Is poetry still popular, especially on the internet? The statistics say yes. In the US alone, more adults are reading poetry. An NEA (The National Endowment for the Arts) study found that by 2017, 27.9 million American adults read poetry.
That is roughly 12% of the adult population. It may not seem remarkably significant but to put that number in perspective, in 2012 just under 7% of the adult population read poetry.The trend suggests that poetry is far from a dying art.
Starting a poetry blog can help you take advantage of this trend and even earn an income in the process. If your passion is poetry, a blog is easiest and most effective way to share that with the world.
Here are some reasons to start a blog if your passion is poetry:
- If you’re a poet or if you simply love discussing poetry, a blog can help you build a community. It can be a place for people with similar passions to share what they love.
- Getting your poetry published can often be a tedious, frustrating, and challenging task. A blog, however, can be a place to let your voice as a poet be heard without that hassle. The content you create is in your complete control.
- Starting a poetry blog can also be the perfect way to practice your skills. The more your write and create, the more skilled you become.
- There’s nothing better than making money while you do something you love. In the long term, a poetry blog can help you do exactly that.
Technical Glossary
Here are a few important terms to keep in mind before you start your political blog:
Blog: A blog made up of published content in the form of blog posts. You are in complete control of the content you create and publish on your blog.
Content Management System: Commonly referred to as CMS, content management systems help you manage and controlthe content on your blog.
URL: URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. These are the links that appear in the address bar and point to a point to a webpage.
Domain Name:Your domain name describes your brand. It is a name you own and is a major part of your blog’s URL.
Hosting:Hosting refers to the service that securely stores your website on web servers.
WordPress:WordPress is the most popular CMS. It used by millions of websites and is the preferred choice for beginner and advanced bloggers alike.
Decide the Focus of your Poetry Blog
The focus of your blog refers to the direction and style of your content.Choosing a focus for your blog will help you in turn focus your content.If you plan to write poetry on your blog, what are the main themes, topics, or ideas you’re going to tackle? But your poetry blog does not have to be a collection of your poems. It may also be a place to recommend, review or critique the work of other poets.
At this stage it’s important to brainstorm your ideas.Consider your abilities as writer or a poet and decide on a direction for your blog that fits your skills. For example, the focus of your blog should not be on classical poetry if you’re more familiar and skilled at modern poetry.
Here are some possible directions your poetry blog could take:
Poetry Recommendations:If you are familiar with the world of poetry your blog might position itself as a place for recommendations.You might create lists, ranks or articles based on must-read poems across a variety of themes and topics.
The more you write, the more your readers trust your recommendations.Readers with a passion for poetry are always looking for more to discover and a blog would be a way to share your knowledge and experience with them.
Poetry Reviews:Reviewing poetry is arguably more difficult than reviewing any other art form. Poetry is subjective, what you might love others may not. That being said, there is certainly an audience for poetry reviews as controversial as it is.
It’s a way to express your opinion and perspective.Although your readers may not always agree with your reviews, most can appreciate a different perspective.
Writing Poetry:Your blog can also be a place to publish your own poetry. It’s much easier than getting your poems published in magazines or books. You can publish more frequently, and you can write about the themes and topics that appeal to you. In other words, you have complete freedom. What’s better, you can make money too.
Pick a Poetry Niche
Your poetry niche is the specific approach you take with your content.Once you have identified the focus of your blog, your niche is one layer further. In the case of poetry, your niche would usually describe the style and format of the poetry you include in your blog.
These are some niche ideas you could consider:
Poetry Styles/Formats
- Ballad
- Haiku
- Limerick
- Lyric Poem
- Narrative Poem
- Acrostic Poem
- Blank Verse
- Free Verse
If your blog focusses on poetry discussions and analysis, here are some additional niche ideas:
- Social poetry
- Satire poetry
- Discussions on a specific poet
- Poetry lessons, tips, and advice
With a subject as broad as poetry, these are only some of the niche ideas you could consider. Your niche dictates your content so ensure you’re clear before you start writing.However, your niche may evolve and change over time so do not restrict yourself with a niche that doesn’t allow you to expand in the future.
Choose a Blogging Platform
Choosing a blogging platform is the next step to starting your poetry blog. A good blogging platform makes it easy to control and manage your site. It’s therefore important to choose a platform that is trusted, reliable and has the features you need.
Some of the popular free platforms include Blogger and Wix. These are great blogging platforms that can certainly get you started.However, for your long-term success and if you plan to make money, a premium platform is a better choice.
A premium WordPress plan is a highly recommended option. Not only is it trusted by 14.7% of the world’s top websites but WordPress also powers 40% of all sites on the internet.
