Ever since a popular Nigerian Blogger purchased a 600 million Naira house the interest in blogging has increased. Okay, I admit it readily increased with the display of wealth and material possessions on social media.
The Question: Can you really make money as a blogger?
Answer: Yes!!!
Is it easy?
Answer: Truthfully, No
Should you try it?
Answer: Definitely!
 
What you gotta do is;
 Pick a Struggle
What is your blog going to be about? Know what kind of blog is going to be; gossip, entertainment, beauty, lifestyle, food, children, music. Pick something you have genuine interest in because I tell you except you are super dedicated, it would get hard. 
Get a Platform
The most common ones are blogger and wordpress though you could decide to host yourself. 
Blogger.com – Blogger is also very good, easy to set up, owned by Google, you can customize the theme, and the domain name includes “.blogspot.com” 
WordPress.com – I like wordpress.com they are completely free, easy to set up, you can customize the theme, but other customizations are limited, domain name includes “.wordpress.com”. 
 
Schedule Your Posts
Decide how often you want to post. It could be daily, weekly even monthly. Come up with your own topics for each blog post. Readers will come to your blog if they enjoy your writing style and your topics. Think quality over quantity.
Be Social Media Savvy
Post your article links on social media and blog directories. Get traffic to your site with frequent updates on Twitter, Facebook, and instagram. This helps in getting traffic to your site as well as raising your search engine rankings.
Let me add here that you should be creative as a blogger. These days you can make money directly from social media. I have a number of colleagues (fellow bloggers) who make money from posting on instagram.
Be Friendly
Contact other bloggers on social media and blogging sites, and help advertise each other’s articles when the subject overlaps with both your audiences. Many bloggers are happy to post a link on twitter even if they aren’t interested in advertising your blog on their own.
Spend Money to Make Money
You can go the slow and steady route which means keep posting wait for your market to find you. This would have worked in those days when blogs were not like sand on the earth. I believe you should market your site especially if you are choosing a genre that has serious competitors.
Making THE Money
Consider affiliate programs
By finding an affiliate program suitable for your blog, you agree to provide links to a company’s products, and in return are paid for each reader who makes a purchase after following your link. For instance as a fashion blogger you can become an affiliate for online markets jumia and Konga.
Guest Appearances
When you have really hustled people would start paying for you to party. Depending on what area of blogging you are into you may be paid for public speaking or to attend events. Think Arese Ugwu of smartmoneyafrica called for money seminars.
Write for other blogs
You can earn money as a blogger even without necesariliy owning your own blog. Contribute for other blogs as a way to boost your readership or get paid writing for blogs.
Contextual Ads
Once your blog contains high quality content and has begun to attract an audience, you can make money using Google Adsense, Chitika WordAds, or any other contextual ad service. The more readers who click on the ads shown on your site, the more money the advertisers will pay you.
Allow readers to purchase your own products
 You can create T-shirt designs with catchy words or slogans used on your blog and sell directly to your readers. You can sell recipes or products even think Dooney’s Kitchen and her yajichurri jars. I am giving real examples so you see that it is really possible even here in Naija. Fashion bloggers can sell unique clothing items and accesories. Bloggers writing about babies and toddlers can sell children toys etc.
Direct Ads
A truly successful blog would have people placing ads directly on the site if it is in line with their brand.
 
This is not a comprehensive guide by all standards but i hope it helps.
If you found this guide helpful, please tell us in the comments. Don’t forget to share with your friends