So you want to make money by blogging… Here’s the hard truth: most people do not start off making loads of money blogging.  If you want a large income, it will take time and patience, but it is possible – you can earn money by blogging.

If you start blogging and its obvious all you care about is money, you probably won’t be successful.  But if you wait and put in the necessary time, it will pay off.  A good foundation is essential.  This is the time when you want to increase your blog traffic.

I recommend focusing on setting up a good, appealing blog from the beginning, especially if you want to make a larger profit in the long run.  Here is an overview of things to look for; I’ll go more in depth with each of these topics in later posts.

Choose An Interesting Topic

Pick a subject that you not only find interesting, but inspiring and exciting.  Your passion for the topic will bleed into your writing, making it appealing to readers.  Good content will attract readers and keep them coming back.  Passion will also give you motivation to keep writing regularly, and when you have authority on a subject, readers will trust your “expert opinion”.  Even if your main goal is to make money, I still suggest finding a subject you like and enjoy.  Everyone has some expertise.

Pick a Memorable Domain Name

This is actually a very important step.  If you can’t afford to pay for one, you can set up a free blog on any of these websites: Blogger, TypePad, MySpace, LiveJournal, WordPress.  If you can afford a domain, however, I suggest you get that one, as it will increase your credibility.  Try to pick something short, simple and memorable, and try to use a keyword. You can make up a word if you want, but make it easy to spell and pronounceable.  Need more help?  Read Choose a Good Blog Name to go more in depth.

Keywords are the “Key”

Think of some keywords related to your topic and incorporate them into your blog.  You can do this by using them in your article title, headings in your articles, dispersed in your content and in your meta tags and description.  You can also make sure you use a keyword in your page title.  Include a description or “about” section of your blog and use keywords there as well.  Don’t go overboard though!  Too much won’t read write – with your readers, or with search engines.

A Layout is Like a Book Cover

A good layout can do a number of things.  A viewer on your blog is going to see the layout first, before they even start reading your words.  A layout is like a book cover, and if it is attractive, you can hook the visitor.  If you aren’t good at web design, you may want to hire someone or, if you can’t afford that, start with a template.  The free blogging sites usually come with one and they are somewhat customizable.  Make sure you keep your subject in mind when creating a design.  For more information, read about how your blog design can attract readers.

The basic idea here is that you want to set up your blog in the beginning so that down the line you can earn more revenue with your blog.  The first steps you take with your blog will be influential so that down the line, you can make money with sponsored reviews, earn income with ads, and profit with PPC Campaigns.  So be sure to keep this in mind when you decide to start a blog!