Being able to blog anonymously allows you to earn you a supplementary income.
Successful bloggers can even quit their day jobs and make money exclusively from advertisement revenue.
Before starting a blog, a common question is: should I blog anonymously?
Many people prefer to remain anonymous when they blog. There are several reasons that you may not want anyone to know your legal name.
For instance, you may be blogging about a controversial topic.
Many employers may frown down upon those who blog about politics, religion, or sex.
Maybe you want to start an anonymous poetry blog and rather not share your creative pieces publicly.
To avoid any conflicts of interest, you could pick a pen name. In most cases, pen names are not legal and can be used to generate blog content.
Monetizing a blog doesn't happen overnight. Many bloggers may not earn a dedicated revenue stream for months or years to come.
According to Growth Badger, there are more than 600 million blogs online out of 1.7 billion websites.
Tumblr hosts the largest share of blogs, with more than 471 million blogs found there.
Launching a self-hosted blog doesn't take a long time and typically can be done within a couple of short hours.
The following will help you learn how to write an anonymous blog and earn money in the process.
Materials
- Domain name
- Publishing platform
- Web hosting subscription
Table of Contents
Step 1: Choose a Pen Name
As your first step, choose a pen name when you want to learn how to blog anonymously and make money.
If your blog is successful, you may end up using the same pen name for years to come, so don't rush the process.
Think of your audience.
Your pen name should reflect your brand. Research names that will go along with the content you intend to share.
As an example, if you are going to blog about business topics, choose an authoritative name.
For instance, if your real name is more youthful such as Zoey or Milo, you may want to use a pen name with a more classic sounding first name such as Charles or Allison.
If your blog is about comic books or pop culture, then select a trendy name.
Simplify the name.
Choose a pen name that's both easy to spell and remember. Although you may like alternative spellings, stick with the most common types so that your audience can easily recognize them.
Avoid conflicts of interest.
Don't try to use someone else's name as your own to garner success. Choose a rare or unique pen name.
Type in your top choices of pen names online to confirm that other successful bloggers aren't already using the name. Avoid using the pen name of a real person.
A better strategy is to use a name generator if you're stuck on what types of expressions to use. One type is the Random Name Generator, a free online tool to use.
Claim the name.
If you plan to receive any payments under the pen name. You will need to file a fictitious business name statement.
Check with your local county clerk about filing the appropriate documentation.
See Related: Pageviews to Profits: Complete Online Blogging Course
Step 2: Start a Blog
Once you have selected a name to blog anonymously, you can launch your site.
Starting a blog can take only a couple of hours, but you most likely should spend time researching your market before creating a new blog.
Choose a niche.
Niche blogs tend to do better than generalized ones.
For instance, you can find countless blogs about popular topics such as selling on eBay or writing an eBook. Instead, narrow your focus to subjects such as selling classic auto parts on eBay or writing a self-help eBook.
Perform online searches to determine niche size and review competition blogs.
Select a domain name.
Custom domain names gain preference over types generated by free blog platforms. Purchase a domain name through businesses like GoDaddy or Flippa.
You can search available domain options and receive alternatives when your first choice isn't available. Pay to keep your domain name active annually.
When considering how to start an anonymous blog, you shouldn't include your personal name in the URL.
Decide between a hosted or self-hosted blogging platform.
If you're planning to monetize your blog eventually, self-hosting is preferred. Although hosted blogs are free, you must follow specific rules when posting content through their platform.
When you host your blog, you can run ads and advertise any products and services on the site. You need to pay a minimal monthly fee to get your website online. Hosting options for monetized blogs include Bluehost and Siteground.
See Related: Legit Ways to Earn Passive Income Blogging
Download a content management system.
WordPress.org is, by far, the most popular content management system (CMS) used by bloggers.
After creating a hosting account from Bluehost, you can use your login to get into your new WordPress account.
Customize your blog.
After launching your WordPress or another self-hosted blog site, you can choose options to determine your blog's appearance.
WordPress will include many themes available for free. Within the directory of WordPress themes, you'll find one that best suits your industry.
Preview options until you find a favorite version. If you don't like the theme's look, later on, you can always return to your settings at a later time and adjust it.
You could also use a business that provides creative templates and graphics to anonymous blog sites like Canva.
Add content.
Your CMS will offer up an option to publish content directly on your blog. Add a new blog post to start sharing content.
Once you finished writing the first blog, you'll see options such as saving a draft, publishing or deleting. You can also preview the piece before making it go live.
Include categories and tags.
Make your content visible by assigning categories and tags. These features help get readers searching on your blog and online for your posts.
Write more blog posts.
Most bloggers don't want to launch with a single blog post. Generate five or more pieces at launch.
Keep content relevant to your niche and research top searches. New bloggers should aim to keep posts evergreen.
Evergreen posts mean that the advice will still be useful in the future. Until you're established as a blogger, avoid discussing current events and trends.
See Related: Blogging as a Profession: Is It a Viable Full-Time Career?
