How to Become a Financially Successful Blogger

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Long back, when people wanted to share their ideas and knowledge to the world through written words, they had to be a journalist with a newspaper or a magazine. Or they had to be an author depending on a publishing company to accept their work and market it. But today, you can write, hit publish and the whole world can see it!

Blogging is one of the best business models in the world. It gives you time freedom, location freedom and the ability to scale your income rapidly. Blogging is a long journey and there are many things that you would need to get right. In this article, let’s discuss the top factors that determine blogging success.

1. Get Started First, Most People Won’t

A recent poll in Learn Digital Marketing Forum revealed that a huge percentage of people haven’t even started a blog. Without making your first Rs.100 from blogging, you will never be motivated to put in the work required to start making a full-time income from your blog.

Let’s say a full-time income means Rs.50,000 a month from your blog. For some, the required income may be higher, for some, lower. But Rs.50,000 per month is a good benchmark to set because if you can achieve this, then doubling your income wouldn’t be a tough task.

Register a domain, buy a web-hosting account, install a blog, publish some articles, drive some traffic and earn some revenue from ads or affiliate income. Do this first, because you will start seeing some results that will motivate you. If you get 100 visitors and earn Rs.10, that puts you ahead of 1,000 other people who haven’t taken the first step. You will be motivated automatically. You will then make your first Rs.100, then a Rs.1,000 and then a Rs.10,000.

When I first started my blog, I never expected it to grow to this stage. I just published a few articles so that I can put it on my resume. So that my resume looks better than 5 other resumes applying for the same job. But actually getting started helped me realize the potential of blogging. Once I had some traction, I scaled it up!

I started blogging in 2012. Guess how much was my traffic in 2016?

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Now my traffic goals for 2017 is double that of 2016 because I know that 2x is not an impossible goal. Increasing your total traffic by 2x every year is a healthy way to grow.

2. Treat Blogging Like a Business

Many people treat blogging as a job. They want to work for X hours and earn Y income. People write blogs, create videos, share the articles on social media and so on. But they never re-invest the revenue from their blog back into the growth of their blog. That’s the biggest mindset issue with most of the bloggers.

I’m not saying that you have to make a huge upfront investment to start getting good traction from your blog. Just reinvest 80%-100% of the money you make back into the blog, at least in the initial few years. Invest in boosting FB page posts, invest in design, invest in building an email list and so on. If you know how to monetize the traffic, you will be able to get a healthy ROI.

For example, I spent $15 on boosting a recent blog post I published. It got nearly 1.5k likes, reached 16k people and got nearly 500 link clicks to my blog post. I agree that you will not have enough budget to invest like that in the beginning, but you can definitely spend $1 or $2. When your blog grows and start making income, you can have higher budgets for promotion!

3. Focus on One Topic and Become a Leader

Many bloggers try to be everything to everyone. That’s a losing game. You have to focus on a narrow topic and become a leader in that market. For example, my area of focus will always be on digital marketing and region wise, I will be focusing mostly in India. My goal is to get recognised as the top digital marketer in India and maintain that position.

You should choose a topic where there is a combination of your passion, talent and market opportunity. A few years back, I started a blog about SSB Training because there was a tremendous market opportunity in that. But I was not passionate about it. I let the blog fail. When I was blogging about motorcycles in 2009, I had huge passion for motorcycles, had a talent to write about bikes, but the market was not that great.

Finally, I zeroed-in on a topic where I have all the three. Passion for marketing, talent to execute digital marketing campaigns and a market where digital marketing skills and knowledge are in huge demand.

4. Understand Your Readers and Fulfil their Needs

As I’ve already mentioned, blogging is a business. Every business must understand the needs and wants of their customers. Your first customers are your readers. Ask them what they want and depending on their answers, fulfil their need. I have spoken to 100s of my readers and customers over the phone in the past few years and the learning I’ve acquired by talking to them about their needs is priceless.

