Blogging Masterclass: How To Build A Successful Blog In 2024 from Udemy

UDEMY'S #" —CNN

"...the entire process for turning a blog into a bonafide moneymaker." —The Next Web

"Brad is clearly experienced, accomplished and an expert in this subject. His knowledge will be very helpful for those who are able to absorb & implement all of his suggestions and tips." —Leah, Udemy student

"Totally AWESOME course. You have addressed every aspect of getting started with a new blog, but better yet what it takes to make it a success. I can't wait to get started." —Terry, Udemy student

"Excellent material, well explained, and a talented & experienced instructor who is not afraid to share his opinion on what it does or doesn't work for him." —JP, Udemy student

Brad Merrill has been building things on the web for well over a decade. In 2010, he started a blog about technology and innovation, and in just a couple of years it grew into a large publication with staff and revenue, serving more than half a million monthly readers. His work has been featured on Techmeme and cited by a number of notable blogs and publications, including the Wall Street Journal.

In this course, Brad condenses more than ten years of trial and error into a simple blueprint designed to help you build a successful blog. You'll learn all the essentials, including:

The mindset of a successful blogger
How to build a WordPress site
How to write amazing blog content that readers will love and share
How to promote your content to ensure people actually see it
How to build and leverage an email list to generate traffic and revenue on demand
How to turn your blog into a business that generates revenue

Why would you want to build a blog? Well, there are many different motivations, but here are a few of the most common:

Build a business: A blog can be the center of a low-overhead, location-independent, lucrative business. There has never been a better time to do this—the Internet has made it cheaper and easier than ever before for anyone to start a business.
Grow an existing business: Content marketing is one of the best ways to drive your business forward, and a blog is a tried and true format. Many of the world's biggest companies and brands are now using digital content to market their products and services, so you'll be in great company if you do the same.
Showcase your expertise: If you want to position yourself as a thought leader or expert, blogging is an excellent way to do it. A blog can be a powerful asset if you're trying to build a personal brand, get a job, sell services, or launch a career in public speaking.
Build Relationships: Blogging is a great way to become an active and influential member of your community, which can help you build relationships with people you want to reach.

If you're thinking of starting a blog this year, there's never been a better time. This course will walk you through the entire process—setting up WordPress, writing stellar content, promoting that content, building an email list, and implementing a revenue model to turn your blog into a business. It's all here.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Build a successful blog from scratch, or take your existing blog to the next level
Develop the mindset of a successful blogger
Discover a blogging niche that is both profitable and interesting
Build a beautiful website using wordpress
Develop a system to plan new content, and never run out of ideas again
Understand the importance of effective writing and how to become a better writer
Become familiar with some of the most effective types of blog content

Generate an endless stream of fresh content by repurposing what you've already created
Optimize your website for search engines to drive a consistent stream of free traffic
Get your content in front of people using a variety of free promotion strategies
Grow an email list that allows you to generate traffic and revenue on demand
Build a profitable business around your content and turn your blog into a revenue-generating asset
Show more
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Build a successful blog from scratch, or take your existing blog to the next level
Develop the mindset of a successful blogger
Discover a blogging niche that is both profitable and interesting
Build a beautiful website using wordpress
Develop a system to plan new content, and never run out of ideas again
Understand the importance of effective writing and how to become a better writer
Become familiar with some of the most effective types of blog content
Generate an endless stream of fresh content by repurposing what you've already created
Optimize your website for search engines to drive a consistent stream of free traffic
Get your content in front of people using a variety of free promotion strategies
Grow an email list that allows you to generate traffic and revenue on demand
Build a profitable business around your content and turn your blog into a revenue-generating asset
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome To The Course!

