Are you interested in starting your own travelling vlog?

There are many different ways to start a vlog, but the most important thing is to make sure that you’re doing it for the right reasons.

You’ll want to spend time thinking about what excites you and what sparks your creativity before you dive into filming.

Whether it’s showing off your hometown or exploring faraway destinations, there’s a ton of opportunities out there for you.

If this sounds like something that interests you then keep reading!

I’ve got some tips on how to get started with creating videos so that they can be a successful vlogger.

It all starts with passion and excitement, so let’s get started!

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

What is a travelling vlog?

Before you even think about starting, you might want to know what a travelling vlog actually is.

A vlogger films themselves exploring new locations, usually with commentary or narration along the way.

It can be anything from showcasing the sights and sounds of the city, to following someone’s experiences abroad.

These types of vlogs are often aimed at inspiring others to travel, so be sure that this is something that you’re passionate about before you begin.

If you want to start your own vlog then it’s worth considering the reasons behind why you’re doing it in the first place.

A travelling vlog isn’t just a fun hobby or a way to share your life with others.

You’ll need to commit yourself to make regular videos and sharing them online.

It’s important that you’re doing this for the right reasons such as helping others, inspiring people, and having fun!

What equipment will I need?

To create your own travelling vlog you’ll need a decent camera, tripod, and microphone.

Best cameras for vlogging

There are several different types of cameras that you can choose from.

If you’re on a tight budget then you might want to consider a digital camera or phone with video capabilities.

Best Digital cameras:

Vlogging Camera, 4K Digital Camera for YouTube with WiFi

Digital Camera Vlogging Camera with YouTube 30MP Full HD 

If you have a little bit more money to spend then a DSLR camera will give you the best quality footage.

Best DSLR cameras:

Canon DSLR Camera [EOS 90D] | Vlogging Video Creator Kit

Canon EOS M6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera for Vlogging 

Canon Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera [EOS R]| Vlogging Camera

However, as the saying goes ‘the best camera is the one that you have on you at all times’.

This means that if your cell phone has video capabilities then it’s worth considering using this as well.

If you’re going to be doing a lot of traveling and don’t want to miss any footage then using different recording devices can be beneficial.

Also, having multiple cameras on hand will allow you to create more visual content.

For example, you could film yourself in one clip using your DSLR then use your phone camera for some B roll add-ins such as scenery shots.

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Best microphones for travelling vlog

When it comes to sound, you’ll need a microphone that’s good quality and with good sensitivity.

There are several different types of microphones including lavalier and shotgun mics.

The most important thing is to make sure it picks up your voice clearly without any background noise.

Here are some of the best microphones to get for vlogging:

Moukey Camera Microphone, Video Microphone with Shock Absorber

Slint Lapel Microphone 2 Pack- Clip-On Microphones

Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone 

What tripods to use

When it comes to tripods, there are a few different options that you can choose from.

You’ll want to find one that is lightweight and easy to carry around but also steady enough for filming.

Whatever tripod you get will need to have the capability to be easily extended and attached to the top of your camera.

So, if you’re on the move and want to capture that quick shot then it’s worth getting one that is quick to set up.

Here are some of the best tripods:

ULANZI MT-08 Extension Pole Tripod

UBeesize Tripod S, Premium Flexible Phone Tripod with Wireless Remote

Camera Tripod, Etour Lightweight Tripod Holder, Adjustable 

Stabilizers to help you vlog

If you’re going to be recording lots of footage by yourself then a steadicam or a stabilizer can make a huge difference.

When filming yourself in front of the camera it’s easy for your hands to shake and move around.

This means that any footage recorded will look unprofessional and could ruin your video altogether.

An excellent way to prevent this from happening is by using a stabilizer that will hold your camera and keep it steady.

There are plenty of these types of devices out there so whether you want a stationary one or a handheld one, find the right device for you.

Here are some of the best stabilizers:

Best camera stabilizer for DSL and mirrorless cameras:

DJI Ronin-SC – Camera Stabilizer

Zhiyun Weebill S [Official] 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer for Cameras

ZHIYUN Crane M2 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer

Best camera stabilizer for smartphones:

DJI OM 4 – Handheld 3-Axis Smartphone Gimbal Stabilizer 

DJI Osmo Mobile 3 Combo – 3-Axis Smartphone Gimbal Handheld Stabilizer

What software should I use?

Once you’ve filmed your travelling vlog, you’ll need to edit the footage and put it all together before uploading.

To do this you’ll need video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro.

There are many other options available that range from free to paid versions.

Best software for video editing:

Filmora9: It is a great software for beginners since it is easy to use and allows you to create professional videos without any previous editing experience. 

Adobe Premiere Pro: It is powerful and versatile for both novice users and professionals looking to cut their teeth on a larger scale, this software has become the standard in video editing.

How to make money from traveling vlogging

If you want to make money there are several options available for you.