This understanding will also lead to monetisation opportunities. For example, I understood that many of my readers wanted to learn AdWords and Facebook Ads in-depth. My blog articles were not enough for them. So I launched advanced courses on these topics. They were paid courses, and I made an excellent revenue from the sales of these courses. And of course, I’m reinvesting the revenue back into the growth of the blog!

If you want to catch a fish, you should put a worm on the hook. Fishes want worms, that’s what they are attracted to. You shouldn’t put a candy on the hook because you like candy. Similarly, you shouldn’t blog about the topics that you like. You should blog about the topics that your readers would want to read. Else, you cannot get readers for your blog and people would just ignore you.

A very good way to understand your reader’s needs is to create an online community of like-minded people. For example, I created this forum called Learn Digital Marketing on Facebook. Initially, I just had a few hundred members. But they helped me learn about their needs. As I kept fulfilling their needs, I got more blog traffic, my email list grew and so did the forum members. As of now, the forum has around 25,000 members!

5. Read, Learn & Implement Fast

Almost all the markets are competitive markets in this world. Blogging is also a very competitive market. There are millions of blog posts being published every day. How are you going to stand out?

You should stay at the top of your game by learning a lot. You should learn the fundamentals of marketing and business. And you should also learn the latest strategies and tactics in the digital marketing world. Whether it is about branding your blog via social media or the latest updates in SEO, you need to be updated about what’s happening in the industry.

Learning a lot and not implementing them leads to knowledge constipation (or information overload). Implement things fast. Implementation will lead to validated learning. Validated learning gives you the confidence to execute things and if you get things done, results will be inevitable.

Conclusion

What is stopping you from getting started? Do you fear failure? Do you think by starting a blog and not getting any traffic to it would be a failure? Is that what you fear?

Fear not getting started at all. Fear of not failing at all. Because we all fail, then we learn and then succeed. Every step of the way, you succeed in small ways.

Get the first 100 visitors to your blog. Then get the first 1000. That’s how you become a successful blogger. All the best for your blogging success. 🙂

Have questions? Leave a comment below.

174 thoughts on “How to Become a Financially Successful Blogger”

  1. Thank you Deepak for the wonderful article.

    I am working in Bharati AXA life insurance (Sales), planning to do certification next month, need job in Digital Marketing, can you help me on this, please!!!

    Reply

  4. Hi Deepak,
    I have been doing blogging for many years, but the intention has not been for earning as yet. But looking at this article, I think I should take it to the next level.

    Reply

  7. Again a great article from you Deepak, Really this article boosting us to start blogging. Your tips are very useful to face the challenges.

    Reply

  9. Hello
    I was working in Genpact India pvt ltd ( U.S Process), After that i m working in a university as a internal auditor. But i want to go in a digital marketing profile. Because i have done a MBA in marketing. So how will start a job in digital marketing and which profile is suitable for me. So can u help me for searching a job.

    Reply

    • I have tried to create the above mentioned website for which I am not successful, i have created it after going through your lessons can you help me setting it right or please let me know how to get help to set it right

      Reply

  12. Hello Sir, i have finished 6 lessons so far from your classes. i have managed to create a review blog. consultkrishna.com , please visit it and leave me a word! but still i haven’t posted enough posts to attract traffic.

    Regards.

    Reply

  15. Hello Deepak,

    What a wonderful explanation! Thank you. Could you please advice me on choosing topics? I am currently working in an IT Company, thinking to start a blog. I curse myself for delaying for almost 2 years. I have knowledge on some topics like Aptitude, GK, Resources and other various entrance exams. But I don’t know which topic to get started and please provide the blogging domain which are good.

    Thank you
    Rajendher

    Reply

  18. I am startup founder. This is Cloud based ERP software ( online ERP ) for all sizes of business around the world. we have made product ready. we would like to know, how to make market these types of product successfully. Please let us know to move further.

    Reply

  19. Hi Deepak,
    Thank you for this piece of information. I have a query here. I have created my blogging website for our companing and managing it using wordpress for my posts. Should I setup blogger websites in blogger.com,weebly, wix, Blogster etc. as well to enable my website’s reach?

