The internet is a great place for those with a passion and a little insight or expertise to share on that passion. Whether it’s your own recipes, your latest fashion picks, the unique career you’ve had, the media you’re obsessed with or something else, there could be a space for you as a lifestyle blogger.
Here, we’re going to take a closer look at what, exactly, a lifestyle blogger is, how to become one, and even how you start monetizing it. For those with a busy lifestyle, a blog can become an excellent side hustle and source of some extra cash, but those willing to devote themselves to it can turn it into a living, as well.
So, what is a lifestyle blogger anyway?
If you’ve ever read a lifestyle magazine, then you already know exactly what a lifestyle blogger is. Someone to share their experiences, their knowledge, and their tips with readers on all kinds of different subjects. With the rise of the internet, magazines are on their way out, however. Writers can create their own platform, find their own audience, and readers can easily find the kind of content they want with a single Google search.
One of the best things about lifestyle blogging is that is has a space for just about anyone. However, niche your interest or expertise, there are going to be readers who are into it. In fact, the more specific your niche, the better it can be for you. Writing about your experiences, opinions, and passions can turn hobbies and past adventures into great content and, sometimes, great profit.
Look for inspiration
Rather than simply sitting down to start typing, you should take the time to look at a few blogs you love or find some that catch your interest. Start taking notes of what you love about them. Try to look beyond the specific visual style or brand. Is there a tone of voice to the writer that matches your style well? How do they format their content? How do they categorize their posts?
As you look through them, you will likely get some great ideas of the style you want to develop, too. Keep that in mind for the next step.
Decide what you will write about
It’s always a good idea to write what you know and what you have a passion for. You want to be able to keep coming back to your well of ideas to create new content. Here are just a few topics you can consider:
- Life if your city/area
- Travel
- Parenthood (and single parenthood)
- Your fashion picks
- Gardening at home
- Caring for specific types of pets
- Saving money and home finance
- Sports or fitness activities
Don’t worry about whether a topic is popular or if others have a successful following writing about it. Niche subjects are good and passion and enthusiasm end up meaning a lot more to your success, anyway.
Think about your brand
Even in the lifestyle blogging space, there are as many brands as there are bloggers. Having one that stands out and effectively communicates the tone and content of your blog can help you hook your readers all the sooner. Start by thinking about how you would categorize your blog. This is, in part, about the content you will write: whether it’s about fashion, family, travel, cooking, media, fitness, or something else.
Think about the tone you want to give it, next. Is it energetic, friendly, and cute? Or stylish, sophisticated, and cool? You can try writing a practice post to get a better idea of what your writing “voice” is and choose a brand identity to match it, as well.
Your brand is going to be what you keep coming back to as you decide on the visuals and design of your blog, so write down a few bullet points outlining the different characteristics of the brand that you can always look back to.
Creating your website
Next, you need an actual site to go with the content you’re starting to write. There are a few different options out there, but WordPress is the most widely used and perhaps the easiest tool to start creating a blog with. It’s designed to that it’s easy to upload, edit, categorize, and manage content like blog posts.
Take your time looking for a theme, too. When the blog starts making a little money, you might want to invest in a paid or unique theme, but for now, there are still thousands of free themes. Choose on with visuals that fits your brand and also makes your content easy to use.
From there, you need to choose a domain name. Something memorable and fitting to your subject matter is recommended. If it’s short, ranging from one to three words, that’s even better. Then you have to choose a hosting provider. There are free hosting providers specifically aimed for WordPress bloggers, so a little research here should help you find a good fit.
Getting up and running
Here, it’s all about posting and engaging the community that your blog grows over time. Try to create a consistent schedule that you’re able to follow. Regular content is the best way to keep a readership. It might be helpful to spend an hour or so brainstorming and making a list of blog ideas that you’re ready to expand when you have time, so you’re never rushing to try find a subject when your schedule demands a post.
Keeping your community engaged is just as important. Keep an eye out for posts on your blog and reply to them. Consider getting on social media to share your posts and communicate directly with your audience as it grows, too.
Monetizing your lifestyle blog
Lastly, let’s cover a few of the ways you can monetize your blog. As your own platform for your own brand, it can be an excellent steppingstone to a new career, but do be aware that it can take a lot of time and effort to get there.
There are ways to start making money with it relatively quickly, too. Some of your options include sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, using it to collaborate with other brands, and so on. If you have real expertise in a certain area, you may also use the blog to advertise your own e-books, online seminars, and so on.
Could lifestyle blogging be the right thing for you?
If you have a niche and you have insight or expertise that someone doesn’t, then a blog could be the perfect outlet for your passions and experiences. There are no guarantees which blogs make it big, but you never know until you try.