The first and most common way is to run advertisements on your videos before uploading them online.

YouTube then shares the revenue with you.

Alternatively, another way that vloggers are making money these days is by charging for sponsorships or product placements in their videos.  

But, this is something that you can do once you understand what your audience wants and needs.

How often should I upload videos?

Your filming schedule is completely up to you!  

However, what’s important is that you’re consistent with your uploading time so that people know when to expect a new video from you.  

It’s also beneficial for you to have a schedule so that you can plan to film and edit in advance.

There are several vloggers who upload once a week, every other day or every day depending on what works best for them.  

So don’t feel pressured to get the next video published straight away – take your time and get it right.  

You’ll be glad you took the time to do this when your videos are regular, well structured, and engaging for everyone who watches them.

What types of things should I vlog about?

This is something that you need to think long and hard about.  

Everyone has a different type of traveling blog based on what excites them.  

Maybe you love showing off your hometown, or maybe you want to explore the world and share your adventures with others.  

The easiest way is to think about what would make YOU happy if you were watching a video online.  

Would you enjoy seeing B roll shots of scenic views?

Or maybe you’d love to know more about the person who’s filming and hear their story?

There are no hard and fast rules as long as you’re having fun with what you’re doing.  

But as a general rule, it helps if your video is focused on a theme or topic.  

Here are a few examples of travel vlogging themes:

• Travel diaries
• City guides
• Reviews of restaurants, hotels, etc.
• Family travel
• Moving and living abroad

It could be a mix of different genres which is entirely up to you.

Just know that it’s easier to find an audience if people can easily relate to what you’re filming about.

Pros and Cons of being a travel vlogger

There are a ton of benefits that come from being a traveling vlogger, but let’s start with the downsides.  

Remember that you’re going to be putting your face out there for everyone to see and critique.  

This means that anything negative said about you online will affect your reputation.

You’ll need to think about this from the start and build a strong online presence to stand up against any haters.  

After all, the internet is a cruel place so it’s important to be prepared!

The other negative point of being a travel vlogger is that you’re going to have to spend time away from your friends and family while you move around.  

So if you plan on doing this for a living then it’s important to ask yourself: can I spend months at a time away from my loved ones?

Now, let’s talk about the benefits:

Travel vloggers get to see the world and show others what they’re seeing.

It’s a creative outlet for people who enjoy filming and creating videos.

Another great benefit of starting a vlog is that you can make money from your videos.

There are a few different ways to make money from YouTube videos:

Google ads – These pop up over your video and can be a great way to make extra cash.

Product placements – You can sign an agreement with a company to mention and promote their products in your video.

Sponsorships – This is another way to get paid by companies who want you to tell people about their products and services.

But, there’s a catch!

You’ll need to have a following that’s enthusiastic about the content that you’re creating if you want to make any money.

This means that you’ll need to put in the work before you see the rewards, but if you’ve got this then you can consider travel vlogging as a viable career option!

How do I start my own travel vlog?

Now that you’ve thought about the different types of traveling vlogs and what excites you, it’s time to make a plan.  

You can either dive in and start filming and editing, or you can be more organized and research how other travel vloggers got started.   

Coming up with a step-by-step plan before you start filming will help you stay focused on what’s important and prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed.

So let’s look at some of the steps:

Step 1: Work out your story and what will make people want to keep watching.  

Every video has to have a beginning, middle, and end.

Start by thinking about some of your favorite travel vloggers and how they started out.  

For example, maybe some of them discussed how they wanted to move to a new city but didn’t really know anyone there?

Their first video could then be all about their first few days in the new place and how they feel about it so far.

Step 2: Plan out what your first video will be about.  

Rather than diving in and filming anything that comes to mind, sit down with a pen and paper to brainstorm the topic for your very first video.  

You can then narrow it down by asking yourself these questions:

Will this promote the location I’m at?

Will this promote me or my brand?

Is there a big event happening near me that I can film for my first video?

Step 3: Figure out how much time you have each day to film.  

If you want to keep your subscribers entertained and coming back for more, then it’s important to release a steady stream of videos.

That way they’ll never be left wondering what happened to the travel vlogger they were following – this is really important if you want people to watch your videos!

So think about how much time you have each day and how you can structure your filming schedule to accommodate that.

Step 4: Learn the basics of video editing

Technology is constantly changing, but it’s important to always learn the latest skills for any new job you take on.   

Luckily, there are plenty of free tutorials available online and on YouTube that will teach you how to use free editing software like iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, and Final Cut Pro.

Step 5: Start your website and social media accounts for your vlogging adventures.

These are the easiest ways to start growing your audience so you can start making money!  

It’s also a good idea to set up your very own domain name (like www.yourvlogsname.com) because this will help you grow your online presence and establish yourself as an influencer in the community!

