Let me take you on a step-by-step process on how to make money blogging in Kenya. This is because it is a possibility and many Kenyans are already making a living through blogging. Hence, why not you?
Top 20 Best Online Jobs in Kenya That Can Make You a Millionaire
Blogging is one of the many ways through which you can make money online. It is a great source of passive income. Here is a list of the top 20 ways to make passive income in Kenya. As the access to the internet and computer devices deepens in the country, so are the opportunities.
How to start a blog in Kenya
Before you can even make money through blogging, it all starts with creating the blog. Hence, the process of starting a blog in Kenya is not complicated. Some of the key things you need include getting a dormain name and Webhosting services. With these, you can proceed to create and launch your blog.
The dormain name is the name of your blog and should be related to the blog niche. Previously, I have detailed the top 10 best blogging niches in Kenya. Webhosting services offer support services and servers where your blog sits. Some of the best Webhosting service providers in the country include;
How much does it cost to start a blog in Kenya?
Starting a blog in Kenya could cost you as little as 5,000 shillings. However, there is no upper limit to this. Some of the key costs are in form of buying the domain name, Webhosting, and blog creation.
For a starter who only needs a basic blog, 5,000 shillings is adequate for this. However, this suffices if you are creating the website yourself. If not so, the costs could rise as you have to engage a professional to do it for you at a fee. On the average website, the creation charge is 10,000 shillings for a basic blog.
Other costs that could come up include paying for plugins such as analysis and SEO software. SEO software is a key tool that assists in making your blog visible on search engines through various steps such as indexing and ranking.
There are also annual renewal fees for both the dormain name and Webhosting services.
How long does it take to money blogging in Kenya?
As a new blogger, let me be very candid with you on this journey. Blogging is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes a lot of time, energy, and marketing to start making an income.
This process takes an average of 6 months to 2 years to start paying off. 6 months happens if you are really good and serious about the process. It is this reason why almost 90% of all new blogs never make it past one year.
How much money do bloggers make in Kenya?
The average income for the first few years of blogging is 30,000 to 50,000 shillings. Hence, I hope this gives a clearer picture of what blogging is all about.
According to statistics, only about 5% of Kenyan bloggers make over 100,000 shillings. To get to this level, you must follow the relevant steps on how to increase your blog traffic.
However, if you don’t give up along the way and keep pushing, you can turn a blog into a gold mine in the long term. This is because the more content you create, the higher you rank and the more visitors you get resulting in higher income.
How to make money blogging in Kenya
As a starter, there is a lot of confusion on the best ways to make money blogging. However, let me assure you there are plenty of ways, you just need to use the right strategy. Some of the top ways how to make money blogging in Kenya include;
- Google AdSense
- Affiliate Marketing
- Direct sponsorships
- Selling products
- Donations
1. Google AdSense
I had to start with Google AdSense because it is the most common and easiest way to make a blog. As long as you have a blog, you can apply with google to monetize it. Some of the key requirements to get Google AdSense include;
- The blog should be at least 6 months old
- No copywriting issues
- You must be at least 18 years
- No fake traffic on your site
Although this is the most common way to make money through blogging, it is also the most competitive and pays the least. Hence, you must have a lot of traffic to start making something meaningful.
As an example, you need to have at least 1,000 views to make 50 -100 shillings. For a new blog, this is not an easy task. That’s why it recommended you combine this with other ways to make money as well.
Income from AdSense is normally based on various factors such as location and type of content.
2. Affiliate Marketing
This is one of the best ways to make money blogging in Kenya. Affiliate marketing involves partnering with companies to market and sell their products and services for a commission.
In affiliate marketing, you are paid for lead conversion. Hence the more you sell the more your make. The tips to succeed in Affiliate marketing include partnering with some of the well-known brands and those that pay higher commissions.
Some of the best affiliate marketing programs include Jumia Kenya and Safaricom. Learn more on how the best ways to do affiliate marketing in Kenya.
3. Direct Sponsorships
Once your blog is big enough, it becomes possible to attract direct sponsorships. Organizations and companies are always looking for partners to market their products making it a key niche to target as a blogger.
Direct sponsorship is one of the best-paying blogging channels. However, you need to focus on growing your blog by increasing traffic.
For direct sponsorship, the amount of income is determined by various factors such as the negotiated rate and duration of marketing. This is the form of marketing that happens with most of the largest blogs in the country such as business daily and Tuko.
Getting direct sponsorships also requires you to do marketing. This helps to create awareness among your potential clients regarding this possibility. More marketing is a bridge to more business.
4. Selling Products
A blog offers you a platform where you can do direct selling of your products and services. You can turn your blog into a shop where the blog visitors are your customers.
Some of the key things you can sell on your blog include branded products and eBooks. As an example, if you have a blog on investment, you can sell an investment eBook.
To succeed in selling products through a blog, you have to ensure they are in line with the interests of your blog visitors. A key example is if you have a sports blog, the best items to sell should be sports related.
Finally, the number of sales will depend on the visitors and relevance. If you want to grow your income, focus on creating quality and relevant content that will result in more blog visitors.
5. Donations
Donation is a key source of income for bloggers. This mostly happens if you are creating relevant content that is helpful to your readers.
Upon reading, the readers can choose to donate or tip you. This is already happening with many blogs and content-creation channels.
To achieve this capability, you need to include the donation channels on your blog. This way, your customers can visit and donate. The donation channels must be easy and convenient to use for optimal utilization.
Benefits of starting a blog in Kenya.
1. Low startup costs – As highlighted earlier, starting a blog in Kenya can cost you less than 10,000 shillings. This is affordable compared to other businesses that are capital-intensive and need more requirements such as business permits.
2. Source of passive income – A blog is one of the largest sources of passive income online. You only need to spend the first few years creating content. However, after fully monetizing it, you can enjoy the benefits for a lifetime.
3. A way to pursue your passion– You can only enjoy the benefits of blogging if you have a passion for content creation as it demands a lot of time and energy to write. This finally allows you to enjoy your passion and at the same time make income.
4. Work flexibility- As opposed to office work which has set rules on various issues such as working hours and place, blogging is more flexible. This is because you can work from any as long you have a computer and access to a computer. More to this you can choose to work at your convenience in case you have other engagements.
5. A viable side hustle– This comes from the earlier benefit. Due to the work flexibility, you can do blogging as a side hustle if you have a day job. You are only required to spare a few hours of your day to create content.
Having a blog as a side hustle also allows you to convert it to a full-time job if the income grows.