Domain Name Tips
A strong domain name strengthens your brand and helps your readers remember who you are and the value of your content. Choosing a memorable and meaningful domain name is a big factor is your success as a blogger.
Here are some tips to create a great domain name for your political blog:
Keep it Short
The objective behind a domain name is to condense your brand to a few meaningful words. The best domain names convey a lot through a little. Shorter domain names perform considerably better and are much easier to remember for your readers.
Avoid complex words and do not turn your domain name into a long sentence. Depth and detail are important for your content, but your domain name should be as simple as possible. Keeping your domain name short and sweet is the best strategy here.
Choose a Familiar Domain Extension
The domain extension is what follows your domain name. Most commonly domain extensions look like “.com”, “.org”, “info”, among other examples.Your extension also plays a significant role in the strength of your domain name.
Choose a domain extension that readers are familiar with. “.com” always works best, it’s the most common and most memorable. Avoid extensions that are not easily recognized by a common audience.
Keep it Broad
Starting a blog is only the beginning of your journey. Over the weeks, months, and years your blog will grow and expand. Do not let your domain name restrict this growth.
Choose a domain name that is within your niche but also broad enough for your future progress. You might diversify the type of content you create, explore more themes, and widen your audience. Choose a name that allows you to evolve in these ways and more.
Do Not Use Symbols, Numbers or Hyphens
Sometimes it might seem like a good idea to use a number or a symbol if the domain name you want is taken but this is a poor strategy.Symbols, numbers, and hyphens instantly make a domain name more difficult to remember. It’s a much better idea to simply come up with a new domain name rather than modify one with symbols, numbers, or hyphens.
Use Extra Words If Necessary
On the other hand, adding extra words is a good strategy to use if a domain name you want is taken.Words like “the”, “club”, or “blog” among others are additions you could make to your domain name.It’s an effective workaround to get the domain name you want.
Get Creative
Creativity the most powerful strategy to find great domain names. If the name you want is taken, brainstorm synonyms and use your creativity to tackle the challenge.
Using alliteration is a proven tactic when it comes to building an effective domain name. Starting each word with the same letter makes your domain name much easier to remember. Alliteration is also a particularly relevant technique to use when it comes to a poetry blog.
Don’t Purchase a Domain if It’s Already Owned
Domain names that have already been purchased are sometimes offered on sale by the owners. It’s usually at a cost that’s unreasonably high and it’s simply not an investment worth making. Instead use that money to develop other aspects of your blog such as your content or a premium theme.
Don’t Get Trapped at This Stage
A good domain name is important. However, it’s not worth spending weeks, months or even years trapped at this stage.Unfortunately, that is a mistake several beginner bloggers make. Not only is it a waste of time but it prevents you from developing the substance of your blog.
Dedicate a fixed amount of time to this task. Brainstorm, shortlist and finalize your domain name as quickly as you can. It shouldn’t take you longer than a few hours or at most a couple of days.
Use Generators If Necessary
Online domain name generators can help too especially if you just need that extra nudge.Instant Domain Search is great tool that helps you find available domains with a simple keyword search.
Buy Domain and Hosting
Choosing a hosting provider is the next step in the process. A good hosting provider stores your site securely on their servers for as long as you need. There are many options you might consider but Bluehost is possibly the best choice.
Bluehost powers over 2 million websites and is the most trusted provider out there. With Bluehost you can also easily set up your domain and what’s better, it’s completely free for the first year.
Here is a step-by-step guide to getting started with Bluehost:
Step 1: Go to the Bluehost Website
First, visit the Bluehost website at this link. On this page you will see a list of their hosting plans.
Step 2: Pick a Plan
Bluehost has 4 shared hosting plans.
- Basic – $2.95/month
- Plus – $5.45/month
- Choice Plus – $5.45/month
- Pro – $13.95/month
The Basic plan is the best plan to get your blog started. It has all the functionality and features you need and more.The basic plan includes 50GB of SSD storage, custom themes and reliable 24/7 customer support. You get all of that and more for just $2.95 a month. But it gets better. Regardless of the hosting plan you choose; your domain is completely free for the first year.
Step 3: Pick Your Domain
You will then be brought to page to set up your domain. Remember, with Bluehost, the domain you choose is free for the first year.
On this page you can either create a domain or use one that you already own. If you’re still deciding your domain, you can skip this step and come back to the page later.
Step 4: Fill in Your Information
The next page requires your basic information to set up your account. Fill out details including your name, address, zipcode and others.
