain name. Cyber-squatting is common as it defines the practice by people who buy domain names with the hope of selling it later – a kind of internet real estate. However, after the number of years blogging and she is still successful at it, outperforming all imitators, competitors and squatters, who says rules are not meant to be broken? Actionable tip? Register your business and personal name – including likely misspells and extensions.

Blogging is real work – it takes time to yield results

While top bloggers make blogging look easy, the reality is that showing up at your computer on a regular basis with fresh ideas, content and motivation is more than writing or copy-and-paste skills.

My candid advice is to tell bloggers struggling that after the initial thrill of starting your blog dissipates, keep on blogging. Internet traffic and subsequently money accrues over time if you are dedicated to put in the right amount of time and efforts to make it a reality. Results accrue over time. Bloggers like lindaIkeji, OloriSupergal, Ogbongeblog, Mobility, Naija Tech Guide have shown that you need to put in the required time and efforts in order to make it a reality. Actionable tips: Have a blogging schedule and stick with it – good times, bad times, all times.

Understand your audience

It is very annoying that there are too many bloggers in the gossip and entertainment niche. Every blogger wants to be in the entertainment and gossip niche. It is so bad that you only need to read one blog and you have read more than 20. People have criticized the quality of the content but really it is the case of the chicken and the egg. The people are creating gossip news, the people love reading it, she has identified her area and she is building a business around it – without apologies. Actionable tip: Find a niche that resonates with you and stick with it. Don’t be busy chasing free traffic, build a top niche blog and gradually build your readership base. If you are patient enough, the world will look for you. Identify the area you want to blog in – food, business, technology, agriculture, health, family – stick with it and look for opportunity to expand further.

Follow the money

No matter what happens, you are blogging to add value – money, fame recognition or authority. It is important not to forget those objectives as you continue to churn out content on the internet. If there is something that attracts brands, it is internet attention.

Creative people and indeed bloggers should not be ashamed of being paid for their work and contributions. Quickly begin to identify a business model – selling advertising spaces, digital products, events or memberships. Keep your eyes on the ball.

There is still too little content coming from Africa. There are still a lot of niches looking for people to generate content, build an audience and people will turn your website into their daily tonic. The audience you build through blogging will grow to like, trust and are willing to buy from you. Actionable tip: What are you waiting for? The future started yesterday, you are already late – Go!

BY  Deola Kayode

Deola Kayode