Step 6: Find ways to promote all of your hard work.  

Start by joining Facebook groups and forums related to your travelling vlog niche. 

For example, if your blog is about traveling in Southeast Asia, there are plenty of Facebook groups all about that!

You can also contact other travel vloggers in the community and see if they’d be interested in doing a collaboration with you.

This will help you both grow your audience and establish yourself as an expert!   

If you do a collaboration, try to film at least two videos together so people can get excited about it and know you well.

Step 7: Stay organized.

Finally, once you start filming and growing your audience, you need to stay on top of all the new opportunities coming in.   

You don’t want to miss out on any opportunities because you’re too overwhelmed with all of your daily tasks!

So set up a schedule for everything you need to do, like contacting travel brands for sponsorship. 

It’s also important to have an editorial calendar so you know what videos are coming up and when they’ll be released.   

Step 7: Find help when you need it!

Just like anything else, running your own travel vlog is a lot of work and it can be overwhelming – especially in the beginning!

So don’t be afraid to hire help when you need it.   

Don’t know how to edit or do graphic design?

There’s plenty of freelancers on sites like Fiverr who will be happy to help with a reasonable price!

You can also check out this book: So You Want to Vlog?: How to start from scratch, find your voice & share your stories

It’s a great book that breaks down all of the essentials you need to know about starting a vlog.

Why you should start a travelling vlog

Like I said earlier if you haven’t been vlogging before it is important to make sure you do it for the right reasons.

If you’re passionate about something, don’t let fear hold you back.

Go out there and show the world what you have to offer!

Here are some reasons why you should start your travel vlog:

You are your own boss!  

Nobody can tell you that things need to be done differently or how to look or speak on camera because it’s your channel!  

It’s your creativity and personality that people are subscribing to, so rock it out and show the world what you’re made of.

There are so many new opportunities available to you.

You can network with other vloggers, promote yourself on social media and work with brands just by being creative!

And, if you’re lucky enough to get to this stage, you can start working towards making money from your vlog!

Now that you know all about why you should start, it’s time to go out there and get doing it!

So, what are you waiting for?  

Gather your camera equipment together, come up with a topic, film your first video and upload it to YouTube!

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DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER.

If you are an animal lover then you may have considered starting a blog about dogs and cats.

Today, people are getting their news from social media or blogs rather than from traditional media outlets.

That is why blogging about dogs and cats can be a great way to not only share your passion for pets with others but also make money doing what you love.

But it’s also important that you find the right niche so that your articles will be seen by people who love animals as much as you do. 

In order to do this, you need to know how to choose a topic that is relevant and also allows you to monetize your website.

Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with fresh ideas for the content on your blog, so I have included some tips on finding ideas as well as some tips on how to write great content.

The key here is not only being original but also being consistent.

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What does it mean to be a blogger?

A blogger is someone who writes about their life or interests on a website for other people to read.

Sometimes bloggers use their blogs to share content relevant to a specific topic, like how-to articles or product reviews.

Other times, blogs are written for the blogger’s own enjoyment.

No matter what type of blog you decide to create, it is important that you understand how blogging works in terms of traffic and monetization.

Lucky for you, this post will cover how to find content ideas for your blog, search engine optimization (SEO), monetizing your site, and more.

Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before You Start Blogging About Dogs and Other Animals

Before you create a blog and start writing about animals, there are some things you should be aware of.

Here are some questions to think about before you get started:

• What does your blog aim to do?

• Would you like to help people solve a problem or find a solution?

• Or do you want to entertain people by writing about your interests and hobbies?

• Who are your competitors?

• Will this be a hobby or a full-time business?

Think about this for a minute, because it is important to understand why you are starting your blog.

Knowing this will help you know what type of content is already out there.

You also need to decide what sets you apart from all the other blogs about dogs, cats, and related topics.

Once you have a thorough understanding of how blogging works with regard to traffic and monetization, then it’s time to come up with a topic.

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How to Choose the Right Topic and Niche

It is important that you are passionate about the topic that you choose for your blog.

If you are just starting out, it can be hard to find a topic that will interest both you and your target audience.

That is why I recommend choosing a niche where you have some prior experience or knowledge.

What I mean by this is that it is OK if you don’t know everything about the topic that you end up choosing, but you should go into it with a sense of “I can figure this out.”

For example, I used to have a 9-5 but wanted to start working remotely.

I wanted to be able to work from anywhere, but I was not an online worker yet.

When I decided to start my own blog, I knew that I wanted to write about remote work and digital nomadism because it is something that has always interested me.

Over time, as I learned more about this subject, my passion for location independence grew even stronger and I became an expert in the field!

And this can be the same for you as well, as long as you are willing to learn more about the topic that you choose.

Even if you are an expert in your field, it is important to look at the competition and see what others are writing about so that you can either avoid those topics or offer a fresh perspective on them.

