This article is part of the “Start A Blog And Make Money” series.
Simply put it, a blog is a website that is often updated with content called “blog posts”. Most often, the latest blog post will be shown at the top of the blog.
Someone who blogs is called a “blogger”. When a blogger updates his blog, he is “blogging”.
(Wow, I’m seriously not used to formal-ish writing. I’m not even good at grammar! :-))
Blogging has evolved A LOT since it first came out. Here are some types of blogs you might have heard of:
Personal blog
When it first came out, people used blogs to rant about what happened to their day, what they think of or in other words, they use it like a diary – a web diary.
Niche blog
From the word “niche market” or a very specific market, niche blogs cater specific markets. That’s why there are blogs out there specifically talking only about dogs, politics, cars, technology, etc.
Niche blogs are also the best way to make money online. We’re going to talk about this in the next post.
Splog
Since blogs are a big hit and it gets a lot of traffic, other web masters take advantage of it and make “spam” blogs called splogs. Splogs mostly contain content grabbed from other sites without their permission. Then they leverage it by posting ads.
In short, splogs suck.
Vlog/video blog
Videos – they’re a big hit right now. Well simply because, it’s easier than writing and you can express stuff better.
That’s why people have started these “vlogs” or video blogs. Instead of articles, they post videos.
Microblog
To make it short, a microblog is a blog with short blog posts.
Twitter and Tumblr. They are good examples of a microblog.
The Blogosphere
The blogosphere is the word most people use to cite the overall community of blogs. Say, “The blogosphere is growing rapidly” so when you say the “make money online blogosphere” it calls for the bloggers who are blogging about “make money online”
Why blog?
Easiest way to publish or put content online – No programming required!
From my personal experience, blogging is the easiest way to put content online. Almost all blogging softwares only requires you to fill up 2 forms, first for the blog post title and second for the blog post content – that’s it.
You can put almost anything on a blog
Articles, videos, audio, flash almost anything you could think of – remember it’s also a website.
You meet new people
This is possibly one of the best reasons why you should blog – you meet a lot of people.
If you have a niche blog, you’ll be able to meet bloggers who are in the same niche as you. Of course, you could turn those relationships to very profitable partnerships.
Quite frankly though, I’ve met a lot of wonderful people since I started blogging and I’m very thankful for that :)
Popularity
Most people blog for popularity alone. Now when you’re popular, it’ll be more easy to make money because you’ve got a following.
Do note that it’s optional to be popular. Because I know some people who just want the money but don’t want to be known. I understand that. But then again, I tell you, it’s more easy to make money when you’re popular.
Google LOVES blogs
Google LOVES websites that are often updated with content – and since with blogs, you can easily post content, Google loves em’
Therefore, it’ll be easier for blogs to battle out in Google’s search results.
Last but definitely not the least
(Since this is why you’re probably reading this post)
DRUMROLL PLEAAASEE…
You can make money.
How you’ll make money with a blog
The simple formula for making money on the internet is:
Traffic + Conversion = Money
(Sorry I didn’t make cool acronyms!)
Now since blogs are the easiest way to put content online, it can get you popular and Google loves em’ it’ll be easier for you to get Traffic – which is the hardest of the 2 in the formula.
The conversion part is how you “convert” those traffic into cash, which we will be discussing later after you’ve set up your blog.
And as always, I’d appreciate your comments below :-)
Hi carl!
Good intro towards make money blogging series. Looking forward for more tips from kidblogger.
By the way, do you run several niche blogs or just one? yq
Cheers
Fazreen
I run 3 niche blogs (that’s making good money) as of now – actually, I just left em’ out there at the moment, LOL. I’ve been concentrating on this quite exciting project at the moment.
Thanks for giving simple definitions to such words bloggers should know about. Sure hope I could get the same traffic as much as you do…and hopefully get in the front page of Google too..Well done, kiddo!!
there are many kind of blog. But one blog that can make income huge for you. That is niche blog . why? cause niche is very specific blog market that offer you specific product.
It’s so much about the traffic. First, traffic period. Then, the right kind – even better! Then opportunities to monetize that probably appeal to either kind of traffic = sure bet.
BTW Carl, I noticed your site dropped a few in Google for “make money online” – how much traffic did that cost you each month, and what do you think caused the drop?
Post a blog about that and hey – maybe your traffic will come back by blogging about how it went away – we’d love to learn from what you may have learned!
Also, how much revenue suffered, if you care to tell, or give a hint – to prove the point about traffic and conversion and earnings relationships!
Be specific about the articles you post on your blog, people like to read the topics which are unusual, that doesn’t mean it should sound boring, bring them unique pieces that will interest them and encourage them to read further. Once they enjoy your blog writings, they might like to refer to their friends and then it passes from friends of friends, so the cycle moves on and your reader base increases but the very basic criteria you have to fulfill is to first interest the first group of audience.
Wonderful informative post. Keep it up! Added your link to my blogroll! Cheers!
Wow I am impressed! I need to know how to install ads on my blog site. Im kinda new in the blogosphere. Please help me. Thanks a lot.
