Home improvement blogging was one of the many areas that trended upward during the global pandemic. With more time and fewer distractions, many homeowners and DIY enthusiasts took this opportunity to try new things and make home upgrades.
If you’ve considered starting a home improvement blog, there’s no better time than the present.
6 Tips for Starting a Home Improvement Blog
Here are six essential tips to get you started.
1. Create a Business Structure
While you don’t need to register a business to start a blog, there are benefits to doing so. One of the primary benefits is that you can claim your expenses during tax season. These expenses include everything from registering a domain to using subscription-based social media publishing tools.
There’s also some leeway with a business to claim expenses for your projects. If you need to buy drywall compound, paint, and brushes for a project, that could become a taxable expense. Before you get started, talk to a knowledgeable tax accountant in your state for clarity.
2. Do SEO and Keyword Research
SEO and keyword research is the bread and butter of a successful blog. This data tells you what information people are interested in and what search terms they’re plugging into Google. While you might already have an idea of the projects you want to share, this process can be an invaluable source of inspiration.
There are various tools you can use to capture keyword research about your niche. You can use Answer the Public to determine what people are asking about a given subject and a keyword research tool such as Ahrefs to find keywords and relevant topics.
3. Outline Your Projects and Skills
Once you have a better understanding of what people are searching for, take some time to develop a high-level content strategy. Outline your proposed projects and articles, noting any gaps in your skillset that you’ll need to improve upon. This is also the time to do budget research to determine what’s feasible.
From there, develop a content calendar that outlines all of your needs and standard procedures for each piece of content. For example, you’ll need to determine the steps and take high-quality photos throughout your project. Then, you’ll need to draft the post and create a social media sharing strategy. Don’t hesitate to outsource for help from an assistant to execute your strategies.
4. Partner With Adjacent Industries
Building a network is a must for blogging success. As a home improvement blogger, there are plenty of adjacent industries for you to partner with. For example, you can reach out to home improvement suppliers or partner with a real estate blog to cross-promote content.
The key thing to remember when forming a partnership is that there needs to be equal value for both parties. Work on nourishing relationships and developing an audience before pushing for free products or promotion.
5. Choose the Right Tools
In addition to the tools mentioned above, there are various platforms that can incorporate automation and efficiency into your blogging strategy. To be successful as a blogger, consider the following tool options:
- Project management – Asana, Basecamp, Trello, Click-Up
- Social media posting – Sked, Buffer, Hootsuite, Tailwind
- Document storage – Google Drive, Dropbox
- Graphics and images – Canva, PicMonkey, Adobe
Many of the available tools have free versions that are ideal for new bloggers. As your blog grows, you can upgrade to the paid versions to unlock more features.
6. Prioritize Quality Content
While keyword research, SEO, and good connections all play a role in being a successful blogger, nothing trumps creating high-quality content. You need clear photos and well-written copy that will keep readers coming back for more.
With these simple tips, you can start a home improvement blog either as a passion project, a monetization effort, or both.
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