Do You Need To Be a Good Writer To Make Money Blogging?
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Do You Need To Be a Good Writer To Make Money Blogging?
I recently went through all the steps new bloggers need to take to start their own blog.
A self doubt that pops up fairly often though is “but I’m not a great writer”.
The question then comes… Do you need to be a good writer to make money blogging?
In a word… no!
(Quick disclaimer: there is a difference between a blog and a niche website.
If you have a blog – this post is for you!
If you have a website with set information that needs to be professionally written (e.g. a financial advice website), then you will need to learn a more professional way of writing.
Or hire someone to write for you.
That’s not to say a blog can’t be professional and full of the best advice!
But the way they come across will be different and people know this.)
Do You Need To Be a Good Writer To Make Money Blogging?
I think a lot of people worry about this before they start their blog.
There is worry that their writing skills aren’t up to scratch, or their spelling isn’t perfect.
Noones is!
Online spell/grammar checkers can be used if you’re really not comfortable!
You can use things like Grammarly which is literally designed to help you but not change/take over your writing style!
On the most part I feel people are better writers than they give themselves credit for.
You do not need your writing to come across as “top tier professional”.
Especially not to begin with.
As with anything, practice makes perfect!
The more you blog, the more you will improve and the better you will get
People will be reading a blog for (usually) one of 2 reasons;
1 – They are looking for the information you are providing
2 – They are on your blog because they are wanting more information from you specifically.
Neither of these are dependent on if you make the odd spelling mistake!
The information you have to share may just be that key piece of information someone is looking for.
Sharing this is much more important than being an amazing writer.
Writing Is a Skill That Can Be Learned
As with most skills, writing blog posts is a skill you can absolutely learn.
The more you practice and hone your skills, the better you will become.
Unless you are a professional writer, I wouldn’t be expecting “perfect” posts straight away!
Noone (usually) starts off great at anything.
Does that mean they shouldn’t continue to get better?
Absolutely not!
Your blog is your own, to write however you wish.
My way of writing has changed quite a lot over the years – for a few reasons!
Everyone writes differently, and that comes across in their blog posts.
That is why we love blogs!
We can feel someone’s writing style come through.
You could read 10 different blog posts telling you exactly the same information, but you will prefer a few over the rest.
Are the ones you prefer always going to be the more professional ones?
Not always!
People like people.
You can absolutely get better at writing, but people will enjoy your own style – whatever that looks like to you!
People Are More Bothered About You
As just mentioned, the beauty of blogs is that they are all individual.
You don’t need to be a good writer to make money blogging, you need to add value to your readers to make money.
I suppose saying people are more bothered about you isn’t quite accurate!
People are bothered about themselves more than anything!
Not even meant in a bad way, but if someone has come across your blog it means they are looking for information for themselves.
How you have put that information across will vary from person to person, but it doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Here’s a different example:
You could listen to 10 covers of the same song all by different artists. They are all different and unique in their own ways, yet one of the covers you end up preferring is by a smaller artist rather than the experienced/well known artist!
It’s the same here.
You want people to remember you and like your blog and writing style.
It’s natural for this to change and “improve” over time, but never let the fear of not being a good enough writer stop you from starting a blog.
To have a successful blog you want to be putting out the information people want, in a way that they enjoy reading.
It can be clean, polished and professional if this is your style, but doesn’t have to be!
(Obviously it needs to make sense and have a good flow to it but doesn’t need to be perfect.)
Those readers are people too and all enjoy different things.
As long as your blog is enjoyable for people to read and the information is put across in a readable way, you can absolutely implement your own writing style into your blog posts too.
Do You Critique Other Blogs?
Honest question here!
When was the last time you Googled something and found the answer in a blog, and critiqued their spelling mistake or sentence structure?
Not often I’m guessing!
You (as the reader) were there for information.
If you got that information in a clear, easy to read way – then they did their job!
Even if there was a spelling mistake or you felt something didn’t flow like it should, it most likely didn’t put you off reading the information you were looking for!
Of course you can try to not have any/many spelling mistakes and have the text make sense and have a good flow to it, but you are human, and so is your reader.
Blogging is all about the reader.
If someone does judge you or leave a mean comment, that’s on them as a person – not on you!
You are putting yourself out there and are sharing information to help other people – that’s amazing!!
Never let anyone get you down with their own negativity when you’re doing something positive.
The Sooner You Start The Sooner You Will Improve
Writing blog posts doesn’t come naturally to most of us to begin with!
Maybe just not to me lol.
These things take practice!
Not only for your overall blog post writing skills, but also for your confidence in writing.
Don’t put something off that can only be improved by practice and experience!
You’ll find quite early into blogging that you will get into the swing of writing blog posts and will find it easier the more you do.