Hi Carl!
Love this series! great content…
Was wondering, why is it so that so many people Struggle so badly to get themselves to take action and do what they need to do to get the results they want (ex. Make money online).. While others seem to do it rather naturally?
– Jan
StopJustDreaming.com
Hey Jan,
Quite frankly, I think nobody does it “naturally” – if you think the “gurus” does it naturally…
They don’t.
When they talk about it, it may sound easy because you’re seeing their big affiliate commissions but on the back end, there’s pure effort.
Although yes, almost all ways to make money online is easy (that’s why the internet is a cashcow) but most of it too takes time and sweat, that’s why some people are not getting the results they want because they quit too early.
Of course, the “work smart” attitude is always applicable. Some people seem to do it naturally because they have their own mentor who is already successful in the field.
Making money online is pretty much any other skill. No difference.
Carl
Lol….nice post waiting 4 d nxt post!
By creating niche content and promoting blog on major popular site, will help to making money.
Very cool article, thanks for the info.
Hi Carl,
I’m working on the Internet for quite a few years, but almost for other people. But now I’m starting my “own” blog and your article is a very good starting point. I’m looking forward for the next posts :-)
Great post of the various types of blogs Carl. Meeting people is definitely one of the perks of blogging.
A really great intro. Makes any reader wait for the next one. This is the simplest but the best explanation I’ve ever read about blogs. Really direct and easy to understand. Thanks.
A really great intro article about making blog.so easy to understand.lokinf foward to the next chapter:-)Keep doing good work!!!
Hi Carl. It’s a short but very informative post.
nice! i didn’t know SBCA had a very good blogger..keep it up!
You made a thorough explanation on blogging. It’s clear though. I have only one question to ask, what is exactly a “conversion” in you own perspective?
Hi Carl,
Thanks for categorizing the blogs, was surprised to see that there are splogs existing, now that explains why some of the people I know are surprised to have their blogs suddenly deleted (or their Adsense accounts suspended) because some of them are simply scraping their contents from other blogs or writers. These are pretty clear and simple. I suggest you posting another update soon, and yeah, I love most of the groups you’re joining on Facebook. ;)
short and simple. i like this post a lot!
can’t wait for the next part.
keep it up!
nice post nice analysis lol we can’t wait anymore!
helped me and reminded me of some that i already forgot ;-)
i guess i’m guilty of “splog”
that’s the first thing i learned to do when i started blogging. then i had to re-learn everything again.
thanks for the definitions. it’s good to be reminded about them.
@feedsco
I guess I am too, the first account I had with blogger was suspended. Well lesson learned. It think it would be more appropriate to simply wait for search engines to index us.
ei carl, thanks for this informative post.. i’m blogging for a year and still doesn’t know the definition on some of the above list.. :)
mabuhay and keep up the good works!
metalpig =)
Thanks for your post Carl. I’m a young blogger, and I’ve always wondered about making money through all of my blogs. My problem is I start so many sites online and then I can never finish them.
I was going to buy your theme, but at my age I realized I just can’t afford it.
Anyways, peace.
Hello, Carlos
I found your site while browsing the internet to find out about blogging.
I recently made an attempt to do affiliate marketing with a squiddoo lens, but I am finding it difficult
to get external traffic to that lens without sitting at my computer for hours on end. I’m thinking of starting a blog. I believe that I would be better off monetizing a blog rather than promote the lens.
My problem in starting a blog is that I am afraid of running of things to say.
How do you keep topics to write about?
In my opinion, one niche blog won’t bring you huge income unless you have huge follower or you blog something unique and stand out from the crowd, otherwise you won’t be able to earn well with a single blog. I believe that the big guy out there also own quite a large number of blogs and websites.
Carl I see you’re making good money because of your high ranking, you’re doing well and I heard that you have a pretty good mentor behind you, right? Congrats on the success!
Cheers,
Lee
Hi Carl,
You are awesome,”make money online” really the key keywords which showed up at Google front page.Can review some of the step you do in order to get this result?
first time here, although I’ve been hearing your name on the blogosphere (who doesn’t? ;) )
anyway, I love the post. simple, brief and no promise of big money unlike what the “other gurus” are always telling.
keep rocking!
im a newbie on blogging but with Carl’s blog,starting to learn new things and blogging tips…what can i say!…Carl’s on top of what he does,”BLOGGING”!
I like how you wrote this post, very informative. Newbiew bloggers will definitely love this post. Thanks for sharing.
Carl,
Nice into, I will be following your posts and learning . . . thanks.
Hi Carl,
Very nice post!
I’m kind of a *newbie* in all the bloggging thingies.. Anyway, do you mind if I put this on my site?
Don’t worry, I’ll give credit to you and your site and put a link anyway.
Thanks!
-Jaja
P.S. I have read the guest blog “WordPress Plugins To Make The Search Engines Worship Your Blogs”
It’s nice! I am already installing the plugins to my site too! Thanks again
Video blogs are popular these days. This is why many marketers are creating their own video blogs to make them money.