Building a Successful Online Writing Business: Tips, Tools, and Insights from a Decade of Experience

Upcoming blog series

I’ve been writing and creating content online across various platforms, and websites for over 10 years. From blogs, to news articles, creating a podcast, and a couple of YouTube channels, it's been an adventure for sure.

Over the years, there have been ups and downs when it comes to productivity and maintaining a consistent flow of content. I attribute this mostly to the fact that it can be hard to stay motivated and inspired when you're working on your own.

That, along with trying to be everywhere online all at once, can become overwhelming when you're always chasing the next big thing.

It’s more about self-awareness at this point than it is about learning my lesson, as I write this, I have tabs on my computer open to: Twitter / Bluesky / Mastodon / Medium / NewsBreak / Substack, and Ghost.io… Yeesh!

They all serve their purpose, and getting your content where the eyes are is the objective of any successful online creator. Don’t let anyone try to convince you that it’s easy. It will take sacrifice, time, and sometimes even your sanity.

However, the benefits of creating content online are undeniable – you can reach a global audience, share your ideas and expertise, and even make money doing what you love. I call that, a win, win, win situation.

About a year ago, I decided to go all in on building out my website as a place where I can share ideas, books, projects, stories, and other things that I find interesting in the ever-growing machine that is the internet.

Sure, social media platforms are the most popular and low maintenance ways to share content, but something about taking control, and “owning” a domain where I can publish my work is empowering, and fun.

Creating content online is a win, win, win situation.

When you maintain the rights to control and own your content, you give yourself the opportunity to earn passive income through affiliate marketing, advertising, and selling products or services.

To accomplish this, you should find your niche, identify your target audience, create engaging and informative content, and build your online presence and community.

By continually providing value and engaging with your audience, you can maintain and grow your community, ensuring the success and sustainability of your online writing business. That’s the plan, anyway.

As an online creator, I have been fortunate enough to learn many valuable lessons about what it takes to build a successful online writing business. Along the way, I have discovered various tips and tricks that have helped me to make money online and reach a wider audience.

One of the most important things I've learned is the importance of finding your niche and creating valuable content that resonates with your audience. This can be accomplished by identifying your unique perspective and expertise, and by conducting research to understand the needs and interests of your audience.

While, I’ll be the first to admit my interests and therefore my website are an eclectic mix of things that I, personally, find interesting, that doesn't mean that my tastes won't resonate with someone else. That’s when the magic happens.

Find your tribe.

I've also found that building a supportive community around your writing is essential for achieving success as an online creator. Engaging with your audience and fostering a sense of community can help to create a loyal following of readers who are invested in your work and eager to support you.

Additionally, growing your reach and expanding your community through various marketing channels and strategies can help to increase your visibility and reach a wider audience.

Over the years, I've also come across a variety of useful tools and resources for online content creation, such as website builders, email marketing platforms, and social media scheduling tools. These tools can help to streamline the process of creating and promoting your content, allowing you to focus more on the creative aspects of your online writing business.

In the coming posts, I'll be sharing more about my experiences and insights as an online creator, as well as offering tips and tricks for making money online and growing your online writing business.

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Thank you for reading, and I look forward to continuing to share my experiences and insights with you.