To begin with you may be more self conscious about what you’re writing but you’ll get into the rhythm of it and before long it will be second nature!
I have some other posts on blog post writing if you are looking for more information or help on any of the following topics:
How to write a blog post in 1 hour
Ideal blog post length for 2023
A combination of the tips mentioned here and in the posts mentioned above – along with practice – will have you feeling confident in your own writing abilities in no time!
If you do find you are struggling more with writing posts, there are things you can also do to help.
Again if you are worried about spelling or grammar, you can try something like Grammarly – although most text editors can help with this on a basic level.
If you don’t feel your posts “flow” very well then you can try talking them outloud into your phone so it sounds more like a conversation than an essay.
Practicing is definitely the best way to improve your confidence with writing blog posts. Nothing can beat practical experience and the only way to gain that experience is to do it!
There are many online resources, blog posts, videos and software that can help, but try not to worry about it too much.
Everyone speaks differently, just as everyone types differently.
Improvements can be made and will come naturally over time the more you practice (especially with added research of writing posts with SEO in mind and following guides on this).
Do you need to be a good writer to make money blogging?
No.
A basic knowledge and a willingness to try, make mistakes and try again will get you so much further ahead in the blogging world than putting it off as you don’t feel “ready” yet!
As I mentioned in this post here on How Do You Know If You’re Ready To Start A Blog? – the act of just getting started by going for it is key!
Nothing is ever perfect, especially not in the beginning of a project/journey/new skill.
The way to get better is to practice.
You can ask questions, research and learn to help hone those skills, but writing blog posts is key to improving!
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below and I will answer them best I can!
If you want to blog for yourself or to make money, go for it – it’s so worth it!
Speak soon!
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62 Comments
Aisling
This is so reassuring! I also found Grammerly to be a lifesaver when it comes to grammar and spelling! X
Katherine McLee
Noone should ever be put off over something that can be learned or helped with! Thank you! x
Liv
I loved reading this. Absolutely love the quote “the sooner you start the sooner you’ll improve.” I started blogging a year after buying my domain name just because I was scared it wouldn’t be very good. It’s a learning curve.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! It’s so so common – I think so many of us struggle with it but noone starts of amazing in anything, it’s the experience and practice that helps!
Emily Withrow
Very good information. As a fellow blogger, this is definitely something I think we’d all like to be able to do – profit off of our hobbies band passions!
Katherine McLee
Absolutely! It’s not as scary or as out of reach as people think! 😊 Thank you!
Melissa
Great post! I spend way too much time worrying about making my blog posts perfect (writing wise). Maybe I can ease up a bit 😊
Katherine McLee
Thank you! I think it’s natural to worry about but overall I think as long as things are fairly well written, people don’t mind! They are most often just there for the info 😊
Stacey
So much truth!!! It took me months before I started my blog because I let my insecurities get in the way. I wasn’t a good writer and still don’t believe I am. But with each post, I get more confidence, which makes me a better writer! Great post! Thanks for sharing!
Katherine McLee
I think so many people do this! I really think that the fact we aren’t perfect writers is what makes each blog unique, but we all get better the more we do it! Thank you!
LG
All of these fears almost kept me from starting. Your advice is absolutely right. The important thing is to start, practice, and it will get better with time.
Katherine McLee
That’s exactly it! It’s natural to worry about things, I just want to encourage everyone who wants to start to go for it!
Fransic verso
We definitely can learn, over the past year I’ve learned many things about blogging and writing.
Katherine McLee
Absolutely! So many things are things we can learn and get better at as we get more experienced!
Julie Russell
I love how you talk about writing being a skill you can learn and don’t have to be good at to start blogging. This reminds me that anyone can start a blog as long as they have a passion for it! I look forward to reading more articles!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Absolutely! So many people put things off as they are worried they aren’t good enough but blogs are such a personal thing that it’s the information that’s the important part!
Aisling
Totally agree with this whole post! It’s so thought provoking – especially as being a good writer is subjective!
Katherine McLee
It really is! As a reader we go for the information and the person, not for how “expertly” something is written!
Tahila Mongoya
Thanks for this, sometimes the doubt gets into your head.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Oh it absolutely does – I think we all feel it at times!
Nia
Great points – especially that people are more focused themselves anyway so don’t worry too much. Some people will hopefully like your own style of writing. kinda like dating!
Katherine McLee
Yes exactly! We all like different things and we all take in information differently – that’s the beauty of blogs – they are individual!
Pastor Natalie (Examine This Moment)
I appreciate your tips. Grammarly is great. Enjoyed reading. 🤗
Pastor Natalie (Examine This Moment)
Letstakeamoment.com
Katherine McLee
Thank you so much! It can be such a helpful tool for anyone! 🤗
Rosie
Love this! So motivating. And yes, practice makes perfect. Blogging is a great way to get better at writing.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! That’s absolutely it – going for it is key!