Step 5: Finalize the Package Details
On this page you can select the duration of your package. There are 3 options: 12 months, 24 months, or 36 months. Choose the period that suits your requirements best.
You can also add package extras on this page. Some of the extras include security and privacy features.These are not particularly important when you start your blog, but they may be worth considering in the long term. However, if you believe these extras can add value to your blog now,add them to package.
Step 6: Payment Information
Fill in the necessary payment details and confirm your purchase.
Step 7: Terms and Conditions
On this page you will see the Terms and Conditions, the Cancellation Policy and Privacy Notice. Read them and check the required boxes.
Step 8: Set Up Your Bluehost Account
On this page you can set up the login details for your Bluehost account.
Step 9: Choose a Theme
You will then be prompted to choose a theme for your blog.You can change your theme after you’ve set up your site so for nowchoose a free theme.
Step 10: Get Started
With that, the set-up is complete. You will be taken to the WordPress admin panel from where you can control and manage your site. You should see options that allows you to post, edit and adjust the various aspects of your blog. Once you’re ready to go live, hit the button, “Launch your site”.
Choose and Install a Theme for Your WordPress Blog
The first impression your blog makes, matters. Studies show that a website needs to make a good first impression in 50 milliseconds. That’s 0.05 seconds!That might seem like a ridiculously small amount of time, but this is where your themes, designs and layout come into play.
The visual design of your blog is the very first aspect of your site your readers see. A great theme makes your readers comfortable and encourages them to explore your content. A well designed and professional theme also establishes your credibility and lets your readers know that you can be trusted.
There are many themes to choose from, in fact thousands. As a beginner you might choose to start with a free theme. Free themes certainly do the job but have several limitations. For your success in the long term, a premium theme is a much better choice.
Here are some great premium themes you could consider for your poetry blog:
Typology – Minimalist Blog & Text Based Theme for WordPress
Typology is a great theme for writers. It’s a text based, minimalistic theme perfect for poets, authors or anyone looking to share their written work through their blog. It includes useful features such as custom widgets, advanced theme panel options, built-in translations and more.
Price: $49
Wild Book – Vintage & Elegant WordPress Theme
Wild Book is a great theme to give your blog a vintage or rustic look. It’s simple, professional includes great features, and is used by thousands of websites.Some of their features include custom background options, gallery options, unlimited colors and the theme supports 24 languages.
Price: $39
Astra
Astra is one of the most popular, professional, and customizable themes on the market. It’s trusted by over a million websites. The theme allows you to customize and control every aspect of your design and layout from sidebars to fonts.It includes three plans starting from $49.
Price:
- Astra Pro: $49
- Essential Bundle: $169
- Growth Bundle: $249
Kadence
Kadence is trusted by over 200,000 websites. It’s fast, easy to use and includes integrations with popular plugins including Elementor, Gutenberg, WooCommerce and more. It’s simple, customizable and includes all the features you need for a poetry blog. Kadence includes three plans starting from $47.40
Price:
- Kadence Pro: $47.40
- Essential Bundle: $89.90
- Full Bundle: $131.40
Create Essential Pages and Logo
The essential pages of your blog are the about page, the contact page, and the privacy policy page.Chances are you seen these pages on almost every blog you visit and that’ve because they serve a very important purpose. They give your blog credibility and are necessary especially if you intend to monetize your site.
Let’s take a closer look at what these essential pages are:
The About Page
As the name suggests the about page is a place to tell your readers about yourself.Describe your passion for poetry, talk about your achievements and tell your readers why chose to start a blog.
This is often the most visited page on blogs and that’s no surprise. Audiences engage with content when they learn about the person behind it. The about page is a great place to give your blog a personal touch.Not only does it give your blog depth but it’s also an opportunity to tell your readers how your site stands apart from other poetry blogs out there.
It’s also a good idea to encourage your readers to find you on your social channels. Include links to your social profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
The Contact Page
The contact page includes all the details for your readers to get in touch with you. This could include your email address, phone number, physical address and so on. You may also choose to include a contact form to make the process even easier for your readers.
A contact page lets your readers know that you’re credible and approachable. It can also open the doors for opportunities allowing you to build a network and start valuable conversations with interested readers. Ensure that the details you include on this page are up to date and accurate.
The Privacy Policy Page
This may be a less interesting page to include but it’s vital to include. The privacy policy describes how you use your readers’ information. It protects your readers from privacy breaches and protects you from legal liability.
The privacy policy page is also necessary if you plan to monetize your poetry blog. A “Terms and Conditions” or “Disclaimer” page serve a similar purpose and you may choose to include them as well.