    Reply

  21. Hi Deepak,

    I have gone through some of your youtube tutorials they are like simple awesome and they are helping me a lot. I follow your methods how to build my traffic….thanks for the help and support I appreciate for what you are doing….
    keep going

    Reply

  22. Thanks Deepak for publishing this awesome post.

    I can still remember that joy (and motivation for making it bigger) of getting my first Affiliate Income of $11.70.

    And the Benchmark of Rs.50K you have mentioned, is really nice for beginners as per Current Indian Economy.

    Keep posting.

    Cheers.

    Subhabrata.

    Reply

  23. Highly informative Deepak . (I like this context : Learning a lot and not implementing them leads to knowledge constipation (or information overload). .

    I really agree, thinking blogging as business and covert into ROI, ASAP will create a blog and grasp 100 members. 🙂

    Reply

  24. Hello wants to start a Blog for my site, anyhow we have written a small blog for it but more we wants to expand it .Please assist us on this.
    Also how to attract traffic for our website.

    Reply

  25. Not investing the money in the business is really an issue for most bloggers. I myself use to save money but not invest. But finally I started hiring writers, facebook ads, paid theme, paid guest post etc. to get most out of the blog. Because in return my website will gain authority faster than my competitors who aren’t doing the same. It’s definitely a good thing to invest money.

    Reply

  26. Excellent article. Choice of words, clarity and focus on the main idea draws me to your posts. Even a complex action is made to sound simple with your clear guidelines.

    Reply

  29. Dear Deepak,
    Thank you for writing and explaining the worth of the blogging. Could you please let me know how to start from scratch ?

    Reply

  31. Dear Deepak, when are you planning for private hosting server?
    I’m planning to go live with a website in Feb. So I request you to share the hosting plans.

    Reply

  33. Hello Sir,
    This article is written so nicely and very informative. It has inspired me a lot about taking up blogging seriously which I have been thinking to start for a long time. However, can you please elaborate more on the process or steps to be followed for starting a blog. I really want to start a blog but doesn’t have any clue how to even have a blogging site. I would really appreciate it if you help me out with the same.
    Thanks you so much.

    Reply

  34. Hi
    Sir
    As u said in order to start a blog u have said that register to domain and buy a web hosting account how to do that
    Thank u
    Pavani

    Reply

  35. Hi Deepak thanks a lot for your lovely post.
    I need more information about Adsense and other monetization methods where I can implement.

    Reply

    • We truly appreciate your blog post. There are dozens of tactics we could put it to very good use by means of no effort on time and money. Thank you really for helping have the post respond to many problems we have eneruntcoed before now.

      Reply

  38. Hi Deepak. I have got a blogspot blog and I am not being able to earn anything from it. Right now it is not possible to buy a domain. What do I do?

    Reply

  39. This is really an informative, I love writing and been thinking of starting a blog but having troubles on the topics to choose and focus on. Hope the next article helps me out. Great job Deepak!

    Reply

  40. Hi Deepak, i am working in an IT company for developing!But i want to be expert in DM.For to start a blog,i have my own concept to start blog.But i am total confusing how to start these DM with my concept?Can you guide me for to implement my concept by using DM?

    Reply

  43. Thank you for showing a path.
    I have intrest of innovating things.This is the best platform to expplore but can you please help me out an idea for my first step.

    Reply

  44. I am from Bangalore, I have 3 yrs exp in digital marketing. Im planning to start a cooking blog. but i have a question. After starting a blog how many days it take to generate revenue after monetization

    Reply

  45. Nice Deepak. Quite interesting. Already following the Digital marketing videos.
    Can you please help me with the steps and prerequisites to start blogging ?

    Reply

  46. thank you , thank you sir for sharing this precious article.

    I have problem with one thing I started blogging with my regional language Marathi ; just because one think my blog is not registering on Google Adsense.
    what I do ??
    please can you guide me something.

    thank You!!!

    Reply

  48. Frankly speaking, I read dozens of articles on the topic of “Digital Marketing” daily but the way you reach to us (The Audience) is quite remarkable. Your Strategies and content creation are Great.
    I would love to get some more “Tips and Tricks” about the Blogging.