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The Bold Business Mom
Helpful article! It’s better to be authentic with your voice and style while writing than it is to have perfect grammar. Thanks for the reminder!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Absolutely! The fact we are all unique is a strength – we don’t need to hide it in our writing!
Dahylin
Great article! I love that you mentioned that writing can be a learned skill. It really can! Having an interest in the topic and wanting to share it with others is really all that matters.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! You’re absolutely right! The information itself is the important part!
Nadia
Very reassuring post. You’re absolutely right, the more you blog, the more you will improve and the better you will get. And I go back and edit my older blog posts as well.
Katherine McLee
Asbolutely. As with any skill, it takes time and practice to learn but the more you do the better you will get! Updating old posts is a great idea as the way we write changes over time too!
Kara
This was a great post. I like that you mentioned the importance of proofreading and also writing naturally. I remember how I started out blogging and have definitely improved since then.
Katherine McLee
Thank you Kara! Absolutely, we all improve the more we do it – it’s getting started that’s the important part!
Debbie
Great read. As a blogger I had so much self doubt in the beginning. I love that my blog is my own…even if it’s not perfect – it’s mine.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! I think we all do and it’s hard when that self doubt puts us off starting! Absolutely, I love reading your blog!
Travelbloggingacademy
Very authentic blog post! I think it helps to be a good writer, However, It’s about creativity. You can always hire editors, use AI writing software, Grammarly, and SEO tools to create a professional piece of content that can go viral!
Katherine McLee
There are so many things that can help! I think a lot of people are better than they give themselves credit for though! Creativity is it absolutely!
Whitney Stewart
Honestly, I think it’s sad that were forces to go through 4 years of college to get credentials to prove we are a ‘good’ writer I first starred out writing fanfiction stories before I ever worked up the courage to do a blog and I still feel like I’m winging it most of the time. I believe that if you love writing; then that’s what makes you a god writer. Period. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Katherine McLee
You’re so right! The fact we all write differently is something that should be celebrated – not squashed! I completely agree – people are often much more drawn to a personal writer! Thank you!
Andrea
Love this!! You have to start somewhere. Learning to write is something that can be fine tuned as you go.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Yes absolutely, it’s all a learning curve and comes with practice and experience!
Literally Laurie
This is reassuring as I’m try to write very, very clean copy free of mistakes but you know how you’re blind to mistakes after writing and proofing your own copy. I appreciate your blogging advice and need to review that to help me improve my personal blog. Thanks!
Katherine McLee
I’m glad you found it helpful! Blogging is a personal thing and the information is so much more important than the odd spelling mistake or typo!
Whitney Stewart
Hey! Had to come back for a second look! What I love most about blogging is there’s no right or wrong way or doing it. EVERYONE has their own interests, style, and ways of writing; it’s almost like publishing your own book when you think about it! Thanks again for sharing this encouraging post with all of us!
Katherine McLee
You’re absolutely spot on! Of course there are skills to learn but getting started and letting your personality show is so important! Thank you so much!
Rebekka
Very motivating article! and so true, writing style changes over time and with “finding your voice” on a blog
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Yes absolutely! The fact we are all unique is the beauty of our blogs.
The Curious Dig
This is a very reassuring post! I love the tools mentioned too. My issue is that my audience is split US/UK and so I worry the US audience thinks I’m regularly misspelling things since we spell some words differently (and they have told me so haha).
Katherine McLee
Thank you! I’m in the UK too so totally understand lol! Google doesn’t differentiate spellings between UK and US in terms of ranking so it’s more just preference really!
Kadia
Hi there. WOW!! Beautifully said, learned some great insights. You are a great writer and it shows in your work. Keep it going luv, it’s a pleasure each time since the 1st one. Ty for sharing. Look forward to come again.
Katherine McLee
Thank you so much! That’s so kind! Look forward to seeing you around again! 🙂
Deanna | Life By Deanna
So true! It’s all about finding your voice 🙂 plus, the more you write the better you get!
Katherine McLee
Absolutely! Getting started is key! 🙂
Danielle
Great post! I think as long as your writing makes you happy and it is something you enjoy doing then that’s all that really matters!
Katherine McLee
Thank you! Yes absolutely! It’s such an amazing outlet even as a hobby!
Riyah Speaks
This is a great and really reassuring post. Sometikes I wonder if I’m doing the right thing by blogging.
Katherine McLee
Thank you! We all have doubts, if you enjoy it then you should continue absolutely!
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Nicolle
Writing is definitely something that can be learned, I totally agree, and if you enjoy it, even better 😉
Katherine McLee
Absolutely! That’s half the battle! 😀