How to Choose a Blogging Platform

The next step towards starting your own blog is choosing a platform.

When I started, I knew that I wanted to do a WordPress website because it is so flexible and allows you to really customize your site.

There are also thousands of free WordPress themes, as well as many different plugins that can help enhance your blog post.

It is important, however, that you choose a blogging platform that has the functionality you need for your blog.

If you are just starting out, I recommend using a platform like WordPress to create your website.

WordPress will make it easy to manage your site, create a blog post, or even add a page.

There are other options out there for blogging platforms, such as Tumblr, SquareSpace, and Blogger.

But I personally think that WordPress is the most flexible and user-friendly, which is why it’s best for beginners.

Choosing the Right Hosting for Your Website

After you have chosen a platform, the next step is to choose a host for your website.

A hosting service allows you to upload content to a web server so that the information can be accessed by anyone via the internet.

There are many different kinds of hosting services such as free hosting and dedicated servers, but I recommend choosing something like WordPress hosting or shared hosting service.

These types of services are affordable and allow you to start blogging without having to worry about spending too much money too soon.

Here are several hosting companies that I would highly recommend:

For beginners: Bluehost

I loved using Bluehost when I started out.

They offer a free domain when you sign up, and the main advantage here is that WordPress installs automatically on all their domains.

What this means is that you can start your blog in five minutes or less!

They are also very affordable, with a shared hosting service starting at only $3.95 per month!

An added benefit is that they offer 24/7 customer support, which proved very valuable when I was first getting started.

For experienced bloggers: WPEngine

If you are already familiar with how WordPress works and want to do more advanced stuff with your website, then WPEngine is an excellent hosting service for you.

With WPEngine, you can install unlimited plugins and themes on your website.

WordPress hosting starts at only $22.50 per month, which is still very affordable if you are making money blogging!

Purchasing a Domain Name

Once you have made the decision on what platform and hosting to use, you need to purchase your domain name.

A domain is the web address for your blog.

For example, our domain name is theoffbeatlife.com

I purchased my domain through Bluehost for about $12.99 per year.

However, if you decide to go with a different hosting company than Bluehost then it likely will not include your free domain.

The other thing you need to get started is your blog theme.

A theme is a layout and design for your blog, which will include the colors and logos that appear on every page.

Choosing a Website Theme

You need to choose a theme that you like and that fits in with what you want to do.

I chose a paid WordPress theme because I wanted it to be user-friendly with a design that is customizable that fits in with my branding.

I personally love the WPEngine WordPress themes because they have an excellent variety of designs and color schemes.

The great thing about these themes is that they are also fully customizable.

I recommend playing around with the templates and designs to find something you like before continuing because this step can take some time!

How to Set Up Your Website Content

When you have your domain name, hosting service, and WordPress theme then you can start installing plugins and writing content for your blog.

The first thing I recommend doing is installing a plugin to help you with SEO (I will explain SEO in more detail below).

There are many SEO plugins out there, but I would start with the one that is simple and easy to use.

I personally use the Yoast SEO plugin on my blog because it tells you exactly what you need to do in order for search engines like Google to find your website.

Yoast SEO will also include many other helpful tools, such as internal linking between your posts, choosing the right keywords for your content, and analyzing your website.

Other plugins that I recommend using on your website are:

• WP Super Cache – To speed up your blog page load time

• Google Analytics for WordPress – To monitor the traffic that comes to your site.

• Link Whisperer – a plugin that allows you to automatically add internal linking to your posts, which can save you a lot of time.

Now that you have installed some plugins, it is time to write your content!

How to Write Great Content Blogging about Dogs and Cats

Now that you have installed the right plugins, it is time to get started with creating your blog post.

Here are a few ways you can write great articles:

• Write about your personal experiences with your pets.

This is a great option if you already own a pet because it will help to make your content more unique and personal.

You can also share pictures of the pets in your post!

• How-to articles about dogs or cats.

For example, an article about how to train your dog could be helpful for people who are looking to purchase a new pet.

If you choose this topic then you should try to provide tips that will be useful for the reader.

• Reviews of products related to your pets

This is a great option if you purchase any products for your pets, but it can also be helpful to include reviews of pet-friendly restaurants and hotels.  

You could also write an article about the cost of owning a dog or cat throughout their lifetime.

By writing these reviews, you may be able to provide readers with some helpful information that they can use.

• Listicles about your animals

A listicle is a blog post that includes many different points, which are organized in a list format.  

This can be helpful if you want to write about “10 different tips for owning a pet” because it will keep your reader interested and engaged!

As you can see there are many different topics that you can write about when blogging about dogs and cats.

If your topic is too broad then you may have a difficult time narrowing down the focus of your blog post.

I recommend choosing a topic that is specific and narrow so you can provide your readers with more helpful information.

Growing Your Audience Blogging About Dogs and Other Pets

Perhaps the most important thing that you should do when creating a blog is to build your audience.