    Reply

    • hello sir I am a digital marketing student even if you know your self it will take much more time and the sameway it is dynamic course definetly you need a certified digital marketer so it is better to take online coaching

      Reply

  53. Hello Sir,
    I run an online store that is into several home and office items. Can you please advise me on which area to do my blogging on that will promote my sales and how do I gather the words that will really catch the right audience.

    Thank you

    Reply

  59. Hi Deepak,

    Congrats! This is the best post on blog as how to become successful financially through blog. You have expressed the concepts in lucid manner which every one will like.

    I am also starting a blog very soon. I am on the learning path and I have very good interest in Digital Marketing. My target is to earn Rs. 50000 by end of this month. I hope you will help me as and when i need support.

    Reply

  60. Hi Deepak,
    Thank you very much for the article.
    The issues discussed in the article are not unfamiliar. However, the problem is being sceptical about one’s own self.

    I often wonder Ok I’ll start but what when the topics exhaust?
    This has stayed as the worst hindrance to starting a blog for me.
    Is there a way out Deepak?
    Please advise.

    Thank you.
    KR

    Reply

  61. The above website is still under construction. ( which I have just started)
    Wonderful article, The article is not only informative but also creative, which makes a very positive note in the mind. Thanks to DEEPAK.

    Reply

  63. Hey, Deepak

    First of all, thanks for publishing this AWESOME article with us.

    Let me tell you I started blogging by just seeing shiny objects of making money on the Facebook by some people.

    Initially, I thought blogging, and SEO is the so easy. But when I started my first blog on technology niche I failed due to no knowledge about SEO and my topic.

    Then I started to learn about SEO and Blogging. Now, I can I know very well.

    I liked your two points most “You have to focus on a narrow topic and become a leader in that market” and “Treat blogging as Business.”

    Now, I will try to focus on that two points.

    I have some questions in my mind that I will post in your group.

    Keep motivate us 🙂

    Thank you.

    Reply

  65. Hi Deepak,
    U r my role model, after seeing ur website. I planned to start my website digitalsatheesh.com, I blog about the digital world like Iot,bitcoin, drone, Wearables etc…For past 20 days, i nearly saw your website 1000 times. Your website is worth…Thanks for explaining in simple english…Kindly visit my blog to give some suggests…and also happy to know that u r from salem. #tamilanda Helping others always…digitalsatheesh.com 7373447733

    Reply

  66. Hi, Deepak ji,
    i found your article very good. I am not sure from where i got the connection with you, but i got attracted in your articles and you are very good. i would like to know and learn digital marketing. i have joined you.
    thanks

    Reply

  70. Hi Deepak,
    Very nice and easy to understand writing. I want to make my blog reachable only to a particular audience. I am an amateur blogger if u may call me, want to learn more from u..
    Thank You

    Reply

  72. hi

    simple and effective as always.I wish to know the difference between free wordpress blogs and the blog we set by buying domain name, space and installation.how these blogs differ??

    Reply

  76. Nice and the best thing since that you hit the basics. Well I had a community of about 500 people on Facebook for a group called self confidence and motivation. How can I indulge them in an online poll or email marketing will be a good idea for my first blog. Although I had been a guest blogger in past and still doing it as a freelance.

    Reply

  77. Very nice and useful article. Truly inspirational. Thanks a lot. we have launched blog 10 months before, now its reached 6 Lakhs+ viewers. how to earn money from our blog?

    Reply

  78. Deepak,
    Thanks for this inspiring post. Very detailed and spot on! I have been an avid blogger from just over an year and I have struggled a bit with it. But your post gives me confidence that one can become a successful blogger if they follow the path.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Raghu

    Reply

  79. Have a lot things in mind .. but at the end get confused on what to write … and which topic to focus on.. and lazy to write.. have u already innovated something to avoid laziness ?

