The short answer?
Yes … and no!
Many people do make money from blogs, so it's definitely not the case that it can't be done.
But of course, there are also a lot of people who start a blog with the hoping of making money — perhaps a full-time income — and who don't succeed.
If you're worrying about how realistic your plans are (or if family and friends have raised doubts), here's my take on it.
You Won't Get Something for Nothing
Some people see blogging as a "get rich quick" scheme. They think that they just need to quickly type some content, put it online, promote it on social media, and watch the money roll in.
While some bloggers do appear to succeed overnight, the reality is that you almost always have to work hard to build a successful, money-making blog. (And those "overnight success stories" probably have more to them than you realise.)
You Need Knowledge, Enthusiasm, and Skills
While it's easier than ever to start a blog, that doesn't necessarily mean that just anyone can succeed. I don't want to put you off here — chances are you have everything you need, or can easily acquire it.
First, you need knowledge about a particular subject or area. Ideally, you'll have at least some of this already — though buying and reading a few good books, and subscribing to four or five top blogs on your topic, will teach you more than most people know.
Second, you need enthusiasm about your chosen subject. Simply picking something you think will make money isn't enough — you really need to be passionate enough to write about this topic for weeks, maybe months, without seeing much reward.
Third, you need skills related to blogging. During my time as a blogger, I've been surprised just how much I've had to learn in different areas — from technical skills like CSS code to marketing ones like crafting good calls to action.
But … Blogs DO Make Money, Every Day
The good news is that your goals are probably realistic. Blogs make money every day — and some make a lot of money.
Every single big name blogger started out where you are. (In fact, you might want to choose one of your favourite bloggers and dig back to some of their earliest posts, or read their story, if they have a page telling you how they got started.)
It might take a few months to start making money from your blog, and it could well take a year or more before you're making a full-time income from it — but if you keep learning more about blogging and about your subject area, it's a perfectly realistic idea.
Good luck!
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