I know what you must be thinking..."its about f$$in' time! Your blog is about making money isn't it?". Well, yes it is. But it is also about helping other bloggers make money. So I am going to share with you my monetization plan. After reading this, hopefully you will understand why I have not focused too much on money so far. I am just coming out the planning phase - a crucial step for any blog that desires a revenue stream. If there is one thing that I can stress more than anything else, its patience. All the A-Listers have said it here - you can't expect to make a lot of money overnight. But with the proper planning, it is possible to earn a nice supplemental income.

I was originally going to describe my entire plan in this single post. By the time I was done writing about Step 1, however, I realized that the post would become way too long. So I have decided to make this plan a multi-post series. There is just too much information to cover in one post. Today I will focus on Step 1 - Planning.

Before I continue, let me take a quick second and to point out one important thing. I realize that some of these steps might be obvious to you veterans out there. If so, then I humbly request that you help us newbies out and leave a comment with some advice or feedback. I am not claiming to be an expert at making money online (yet). I have spent the last 3 months learning much about the topic and have come up with this plan for my blog. I, myself, am only between steps 2 and 3 of my plan. I am sharing this plan in case it helps out anyone else who is just getting started. If you already have some experience in the areas I will be discussing, at this step or at any step along the way, please share it with us. Your contributions are greatly appreciated.
Step 1: Planning Is Pivotal

I cannot stress how important I believe this step to be. In order for your blog to be as successful as possible, it is important that you treat it like a small business (if its not already an actual business). The same rules of business apply to blogging. There is supply and demand (relevant content within your niche and readers with interest), there is competition from other bloggers, and there are incomes and expenses. No right-minded business would venture blindly into the marketplace without a solid Business Plan. Those that do often fail. The same is true of blogging. The consequences of failing may not be as catastrophic in blogging - you aren't going to lose your house or anything. But if you don't plan, it is easy to become frustrated, lose interest, and give up. Following a clear plan, on the other hand, can help keep you focused and in the game.

The low level of risk in blogging is what makes it an attractive source of supplemental income. In order to minimize whatever risk there is, it is important to set goals to keep you on target and focused on activities that help improve your blog and enable it to earn as much as possible. Sure, some blogs do make decent money just by "winging it". And with time, yours could too. But having a solid monetization plan early on can help you get there faster. I guarantee you the big earners out there did a lot more than slap a few Google Ads on their blog. Do your research. Take a look at what other blogs in your niche are doing. See what works and what doesn't and what you might be able to improve upon. Then form you plan of attack. What are your sources of income, what services will you use, how much are you willing to spend, etc? Finally, set your goals and track your progress.

More steps to come.

Learn more about this author, Midi Abdelmotaleb.
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