    Reply

  80. Hey Deepak ,

    Many Thanks for this wonderful article, i has written few articles in spiritually ( spiritual blog ) for free but had no idea as what and how to go for paid blog , Can you please give us all insight as how to start with paid blog , i had hear about ad sense and youtubers earning huge but no idea of starting with step by step : Has started reading your daily lesson and videos on Youtube.

    Basically i am Pharmaceutical Marketer .Apart from marketing i am also Full time Graphologists ( Hand writing Expert ) ,and also good at occult science ,Hence thought now to start with writing paid blog.

    Awaiting for your next Blogs.

    Many Thanks,

    Nirav Hingu.
    Mumbai.

    Reply

  81. Hi, This is Jassim from Saudi Arabia, I get interested in this post, and you’ve covered many points need from every blogger to take care. the issue for the new blog generation , they want a direct earning money in shortest time. and this is wrong, things may take years – as you mentioned for your blog.

    Followers of you , thanks

    Reply

  83. Nice post
    But can you explain for starters who have zero percent knowledge on blogging..
    Steps to start a blog writing and so on…..

    Reply

  84. Thank You Deepak for awesome post.
    I have created a website http://www.dmftech.com for tech blogging but im not sure that my website is fully suitable for blogging and also not sure for which topic i should blog. so please help me i need your help becoz its very important for me… (will mail you)

    thanks
    Rocky Sharma

    Reply

  85. HI Deepak,

    I have been into retail marketing from last 6 years & have worked with brands like big bazaar & Pizza hut. had been thinking to do a digital marketing course because this is in huge demand. But didn’t really get the right platform to learn digital marketing till today evening. I think after reading your few articles, now I know what I should do to start with..
    Thank you so much for sharing your learnings with all of us.

    Reply

  88. Hi Deepak sir
    First I thankful to your post.The way of your teaching is quite peaceful to listen. Actually my passion is photography and music.But Im doing job as mech.Engg. Could you help me to expand my talent please. I do request please guide me.

    Reply

  90. thank you Deepak, for sharing this type of inspiration don’t know how and where to start this blogging seriously no idea about it ?but I will working on it, and definitely will succeed.

    Reply

  91. Yesterday, I came across this blog on a subject I am very much interested in. I have already joined your digital marketing course. Thanks a lot. I would like to interact more often with you.

    Reply

  92. This blog explains the details about changing the ways of doing that business. That is understand well and doing some different process. Provides he best output of others. Thanks for this blog.

    Reply

  94. hi sir my name is jyothi swaroop and I am inspired by you thatswhy I am joined in digital marketing I am understanding all topics by practicing that’s not an issue but the problem is I had done mba but 1 backlog is there is it will effect while at the time of appointing????? kindly suggest me

    Reply

  95. I wish to start a blog but can you tell me as to how to clearly refine the topic / content for the blog which can drive traffic on the blog?

    Reply

  96. Hi Deepak,
    Great article. Please keep up the good work and keep enlightening us with all the new developments in the field of Digital Marketing.

    Reply

  97. Hey Deepak, Thank you for the awesome post. Can you please make a blog on how to create content. Many a time I have an idea about a certain topic but due to lack of information on how to write a content in a proper way it becomes difficult for me to take that blog forward. Share some of your tricks in a blog for generating content to any generic idea. It will be helpful. Thanks 🙂

    Reply

  100. Hi Deepak,

    Very informative and encouraging to start a blog.
    Would be great if you could also share information on initial investment/spend.

    Reply

  102. Thanks Deepak,
    Most useful points you have discussed.
    I wants to start a blog or part of a digital marketing. already i had started a blog some years back but failed in trafic. also i like to know under which site i could start my blog.

    if possible plz suggest me something more about it.