In order to make money blogging about dogs and cats, you will need people reading your articles so that you can create a revenue stream.

Since there are millions of blogs on the internet, it might be difficult to get discovered by readers so this is why building an audience before monetizing your blog is important!

Here are a few ways to grow your blog’s audience:

• Get backlinks from related websites.

Backlinks are links that point to your website, which is important for SEO since search engines look at backlinks as a vote of confidence in your site’s content! 

In order to get a backlink, try reaching out to a blog that you read and think provides great content.

Most bloggers will be happy to provide a link on their website because it will help their readers as well!

It may take a while to build up a large number of backlinks, but each one will help with making your blog more successful.

• Make videos for YouTube.

Youtube can bring in massive amounts of traffic to your website and it is not as hard as you think.

Just make an interesting video related to dogs or cats and upload it onto YouTube, then simply put the link or video on your website!

Not only will you gain views from your site, but also from YouTube watchers who search for related topics on the platform.

• Pinterest Marketing.

Pinterest is one of the best social media sites for blogging because people are looking at pictures all day long.

If you have an interesting photo about dogs or cats, then it will likely be pinned hundreds of times!

This will lead to your website getting more traffic and hopefully building your audience!

SEO for Pet Blogs: What is Search Engine Optimization?

Now that you have an idea for a topic and you have started blogging about dogs and other animals, it is time to learn about search engine optimization (SEO).

If you do not know already, SEO is when people can find your website when they are searching for specific words or topics.

For example, if somebody searched for “how to train a puppy,” then you would want them to be able to find your website (if that is part of your niche).

Why would somebody search for something like, “how to train a puppy?”

Well if they are having trouble with training their new pet, then this person might type that phrase into the search engine or Google.  

Additionally, if somebody was looking for tips on how to train a puppy then you want people to be able to find your website.

You are probably wondering how you can increase the chances that people will find your blog when they search for something related to your niche.  

This is where SEO comes in!

There are many tricks and tips for writing content so that search engines will rank your website higher on their list, but it is very difficult to try everything at once.

However, there are a few things that I recommend trying in the beginning:

• Use keywords when you can!

Keywords are words that people might search for when looking for information about your topic.

For example, if somebody were writing an article about how they train their dog, then they might want to use keywords such as “training a puppy” or “how to train a dog.”

• Create a blog post title with your focus keyword.

This is the most important part of your article and it is what shows up on Google’s first page when people search for your topic.

• Create some blog posts that are over 1,000 words!

This is another important aspect of SEO because people are more likely to visit your blog if they see some longer articles that will answer all the questions they may have.  

Finding the Right Keywords

In order to find the right keywords, you might consider using a keyword search platform.

I am currently using KeySearch which is a tool that will allow you to find the best keywords to use when writing your blog posts.

Using Keysearch has literally changed my blogging experience.

Before using Keysearch, I would typically choose a few topics and then try to guess what keywords I should use.

I now know that this is not the best way to do things because it can be almost impossible to be found if you are not using the right keywords!

Once you have started using a search tool, you should select a word or phrase that is related to your topic and will be searched for often.  

For example, if you are writing a blog post about different types of pet food then it would probably be a good idea to search for keywords like “best dog food” or “types of cat food.”

However, before using these keywords, you will need to know how popular they are.  

If you have KeySearch then the tool will show how often people search for that keyword per month.  

For example, I searched “types of dog food” and KeySearch showed that this phrase is searched about 1900 times per month!

But the competition is 45 out of 100 which is pretty high if you are competing with other big bloggers.

For new bloggers, the lower the score (30 or less) the better since there is less competition.

That is why finding a keyword that has low score competition but a high volume search is the holy grail of blogging.

Finally, you should also use the keyword throughout the article.

This is important for SEO and will help people find your blog more easily.

Google will crawl your website to see how many times you use the keyword.

If your article sounds like it is just filled with keywords then people will not want to read it and Google might think that this article has nothing of value to offer!

This means that you should try to use the keyword as much as possible without making it sound unnatural.  

In the end, you want to provide the best possible article that will benefit your readers and drive traffic to your blog!

How to Make Money Blogging About Dogs and Cats

Making money with your blog is the ultimate goal for most bloggers.

I have been blogging for a few years now and I am finally starting to understand how to make money blogging.

It has not been an easy journey, but I am finally starting to see some success.

Here are a few things that I recommend doing for beginners and pros in order to create income:

• Create digital products.

One of the best ways to make money blogging is by creating digital products.

It can be a PDF ebook, an infographic, or even a video on how to train your dog!

You can sell these products through your website and they are great for beginner bloggers since you do not need any experience!

Read this article to help you create the right digital product for your blog.

• Affiliate Marketing.

Affiliate marketing is another way to make money blogging, and just like the previous example, it requires no experience.