Work in SEO best practices.
To gain traffic naturally, always keep search engine optimization (SEO) practices in the back of your mind.
Google uses an Adwords Keyword Tool to help you decide on what keywords will work best for each blog. Choose a blend of keywords to work into your blogs as a way to improve traffic.
Never stuff keywords into content since that action will hurt your Google search rankings.
Instead, work the words and phrases in naturally, focusing on the title, headings, first paragraph, and conclusion.
Any title tags and meta descriptions should also include your selected keyword phrases. Images should also be optimized and include keywords when you insert them into your blog posts.
Add plug-ins.
Another feature to take advantage of when launching your blog is WordPress plug-ins. Add the plug-ins to your blog without the need to write any code.
There are tens of thousands of plug-ins available on WordPress alone.
You want to utilize plug-ins that help enrich the content found on your page. Common types include a contact form and newsletter subscriptions.
Track with Google Analytics.
Since your eventual goal is to make money blogging, you will want to install Google Analytics on your blog. Google Analytics will provide you with a unique code to place the tracking plug-in on your website.
Once installed, you will be able to view insights about your blog.
Insights will give you essential data about your blog, including daily page views, post views, and visitor demographics. Harness this data to plan future blog posts.
For instance, if you see specific topics that generate more views than other pieces, expand on the topics for future blog posts.
See Related: Blogging vs Vlogging: 8 Differences to Know
Step 3: Monetize the Blog
After your blog is up and running, you can start thinking of ways to use the platform to make money. There are both indirect and direct sources of revenue from blogging.
Keep in mind that blogging isn't a “get rich” scheme. Most bloggers work very hard to connect with audiences and earn extra money in the process.
Keep up a blogging schedule.
If you want to monetize your blog, you'll have to work at it. Create an editorial calendar and stick with it.
For instance, you may decide on posting two blogs a week. If your blog isn't active, you're less likely to build traffic. For each post, share the links as much as possible on social media.
Sites like Canva could assist with developing creative social media posts. As your audience grows, you'll be more likely to earn money from the blog.
Sell Ad Space
One of the most profitable ways to earn money from your blog is by selling ad space. Bloggers have multiple sites to choose from to connect with advertisers, but Google AdSense is the most popular.
Google connects advertisers and blogs by allowing bids on keywords. Google AdSense is ideal for new bloggers since they handle bidding on your ad space and advertisers' billing. Google pays you a percentage of what they receive from advertisers, typically more than 51 percent.
Once your blog gains site views, you can cut out Google AdSense and sell ad space directly. Advertisers pay you directly for keeping their banner ads on your blog. Site metrics determine the pricing you will receive for ad space.
Advertisers want to see analytics regarding traffic, audience, and content activity before settling on a fair price.
You have several pricing model options available. You could charge per click, per view, or per action. Per click models charge a fee for each time a blog visitor clicks on an ad from an advertiser.
Per action refers to each time a blog reader makes a purchase or signs up for a service through your link. Cost per view typically refers to how many impressions the ad has made.
In most cases, a rate is charged for every 1,000 impressions the ad has seen.
A flat rate is another option when you decide on a monthly, weekly, or daily price for an advertiser to reserve space on your blog.
See Related: 8 Types of Blogs That Make Money [Top Opportunities]
Offer up educational services.
Expand upon what you offer on your blog for free. For instance, if you're an expert on selling antique cars, you can provide the option for your blog visitors to learn even more through paid methods.
For instance, you could sell an eBook on the topic or offer an online training course. Share links to purchase the eBook or course at the end of each blog post. You could also share an offer for these digital purchases to those who subscribe to your blog newsletter.
Become an affiliate marketer.
Affiliate marketing is another way that you can help your blog earn money. In essence, you recommend a product or service to your readers with an affiliate link. The product and service are typically related to your blog niche. If readers of your blog use the link to make a purchase, you receive a referral commission.
Typically, you only receive a small commission, so this method will earn substantial money if you have many blog followers.
Sell products through the blog.
Many companies create blogs to sell their brand products.
For example, if you sell flooring, you could write a blog about selecting and installing flooring in the home.
Share purchase links within the blog posts to your online store. Even if you don't own an online storefront, you can still sell products. Many bloggers use Amazon to sell their products.
Another option is a homemade goods retailer like Etsy.
For instance, if you blog about crafting, you could direct your readers to purchase your creations. WordPress does provide an eCommerce plug-in.
With the plug-in, you can sell products directly on your blog without redirecting to another website.
See Related: How Bloggers Make Money – 8 Ways to Monetize
Provide services on the blog.
Another way to monetize your blog is to offer up services through your blog. Many bloggers also have a side consulting or coaching business.
If readers are impressed with your knowledge base, they may reach out for direct help. Readers may not be ready instantly to pay for your services.
You want to encourage them to enter an information funnel by subscribing to your newsletter. You may have a conversion rate of 1 percent or more when offering email subscribers a special deal on your consulting or coaching services.
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