Anil Agarwal Reveals Keys to Blogging and SEO Success

In today’s digital landscape, the role of blogging and SEO has become paramount for anyone looking to make a mark online. To delve deeper into this dynamic world, we had the privilege of interviewing Anil Agarwal, an expert in SEO and blogging. Anil, the brain behind BloggersPassion, has carved out a niche in the digital marketing world with his insightful strategies and hands-on experience in growing a blog from scratch to a lucrative online venture.

In our conversation, we explore Anil’s journey, his perspectives on SEO trends, blogging tips, and the monetization strategies that have helped him become a successful platform. Join us as we uncover the layers of SEO through the lens of a seasoned professional.

Starting a Blog

SBS – What inspired you to start BloggersPassion, and what challenges did you face in the early stages?

Anil – I wasn’t new to blogging when I launched BloggersPassion in 2010. My blogging journey began in 2004. In fact, I sold one of my websites on Flippa for over $35,000 in 2011. So, I already knew how to monetise websites.

However, I faced a couple of challenges when I launched BloggersPassion.

• Website management — I was the only one coming up with topic ideas, creating content, generating traffic, managing SEO, monetization, etc. If you want to build a profitable blogging business, build a TEAM! 
• Lack of website traffic — My blog generated only 3,000 visitors in the first year. You can find more details in my blogging journey. It’s really challenging to put MORE effort if your website doesn’t generate enough traffic.

However, I overcame those challenges, and my blog now generates over two million views yearly. Here’s last year’s traffic report of BloggersPassion:

You can check our blog’s income reports post for a yearly breakdown of traffic and earning reports of BloggersPassion.

Niche Selection

SBS – How crucial is it to choose the right niche for a blog, and what tips can you offer for identifying a profitable niche?

Anil – Proper niche selection is the KEY to blogging success. Over the last 15 years, I launched several websites (in various niches), but most of them didn’t last long enough. The reason was terrible niche selection. 

Here are a few quick tips to identify the RIGHT niche:

• Identify your skills and experience — It’s better to start a blog around topics you already know. It takes time (at least a year or two) to make money from blogging. So, you need some kind of passion or interest. If you don’t like your niche, you’ll quit.
• Find a problem — People always look for solutions to their problems. That’s why Google exists. Can you help people launch a website, create a logo, or lose weight? Find one core issue and create a blog around it. 

Above all, research existing blogs in your niche to find your unique voice. That’s how you can differentiate yourself from the rest.

Content Strategy

SBS – What is your approach to content creation, and how do you ensure that your content stands out in a crowded digital space?

Anil – I focus on building topical authority. Gone are the days when you could create content on ANY topic. You need to master one specific niche.  

Once you identify one or two core topics, you can perform in-depth keyword research to develop relevant topic ideas. The key here is to analyse Google SERP results for your topics and create content accordingly. 

SEO and Traffic Generation

SBS – Given your focus on SEO, what key strategies do you recommend for bloggers to increase their organic traffic?

Anil – Increasing your website’s search traffic is becoming difficult, thanks to Google’s introduction to AI-generated answers.

Targeting long-tail or question-based keywords is the only way to generate more traffic. These keywords often have less competition but can generate significant traffic if done right.

Use tools like Answer The Public, AlsoAsked, Semrush, etc., to find your niche’s question-based keywords. Then, create content that matches the search intent. Learn how to optimise your content without keyword stuffing.

Monetization

SBS – What monetization methods have been most effective for BloggersPassion, and how can new bloggers identify the best monetization strategy for their blog?

Anil – For new bloggers, I recommend only two monetisation strategies (which have been most effective for my blog):

• Affiliate marketing — The sky’s the limit to your affiliate earnings. There are literally hundreds of products you can promote in any niche. The key here is to build trust with your audience. Only then you can make a living from affiliate marketing.
• Selling your own products — If you don’t want to sell others’ products (i.e., affiliate marketing), selling your own products is another strategy. It takes time to understand your audience, create what they want, and make sales. But it’s worth the effort as you can upsell, down-sell, or do whatever you want. 

Long-Term Vision

SBS – How important is it to have a long-term goal in blogging, and how do you balance this with short-term objectives?