Being an affiliate marketer means that you are selling someone else’s products on your own website.

You will receive a percentage of the sale when someone buys the product.

For example, if your blog is about dogs then you can sell products with the Amazon associates program.  

You can add a link to a product from Amazon and when a reader buys that item, you will receive a percentage of the sale.

This is one of my favorite ways to make money blogging because it is so easy and requires little to no experience!

You can check out this article to help you get started with affiliate marketing.

• Sell ad space on your website.

If you want to make money blogging then this is perhaps one of the best options since it is passive income.

Seriously, just opening up an account with Google Adsense and putting their code on your website can lead to them placing ads that pay you for clicks!

But I do have to warn you that this is one of the more difficult ways to make money blogging since you need a lot of traffic.  

It is still possible if you are starting out, but it might be better to use another method described above until you have grown enough traffic on your website.

• Sell coaching services.

Being a coach is lucrative because you can charge money helping people solve their problems.

There are many dog owners that would love to have a private trainer teach them how to train their dog, so this might be the perfect solution for you if you are an expert in dogs!

• Sponsored Ads on Your Blog

If you have a large site then this might be one of the best ways to make money blogging.

Sponsored ads will be displayed on your blog and you get paid to create the content and not necessarily through clicks.

However, you can negotiate with the brands you are working with to get other incentives so you can make more money.

• Email marketing.

This may not apply to everyone but you can make money by promoting other people’s products in your e-mails.

If you have a large number of subscribers then this will be more lucrative for you, but it is also difficult if you do not already have an audience.

People want to make money with their blog and there are many ways that they can go about doing this.

The best way is to create great content that people will want to read and give them what they want, which in most cases is information related to your niche.

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How Much Does it Cost to Get Started with a Blog?

It costs a lot less to start blogging about dogs and cats than you might think.

In fact, one of the best things about blogging is that there are tons of free platforms out there where you can create your website!

Typically, you will need to pay for hosting, purchase a domain name, and maybe your theme, but that is about all you need when you are just beginning.

You can always upgrade as you make more money blogging about dogs and other animals, but the initial costs are very cheap!

The only real investment is going to be time!

Now that you know what you need to do it is time to get started!

Start Blogging About Dogs and Cats: Key Takeaways

It is not impossible to make money blogging about dogs and cats, but it does require a lot of hard work.

You should not expect to get rich overnight or even within a few months since that is just not realistic.

But if you are dedicated then you should see results in the future, that is why it is very important to enjoy what you are doing!

If blogging about dogs and cats is not for you then there are plenty of other categories that might work better.  

Just make sure that whatever topic you choose, it will be one that you are passionate about!

Remember to do your research and take advantage of all the different ways that you can make money blogging so that you can start creating income by doing what you love.

So what are you waiting for?

Start your blog and get to work!

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What to know how to get started with amateur blogging? Here is the ultimate guide you need to get started and succeed.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you’re here it’s because you have decided to start a blog, and we are all for it!

Starting a blog is one of the best ways to earn income from home and it can even become almost 100% passive if you have the right strategies. 

But we also know how overwhelming it can be and there are learning curves that every newbie blogger has to experience. 

We want to make sure that you are not making the same mistakes that many amateur bloggers have made (including us) when you’re starting out. 

That is why we have listed the top 13 common mistakes that most newbie bloggers have made so you can avoid them and proceed with a bit more confidence than we did. 

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Pros and Cons of Starting Amateur Blogs

Before we share with you what mistakes to avoid, let’s talk about the pros and cons of starting a blog, so that you can make better decisions on whether starting this platform is right for you. 

Pros of starting a blog

First and foremost, it is one of the best ways to share your knowledge and passions with the world.

When we started The Offbeat Life blog, for example, it was because we wanted to create resources to help others start online businesses and start working remotely. 

What is passive income you ask?

Well, it means you will be doing initial work such as creating articles, and digital products for your blog, and then make money even when you are no longer actively working on it.

You can create passive income from your blog with affiliate marketing, digital products, ads, sponsorships, and more. 

Cons of starting a blog

Although there are a ton of reasons why you should be starting your own blog, there are also some cons to this lifestyle and business. 

One of the biggest is that it can take a long time to start earning money from your amateur blog.

In a study done by Life Hacker, they found that around 81% of bloggers never made more than $100 blogging, while only 8% made enough to support themselves from their site.

This goes to show you that without the right strategy and persistence it can be a tough road ahead. 

Another con to starting a blog is that it does have a lot of competition.

With as many as 600 million blogs and over 7.5 million articles being published daily, you will have a lot of rivals for readership. 

With that said, there will always be room for amateur bloggers who have tenacity, persistence, and patience to commit to this platform.

If you are willing to take the time to do great work and market your content, it will only be a matter of time before you can see results. 