Create a Logo
It’s difficult to remember a strong brand without its logo. In fact, it’s sometimes easier to recall the logo before you remember the name.A logo is a visual representation of your brand. It’s simple, creative, and memorable. Make sure you create a logo for your blog. It doesn’t have to be fancy as long as it looks professional.
Begin Blogging
Now it’s time to get to the writing, and as a writer this is the stage you’re probably looking forward to. However, before you dive into writing content you need to create your categories. Categories are a way to label and divide the posts you create on your blog. They also make navigating your site and finding relevant articles easy for your readers.
There are a variety of ways you could create categories. If your blog focusses on writing poetry your categories could be divided by theme or format. For example, social poems, narrative poems and so on. If your blog is more focused on recommendations or reviews, you might choose to create categories for each poet you discuss.Once your categories are sorted you can get to writing.
As you begin blogging it’s important to remember to stay consistent. Publish posts regularly and stick to a routine. To help you create a schedule brainstorm ideas and topics you plan to include in your blog. For example, you might choose to have a theme for each month or use a creative prompt to guide your content.
Promote Your Poetry Blog
Now that your blog is up and running it is time to promote your content and find your audience. However, before you begin promoting, ensure you have at least 10 to 15 articles published on your site.
Here are some of the best ways to promote your poetry blog:
Friends and Family
The first people to share your blog with is your inner circle of friends and family.They’re more than likely eager to support your efforts. Encourage them to check out your blog and share it with their network of friends and family. This is a great way to easily reach a larger audience.
Social Media
Social media can be your most powerful promoting tool. Share your blog on the social platforms you are active on and ask your followers to support your work.
Look for relevant communities on all the major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and so on. Engage with these communities and share new posts, updates,or news about your blog.
Social media is the best place to find a much larger audience. By engaging in relevant groups and communities, social media also helps you find an interested audience sometimes at a global scale.
Clubs
Poetry clubs can also be a way to promote your blog. Poetry clubs bring together poetry lovers for discussions, debates, and readings.These clubs can be a way for you to further nurture your passion for poetry while also exposing you to an audience familiar and passionate about poetry.
Dos and Don’ts
DO Include Introductions
Including relevant keywords is important to help your blog rank higher in search engines. However, including popular keywords in the body of your poetry may not always be a good idea. However, you can include keywords in short write-ups that introduce your poems. This is an effective way to indirectly include SEO strategies even in your poems.
DO Be Unique
Especially when the focus of your blog is a creative art, being unique and original is paramount.Ensure the content you create adds value to your niche in fresh ways. Look at other poetry blogs for inspiration but make sureyours is different.
DON’T Restrict the Type of Content You Create
Although your focus at first might be written poetry it’s always a good idea to diversify your content to keep things fresh. You might consider including videos or exploring a different form of poetry or you might choose to discuss new themes or topics.It’s great to stay consistent with your content but your readers will also appreciate something different.
DON’T Stop Promoting
As a beginner you are probably aggressively promoting your blog. It’s important to stick to that practice even as you gain more experience. Always promote your blog. Use all the avenues discussed in this guide and always look for an even wider audience.
How to Monetize Your Poetry Blog
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is perhaps the most popular blog monetization technique.You don’t need a massive audience to monetize your blog making this the perfect approach for beginners. So how does it work?
Affiliate marketing involves placing affiliate links to a product or service on your blog. Each time your readers make a purchase through those links, you earn a commission. All you need to do is sign up with a trusted and reliable affiliate program.
Magazines
In addition to publishing your poems on your blog you can submit your poems to magazines. Poetry magazines are always on the lookout for new creative talent. With a high-quality poetry blog to prove your expertise, magazines are sure to take notice if you reach out.
Publishing your work in magazines not only opens a new revenue stream but also helps you reach a wider audience.
eBooks
If you have a large collection of poems, you can compile your work together as aneBook. Considering your blog has gathered an audience that is interested in your poetry, they’re likely to be also interested in a compilation of your work as a book. It’s a great way to share your poetry and earn while you do it.
Online Courses
If you’re considered an expert at poetry an online course is a great way to share your knowledge. Some of your readers might want to try their hand at poetry too or develop their skills.
These readers would be eager to purchase an online course created by you.Moreover, online courses help you establish your credibility as an expert and can help you reach an even larger audience.
Final Words
It’s a common notion that poets cannot make money in this age. This is far from the truth. A poetry blog can not only help you make money but also develop your skills as a poet. A great poetry blog can create a community of passionate poets and writers. Poetry may be an age-old form of art but there are still ways it can grow and evolve in a modern landscape. Your blog can help give poetry new life for a new generation.