How to Make Money on a Lifestyle Blog: A Step-by-Step Guide

A blog is an online diary, the entries in which may contain text, illustrations or multimedia, which the blogger regularly fills with certain content. Unlike personal diaries, blogs are written with the expectation that a specific audience will read them. But it is also a great opportunity to earn income. So read carefully how to make money with a lifestyle blog.

How to make money from a lifestyle blog: 5 easy steps

Blogging about lifestyle is often easier than others. Because the choice of topics is huge. Here are detailed instructions on how to make money on a lifestyle blog, how to get promoted and what to talk about in it.

Step 1: choosing a niche

How to start a lifestyle blog is an important question. Further efficiency depends on this. First you need to decide on a niche and decide what you will talk about.

There are two ways: a strictly niche blog (for example, only about travel or only about fashion) or a wide-topic blog with maximum coverage of different topics. The second option is easier. The first option is easier to promote, since it is easier to identify the target audience and attract visitors, and it is also easier to get to the first places in the search engine.

Examples of topics that can be covered:

• fashion and style (creating images, shopping trips, reviewing clothes and online stores);
  
• interior design (renovation, transformation of rooms, do-it-yourself decor, furniture rework);
• rest and travel (review of hotels and cafes, shooting beautiful places, review of food);
  
• a healthy lifestyle (proper nutrition, sports and fitness, daily routine);
• cosmetics and personal care (tips, beauty product reviews, beauty salon and spa reviews);
  
• food (cooking, recipes);
• psychology and personal effectiveness (time management, meditation, self-development, relationships).

You can come up with something of your own. Only fantasy limits.

Step 2: Choose a format

You can create different types of content:

• shoot video;
• take beautiful photos;
• write articles.

You can browse products, services, and locations. Write post-reasoning. Create ratings for places and products. Talk about your pastime. Give advice and guidance. Create step-by-step instructions.

It is worth choosing what works best. However, it is more optimal to combine all this. The more varied the content, the easier it is to attract and engage your audience.

Step 3: Site selection

You can start a blog on different sites. The main options are:

Blogging platform

A classic blog on a dedicated platform site. In addition to yours, the site will have blogs from other users. You will be able to exchange links to your articles with each other, write guest posts, etc.

Popular blogging platforms:

• Wordpress.com;
  
• Blogger;
  
• Yandex Zen;
  
• LiveJournal.
  

• you can publish different types of content (photos, videos, texts)
• easy setup
• easy to get started (just register)

• limited functionality; small selection of designs
• you need to pay extra for a unique address (domain) and the ability to connect advertising

Own site

Almost like a blog, only in this case the entire site will be completely yours.

For the site you need:

• web hosting (a place to host a site, without which it will not be available on the Internet);
• domain (adress.ru or adress.com address);
• CMS (an engine thanks to which you can quickly edit and publish articles, change the design of the site, etc.).

Hosting and domain are paid, but inexpensive. For a start, the simplest tariffs are suitable. The CMS is usually free. The most convenient and simplest option is Wordpress (wordpress.com). It is used by millions of sites around the world. Wordpress is usually already included in your hosting settings.

• you can publish different types of content (photos, videos, texts)
• almost complete freedom of action
• many settings
• easier to promote than a blog
• easy to connect ads

• take a long time to understand if initially there is no knowledge
• you may need the services of a programmer;
• you need to pay for hosting and domain.

YouTube and other video hosting

The best option if you decide to shoot a blog in video format. Most start with YouTube. He has a huge traffic, simple interface, convenient settings, many opportunities for promotion. Also this video hosting makes it easy to connect ads. For example, standard ads from Google Adsense.

There are other sites besides YouTube. For example, For example, Peertube, Vimeo, RuTube, Rumble. But they have less attendance. For smaller, short videos, you can choose TikTok.

By the way, if you have a video blog, you should pay attention to the Ezoic ad network. There are many opportunities for content monetization here.

• video is the most favorite format among most people
• easy to start
• just promote
• easy to connect ads

• it is advisable to spend money on a good camera and microphone
• requires video filming and editing skills

Instagram

Instagram is primarily about beautiful photos and short aesthetic videos. This is ideal if the visual aspect of your blog is important. For example, for a blog about fashion, makeup, food or interiors.

Photos and videos can be supplemented with texts. For example, helpful notes and tips.

• many people love beautiful photos
• easy to start
• just promote

• limited freedom of action
• few settings and features
• it is advisable to spend money on a good camera
• photography skills needed
• difficult to monetize

Vkontakte, Facebook or Odnoklassniki

It is enough to create an account. Then you can blog either on your own page and publish posts on the wall, or start your own public / group.

These social networks allow you to publish both text content and photos from videos. The most popular and optimal format is text + photos.

However, in such social networks, thematic groups and publics are popular, rather than personal blogs. But it can be combined.

• you can publish different types of content (photos, videos, texts)
• easy to start
• just promote

• limited freedom of action
• few settings and features
• difficult to monetize

General site guidelines

It is better to start a blog on several sites at once. For example, shoot and upload videos on YouTube, and at the same time publish articles about the same on your website and upload photos to Instagram.