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Avoid These Top Mistakes Most Amateur Bloggers Make

If you’ve come this far, we can assume that you are still very much interested in starting your own blog. Congrats! Now it is time for the real work to begin. 

Below are the top mistakes you should avoid before you get started. 

Not choosing the right niche.  

This goes without saying, but if you are thinking of starting a blog, you must choose the right niche.

Of course, you are free to talk about anything you want, but if you want to create income, you must become an authority on a specific niche, otherwise, your audience will be confused and they will most likely read a post and not come back. 

On the other hand, if you choose a specific niche and only write specific topics that are in that realm, over time you will be considered an authority and you will be able to attract the right audience for your website. 

By choosing a niche, you will also make the work a lot easier in terms of searching for the right topics to write about, since you are more focused and it is not all over the place. 

A great exercise to practice when you are starting to choose your niche is to make a list of what you are passionate about and what you are an expert in.

If you are able to combine both, then you may have the perfect niche for you. 

If you need more help trying to decide your perfect niche.

Feel free to sign up below to download our FREE Find Your Blog Niche Excercise template, to make the process a lot easier!

But keep in mind, even if you are not an expert in a particular subject but you have the passion and drive, you can become an expert in the long run.

So if expertise is the only thing holding you back, don’t worry. Give it a try and who knows what can happen! 

Not self hosting. 

Many amateur bloggers are often unsure about how to host their site, which is why they make the mistake of not self-hosting. 

What is website hosting you ask?

Website hosting will allow your content to be seen on the internet. So without it, your blog will not be published, which means no audience and no income. 

Most newbie bloggers get confused with the type of hosting that they need and will use a free platform like Wix, and WordPress.com. 

Although you get the perk of free hosting, it also means that you will have a lot of limitations such as restrictions on storage and bandwidth which will limit your growth and can slow your website, resulting in a bad user experience. 

That is why we recommend a paid hosting platform like Bluehost which is not only affordable starting at only $2.95 a month but is also a domain that you own! 

Choosing shared hosting is a perfect choice for bloggers just starting out, and of course, you can always upgrade your hosting when you need more power and bandwidth.

Bluehost also has reliable 24/7 service, which is ideal since we are sure you will need some help to set up your site in the beginning. 

Not learning SEO.  

If you want to start a successful blog, then learning SEO is crucial.

Many amateur bloggers start without familiarizing themselves with SEO and this is a huge mistake because you are leaving a lot of traffic on the table!

What is SEO you ask? It means search engine optimization.

In order to properly optimize your site, you will need to learn how to find the right keywords to include in your blog posts, understand backlinking and so much more in order to rank on the google search engine. 

If you are confused, don’t worry, we were too.

It took us almost two years to finally start learning SEO on The Offbeat Life blog, and we wish we learned sooner because once we started implementing the right SEO strategies we were able to gain more readers.

Right now 75% of our readers are coming from organic traffic which would not have happened if we did not use SEO strategies. 

If you are looking to learn more about SEO and how to properly implement it to your site, we recommend using SEO Buddy’s – SEO checklist which is an easy to follow checklist that will show you the exact steps you need to take in order to rank on Google searches. 

What we love about this program is that it not only teaches you about SEO but it also comes in a checklist form!

This means it encourages active learning, making it so much more effective than your typical e-courses. 

It is so easy that even amateur bloggers can get on the first page of google.

So no need to waste time researching, it has everything you need in one checklist. 

Having an Ugly Website 

Even though quality content is king when you are starting a blog, making it appealing so that it attracts your ideal reader is also important.

That is why investing in a good theme is crucial to a successful blog. 

You want the look of your website to be easy to navigate but will also lure your readers to want more. We know it can be tempting to settle for a free website, and don’t get us wrong, we did the same thing too when we first started. 

But with just a bit of investment, you can find beautiful themes where you can plug all your information without having to do any of the hard work. 

We are partial to WordPress sites and our favorite platform where you can find beautiful themes is through WPEngine – Genesis Themes.

This platform is a one-stop shop where you’ll find the right look for your site and also get your web hosting there too! 

Not Link building

Many amateur bloggers think that creating content is enough to rank on google.

But this isn’t true at all, there is still more to do in terms of marketing, and link building is a big part of it. 

What’s link-building you ask?

Well, it is the process of getting links from your site to other similar niched websites so that you are able to build authority for your page. 

Why is this important?

By building authority, it shows Google that your website can be trusted and your site deserves to be placed on the first page of google. 

A few ways you can build links is through: 

Guest posting: meaning you will be writing articles for other websites that are in a similar niche as yours so that you can build the authority for your page.

You can start guest posting by simply pitching to other blogs and providing them with original work that they would want on their page. 

Creating internal links: by creating internal links you will be linking one page to another page on your website.

But keep in mind, with any links you are creating, you want to make sure that it is naturally placed in the content and makes sense to the article. 

