(This blog was originally published in March 2020)

A couple of months ago, I made $150 from one blog. Well, it’s still doing good and has generated me around $315 so far.

A few days ago, I wrote another blog about my opinion on a current topic and earned $600. As a general rule, I don’t want to use this platform to promote that blog and get some more views.

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However, I’d like to discuss what factors and actions contributed to generating 600 bucks from a single blog, so that one day, even you can score good cash with your writing.

Let’s dive straight into it.

Have a Different Writing Style From Other Writers

I have already mentioned this briefly in my most-highlighted blog 30 Tips to Become a Better Writer, but now I’m going to elaborate on this point.

Years ago, my copywriting mentor told me, “the biggest factor that helps you become a successful writer/public speaker is having a different perspective that people can fall into.”

I bet you didn’t understand what you just read. It’s okay, even I didn’t at first. What it means is this — when people read your literary work, they should be able to figure out within the first couple paragraphs that you wrote it.

Don’t believe me? Try this: Call your best friend from an unknown phone number, and I can guarantee that they’ll figure out it’s you because they know what you sound like.

Similarly, your readers should be able to figure out that you wrote a particular blog (even if your name is not in the credits). Good luck plagiarists!

To achieve this, you need to have a different approach, a unique perspective, and a personalized writing style. Otherwise, you’re just another writer who’s writing something that anyone can write.

Share It on Your Social Media

What’s the biggest fear we all have while promoting our articles on social media? You guessed it right — it’s the lack of engagement that we’re all afraid of. And we wonder, “what if I don’t get enough likes?” or “what if people don’t resonate with what I’m posting?”

When I posted this 600-dollar-blog on social media, it didn’t get much engagement. It probably got just one like (from my friend, I think). But since it was out there, it got noticed — by the ex-marketing manager of a Fortune 500 company.

She loved my blog and shared it on her social media account, which has thousands of followers. I felt honored. “It was a good day,” I thought before going to sleep.

Which social media platforms are best to share blogs?

The answer depends on what you’re writing about, and who your target audience is. If you are writing about presentation skills for professionals, LinkedIn is the best platform to promote your content. If you’re writing about food recipes, well, then Pinterest and Facebook should be your go-to platforms for blog sharing.

The next day, my views increased by around 5,000 — overnight. People from all around the world were engaging with my blog. Even if none of my own connections and followers found my blog useful, hers did.

Lesson learned: don’t care about how many likes you get. Stop acting like a teenager who seeks validation from social media likes and comments. And stop judging other users who’re not getting traction on their posts.

Sometimes, I have found blogs with a thousand likes to be completely useless, and the ones with zero engagement to be life-changing — so don’t judge a book by its cover.

But beware, social proof does matter. You don’t want a long trail of posts with zero engagement. If no one is engaging with your posts, that means either your content is not catchy enough to get a reaction out of someone or you’ve added toxic strangers on your LinkedIn in order to get that “500+ Connections” badge on your profile.

Sound Like an Authoritative Figure

Don’t you just feel energized by listening to some public speakers, politicians, or celebrities? Here’s an excerpt from the late former American president John F. Kennedy’s speech:

“Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?”

How powerful was that speech? The same goes for the written word. Although sounding like a force to be reckoned with mostly applies to non-fiction, it can also be relevant for fiction writing as well, for example, “A Game of Thrones,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” etc.

Don’t underestimate the power of authority when it comes to writing. Your readers are looking for strong leadership, so being assertive in your literature does draw more readers. And it definitely helped my blog reach more people, too.

But remember to be empathetic at the same time. There’s a huge difference between being assertive and being preachy and rude. Be the former, not the latter. Talk to people, don’t talk at people.

So are you ready to make your first $600 with one blog? Let me know in the comments.