Lots of us want to publish a blog and make money with it. What could be better than writing about something you love and get paid to do it? Launching and maintaining a science blog is possible, and you can make bank while you do it, but it requires plenty of effort and patience.
But don't worry! We'll lay out how you can get your science blog going and make it a big success below.
Set Up Your Web Presence
So you want to go for it and write your science blog. Whether you intend to have a blog or website with a blog on it, you'll need software and hosting.
But first things first. What's the name of your blog? Think of something that describes what you want to write about in science, then make sure the domain name is available at a site such as www.godaddy.com. Depending on where you get your domain set up, you can combine it with the domain name, hosting and email.
Next is purchasing a hosting plan so you can show your blog to the world. Also, think about whether you want to have a full website with link directories and other resources. Or maybe you just want a strict science blog and nothing else.
If you're not into coding, you can buy great-looking website templates online.
Whatever type of site you choose, be sure that it's what's known as a "responsive design," which means it looks attractive and readable on a PC, phone, and tablet.
Get Writing
That can be easier said than done when it comes to science writing. One of the things to watch for is that you get too far into the weeds in scientific jargon for a lay audience.
If you're not a scientist and you're writing on a science topic, you might not fully understand all the details. You could misreport or misrepresent a topic. But you can avoid this by reading up on interesting topics in scientific papers in subjects in which you have an interest.
You can even write to the author and ask questions so you can fully understand the findings or details. Most authors are helpful and responsive if you reach out to them; most want to get their name and research out there.
Once you start writing and publishing content, ask for detailed feedback from readers to see how they like your subjects and style. Remember, even great writers need editors and reader feedback. Find friends, colleagues or family members who agree to read and offer feedback to your blog posts.
Don't forget to add links, videos and images to add appeal to your content. And always remember to write compelling headlines. If you want many people to dig into your science content, you need to attract their eye with a great headline. Would you click to read your article based on the headline? If not, write something different.
Promote Your Content
Next, you need to share your science blog posts so people find out about your blog. Post links to your blog articles on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Also, try Tumblr and Medium.
Don't be shy about sending a link to your post to specific people who you think could have an interest, too.
Also, be sure to use the appropriate keywords in your title and article description so they will rank in Google over time.
Monetize Your Blog
This is the hardest part, but many people do it successfully with persistence. The most important thing is to write engaging, informative content, and the money will come with time.
One of the best ways to get a little money coming in is to embed Google ads in your blog. Other good choices are to have links to affiliate programs on Amazon. Also, reach out to sponsors who may be willing to pay you to advertise their products and services on your site in your blog posts.
Or, sell a newsletter subscription once you've been writing for a while and have a decent following. Some bloggers set up a paywall and have their blog readers pay for access each month. But you have to produce great content to get people to spend their hard-earned money, so always remember – great content is king!
Larry Alton is a professional blogger, writer, and researcher. A graduate of Iowa State University, he's now a full-time freelance writer and business consultant. Currently, Larry writes for Entrepreneur.com, Inc.com, and Forbes.com, among others. In addition to journalism, technical writing and in-depth research, he's also active in his community and spends weekends volunteering with a local non-profit literacy organization and rock climbing. Follow him on Twitter (@LarryAlton3), at LinkedIn.com/in/larryalton, and on his website, LarryAlton.com. Read Larry Alton's Reports — More Here
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