Pick an Easy to Use Blog Platform

blog_networkWordPress is the most widely used blogging platform out there for professional and personal blogs, though there are several other good options available, including Blogger, Tumblr, and TypePad.

The specific platform you use is really just a matter of personal preference and familiarity, the important point is to use a widely-used, well-maintained system.

The reason for this is simple: these platforms have all been highly-developed and have evolved over time. Many of them have a large number of easy-to-install extra features via plugins, and out-of-the-box designs that will suit most of your needs.

Building a site from scratch, on the other hand, can be costly and lead to the potential for malfunction and data-loss, especially if you have never managed a web-project before. Only if you need some very specific functionality should you build your own blog, and even then you can usually start with a well-maintained solution and adapt as you move forward.

Get a Custom Domain

If you’re just blogging for personal reasons, it’s perfectly fine to use a Blogger or WordPress domain (eg: yourusername.wordpress.com) but chances are you aren’t reading this site because you want to blog about what you had for lunch (I’d recommend Twitter for that one…).

If you’re going to be successful as an affiliate marketer, you need to have a blog that looks professional. This starts with having your own domain, rather than piggy-backing off of a free site. Domains run anywhere from $1.99 to $14.99 a year, so there’s really no excuse not to have one.

Your Blog is Your Business

Think of your blog like a business. It needs consistent maintenance, updates, and new content in order to thrive.

Your readers are your customers. They need attention. They’re going to have questions, and you should be available to answer those questions. The more you can interact with your users, the more likely you’ll be to gain their trust and ultimately guide them to an appropriate product.

Content is the Reason You Have Readers

blogging_basics_ideasYou’re going to hear this over and over in the blogosphere: content is king.

Original content is what will help get you ranked in search engines, and original content is what will encourage readers to subscribe and return to your blog. Your personal touch should come out in your writing. It’s ok if your writing-style doesn’t resonate with all users, but keeping it personal will allow you to better connect with those who do come back.

At the end of the day, in order to achieve success and wealth in the affiliate world, your blog is the reason you have users that are going to make purchases. You need to be professional and personal at the same time, just as you would in any business.

If you don’t believe me, check out these success stories from Wealthy Affiliate University to see just how powerful a blog can be.

Or, check out my full Wealthy Affiliate University review, Affilorama Jetpack review, or compare Affilorama vs Wealthy Affiliate.