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Getting featured in larger publications: one of the best ways to link building is by getting mentioned in large publications.

This may seem a bit intimidating, but we can assure you that it is not. One way to do this is by pitching yourself to writers and editors of the publications that you would like to be featured in.

Again, you want to make sure that your story is relevant to what the writers are interested in. 

So when you are writing your content, make sure to not just focus on your topic but also how you market your article through link building. 

No consistency 

One of the biggest mistakes we see with amateur blogs is not having consistency with their content. Meaning, they may write 3 articles one week, and only one article the next month. 

We know it can be tough to stay consistent especially if you also work a 9-5, but you have to make sure that your content schedule must be consistent along with its quality.

Otherwise, you will not gain traction and it will not grow into a successful business. 

In order to ensure that your content is consistent, make sure that you are being honest with how much you can do, and when you decide on a schedule, stick to it! 

Not collecting emails 

Another common mistake that we have seen in many amateur bloggers is not collecting emails right from the beginning.

For many, this is because they are unfamiliar with the process and unsure how to entice their readers to provide their emails. 

In order to collect emails from your readers, you have to make sure that you are giving them content that they will be interested in learning more about. 

For example, if your article is about how to sew a dress, you do not want them to sign up for an email all about fixing cars.

So, make sure that your content is relevant to your audience’s interests.

When you are ready to start collecting emails, we recommend using Flodesk, it’s the exact platform that we use for our own site.

We love it because it is user-friendly and very affordable. 

Flodesk also has beautiful templates that you can use, so if you aren’t creative, no need to worry, this platform has everything you need to design beautiful emails for your readers. 

Not planning and batching content

If you want to avoid being overwhelmed, you have to create a plan and batch your content, otherwise, you will always be playing catch up. This is a common mistake for many amateur bloggers and we also became a victim of this too. 

What does batching mean? It means that you are creating multiple articles and any other content in advance so you are ahead of the game. 

Once you get into the groove of planning and batching, you will always be caught up and the overwhelm will lessen. 

Not promoting your posts on social media 

We see this all the time, you create your amazing content and then you’re just waiting for it to take off.

Weeks and months later, you’re still wondering why your article is not ranking on google and there are barely any views on your site. Then you’re wondering what went wrong. 

Well friend, it’s because you missed a big part of the process, which is to share your content on social media.

If you are like so many others and feel cringe just thinking about creating social media content, don’t worry you can always recycle your content. 

What this means is you can take snippets from your article and create graphics from your best quotes.

This will allow you to reuse existing content without having to do too much extra work. 

Another strategy that will make your life easier is to start scheduling your social media ahead of time so you can just set it and forget it! 

One of the platforms we love that helps you schedule all of your marketing needs in one place is Planoly.

This scheduling platform allows you to do more with less time by allowing you to schedule content on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

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Not investing in your blog 

As a newbie blogger, we understand that you may be hesitant about spending money on your site.

But you also have to understand that if you plan to make this into a business, you have to make sure that you’re able to provide the highest quality content along with your services. 

Yes, there are a ton of free resources out there, but we can tell you first hand, it lacks the services that you will need to turn your amateur blog into a full-fledged successful website that will rake in viewership you need to create income. 

We suggest creating a budget for yourself so you are able to control the spending, while also investing in your business so that it can succeed at full capacity. 

And we can tell you personally that when we finally invested in our blog, it not only made enough money, but it is now paying for itself! 

Not creating high-quality content 

If you think that blogging is just writing a few paragraphs and calling it a day, then you’re sadly mistaken.

With millions of blogs that are out there, the competition is tough, which means you have to step up to the plate and provide your readers the best information and content.

That is why creating high-quality content is extremely important in order to become successful and have longevity in this business. 

Copying content 

This goes without saying – plagiarism is bad.

Not only because you are copying another creator’s content, and claiming it as your own, but Google is extremely smart and will punish you if you are dumb enough to copy someone else’s work. 

So, please DO NOT plagiarise.

You can create similar topics because let’s face it, you do not need to reinvent the wheel to start blogging, but you do have to make sure that you are putting your own personal spin on the information.  

Impatience – giving up when they don’t see results right away. 

Did you know that most blogs fail in the first year?

That is because this platform is not a place where you should expect to get rich quickly or skyrocket to fame right away. 

It takes a lot of time, energy, and learning to find success and you will need to fail a lot of times before you can get the results you want. 

So if you are blogging and do not see your desired outcome after a few months or even after a year, do not worry.

Your strategies may just need more time to take effect, or maybe it is time to take a look at your systems and see what changes you need to make. 

We are almost four years into this blog and we are still learning and failing, so believe us, you are not alone! 

Now that you know the 13 common mistakes that most amateur bloggers make, it is time to go out there and start your own blog. 

If you are dedicated, patient, and willing to fail before you can succeed, we are sure you will find long-term success. 

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