    Regards
    P K Dash

    Reply

  105. I have been working as Producer and Editor for TV channels ( mostly musical and non fiction entertainment ) for last 15 years, presently i want to start my own in digital talent promotion and content creation arena. I am considering blogs, youtube channels, OTT apps and live streaming to start off with. What would be your advice for me

    Reply

  106. Mr Dipak

    For creating blog shall I have to make my webpage and what ever article I write to be uploaded there for public reading? Suppose if I do , why public will pay me by reading my article, please summerize

    Thanks
    Sushant

    Reply

  108. I wanted to be a blogger and here after reading your article i n motivated thus i need ur help in learning and being in top someday

    Reply

  109. This idea is mind blowing. I think everyone should know such information like you have described on this post. Thank you for sharing this explanation.Your final conclusion was good. We are sowing seeds and need to be patiently wait till it blossoms.

    Reply

  111. Hi Deepak,
    please help me….i m confused regarding my topic…i m not sure whether my topic can attract people or not…well though i just started blogging but still….please suggest me and i m currently pursuing digital marking course from dsim.

    Reply

  112. Simply awesome Deepak..
    I’m doing my MBA in marketing. I wish to start my career in digital marketing… Can you help me out with the same ?

    Reply

  113. Dear Sir,
    I’m Rahul and also an civil Engineer, I dont want do any job because I passionate about business Not to make money, just for passion. And I like internet based businesses but I dont know even ABCD of digital marketing, SEO and blogging. But I want to learn it, beacause I have great idea about businesses, ability to write articles. So to learn these thing what Will be my first step to go forward please guide me.
    Thanking you!

    Reply

  114. Sir, Thanks for all the information you give to us. Its really knowledgiable to us. I have just started reading your blogs. I have great interest in digital marketing but i don’t have any blog. I want to know from where i have to start and how can i start. Please help me sir

    Thank you.

    Reply

  116. Hi Deepak,

    Wonderful article. Truly informative to get started.
    PASSION – TALENT – MARKET OPPORTUNITY is the key as you accurately highlighted.

    I’m going to start my online presence in “Business Strategy” helping and felicitating startups and aspiring entreprenures to realise their their potential and goals.

    Pls share your comments if any! Thanks again.

    Pravin

    Reply

  119. Hi Deepak,
    Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

    I am into sales in one of the payment gateway company, want to learn Digital Marketing for getting a job in this domain.

    Please help me in this !

    Reply

  125. Hey Deepak,
    Great article. I sent you a comment a few days ago regarding guidance in choosing the right blogging topics.
    A little help would be deeply appreciated.
    Thanks a ton!

    Reply

  127. Hi Deepak,

    Thank you for all the wonderful articles.
    Please let me know how to choose right topics for blogging. I am confused at this stage.

    Thanks
    Kabulsha

    Reply

  128. Great and explicit.
    Thanks for the article Deepak.
    The idea of building a forum on Facebook is awsome i will give it a try.
    Thanks…

    Reply

  129. All your training session are excellent. i have make 3 blog so far, i have generate affiliate link as well but no earning on it yet,
    healthylifetips.blogspot.com is the another blog.
    i have just complete digital marketing course.
    i want to make full time career in the digital marketing.

    Reply

  131. Thanks a lot Deepak I’ve been reading your blog the whole day. I pray I get o spired to start blogging again. The low traffic on my blog is SL discouraging.

    Reply

  133. Hi Im a regular reader of your blog and the stuff that you send your subscription list. I have a blog but not yet doing well. I mostly find hard time to choose the topic. Do you have any additional tips?

    Reply

  134. Thanks for this mail.
    Will start my blog soon.
    Have embark on a small market survey to determine which topics to blog about. Once I’m done and certain in my topics, I’ll get my fingers deep and dirty in the blogging business.
    You’ll hear from me soon.

    Reply

  137. Hi! Admin, I read your passionate, honest blogging post and learned a lot of memorable points. I also have an affiliate site, may need your help if you have some time for me. I am looking forward, sir.

    Reply

  140. Hi Deepak
    I am doing my job in Retail as Management Trainee… Now i wants to do something diff. Which helps me to look diff. From others…
    Now i wants to increase my sales business through digi. Marketing.. So can uh suggest me best way to do the same.

    Reply

  141. Hii, I am totally agreed with your policy of narrowing down the niche ,blogging is a very wide topic and in order to be successful one should focus on the things they are very good at.Keep sharing such articles

    Reply

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