How To Use This Course

The Foundation

The Mindset Of A Successful Blogger

Content Strategy & How To Find Your Perfect Niche

Naming & Branding Your Blog

Setting Up Your Website

Why You Should Use WordPress For Your Blog

What You'll Need To Build A WordPress Site

How To Set Up WordPress In 5 Minutes Or Less

Alternative WordPress Instructions

Exploring The WordPress Dashboard

WordPress Posts & Pages

The WordPress Post Editor

Customizing Your WordPress Profile

Finding & Installing A WordPress Theme

How To Customize Your Theme

WordPress Plugins

Security & Backups

Analytics & Data

Generating Content Ideas

Why You Need A Reliable Ideation System

Creation Begins With Consumption

Conducting A Brain Dump

The #1 Tool For Content Research

Questions Straight From Your Target Audience

Eavesdropping On Niche Communities

How Your Existing Audience And Content Can Help You Generate New Ideas

Improving Your Writing

The Importance Of Effective Writing

How To Write Irresistible Headlines

Matching Your Audience's Tone & Vocabulary

Creating Focused Content

How Grammatical Errors Can Cripple Your Efforts

How To Become A Better Writer

The Most Effective Types Of Blog Content

Exploring Various Types Of Content

How To Create Epic List Content

Teaching Your Audience With Guides & Tutorials

Two Approaches To Q&A Content

Interviews & Profiles

Where A List Meets An Interview

How To Write Valuable Reviews & Comparisons

Working News Into Your Content Strategy

Creating Valuable Roundups & Resource Lists

Thought, Opinion, And Controversy

Statistics & Original Research

Presenting Complex Data For Visual Learners

How To Write A Case Study That Turns Readers Into Customers

Content Formats & Repurposing

Alternative Content Formats

How To Generate An Infinite Stream Of Fresh Content

Watch Me Turn One Video Interview Into More Than A Dozen Pieces Of Content

Blog SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

A Brief Introduction To SEO

Understanding Search Engines

Basic Site Setup For SEO

The Best SEO Plugin For WordPress

Optimizing Your Page Titles

Optimizing Your Meta Descriptions

Themes & Template Settings

Analyzing Your Content

How To Choose The Right Keywords And Create High-Ranking Content On Any Topic

Does Keyword Density Matter?

Internal Links

Image Optimization

Content Promotion Strategies

Why Content Promotion Is Crucial

Strategic Collaboration

The Formula For A Perfect Guest Post Pitch

A Simple Way To Get Leading Influencers To Share Your Content

Teasing Your Content On Social Media

How To Get Your Content Featured In Popular Resource Lists

Don't Neglect This Free Source Of On-Demand Traffic

How To Promote Your Content In Groups & Niche Communities (Without Being Spammy)

The Most Effective Way To Skyrocket Your Audience Overnight

Growing Your Email List

Why Growing An Email List Should Be Your #1 Priority

Choosing An Email Marketing Service

Incentivizing The Opt-In: 17 Lead Magnet Ideas

Where To Place Opt-In Forms On Your Website

High-Profile Opt-In Forms

How To Turn Commenters Into Subscribers

A Counterintuitive Strategy To Increase Your Conversion Rate

Leveraging Social Proof To Grow Your Email List

Nurturing Your List: The Key To Building Lasting Relationships

Monetizing Your Blog

How To Turn Your Blog Into A Business

The Most Common Way To Monetize A Blog (And Why I Don't Recommend It)

The Best Way To Monetize A Blog Without A Product Of Your Own

Creating & Selling Your Own Products On Your Blog

How To Generate Long-Term, Recurring Subscription Revenue

Using Your Blog To Market Your Services

Wrapping Up

The Next Steps

Bonus: Tools & Exclusive Discounts!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches a framework for building business around blog

Covers aspects related to content strategy, audience building and content promotion

Led by an experienced blogger and entrepreneur, Brad Merrill, who has grown a blog to over half a million monthly readers

Offers a formula for developing content that is indispensable to the audience

Provides insights into building relationships and growing an audience

Covers advanced strategies for optimizing content and growing email list

Reviews summary

Informative blogging guide

According to students, this informative course is straight to the point when teaching students how to build a successful blog and start an online business.

Clear and concise information

"Very informative and straight to the point!"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Blogging Masterclass: How To Build A Successful Blog In 2024 with these activities:

Follow a WordPress crash course

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Take a video course to get a hands-on introduction to the WordPress platform.

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Identify a free or paid video course that teaches hands-on WordPress skills.
Enroll in the video course and actively complete each of the videos.
Create a practice site to test out your new WordPress skills.

Create a basic blog structure

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Create the basic structure for your blog to get a sense of its organization and flow.

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Plan your blog's navigation and menu structure.
Design a basic homepage layout and sidebar.
Create a few sample blog posts and pages.

Write your first blog post

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To get comfortable with the process and to experiment with your blogging voice, write your first blog post as part of this activity.

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Choose a topic that you're passionate about and conduct research.
Create an outline and start writing your post.
Get feedback on your post from a friend or family member.
Revise and edit your post based on feedback.
Publish your post on your blog.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Develop a content calendar

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Planning your blog's content will help you stay organized and ensure that you consistently publish high-quality content.

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Choose a content calendar tool or template.
Brainstorm and research content ideas for the next month.
Plan out your posting schedule and assign topics to each day.
Schedule your posts using your content calendar tool.

Join a blogging community or forum

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Connect with other bloggers to share ideas, learn from each other, and get feedback on your work.

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Identify and join a blogging community or forum related to your niche.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.
Share your own insights and experiences.
Connect with other bloggers and collaborate on projects.
Attend virtual or in-person meetups organized by the community.

