Blogging is one of the most profitable ways of making money online in South Africa.
Done right, you can make a sustainable living from blogging in South Africa.
So today I want to show how to start a blog and the most profitable ways to make money with blogging. I’ve tested them myself, which is why I’m also recommending you check them out as well.
Let’s dive right in.
Before we get to the exciting money making ideas with the blog, let’s help you setup a blog to start working on the content.
How to Quickly Start a Blog
Starting a blog is a great way to share your interests, connect with like-minded people, and even make money.
In today’s age, content is more important than anything else. When people are looking for quick answers, your blog should offer that valued answer to their problems.
To get started, here are the steps to follow to start a blog:
Choose a niche: Decide on a topic or niche that you are passionate about and interested in writing content about. It could be anything from fashion to technology, travel, food, or personal development.
Choose a blogging platform: There are many blogging platforms available, but some of the most popular ones are WordPress, Blogger, and Wix. WordPress is the most popular platform and is highly customizable and recommended, but it requires a bit more technical knowledge.
Choose a domain name and hosting: Your domain name (eg. moneygap.co.za) is the web address that people will use to access your blog, and hosting is the service that allows your blog to be accessed online. You can purchase both from a web hosting provider like Xneelo, Afrihost, Domains.co.za, etc.
Install and set up your blogging platform: Once you have chosen your platform and hosting provider, you need to install your blogging platform and set it up. This involves selecting a theme, customizing your site, and creating pages. If you’re not technical to setup these CMSes, you might want to get a website developer to assist.
Create and publish your first blog post: Now that your blog is set up, it’s time to start writing! Create your first post, add images or other multimedia content, and publish it. Ensure the blog article is valuable and good quality.
Promote your blog: To attract readers to your blog, you need to promote and share your posts on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and engage with your readers by responding to comments and sharing other relevant content.
Monetize your blog: Once you have built a following, you can start monetizing your blog. This can be through advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or selling your own products or services.
Starting a blog can be a fun and rewarding experience. By following these steps and consistently creating quality content, you can build a successful blog and share your knowledge and interests with the world.
6 Ways to Monetize Your Blog in South Africa
1. Google Adsense
Adsense is the number one and trusted source of income for many bloggers in South Africa. An ad network inventory with thousands of partners in the country.
It’s very easy to install and set up – you’ll just add a script from Google and they’ll take care of the rest.
2. Affiliate Marketing
With affiliate marketing for bloggers, you’ll choose products and services from other companies to promote on your website with a referral link.
When customers buy products and services using your link, you’ll earn a commission for the sale.
It’s one of the most popular ways of earning money with your blog. Affiliate marketing pays much higher when you promote the right products and services.
Try these ones to get started:
3. Direct Advertisements
Once you’ve built good traffic and audiences to your blog, you can start accepting direct advertisements from companies across South Africa.
In fact, companies will eventually approach you when the blog gains traction and millions of quality traffic.
You could then charge them for placements of ads on your side, different amounts for different sizes of ad placements.
Compared to other advertising programs such as Adsense, there are no limitations in terms of earnings, you’ll get into an agreement directly with the advertising company.
4. Sell Own Services
From your blog, you can offer services not limited to writing content, SEO, logo design, and website design.
Depending on your skills of course but blogging is the perfect way of promoting your business and reaching new clients.
Start building loyal memberships through newsletter signups and sell your products and services through the blog.
5. Native Ads
Companies such as Taboola and Outbrain are at the forefront of native advertising that offers bloggers the opportunity to make money online.
You’ll place a code on your blog that will display ads in different formats.
6. Online Courses
A lot of bloggers love this way of making money online.
In fact, after a while of working with other advertising platforms, a lot ends up just making money with a blog by selling online courses.
Package your skills and on-demand answers and sell them with a course on your blog. You’ll be surprised at how many people will buy your course, to learn a new skill.
How Much Do Bloggers Make in South Africa
The income of bloggers in South Africa can vary widely depending on several factors such as the niche they write in, the size of their audience, the monetization strategies they use, and their level of expertise.
Blogging has changed in terms of making money in the past few years. When I started, in my first 3 months of monetizing, I would make about R14,000 but today, a new blog makes less than R6,000 in that period.
According to research conducted by CoMoney, the average income of a blogger in South Africa is between R3,000 and R15,000 per month, depending on other multiple factors such as quality of traffic and advertising season. It’s also important to note that this is an average, and some bloggers can make much more or much less than this amount.
Bloggers who have a large and engaged audience and use multiple monetization strategies such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and selling digital products can earn significantly more. On the other hand, bloggers who are just starting out or have a smaller audience may earn less or not yet be able to monetize their blog.
Ultimately, the income of a blogger in South Africa depends on various factors and is not guaranteed. However, with dedication, hard work, and a passion for writing, bloggers can earn a decent income and build a successful online business.