If you decide to blog for a content network (such as b5media), the only primary skill you need is creating content. Of course, knowing how to research, promote, market, and network will be very useful too. But, they’re ‘extra skills’ rather than primary ones.
However, if you want to ‘go at it alone’ as a blogger, then you probably have to brace yourself and consider yourself a business person from here on. And, like any other business, you have to learn how to wear several hats at the same time.
Some of the skills that independent bloggers need to equip themselves with are:
1) Technical skills: Make sure that you know all the basics – from purchasing domain names to setting up a weblog, from troubleshooting issues to maintaining servers. Other technical skills might also include: the use of multimedia (photos, videos, etc), computer maintenance, and formatting your content.
2) Creating content: No matter what topic you decide to have, the best of your time will probably be spent on writing blog entries. Editorial skills such as planning content, proofreading and creating tight copy will definitely come in handy.
3) Promotions and Marketing: Yes, if you want to make money from blogging, the work doesn’t end with setting up your blog and writing your content. Knowing how to promote your blog and increase your readership is a very important part of the job. SEO, networking, and press releases, are just a few of things that will come in handy.
4) Advertising: Regardless of what type of advertising you choose to have, some basic knowledge of what works will help you. Finding out all about the different ad programmes – from AdSense to running your own ads – will definitely be beneficial.
5) Research. Knowing what works and what doesn’t in terms of tools, networking, content, topics, etc. A good deal of research goes in to these matters.
6) Networking. This is more than just promoting or marketing. It’s also about making those necessary connections to help you succeed as a blogger. You have to meet people and connect in various levels.
7) Design. Unless you have the money to outsource designing your blogs, you will need a certain level of design skills to create logos or headers, blog buttons, and even templates. Yes, even if you get free pre-made templates, chances are, you’ll still need to learn how to tweak them.
Accounting/Finance. Being able to keep financial records and make sense of money being made and spent on your blogging business is a very important part of the job.
9) Administrative. Yes – be prepared to have plenty of paperwork. Even if you’re the only one working on your blog. And, be prepared to do more paperwork when you involve contractors, etc.
10) Business Development. In order to make your blog successful and profitable, independent bloggers should learn how to ‘take things the next level’.
I’m sure other folks might be able to think of other useful skills like project management, legal guidelines, and desktop publishing, among others. And, no, you don’t need to be an expert in all of these things to make money from blogging. But, as I said, some basic knowledge of these skills will definitely come in handy.
Image: Microsoft Stock Photo
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