It is advisable to refer to your different sites. For example, under a YouTube video, leave a link to the text version on your website. And insert a YouTube video and a couple of posts from Instagram into the article on the website. This will attract more audience.

Step 4: Attracting audience and promotion

What is needed to promote them and increase their audience:

• Interesting headlines that grab attention. Let's compare three titles for an article or video: Holidays in the Czech Republic, attractions, cafes, How cool it is to relax in the Czech Republic: 7 places that everyone should visit, How to properly relax in the Czech Republic: My personal life hacks and tips. The last two are clearly more interesting and will attract more clicks.
• SEO. In order for Google, Yandex and other search engines to better rank the site or video, you need to use keys (search queries). Keys are words and phrases that people use to find information of interest. For example, they enter how to brew coffee correctly in a Google search box. For a user to see an article on a given topic in a search engine, it must contain this key. Keys are inserted into headings, subheadings, and the text itself. You can also use hashtags on YouTube. Also, keys can be inserted into descriptions for images.
• Quality content. Works long term. If a person likes your site, account or video blog, they will become a subscriber and a regular visitor. These users are usually more loyal. By the way, search engines also love high-quality unique content. High-quality content is a lot of useful unique information, knowledge of your target audience, proximity to the interests of subscribers. Also, a nice design (if this is a site) and beautiful design of articles / posts will not hurt. In a video blog, it is worthwhile to take a responsible approach to the choice of the camera and to the installation.
• SMO. Same as SEO, only for social media posts. For example, on Vkontakte, you can write headers with keys when creating a post.
• Advertising. Some users will find your blog on their own. However, this is not enough. To gain an audience faster, you need to buy ads yourself. On social networks, you can buy ads from the social network itself and from other bloggers. The site has more choice: teaser advertising, contextual advertising, links from social networks, native advertising on other sites with similar topics.

The easiest way to promote sites and video blogs.

Step 5: Monetize

Once your blog has enough followers, you can start monetizing it. There are several main methods of monetization:

Google Adsense, Yandex Direct and other ad networks

Display advertising is the best option if you have a YouTube video blog or website. As soon as ads are connected, advertisements will automatically start showing on the site or in videos. In videos, these are ad insertions and text link ads. There are banners on the site.

Many ad networks have requirements for their sites. They must have:

• certain attendance per day or per month;
• nice design;
• unique content;
• acceptable theme (for example, not casinos or adult products).

For example, Yandex Direct has requirements for attendance. Google Adsense doesn't, though, so it's easier to get started with. Google Adsense is suitable for young sites with fewer visitors. Also Adsense is used on YouTube.

Alternative ad networks can also be used. For example, Ezoic, AdSterra and PropellerAds. The most popular is Ezoic. This platform allows you to monetize both sites and videos. At the same time, the video can be located anywhere, not necessarily on a large video hosting site.

• easy to connect and configure
• guaranteed income
• nothing needs to be done (ads are shown automatically)

• there may be attendance requirements
• low income with low attendance
• only suitable for websites and video blogs

• Google AdSense (optimizes ads for smartphones, brings good income);
  
• Ezoic (has a lot of useful features, can work with any advertisement, is arranged quite openly);
  
• AdSterra (individual responsive approach to each partner, great potential of opportunities);
  
• PropellerAds (works well on both PC and mobile devices, provides detailed statistics), etc.
  

Teaser advertisement

Option for sites. These are small advertisements with a picture and a provocative headline. Typically, ads are displayed in the sidebar (side) or below the article.

Be careful with teaser ads. Sometimes the site may show too provocative ads with a poor quality picture and too loud headline a la yellow press. This can be bad for your blog's reputation. In addition, many experts believe that search engines do not like sites with teaser ads.

• easy to connect and configure
• guaranteed income
• nothing needs to be done (ads are shown automatically)

• there may be attendance requirements
• low income with low attendance
• suitable only for sites
• there is a risk of ruining your reputation

Affiliate Links

Earn money by recommending products or online stores. Ideal if your blog has reviews.

An affiliate link is your personal link to a product or service. If the user clicks on it and makes a purchase, you will receive a percentage.

For example, you could write an article to review a hotel. And publish in it an affiliate link to the hotel booking service.

Second example. Make a video review with cosmetics. And for each product, put an affiliate link under the video.

To get an affiliate link, you need to either start cooperating with the store directly, or register in the affiliate CPA network. The second option is simpler and more varied. Since the CPA network offers not one, but many stores and goods. You can choose any. Popular networks are AD1, Admitad and CityAds.

• you can immediately start promoting products without expecting an increase in traffic
• suitable for any blogs (websites, social networks, and videos)
• high income with high traffic

• you need to constantly search for suitable products and make relevant content
• unsecured income

Direct collaboration with companies and other bloggers

If your blog becomes popular, other bloggers or companies may contact you.

• suitable for any blogs (websites, social networks, and videos)
• high income with high traffic
• individual conditions

• need to unwind

Selling your goods

With the necessary popularity, you can launch a line of your own products. For example, a line of bags or T-shirts.

• suitable for any blogs (websites, social networks, and videos)
• high income with high traffic
• individual conditions.

• large financial investments
• labor intensity
• need to unwind

Frequently Asked Questions

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