Anil – That’s a great question. If you are not thinking long-term, you’re going to fail. One of the primary reasons why I’m still making thousands of dollars from blogging is the VISION. I want to help and inspire as many people as possible with my work. 

I usually break my long-term goals into yearly, half-yearly, quarterly goals. I discuss them with my team, and we work accordingly. Sometimes, things don’t work out as you plan, and that’s okay! 

The key to online success is not giving up easily when things go wrong. That’s how we survived hundreds (if not thousands) of freaky updates from Google while others have opted to leave the field.

Tools and Resources

SBS – Can you share some of the essential tools and resources that have been pivotal in your blogging journey?

Anil – Over the years, I tried and tested hundreds of tools. Here are a few I can’t live without:

• Semrush — If you need only one SEO tool, try Semrush, as it offers 50+ tools under one roof. I use it for everything from keyword research to keyword rank tracking, competitor analysis, website audits, etc.
• Google Search Console — It’s free but the most powerful. I use it almost daily to monitor my website’s indexing status, top search queries, crawling issues, etc.
• WPX — It’s a fantastic web host that needs a shout-out. We’ve been using it since 2016 and haven’t encountered a single problem. If you’re looking for a secure and faster web host for WordPress, WPX is an excellent choice.

Affiliate Marketing

SBS – What strategies do you use for successful affiliate marketing, and how do you choose which products to promote?

Anil – Successful affiliate marketing is MOSTLY about creating awareness about the products you promote. I believe in promoting products that I use and am happy with. That’s how you’ll know the pros and cons of each product.

Before picking any product, it’s important to find out what your audience wants. For example, my target audience is people struggling to increase search traffic. So, promoting SEO tools is a no-brainer. That’s why I often recommend products like Semrush.

These tools offer plenty of value for money and give generous commissions, which can help you make a living online.

Engagement and Community Building

SBS – How do you engage with your audience, and what role has community building played in the growth of BloggersPassion?

Anil – I mostly engage with my audience through email and Facebook. We have an exclusive Facebook group called BloggersPassion VIP, where you can find and connect with over 20,000 bloggers worldwide. I try to reply to their comments and messages on social media and interact through emails.

And yes, community building played a BIG role in brand building, as a lot of people connect with you for interviews (text and video interviews). Also, a tribe can help you validate new product ideas, get quick feedback, generate traffic, and so on.

Challenges in Blogging

SBS – What are some common challenges bloggers face today, and how do you suggest overcoming them?

Anil – Traffic generation is probably the BIGGEST challenge most bloggers face today. 

My suggestion for those struggling to increase their site’s traffic is to diversify their traffic sources. Do NOT depend on one traffic channel. Be everywhere. Be active on social media, write on Quora, LinkedIn, create videos on YouTube, and leverage SEO.

Yes, it takes time to get results from multiple channels, but it’s worth it in the long run.

Adapting to Changes

SBS – How do you stay updated with the latest trends in blogging and SEO and adapt your strategies accordingly?

Anil – I’m active on social media sites like Twitter and LinkedIn, where you get the latest updates on blogging and SEO, including Google updates. I also follow blogs like SEJ and Search Engine Watch for the latest news and information about search engines.

Key Learnings

SBS – Looking back at your blogging journey, what are the most valuable lessons you’ve learned?

Anil – Consistency is the key. No matter how talented you are, you can’t build anything profitable without consistency. Develop a regular blog publishing schedule and stick to it, even if your audience grows slowly.

Also, you need to connect with as many people as you can. Networking plays a major role in blogging success. With connections, you can generate more traffic, write guest posts, build relevant backlinks, etc.

Advice for Aspiring Bloggers

SBS – Finally, what advice would you give to individuals who are just starting their blogging journey?

Anil – Start building an audience from day one. Instead of focusing on how to monetize your site, focus on how to build your presence on different platforms.

Without traffic (and audience), you can’t survive in the long run. Learn SEO basics like keyword research, on-page optimization, site audits, etc, as they can help you grow your website’s organic traffic.

Consider joining online communities of fellow bloggers for support. You can try Facebook groups, Quora, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc., to find and connect with other bloggers in your niche.