Experiment with different writing styles and formats

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Explore different ways to engage your readers and improve your writing skills.

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Read examples of different blog post formats and identify their key features.
Experiment with writing posts in different styles, such as storytelling, list-based, or question-and-answer.
Get feedback on your different writing styles from your peers or a mentor.

Attend a blogging conference or workshop

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Immerse yourself in the blogging community and learn from industry experts.

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Research and identify blogging conferences or workshops that align with your interests.
Register for the event and prepare to actively participate.
Attend sessions, take notes, and engage with speakers and attendees.
Follow up with new connections and apply what you've learned to your blog.

Identify and reach out to potential mentors

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Seek guidance and support from experienced bloggers who can help you grow your blog.

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Create a list of bloggers who you admire and who have achieved success in their niche.
Research their backgrounds and identify their areas of expertise.
Craft a personalized email or message introducing yourself and expressing your interest in mentorship.
Follow up and be persistent in your efforts to connect with potential mentors.

Career center

Learners who complete Blogging Masterclass: How To Build A Successful Blog In 2024 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Search Engine Optimizer (SEO) Specialist

A Search Engine Optimizer (SEO) Specialist helps websites rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). This includes optimizing website content, building backlinks, and tracking results. This course will teach an SEO specialist how to optimize their content for search engines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Search Engine Optimizer (SEO) Specialist

Online Business Owner

An Online Business Owner starts and runs an online business. This includes creating and selling products or services, marketing the business, and providing customer service. This course can provide an Online Business Owner with the skills needed to build a successful business from scratch or take an existing business to the next level.

See salaries and explore the career path for Online Business Owner

Freelance Writer

A Freelance Writer develops and writes content for a variety of clients. This includes blog posts, articles, website content, and more. This course can provide a Freelance Writer the skills needed to build a successful business from scratch or take an existing business to the next level.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Writer

Blog Manager

A Blog Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a blog or group of blogs. This includes writing and editing posts, managing social media, and coming up with content ideas. This course will serve as an excellent foundation for someone who wants to work as a Blog Manager. It covers everything from setting up a blog to writing great content to promoting your blog to making money from it.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blog Manager

Content Marketer

A Content Marketer uses content to attract and engage an audience. This includes creating and distributing blog posts, articles, infographics, videos, and more. This course will teach you essential Content Marketing skills like, creating great content, promoting your content, and building an email list.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Marketer

Content Creator

A Content Creator develops and delivers content for a variety of platforms. This includes writing blog posts, articles, social media posts, and more. This course is a great way to learn the skills you need to be a successful Content Creator. It covers everything from generating content ideas to writing great content to promoting your content to the right audience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator

Social Media Manager

A Social Media Manager develops and executes social media campaigns for a variety of products or services. This includes creating and managing content, engaging with followers, and tracking results. This course can help a Social Media Manager learn how to create great content, get it in front of the right audience, and track its results.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Author

An Author develops books and other types of written content. This course can serve as a wonderful primer for this role. The modules on writing, optimizing for SEO, and content promotion are incredibly valuable to Authors who typically need to be able to write well, format content to rank well in search engines, and generate interest in their work so that people actually read it.

See salaries and explore the career path for Author

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager develops and executes marketing campaigns for a variety of products or services. This includes creating and managing content, social media, and paid advertising. This course can help a Marketing Manager learn how to create great content, get it in front of the right audience, and track its results.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Digital Marketer

A Digital Marketer uses digital channels to promote products or services. This includes creating and managing social media campaigns, email marketing, and paid advertising. This course can benefit a digital marketer by teaching them how to create content, get it in front of the right audience, and track its results.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketer

Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist manages the public image of a company or organization. This includes writing press releases, managing social media, and responding to media inquiries. This course can benefit a Public Relations Specialist as it covers writing, SEO, and content promotion.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Editor

An Editor reviews, corrects, and revises written content. This includes blog posts, articles, books, and more. This course can be a great resource to an Editor as it provides comprehensive coverage of writing and editing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor

Copywriter

A Copywriter develops and writes persuasive copy for a variety of purposes, such as marketing, advertising, and sales. This course may be helpful to Copywriters as it covers writing headlines and marketing content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Copywriter

Journalist

A Journalist researches, gathers, writes, and reports on news and current events. This course can be a valuable resource for Journalists as it covers writing, SEO, and content promotion.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Web Developer

A Web Developer designs and develops websites. This includes creating the website's layout, writing code, and testing the website. This course may be useful to Web Developers as it covers setting up a WordPress website, optimizing for SEO, and content promotion.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer