Category: Knowledge (Page 1 of 31)

How to Invest In The Stock Market For Beginners

There comes a point when you realize that in order to build wealth it will require you to build multiple streams of income.

The average millionaire has seven.

The stock market is one way you can invest your earned income in order to start earning passive income and multiply your money.

Here’s how to invest in the stock market step by step for beginners.

Franknez.com

Welcome to Franknez.com – the blog where you can digest content on personal finance, entrepreneurship, market news, and trending investing topics.

Lets get started!

I’ve been investing in the stock market since 2019.

When I learned how to open a brokerage account and buy company stock, I knew I had to show people how to do it too.

Everything I found online was outdated so I wanted to make it easy for people to start.

Benefits of investing in the stock market

One of the greatest benefits of investing in the stock market is that you get to hedge against inflation.

Inflation is at an all-time high right now and simply letting your money lose its value isn’t going to create wealth.

The stock market also provides an average return of 7%-8% annually which means those CDs and high yielding savings accounts are a thing of the past.

Even so, you can always create a portfolio bringing in 20%+ annual returns!

In June of 2021, AMC shareholders saw a whopping 3000% return on their investment at its high.

GameStop shareholders saw about half!

Although these trades are much different anomalies then traditional long-term investing, it paints a picture of the power of the market.

Let’s get you started!

#1. Set a Budget When Planning to Invest

How to invest in the stock market

Before you begin to invest you will need to set a budget on your first investment(s).

The great thing about the stock market is that you can invest with as little as $50 or so depending on the cost of a share.

A share is a fraction of a company you can own and earn money from as the company grows and profits over a period of time.

Example

If you set a budget of $200 and the share of a company you want to invest in costs $50 then you can purchase (4) four shares of said company.

If a month later the shares you purchased are worth $60 each then your shares would now be worth $240, resulting in a $40 gain.

This is how investing in the stock market works.

Note: I highly recommend having your emergency fund built prior to proceeding with investing in the stock market.

It is important to highlight that the money you invest in the stock market will need to be money you can tolerate losing.

The stock market is volatile meaning the value of your assets is constantly going up and down.

Something to keep in mind is that the value of your investments can go down just as fast if not faster than they went up.

Now, this is not addressed to scare you. The stock on average has an annual return of 6-8% per year.

Why should you invest in stocks?

Investing in stocks is a great way to diversify your portfolio.

You don’t want to keep all your eggs in one basket.

For this reason, the wealthy invest in companies they believe have long-term potential to thrive and to multiply their investment.

#2. Know What to Invest In

Now that you’ve set a budget you’ll need to know what you want to invest in.

Once you do, find the stock market symbol of the company on Google search engine.

If you wanted to invest in Coca-Cola for example, you’d search ‘stock market symbol for Coca-Cola’ on Google.

You’ll see that the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) symbol for Coca-Cola is KO.

This is how you will identify and search for companies to invest in when you’re in the market to buy stocks.

It is very important to do your research on stocks before investing.

For example, Investors Hangout is a great place dedicated to researching stocks.

Here are some different type of investments you can invest in within the NYSE.

Stocks

A stock is a share of a company just like Coca-Cola.

Buying a share from one specific company is a stock.

Stocks are good to purchase if you strongly believe in the continued success of your choice of company.

Invest in companies that have room to grow and are constantly innovating.

Stocks I personally favor are Tesla, Apple, and Amazon.

These tech companies are always innovating therefore I have strong conviction towards their continued growth and success.

Index Funds

An index fund is a fund that tracks and follows the index (growth) of a group of companies.

When you own a share of an index fund, you own a percentage of a pool of companies oppose to just one company.

What makes an index fund great is that if a company within an index fund isn’t performing very well there are other companies that may balance the overall performance of the fund resulting in a fair return.

A popular choice is the S&P500.

This index fund tracks the performance of the top 500 companies in the United States.

This type of investment tends to be a less risky and yield great profits over the long run.

It’s an investors favorite and I personally hold shares in the S&P500.

Bookmark: Retire a millionaire with the S&P500: is it possible?

REITS

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust Fund) is very similar to an index fund.

The only exception is that it invests exclusively in real estate companies oppose to other businesses.

If you want to invest in real estate without the hassle of learning the game, using cash up front, or getting into debt, REITs are a great way to diversify your portfolio into the real estate sector.

A great REIT I’m invested in is VNQ with Vanguard.

Which investment is right for you?

Each of these investments has their own benefits.

My suggestion is to research them individually as all of our needs are very unique.

As your skills develop as a retail investor, you’ll find yourself having a diversified portfolio consisting of all three.

Invest in the stock market and learn to identify which investment is best for you.

Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.

Warren buffett

#3. Choose a Brokerage Firm to Begin Investing in The Stock Market

This is the fun part.

Choose a reputable online brokerage firm.

A brokerage firm is a platform where you will be doing all of your investing through the NYSE.

Here you’ll be able to purchase stocks and sell them.

Each brokerage firm has their own customer advantages but are very similar to use.

Here is a list of brokerage firms you can open an account with and sign up for free.

Check out each brokerage firm’s website and see which feels more comfortable for you to navigate.

Do some research on each of them to see which has the strongest potential for your needs. I personally use Vanguard.

How to invest in stocks
How to invest in the stock market for beginners

Note: When you purchase investments, there are small commission fees your investments will pay out to the firm.

They are very small in most cases and don’t hinder your earnings like you’d think. Vanguard has the lowest fees.

Each brokerage firm will have different commission fees and the percentage will vary in each firm.

For example: Coke (KO) will have a slightly different commission fee in every firm despite having the same share cost.

#4. Open your account

For this step-by-step on how to invest in the stock market I’m going to use Vanguard.

Vanguard is one of the most reliable brokerage accounts you can use.

how to invest with Vanguard
Franknez.com
How to invest in stocks for beginners

Head over to Vanguard and select ‘Open an account’.

Finance blog - Vanguard
How to invest in stocks with Vanguard

Select ‘Start your new account’ to get started.

Vanguard Account

Choose the method you will be funding your new account. You can choose between:

  • Electronic bank transfer or another Vanguard account
  • Rollover from an employer plan (e.g., 401(k) plan)
  • Transfer investments from another financial firm

Most new retail investors will be choosing the first option, using an electronic bank transfer to fund your account.

Before you open your account to begin investing in the stock market you’ll need your bank account and routing number as well as other personal information.

Once you’re in it’s time to transfer funds into your account.

#5. Transfer Funds into Your Brokerage Account

Congratulations! Now that you’ve chosen a brokerage account to invest with, you’ll have the tools at your disposal to begin investing.

Navigate throughout your brokerage website. Get comfortable with where things are.

Things might seem very new at first, intimidating even.

Don’t worry, now that you’ve begun something new, you’ll begin to take the first steps toward self-education.

First, you’ll want to learn how to transfer funds into your brokerage account.

I will be demonstrating step by step how to do this using Vanguard.

Toggle the settings to connect your bank account with your brokerage account so you can start to invest in the stock market.

This direct line will allow you to transfer funds into your account so you may begin to purchase shares.

Once you have this set up you may transfer the money from your budget to invest in.

#6. Make Your Very First Investment in The Stock Market

Now that you’ve transferred your funds over to your brokerage account, navigate through the site to make your very first purchase.

Search the symbol of the stock, index, or REIT you will be investing in.

Note: Before purchasing, make sure you thoroughly navigate the website to get comfortable using it.

This will make the purchase experience a lot easier.

Once you pull up the investment, go through the details provided on the page.

You should be able to see its history, it’s projected return, its risk level, and so much more information about the investment.

Invest Vanguard

Purchase the investment!

Purchase the investment with the option set to ‘Market’.

This option will allow you to purchase the investment instantly at the price it’s worth.

We suggest doing a test purchase since this is your first time investing in the stock market.

This will help you get a feel for it. Purchase one share so you understand the process.

It will serve as good practice and experience.

Congrats on buying your first share!

Follow up on your investment the following day and see whether your investment had gains or losses.

You’ll see for the very first time how your investment grew in value or decreased in value.

You now have a taste of what it’s like to invest in the stock market.

Bookmark: My top picks of stocks to invest in right now

Final thoughts

franknez.com

I have personally invested in stocks since 2019 and have learned a lot about the stock market.

In fact, I’m still learning today.

I published an article on the best tips and advice for beginners investing in stocks to further help you on your journey.

Stock investing is all about strategy.

When you make money in the stock market you may let it sit and accumulate over time, or you may cash in your profits and allocate those gains towards other opportunities.

This is why I believe investing in stocks is extremely important to someone who wants to build wealth.

The stock market allows you to multiply your hard-earned money so you may further invest it in other assets.

If you received value from this post please be sure to share it with someone who’s working towards becoming financially independent and who is also building their financial future.

My mission is to help people all around the world attain financial stability in order to live their best lives possible.

Here’s how you make money trading the S&P 500.

You can follow me on: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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5 Powerful Strategies To Begin Growing Your Net Worth

How to grow your net worth.
How to grow your net worth.

What is net worth? Your net worth is the financial value you have after deducting all your liabilities from your assets. Think of your net worth as the vitality to your personal finances.

An over-simplified example would be:

You have $10,000 in savings but owe $2,000 on your car loan and $5,000 in student loans. Your net worth is then $3,000.

Or, you have $10,000 in savings but just financed a brand new vehicle for $35,000 so your net worth is -$25,000. In this scenario you owe instead of own.

Building your net worth can be a challenging yet fun experience during your financial growth.

how to grow your net worth

Welcome to Franknez.com – the blog where you can digest content on personal finance, side hustle ideas, entrepreneurship, and trending investing topics.

Lets get started!

So, what are some strategies I can use to grow my net worth?

I’m going to walk you through 5 ways I’m personally growing my own net worth.

Anyone can use these very simple strategies to have money multiplying for them.

Also Read: I Made A Whopping $65K Online Without Showing My Face

1. Open a high-yielding savings account

What better way to grow your net worth passively than by having a bank consistently pay you a percentage per month for holding your money.

This is exactly what high-yield savings and money market accounts do. I’ve personally seen accounts generating $20 per month in passive income to a little over $200 per month.

This type of account is a better alternative to your traditional savings account from Wells Fargo or Bank of America.

How does this work?

One thing you have to understand is that banks are always moving money. They are always investing money which is why they’re so powerful.

The instance you deposit any money into your bank account, they’re already investing it. Huge commercial banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America will typically only pay you a penny per year for banking with them.

Ever notice that $0.01 or $0.02 randomly deposited into your savings account? Yup, that’s what you earned for banking with them.

High yielding savings accounts simply pay you a higher percentage for banking with them.

How safe are these bank accounts?

Most of these banks are FDIC insured and can insure up to $250,000. Just like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo.

What banks offer high-yield savings accounts?

It is important to note that APY rates do change depending on the circumstances of our economy. They were higher previously to the pandemic and have gone down during the pandemic.

This is completely normal though and should not stop you from generating passive income to increase your net worth.

You can calculate an actual interest earned on an investment using this APY calculator.

Here’s are two banks that offer high-yielding savings and money market accounts:

*Rates are applicable to change

While CitBank and AMEX offer competitive rates, exploring offerings from other banks like Western Alliance bank interest rates can provide surprisingly high returns on your savings.

Given the dynamic nature of APY rates in our economy, it’s wise to consider all available options for maximizing your net worth growth.

Now, although these aren’t very high at the moment, you certainly get a better APY than with a traditional account.

Before the pandemic, my high yield savings account had an APY of 2.05%. I didn’t include BMO Harris on the list because the account now earns less than the others on the list above.

There are more banks I didn’t include simply because they’re around 0.20% and I want to provide you with the highest return possible at the moment.

How can I get the best out of my high-yield savings account?

  1. Use it for your emergency fund and watch it grow
  2. Deposit money every month to accumulate compound interest
  3. Don’t withdraw unless it’s for an absolute emergency

A high yield savings account is not going to make you rich. I personally think the best way to utilize this account is by putting money in it you don’t intend on using unless it’s for a priority emergency.

This strategy allows your emergency fund to grow a little passively without collecting dust in a traditional bank account.

Can I withdraw money from a high-yield savings account?

Yes. However, this is usually done through an ACH transfer which can take up to 3 days to see the balance reflect in your personal bank account.

For this reason I suggest funding both your high yield savings account as well as you personal savings account. Always have liquid funds available.

Your personal savings account should have enough money to take care of something quick and unexpected. Dave Ramsey recommends $1,000 if you’re still paying off debt in efforts to continue paying off debt. I prefer more, but everyone’s situation will vary.

Now that you have your money bringing back more dollars every month, I’m going to discuss a little more about purchasing assets to further grow your net worth.

2. Purchase stocks

Purchasing stocks has never been easier with all the online platforms now available to you. The stock marketing on average provides a 8% return during a period of 10 years.

To put things into perspective, I earned a whopping 40% return of investment my first year investing in the stock market.

What are stocks?

Stocks are assets in companies you can invest in through the purchase of shares. Shares are fractions of a business that you can own through the purchase of said stocks.

For example: If you wanted to invest in Apple, you would invest in the (AAPL) stock and purchase ten, fifty, or one hundred shares of the company.

What are the risks of stock investments?

Most people instantly think risk when they hear the words ‘stock market’. The truth is the only risk is not taking the risk. In my honest opinion, not investing and having your hard earned money collect dust is the real risk.

Your mindset needs to change so you think ‘abundance’ when you think of the stock market.

“The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.”

Warren Buffett

(Scenario)

What scares most early investors is when they see their first investments take a dive. They spend $50 on a share and a week later it’s worth $44, then they sell the share and lose $6. This is the game plan you want to avoid. Stock investment for the most part should be a long term play.

In this scenario, the strategic thing to do would be to purchase a second share at $44 at a discount and hold it until their worth increases over time. By the time the share is worth $55 your first share would have gained a return of $5 and your second share would have gained a return of $11.

This ladies and gentlemen is how a total investment of $99 can earn you $16 without having to work and give your time to someone else for it. By purchasing assets, you’re able to further grow your net worth.

I recommend you only invest in companies you believe are great companies and have room for plenty of potential growth. These are the companies that are always striving to get better. And when they do, your investments will grow alongside with that company.

How can I invest in the stock market?

You can invest in the stock market through online platforms such as Vanguard, Fidelity, E*Trade, Ameritrade, and Merrill.

Once you create an account with one of these platforms you’ll be able to connect your bank and begin funding your brokerage account so you can purchase stocks.

Bookmark: How To Invest In The Stock Market (Step by Step) For Beginners

3. Diversify your income

Most wealth builders have increased their net worth by diversifying their income. Multiple streams of income is what has allowed the wealthy to stay highly successful.

Having more than one stream of income allows you to pivot should one stream lose momentum. During the pandemic millions of people lost their only source of income. Those with multiple streams of income were able to pivot and thrive.

However, when all your streams of income are doing extremely well then you will be doing extremely well.

What are some ways I can diversify my income?

This is the fun part because diversifying your income varies from person to person. Ask yourself, what are you good at? What do you enjoy doing?

You may be working a 9-5 but enjoy making music. Distribute your music online and get paid for every stream. Perhaps you really enjoy driving, take on a ride sharing or food delivery service.

You can find several ways to make money using my side hustles tab where I provide my readers with creative ideas to increase their income.

One thing I will always recommend is building a scalable online business. This can be a blog, YouTube channel, or other streaming service.

The more income you’re able to generate means the more resource you will have at your disposal to begin growing your net worth.

4. Become debt free

What better way than to liberate all your income sources by becoming debt free.

When you’re debt free you can really tackle savings and investments to grow your net worth. Yes you can have debt and still have a positive net worth; however, by becoming debt free you can maximize your investment capabilities.

Freeing up your income capabilities will provide you with the best investing results. This is primarily because when an opportunity comes, you’ll be ready. You will not lack the means to invest like you mean it.

If you have debt, focus on building a small emergency fund then paying off your debt so you may continue to grow your net worth.

Hacks to avoid getting in debt:

  • In need of a vehicle? Purchase it cash.
  • Learn to generate money without a college degree.
  • Avoid payment options provided by store retailers.
  • Keep your credit card spending limit below 30%.

Debt has a lot to do with our spending habits. If most people cannot manage $1,000 then they won’t be able to mange $10,000 and so forth. Invest in your future self and eliminate debt. You will thank yourself later.

5. Live below your means

This last strategy on the list is very powerful. Very few people have the discipline to stay put as their income level increases.

Living below your means, just like becoming debt free can unlock your savings and investing capabilities.

To live below your means simply means your expenses do not exceed your level of income. In other words, you spend less than you earn.

Keeping your expenses low as you continue to increase your income is a guaranteed way you can grow your net worth even if you don’t invest. This is why this strategy is so powerful.

Example

If you were making $80K a year and got hired somewhere else for $100k a year, keep living the same lifestyle at $80K while you use the additional $20K to build your net worth.

More than often, people will fall into income creep lifestyle where they get a raise and they upgrade just about everything. This is how even high earners have trouble getting off the never-ending cycle of debt and living paycheck to paycheck.

Don’t be average, continue to increase your net worth so that you can look out for your future self and and for your family.

A few last words from Frank Nez

Growing your net worth takes time, serious dedication, and work. There will be times where you’re doing great, being consistent and something happens where you have to take money out.

It’s normal, it’s life. Do not get discouraged when you face roadblocks that halt your growth. Instead, continue to set goals to grow your net worth and make it happen.

Follow these strategies and you’ll be on the path to long-term financial success.

FAQs on Net Worth

Can net worth go down?

Your net worth can be zero if your assets and liabilities break even. A net worth at zero is much better than having a negative net worth.

Can net worth be zero?

Your net worth can be zero if your assets, and liabilities break even. A net worth at zero is much better than having a negative net worth.

Can net worth be negative?

If your liabilities are greater than your assets then your net worth will be negative. This is most common amongst younger people enrolled in college.

Why is net worth important?

Net worth is important because it reflects the health of your financial situation. Whether you’re negative, break even, or have a positive net worth, it says a lot about how you manage your finances.

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The New Guide to Starting and Monetizing a Blog

Blogging is an amazing way to provide useful information to the world and can feel very rewarding and fulfilling.

It allows us to provide our expertise, opinions, and experience to people all around the world.

Not only that but we get to earn passive income no matter where we are in the world, which is definitely a bonus that comes with writing.

I’m going to touch base on some popular topics and niches people blog about as well as my personal favorite things about blogging.

If you’re thinking of starting your very own blog this is no coincidence my friend.

This post was written specifically for you.

Keep on reading to understand everything there is to know about blogging, or skip the entire guide and simply start here.

franknez.com

Lets get started!

Find Your Niche First

The first thing you’re going to want to lock down before physically starting your blog is finding your niche.

Your niche should be something you’re good at and can write about fairly easily.

You’re usually very knowledgeable in this area and have a passion for it.

Mine for example started out as business and finance but eventually evolved into stock market news.

I love business because of the creating process it takes to turn an idea into a reality.

The challenge of managing finances has also made personal financing one my obsessions.

But overtime, you might find your blog begin to evolve into something else, something greater.

The amazing thing about blogging is you get to provide people with loads of useful information and help.

Do some research to see what sectors dominate the blogging world to gain statistics on your audience.

Here are some blogging ideas:

  • Travel
  • Food & Recipe
  • Entertainment & News
  • Automotive
  • Health & Well-being
  • Mom & dad lifestyle
  • Gardening
  • Sewing & knitting
  • Fashion & Makeup
  • College life
  • Technology
  • Finance & Business
  • Product Reviews
  • Paranormal / Metaphysical

People are blogging about just anything. Find your niche and express your thoughts!

It is important to note that whatever topic you choose to blog about, you’ll want to niche down on it.

If you’re into automotive, write about a specific skill set or brand first before branching out.

Make it all about just that one thing at first, believe me when I say it will pay off in the long run.

The idea here is to put your experience online for others to gain knowledge from.

You can do this with anything, I promise.

Reasons why you should start your own blog

I personally believe everyone should start their own blog.

A blog can provide you with a lifestyle like no other while help so many people in an area that’s impactful and important to them.

Here’s a small list of key reasons why more people should start today:

  1. You have some sort of skill or expertise to share with the world
  2. Your knowledge can answer people’s questions and help them grow
  3. A blog has the power to impact and create positive change in communities
  4. You can monetize your blog with ads and get paid passively every month
  5. Blogging allows you to express your thoughts and opinions
  6. Get paid on the move, while you travel, and while you sleep

Why I personally love blogging

  • One thing my blog allows me to do is to earn passive income no matter what I’m doing at any time of the day. This is primarily thanks running ads on my website. This is certainly a perk to running a blog.
  • I get a lot of joy from providing value in people’s lives. I genuinely love to serve people. Blogging allows me to be of help people and create a positive impact in my communities.
  • Writing is my passion. Whether it’s in poetry, music, or blogging, I simply love to write. It’s in my blood what can I say? Words are amazing and powerful.
  • Blogging provides me with time and financial freedom. There’s nothing else like it; I’m truly grateful.

Starting your very own blog is super easy when you have the right tools.

I’m now going to walk you through and provide you with the knowledge you need to build an awesome blog people can talk about.

Let’s get started!

#1. Use A Reputable Webhost Service to Blog

This key action will determine just how professional, creative, and even successful your blog has a chance of becoming.

Bluehost is one of the largest webhosting companies hosting over 2 million domains worldwide!

It’s also the number 1 recommended webhost service for blogging by WordPress.

And it’s how I started until my website began to attract millions upon millions of readers.

But to start, believe me when I say this is the best webhost for new aspiring bloggers.

What’s great about Bluehost is that it allows you to create an amazing platform no matter your niche.

It’s easy-to-use layout and tools make it a leader in its segment which is something I found to be very helpful when I first started on my blogging journey.

Everything about Bluehost is professional and easy-to-use.

So, what makes Bluehost great for blogging?

Bluehost has many benefits for bloggers.

One, is the ability to preview your posts and pages during editing.

This makes it very convenient to look at your website from an outside perspective before publishing it (super cool and helpful).

Other great benefits include:

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Awesome themes for every niche
  • Professional layout
  • Free mailing list for your readers
  • Tons of helpful plugins
  • Integrated writing and post suggestions for SEO
  • Realtime traffic statistics
  • Super affordable
  • Amazing reputation

My blog looked nothing like what it looks today.

It’s currently branded and structured to the brand it has evolved to over the years.

But want to know something wild?

It still looked great even as a new blog. That’s what I really liked about Bluehost from the get-go.

It allowed me to start a presentable website even as a beginner.

Bluehost is going to provide you with everything you basically need to make your blog a success.

You’ll just have to be consistent to see the results you set for your blogging goals.

We’ll talk more about that a little later.

#2. Choose a Plan That Fits Your Needs

Choose a plant that fits your blog
How to start a blog with Bluehost.

You’ll need to choose a plan from Bluehost before you can officially start your blog. Choose the best plan for your goals then choose your domain (e.g. franknez.com).

Each plan will also have a free SSL Certificate which basically means no matter which plan you go with your website will be secured for your readers!

Now, this is VERY important.

Blogging will require you to have a secured site for your readers.

Which is the best plan?

Plus seems to be a great value considering you get everything Pro gets with the exception of high performance.

Standard performance is adequate for a beginner.

Next is your domain name.

This is what will establish your blog on the internet as a legit website to the world.

Choosing your blog/domain name is a lot of fun.

This is what’s going to differentiate you from everyone else.

Make it personal and mold it to your niche topic. Make it you.

Finish setting up your account information before getting on with some more fun steps!

#3. Get Creative | Pick a Theme for Your Blog

Pick A Theme For your blog with Bluehost
Bluehost provides an amazing selection of themes for your website!

Your blog is the perfect platform for you to get creative, even if your topic is more conservative.

Get creative with the way you format your posts and with the design of your website.

Stand out from other bloggers writing in the same niche as you.

Create a presence your audience will remember.

Be sure everything about your blog stands out as being genuine.

This is a great way for your blog to connect with your readers.

Bluehost has so many cool themes you can choose from.

They do an outstanding job at being able to filter them according to the type of blog you’ll be publishing.

This is a very fun part of the process.

Can I edit the themes?

Yes! You can edit the themes and move just about anything around to personalize your blog.

You can add menus, change your header image and colors, and add a ton of widgets just about anywhere on your page.

You’ll also be able to change the web address icon image for your website which is super cool.

All the themes are free, however; you can opt out for the premium versions where you can customize your page even more.

This small reinvestment can enhance your blog to the max!

Bluehost has themes for everyone

Bluehost has a variety of themes ranging from:

  • Singer, songwriters, artists, and DJs
  • Business
  • Spas, hotels, travel agents, travel bloggers
  • Magazine and journalists
  • Trends + more

#4. Log into WordPress

Once you’ve set up your account, log into WordPress to begin creating your very first blog post!

It doesn’t take long to familiarize yourself with Bluehost/WordPress home page.

And by the way, signing up with any of my affiliate links will provide you with a discount!

Navigating your admin page is very simple.

Here you’ll be able to view your website stats and traffic along with many other awesome features to help you grow your blog.

Read: How To Draw Organic Traffic To Your Blog

Installing plugins on WordPress

Because Bluehost is integrated with WordPress, installing plugins is super easy.

Plugins are applications that can help your blog either run smoother, or more efficiently depending on what you’re aiming to accomplish.

Here’s a list of must-have plugins for all beginners:

  1. Jetpack by WordPress: Bluehost comes with this plugin already installed. Jetpack allows you to see real-time traffic stats. You can view your monthly progress and yearly growth with this plugin!
  2. Social Warfare: This plugin displays social icons on all your blog posts so your readers can share them! You also have the option to display the number of social shares each social icon has received.
  3. Yoast SEO: Also part of Bluehost members, Yoast SEO is a great plugin to amplify your Search Engine Optimization. This plugin will give you suggestions to improve your blog to get the most out of it!

WordPress comments

WordPress allows you to approve, deny, spam, and trash new comments.

This configuration is very helpful because it allows you to choose what type of content can be displayed on your blog.

WordPress comments also let you reply and edit your response quickly without leaving your dashboard.

As a new blogger, aim to receive as many comments as you can.

This is going to tell Google that your blog post is relevant and highly valuable.

A great way to get people to comment on your posts is to join Facebook blog groups and engage with other bloggers.

You can also join Twitter feeds where bloggers get together and engage in each others posts to show support.

These strategies allow bloggers to help one another and gain some traction.

Google Site integration

Google Site integration with WordPress

WordPress gives you an overview to Google Site.

Here you can view your traffic broken down by organic search, direct, social, referral, and other.

These insights are help you understand where your traffic is coming from and allows you to make any assessment towards your blog goals.

You can also hover over to the locations and devices tabs to see those stats as well!

#5. Set Goals for Your Blog

Once you have access to all the tools you need to build your blog, start setting your goals.

Blogging like a champ will require you to set awesome milestones for your baby!

How many times do you plan on posting?

How do you plan on driving traffic?

Write a small business plan to break down your goals.

If one of your goals is to make money, write down how you plan on making money with your blog.

One of the most popular ways to earn money blogging is through the use of ads.

Google AdSense for your blog goal
How to become a full time blogger | How to monetize a blog.

Google AdSense is most bloggers favorite choice due to its reputation of having the highest paying ads and overall domination in its sector for beginners.

Read: How to monetize your blog with Google AdSense.

Here are simple goals you can set for your blog:

  • Getting your first 100 blog post views
  • Publishing your first 10 blog posts
  • Creating a logo for your website
  • Opening social media accounts for your blog
  • Monetizing your blog with Ads

Once you’ve reached your starter goals, you can begin to set bigger goals for your blog.

Maybe you’re looking to reach your first 1,000 views now and so on.

Never stop setting goals for your blog!

It’s important to note that without providing any value to your audience, your site will not make any money.

Yes, it’s important to have blogging goals and income goals but a successful blog will require you to provide immense value to readers first.

What if you’re rejected by Google AdSense?

Do not feel discouraged if you get rejected by Google AdSense. Let it drive you instead.

Fun fact: Google AdSense rejected my blog about 6 times before I was finally deemed valuable enough to display ads on my site.

The good thing is that Google AdSense will tell you why they rejected your blog from displaying ads.

At least for the most part.

They actually stopped advising why after the fourth rejection.

But you know what?

I kept pushing because I had specific goals for my blog and monetizing it was a big one.

So, after going back and fixing everything I needed to and continuously putting an effort to provide value, I finally got approved.

How long did it take to get approved by Google AdSense?

It personally took me 1 solid month of non-stop grind.

I wanted to monetize my blog as early as I could so that I wouldn’t have to worry about it later one once I began to gain momentum (whenever it would be).

Now, this does not mean it has to take you 1 month as well.

We all work on our blogs at a different pace.

I chose to work on my blog every day after work from 7pm to 12am because of how long I actually worked (7:30am-6pm).

There were times where I would work on my blog past 12am. The weekends were no exception either.

Everyone’s schedule is different.

Whether it’s one week, one month, or one year, find the time to make it happen.

I’m proof that it’s doable no matter how many times you get rejected.

How much does Google AdSense earn a blog?

Blogs only make a decent amount of money based on how much traffic they drive to the site.

Google AdSense pays you two ways:

  1. By the number of viewers your blog obtains
  2. And by the number of clicks your ads receive

Advertisement money is also going to depend on your CTR, CPC, Page CTR, and other metrics.

As your blog gains traffic, your chances of earning more money increases.

See, the thing is that Google AdSense earnings actually snowball.

This means that the more you keep the momentum going, the more you actually earn.

I went from earning gumball machine money to coffee money.

Then to Taco Bell money and eventually to utility bill money.

If you can earn $0.01 online, then you can earn $1.00 and so on.

I didn’t begin earning $100s until a few of my blog posts actually gained traction.

Read: How to make a blog post go viral (45k views in one month)

#6. Promote your blog on social media

Promote Your Blog on Social Media
Promote Your Blog With Everyone!

A great way to promote your blog is through the use of social media platforms.

One way I promote my posts is by taking screen shots of a new posts and uploading them onto my snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and even Twitter stories (back when they had stories).

Promoting your blog on social media will allow your website to gain traffic.

This is going to be very important in the beginning because your blog will take time to rank on google on its own.

The goal is to drive a lot of direct and referral traffic in order for the algorithm to start showing your website to organic viewers outside your circle.

Unlike the YouTube algorithm, blogs don’t get recommended to other readers.

This is why it’s going to be extremely important that you dive into business marketing as well as social media marketing.

If all else fails, this will be your number one traffic driver.

Use hashtags to optimize growth

use hashtags to optimize growth

The best social media platforms I’ve found have the best hashtag growth potential are Facebook and Twitter.

When you share a post on Facebook be sure to use tags.

This will spread your post to a variety of groups.

Same with Twitter.

However, it’s important to note that everyone’s niche might be different.

Your niche might perform better on LinkedIn, or Instagram, or Pinterest.

This is something you will learn to identify yourself as you experiment and locate your audience.

How to reach 1,000 followers on social media

One of my long-term goals for FrankNez social media accounts was to reach 1,000 followers.

I set this goal because I knew that at this point, I would have driven a good amount of traffic to my blog, and it really just signified that I stuck to my goals.

After 16 months I finally reached 1,000+ followers on Twitter and 1,000 on Instagram.

Though now that I’ve been blogging for almost four years now, my following has really grown larger.

Social media hacks for blog growth

I want to provide my readers with a ton of value so they too can grow their social media following and optimize growth for their blog.

Here are some hacks that can help you along the way:

  • Go to relevant hashtags and like a ton of peoples tweets
  • Do the same on Instagram but over on the ‘Recent’ posts instead of ‘Top’ posts
  • Comment on Instagram ‘Recent’ posts as well
  • Go through top Instagram post comments and like ‘heart’ peoples comments
  • Put your blog link on the bio of all your social media accounts
  • Create content (posts) that will lead your followers straight to your blog
  • Retweet relevant and helpful posts
  • Visit your followers’ followers and like their content
  • Be consistent when publishing valuable content
  • Engage with your comment section
  • If you have no comments, be the first to spark a conversation

A lot of these hacks are meant to build awareness.

The point is to be seen by as many people as possible.

Having your website link on your bio is going to allow curious visitors to want to learn more about you.

This is why it’s important that you engage with related pages and content.

People who like your content will follow you.

At this point it’s up to you to stay active and be consistent.

Failure in doing so will result in losing followers just as quick as you received them.

#7. Revise older posts

There’s going to come a point when your posts begin to age.

My suggestion to you is to revise older posts to make them even better.

At the very beginning of your blogging journey, you’re going to eventually go back to older blog posts and see where you could have added more detail or information.

This is great!

Go through your posts every two months or so and see how you can ‘armor up’ to make them rank higher.

You might even find yourself changing the title of your post.

The point is to keep getting better.

Tip: I will say, shoot for writing long posts.

It will improve your SEO and chance of being found organically on search engines.

Never stop improving champ, you got this.

Should I delete old posts?

I’m going to be honest with you.

I’ve only deleted a few.

What I would do is go back and really take the time to improve a post and make it as detailed as possible.

Go big!

Aim for high word usage so your blog post can rank in its segment.

Take as much as you need to really power up a targeted post.

Once you’re certain your blog post will rank higher move on to the next one.

If the views don’t improve for these revised posts, figure out what you can do to rank and start seeing more organic traffic flow your way.

Chances are if you write a lengthy blog post and aren’t ranking well then it’s more than likely saturated.

Meaning a ton of bloggers have already covered the topic.

If you run into this problem, keep updating and making it better throughout the months.

Find ways to give your blog post character and make it stand out from everything else that’s out there.

Sure it may be hard to rank for certain keywords but at least you have a detailed post that is continuously being updated to provide more value.

In the end, you might just end up ranking out of the blue.

That’s what hard work does.

#8. Be Consistent

Like any business, art, sport, or dream, you must have perseverance if you are to accomplish a set of goals for your blog.

Be consistent by continuously posting and sharing your information throughout your social media and your blog.

Keep tabs on how your website is performing to see what you need to work on and how you can do it better.

If your blog gets approved by Google AdSense, be sure not to slow down your productivity.

On the contrary, this is the time where you want to put in even more effort than what it took to get approved in the first place.

Blogging can become an amazing source of passive income but will require a lot of discipline and dedication.

Put in the amount of work your goals require from you to see them through.

This creative process is a process.

Becoming a great blogger takes time.

If you find yourself for any reason derailing from publishing, go back to your goal list and see why you started in the first place.

Is it for the income? The freedom? Stay focused and make it happen!

What if I start to lose motivation to blog?

Although blogging can be an amazing escape, it can also be a little overwhelming.

Especially when you’re treating it like a business and have big goals for your blog.

Sometimes we tend to lose motivation and steer from publishing fresh content.

Believe me I’ve been there.

What’s helped me along the way is knowing when to take time off and refresh.

You’re going to want to avoid burning out.

When you burn out you don’t perform at your full potential and creativity seems to fly out the window.

Here are some ways you can regain your motivation to blog again:

  • Revisit your goals and see why you started in the first place. Was it for the freedom to make money and travel? Are you looking to quit your 9-5?
  • Searching for high income bloggers personally motivated me when I was feeling down about my own progress as a beginner. This showed me what was possible.
  • If you’re having writers block, take a few days off and do things outside your blog that you truly enjoy. In my case, I would write music to help spark my creativity again. I also did a lot of studying and reading to recollect my thoughts when on the brink of burning out.
  • Watch/listen to motivational speakers. Some of my favorite motivational speakers include Grant Cardone, Steve Harvey, Tony Robins, and Gary Vaynerchuck.
  • Spend time with your family. Connect with your loved ones as a means of getting away from constant work. It’s okay to take a little time off blogging.

If you get back on your feet after a burnout, that discipline and willpower is what’s going to manifest your success as a blogger.

I can honestly say that consistency is what allowed me to reach my first 100 views, then 1,000, then 10,000, my first 100K+ views, and now MILLIONS of views. The next target is 10 million and above.

All it takes is truly wanting it.

Tips for Growing Your Blog

  • Publish Content regularly
  • Create high quality content
  • Share every post on social media
  • Consistently update your SEO
  • Revisit old posts and make them better
  • Grow your newsletter
  • Provide outstanding value to your readers
  • Monetize your website
  • Get people engaged

Read: 10 Easy Ways To Exponentially Increase Blog Traffic

Below are some questions most people tend to ask regarding blogging. If you have other questions, feel free to comment on the blog or personally send me an email!

Is blogging dead?

Absolutely not. In fact, blogging is now more popular than ever before. According to Letter.ly, 7.5 million blog posts are published every day.

When you look something up on Google, chances are you’re more than likely going to stumble on a blog that’s going to answer your question.

Blogs are continuously growing despite people thinking blogging is dead.

Why do blogs fail?

Like any entrepreneurship endeavor, blogs fail due to bloggers quitting. It’s usually people who stop innovating or possibly should have used another niche.

Blogs need to be published by experts or people highly knowledgeable in a specific niche.

Other reasons include:

  • Not learning every day
  • Avoiding leaving the comfort zone
  • Using the wrong webhost provider
  • Not dedicating any time to update their website
  • Forgetting about what the audience needs
  • Lack of creativity
  • Not having goals to optimize growth
  • Never posting on social media

Often times the reason for failure is not being committed. As long as you’re committed to your growth then you will succeed!

How often should I blog?

Beginners should publish new posts on a weekly basis to gain some sort of traction.

You will need to have some content on your website in order to provide value to new visitors.

Publish quality content oppose to quantity content.

This will ensure your posts rank on Google’s search engine.

As you become more experienced, you’ll want to go back to your old posts and really work on them to the point where they begin to rank higher.

I’m at the stage where I’m publishing fewer posts but writing longer and more detailed content for my readers.

The goal moving forward is to revisit my older content and give a refresh for the new year.

This is going to help my SEO and rank higher on Google and other search engines.

In the beginning, blog enough to provide a catalog of posts to your readers.

How many posts does Franknez.com publish per month?

I’ve been blogging for 3 years now.

In 2022, I published anywhere between 20-40 articles per month.

Sometimes it’s less, other times it’s more.

How long should my blog posts be?

WordPress and Yoast SEO recommend your blog posts are no less than 300 words.

But let’s be real, you don’t ever want to do the minimum.

Especially if you’re aiming to blog like a champ!

If you’re new to writing this is going to be a little difficult.

Try starting off with a minimum of 500 words.

Shoot for 700 if you have experience writing.

With time you’ll see that you can write more detailed posts as you gain more and more experience throughout your blogging journey.

Eventually set a goal to write on average 1,000 words per post.

As you learn more about ranking and SEO you’ll find out most high ranking posts actually contain over 2,000 words!

If you’re a beginner, don’t feel discouraged.

All this takes practice and time.

What can I do to make my blog posts longer?

Here’s something that I’ve done on my long form blog posts.

Once I’ve published a lengthy article without burning out, I come back to it.

Sometimes it’s the following day, other times it’s in a week or a month.

If I’m covering an important story that requires to be updated frequently then it will be updated consistently.

Blog posts like this one, I’ve tend to come back to include even more value by answering questions you might have.

It’s really a matter of coming back to a published post and adding more value.

Does my blog really need a newsletter?

A newsletter is going to help your blog in so many ways.

You can share new blog posts with your subscribers.

If you have more value to provide such as products or services, you can always let them know too.

A newsletter also helps your SEO.

When you email blog post links to your subscribers, you generate a backlink.

This let’s Google and other search engines know that your link is being shared and actively clicked on from various of locations and emails.

As a blogger, I am committed to my readers.

I love emailing every single one of them regarding posts or news I know will help them in one form or another.

I also get a strong sense of fulfillment knowing I’m in a position to provide tons of value to other goal-oriented individuals in my circle.

Yes. I believe a blog really does need a newsletter.

As a blogger, your readers should be your number one priority and you should always be looking for ways to further provide value to their lives.

Our job is to enhance our readers lives.

Have you joined my newsletter?

Franknez.com

Another thing I love about my blog is connecting with likeminded individuals.

There’s something very pleasant about spending the evening sending out emails one on one to my subscribers.

Depending on which blog post you subscribed on, I will send you personally tailored posts that you will find of value.

So if you subscribe here you’ll receive posts on how to monetize your blog and other blogging tips to help you grow!

How does a blog make money?

There are several ways a blog can earn you money.

We’ve talked a little bit of monetizing your blog with ads.

Other opportunities include:

  • Affiliate marketing
  • Sponsored posts
  • Self-promotion
  • Selling programs via. video or eBook

Affiliate marketing: your blog can promote/recommend products that you use to your readers. You earn a commission for every sale closed.

Sponsored posts: people can pay you to feature them on a particular blog post.

Self promotion: You can promote your tangible business on blog posts that can generate leads.

Selling programs: Sell your eBook on your blog or other courses that can help your readers become more successful.

By the way, my latest eBook walks your though in a much more in-depth way of how to create your personal brand and monetize it.

This is perfect for those who want to create a personal brand instead of a business brand.

Here’s how I’ve used these all in 1 blog post

On my blog post, How to distribute your music on all major platforms, I use four out of these five strategies to earn money through my blog.

Here I show independent artists how to earn passive income through streams.

On this blog post you’ll see my recommended music distributor (affiliate marketing), self promotion (my music), video in sponsored post format, and by ads.

That blog post earns money from ads.

It also has the potential to make money from possible streams, readers signing up using the affiliate link, and requests wanting promotion.

Blog posts like these create value all-around.

Have any questions? Get in contact

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below or personally email me.

You can find my contact information at the bottom of my post. Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!

You can also support the blog on Patreon.


If you found this post valuable be sure to subscribe to my newsletter!

I Want To Hear From You!

Let me know in the comments section below if you’ve started blogging yet. Our readers would love to hear from your experience. And if so, what is your niche?


Here’s How To Get Your Music On Spotify Right Now

Wondering how to get your music on Spotify right now? Like, literally right now?

If you’re a producer, singer/songwriter, or musician, earning money through your music can be a dream come true.

The good news is you no longer need to be signed to a label in order to promote or sell your music.

Are you wondering how you can get your music streamed on all major platforms and make money during the process?

More and more independent artists are learning how to get their music on Spotify and Apple Music without being signed to a major or indie record label.

The wild thing is that some artists are even being found on these platforms and eventually get signed when they raise enough attention.

Getting your music heard is a tough gig.

Putting your music out to platforms people enjoy using shouldn’t.

This is why more and more artists and musicians are skipping the middle-man and getting heard on Spotify, Apple Music, and many other major streaming platforms.

Your songs have a place in the world.

They should not be collecting dust on YouTube, Reverbnation, SoundCloud, and other free platforms.

This is why people are using DistroKid to get their music on Spotify and Apple, but more on that down below.

franknez.com

Welcome to Franknez.com – the blog where you can digest content on personal finance, side hustle ideas, entrepreneurship, and trending investing topics.

Lets get started!

The benefits of streaming platforms

Streaming platforms are convenient and convenience sells. People don’t want to look for new artists or bands anymore, they want to be catered to music that is similar to what they already love and listen to.

Algorithms take into account what you love listening to and push new ‘relatable’ content that you might also enjoy. This is how independent artists are being discovered.

The algorithm records how long your song is being streamed, whether it’s being replayed or not, and how often it’s being saved.

When your tracks get this positive feedback, your streams begin to snowball. Streaming services do a great job at finding a place or person who will enjoy your music even if it’s not pop.

Streaming playlists are easy to share

Another benefit of streaming platforms is how easy playlists are easy to share. People in today’s world are constantly sharing playlists with others who have the same music tastes.

If your song(s) happen to be saved in a playlist by someone then your chances of being heard increases. Your art cannot be complacent in a platform that’s not innovating. Streaming platforms such as Spotify are the future.

Here’s how to get your music on Spotify and other major platforms.

#1. Find a music distributor

First, you’ll need to upload your music through a music distributor service such as DistroKid, but we’ll get more in depth on that soon.

You can literally start now, or continue reading for more educational information.

You won’t want to miss the info that will help you get your music to reach the masses.

A music distributer is a company that helps musicians get their music into iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, Instagram, and other major platforms.

When your music is distributed it will have the opportunity to be heard by anyone in the world.

Before we let you know who the best distributor for independent artists is we’re going to walk you through some burning questions most artists might have.

Can you really make money from streams?

Yes. The awesome thing about getting your music on all major platforms is that you get paid every time your music is streamed!

That’s right! So, if you have a good following you’ll be able to monetize your music and make money every time someone streams your songs.

One day you might make a few bucks from Spotify while simultaneously earning royalties from other platforms such as Apple Music and TikTok.

If you’re passionate about reaching a huge audience, then this can be a great way to also establish multiple streams of income for yourself. You can then reinvest the profits to further your music career and provide more value to your following.

This type of income is known as leverage income. This is where you do the work once but get paid multiple times for it.

Tips For Making Money From Your Streams

  • Grow your social media followers
  • Pin your album or new song (Twitter, Facebook page, etc.)
  • Get playlisted
  • Share your music with the communities on social platforms
  • Submit your music to curators
  • Record high quality music
  • Increase your audience as much as possible
  • Engage with your following and other related pages
  • Create a street team
  • Use promotions and paid advertising

Tips for growing your social media followers

Engage with artists and other musicians in your genre. Twitter is a great platform to connect with people who can support you.

A social media hack is to click on related hashtags and begin liking peoples recent posts and even leaving a comment. This strategy is a form of saying hey this is who I am.

When people see someone liked or commented on their post, they usually tend to stalk the other persons feed. If they like what you’re about they will follow you back. If you seem interesting enough then chances are they’ll most likely listen to your music.

Growing your artist social media accounts is going to require you to work on this task every single day. When you begin to see the results it’s going to become almost addicting.

Now, there will be days where it gets tiring and days where you simply skip out on it. This is normal. However, know that if you discipline yourself and get back on track, you will be able to meet your number of followers goal.

Pin your recent track to your profile

Which brings up the second social media hack for artists. Pin your recent song to your profile. This is the first thing visitors will see. And again, if you seem interesting to them then the next thing they’ll do is check out your work.

Facebook and Twitter are two social media platforms that allow you to pin a post for high visibility.

Record high quality music

The quality of your music is really what’s going to keep people listening to your music. Most independent artists might struggle with this part of the process but it’s a reinvestment you’ll eventually have to make.

If you’re a self-recording artist, don’t stop trying to get better every time you release a new piece. Always looks for ways to improve.

If you’re content with your skills, then by all means put out your track. However, if you’re not practicing audio engineering every day, I recommend you record in a professional studio at some point.

Create a street team or promo page

A street team is a strategy that you can use to share your content when it’s released and to promote your posts. You can create a group of loyal supporters who can share, like, and comment anytime you update the street team page with content and instructions to push it out.

You can also create a promo page. This promo page can be a second alternative or addition to your promotional strategy. With a promo page you can share your street teams shares and comments to build momentum.

All this activity allows algorithms in the social media platform to push your content out to reach a bigger audience. This awareness creates hype and elevates your awareness.

Where else can I promote my music?

Millennial Music Agency is a platform that listens to your music via submissions and reviews it on their website. You can use the review as a means to sponsor and market your new single or album.

By providing artists with a platform to be seen and heard, we manifest credibility which artists can use to further their music career.

Millennial music agency (los angeles, ca)

When your music is finally being pushed out on Spotify and Apple Music, be sure to share your work as much as possible with as many groups and curators as you can.

Most curators won’t take your MP3 file or other links to free platforms. They want to share quality work and be collaborate with strong brand recognition.

This is why more independent artists are being discovered on platforms such as Spotify more than anywhere else. It’s easy to get playlisted, shared, and listened to.

Spotify Discography

Share your latest single on:

  • Facebook groups
  • Twitter artist music threads
  • Instagram stories (more below)
  • Tik-Tok stories (more below)
  • Email newsletter

Heck, feel free to comment your latest single on the comment section of this blog post. Many independent artists already have! Why shouldn’t you?

Facebook groups

Facebook groups are the perfect place for musicians and artists to share creative ideas and get a chance to get their music heard. This platform has a variety of groups for just about everyone!

Instagram and TikTok stories

The music distributer we’re about to talk about shortly is able to put your songs on Instagram stories and TikTok videos.

These trending social media platforms are a great place for you to share your new track with your following and increase awareness. The cool thing is that people can click on the song whether it’s on Instagram or TikTok, and play it on Spotify or Apple Music.

Email newsletter

Email newsletters are a great way for you to share your new song or album with your fans and support group. Sometimes social media doesn’t allow your posts to reach everyone who follows you.

This is where creating an email newsletter for your fans to sign up can become handy. You can use this email newsletter to directly connect your fans with a new release in case they missed a post online.

You can also use email as a means of hyping a new song or album prior to its release. This strategy is known as email marketing. The way this works is you can email your fans promotional content such as images, artworks, and teasers of an upcoming song or album.

This creates anticipation and further help you promote your music. These marketing campaigns are what allow artists to have a big release date. This happens when they prepared their fans for the release months prior.

Frank Nez How To Get Clients To Pay You When They're Past Due

These strategies create a ‘portal’ to your music and makes it easy to enter peoples world.

When your work is being distributed across all major platforms, royalties begin to come in every time someone hits the play button.

The more streams you get means the more money you will earn. But first you need is to get your work distributed. Here’s how you do it.

#2. How Do I Get My Music On Spotify, Apple Music, And All Major Platforms?

How to get your music on spotify
Get 7% off when you sign up with Franknez.com | How to get your music on Spotify and Apple Music.

Finally, what you’ve all been waiting for.

To get your music on all major platforms you’ll need to find a reputable distributor that can upload your music onto the biggest streaming platforms.

DistroKid is the best service for musicians looking to get their music into online stores and major streaming outlets.

They are the easiest way for musicians to get music into Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, Tidal, TikTok, YouTube, and more.

The reason why independent artists and musicians like yourself are using DistroKid is because:

  • DistroKid is affordable
  • You can upload unlimited music and albums
  • The layout is super easy to use
  • They were the first distributers to put your music on Tik-Tok and Instagram
  • DistroKid monetizes all of your YouTube videos!
  • You get paid monthly
  • Instant Spotify Artist Verification

How much does it cost to distribute my music with DistroKid?

how much does it cost to distribute my music with DistroKid?
how to get my music on Spotify and iTunes.

DistroKid only costs $19.99 per year to upload unlimited music on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Tidal, and more!

They are offering our readers 7% off when you sign up using the link here.

Who are DistroKid’s competitors and how do they compare?

Distrokid Logo character

Competitors include TuneCore which charges $9.99 per song and $29.99 per album. There’s also CD Baby, which charges $9.95 per song and $29.00 per album.

If you have a catalog of music this can become pretty expensive even if you’re only uploading a few songs. The best value is being able to upload unlimited tracks year round whenever you want.

In the end, DistroKid has the best bang for your buck.

This is why artists like you love DistroKid

How do I get my music on Spotify?
How do I get my music on Spotify?

DistroKid makes it easy to upload music

DistroKid makes it super easy to upload your song(s) to all major platforms. You also have an option to set your release date, allow people to preorder, and even set your own record label name.

You may upload several songs at the same time to release an album or one at a time for singles. DistroKid will send you an email once your songs are available in each store so you can share the links on your social media platforms.

Will my songs be available to stream at the same time?

Your songs won’t be published at the same time on all platforms but this is great because you can share your tracks whenever they’re available on Tidal and Amazon before it’s out on Spotify and the rest.

This allows you to let your audience know your song is available to them no matter what their streaming preference is.

DistroKid allows you to upload your own album cover

DistroKid’s layout is very easy to navigate and only takes minutes to fill out your projects information. The simple platform is favored by artists looking to quickly upload their work without any hassle.

DistroKid Music Distribution

You also get the option to choose the language, primary genre, and secondary genre along with other options to further describe your track(s).

DistroKid’s track price also allows you to set a fixed price on your individual tracks for iTunes, Google Play, & Amazon.

How to Earn Money with DistroKid

DistroKid provides you with stats for just about everything. This includes a breakdown of how you get paid as well as your daily streams!

Get paid for streaming your music by DistroKid
DistroKid Breaks Down How You Get Paid
Brought to you by Millennial Music Agency.
Brought to you by Millennial Music Agency | How to get your music on Spotify.

DistroKid is a great means to earn money from your music due to their easy distributing services. The goal is to reach many listeners in order to increase your earnings.

Each store and streaming service delivers reports and payments on their own schedule. Your money will be sent between 1-14 days of a withdrawal request from DistroKid’s bank tab. You can easily transfer your earnings into your PayPal account without any hassle.

What Are Other Awesome Benefits From Distributing With DistroKid?

If you’re wondering whether you’ll get verified in any way the great news is you do.

Access to Spotify for Artists + instant Spotify verification

Verify your music on Spotify with DistroKid
Gain Access To Spotify For Artists

DistroKid allows you to gain access to Spotify For Artists which allows you to professionally personalize your Spotify artist page. When you distribute with DistroKid you will also be instantly verified with a blue checkmark on Spotify.

This access allows you to pitch your music to Spotify’s curators for a chance to be featured on official Spotify playlists. The awesome thing about becoming a verified artist on Spotify is the credibility you gain. It sets you apart from other artist and shows you’re serious about your craft.

Spotify for Artists give you insight on where your listeners are coming from and what their age group is. This can help you determine who your content is primarily based around.

You can also view how many people are listening to your music in real-time!

That’s pretty sweet, anything else?

DistroKid has also just recently allowed artists to access their Apple Music artist page, a feature you couldn’t access before. Some cool features include editing your bio, setting up a profile picture, and managing tour dates.

Not only that but…

DistroKid provides instant monetization on YouTube

In order to monetize videos on YouTube you must reach a total of 1,000 subscribers and have 4,000 hours of watch time on your channel.

YouTube Is a major platform that pays with ads

However, DistroKid allows you to earn money from your music by making all uploads a ‘topic‘ on YouTube and automatically monetizes every song you upload.

YouTube Topic Music
Paid Promotion

This is extremely convenient because you are instantly monetized and are ready to receive earnings from YouTube ads right away! This is just one of the many perks you have when you distribute your work with DistroKid.

How much does it cost to distribute my music with DistroKid?

It costs $19.99 per year to distribute unlimited music through DistroKid. However, our readers get a 7% off by using the promotion link here.

The reason we love DistroKid is because it has helped our readers who are musicians and artists earn passive income. We are a personal finance and entrepreneurship blog after all. So, we’re big fans.

If you’re a recording artist, leave your links on the comment section below. These links will stay up forever and won’t disappear. FREE PROMO.

FAQs and other questions

Can I choose which platforms to distribute my music?

Yes! You have an option to click or ‘unclick’ certain websites you might only want your music to stream in.

How much music can I upload with DistroKid?

You can upload unlimited amount of songs and albums with DistroKid.

How long does it take for my music to show up on Spotify?

After you submit your music for distribution it can take anywhere from 2-5 days before your music is live on Spotify.

Most platforms take about 2-3 days to show your music online but you can expect it to take about a full week for majority of streaming platforms to have your music ready for listeners.

How long does it take to become a Spotify Artist?

DistroKid will make you a Spotify Artist as soon as you join. You will be able to create your Spotify for Artist profile and edit your artist profile picture and bio.

You will also be able to upload photos for your fans to see and change your banner to promote new music.

Does my YouTube content become a topic?

Yes. When you upload a song or album, it will automatically become a ‘topic’ on YouTube and begin displaying ads immediately.

This means you will begin to earn money from not only playbacks but actual advertisement.

Can I submit to Spotify curators?

Yes. When you upload a song to DistroKid, you’ll be able to pitch your tracks to Spotify curators.

If approved, your songs can get playlisted on massive playlists which can draw serious traffic to your artist page.

Being playlisted on a curated playlist from Spotify can provide you with some serious passive income.

Which music streaming platform pays the most?

Here’s a list of music streaming payout via. atlasvpn.

Napster has the highest payout out Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube.

This doesn’t mean all your music should be shared directly from Napster though. Find which platform your audience uses the most and share those links.

You can also use Linktr.ee to link your favorite platforms all under one link. This will allow your listeners to choose their favorite streaming site and listen to your songs comfortably.

If you have any further questions regarding distributing your songs online be sure to leave a comment below. Otherwise, feel free to get in touch and email me personally! Contact info on the footer of the page.

How can I get my music on Spotify?

You’ll need to distribute your music with a music distributor like DistroKid to get your music on Spotify and other streaming platforms such as Apple Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Amazon, Tik-Tok, Instagram, and many more.


My mission is to help my readers become financially successful every day so be sure to check out my posts on how you can earn more money to reach a freedom like no other.

franknez.com

“Some of my readers know when I’m not working on my business ventures I enjoy writing music. I particularly compose indie rock music. You can check it out here.”

Frank Nez

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Online Business vs Traditional Business: Pros & Cons

I am very excited to touch base on the topic of online business vs traditional business.

My family has owned a traditional business for about 13 years now.

That’s where I was first introduced to the sales world straight out of college.

Extended family such as uncles and cousins also have their own traditional businesses.

I am the only one in the family building an online business and have created a total of 3 online startups.

I’m a fan of both but favor one more than the other.

Let’s talk about the pros and cons of both an online business and a traditional business.

We’re going to dive in on the costs to start one, scalability, time to earn money, and flexibility.

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Welcome to Franknez.com – the blog where you can digest content on personal finance, side hustle ideas, entrepreneurship, and trending investing topics.

Lets get started!

The first time I had an entrepreneurial moment was when I was a kid.

I didn’t know it then, but I know it now.

My grandmother had given me a few bucks and I had bought a variety of candy.

I then found a small clear plastic box where I combined all the candy together.

I remember going around the household charging $1 for a few pieces of starburst, skittles, and sour ropes.

I’ll never forget it.

I don’t know why I did it.

The instinct of opportunity perhaps?

Having been heavily involved in both, I understand the differences between a traditional company and an online business.

Let’s start with the costs to start one.

How much does it cost to start an online business?

Starting an online business is a lot more cost efficient than starting a traditional business.

With an online business your startup costs are a website, domain, email, and any additional widgets you choose for your website.

Not to mention the internet service provider you will choose to run your online business, but you can always check with Hyper Fiber’s price guarantee to know what suitable plan and connection speed is needed for your business

This can run anywhere from $200-$500.

In some cases you can accomplish this for less.

But if you’re paying someone to design your website it can cost between $1,000-$5,000.

I designed my own using Bluehost.

Why?

Simply because it’s cost efficient and super easy to use.

Bluehost is integrated with WordPress and works well with any type of online business.

It’s $2.95/mo. and your domain is free your first year.

How much does it cost to start a traditional business?

In most cases, a traditional business is going to require you to raise more capital.

If your company uses any sort of machinery combined with software, the costs are going to be quite high.

The startup cost of a traditional company can range from $10,000-$40,000+.

A traditional business also needs to be registered in your county and requires a sellers permit if you intend in selling a service or product.

You might also have to buy small business insurance to cover any possible damages.

Like an online business, your traditional company will still need a functioning website to attract your customers to your service or product.

Startup costs of an online business vs a traditional business

When looking at the costs of a startup, an online business wins vs the traditional business.

A traditional business is nowhere as cost efficient.

This is the pro to an online business and con to a traditional company.

An online business will have very little to no overhead while a traditional business may have a massive overhead.

Scalable business model: Online vs traditional

The scalability of both an online business and traditional business is very different.

This is where a huge separation can take place.

Scalability with an online business

Because an online business is global, it can reach a global audience.

An online business can sell products online internationally and produce content that reach an audience at massive scale.

Online businesses with a lot of traffic have an advantage over a traditional business.

An online business can profit from:

  • Online product sales / service sales
  • Affiliate programs
  • Advertisement display
  • Blogging
  • Monetizing content via video

An online business can create a loop that drives traffic essentially multiple streams of income online.

A monetized YouTube channel can draw traffic to a monetized blog displaying ads.

A blog may also contain affiliate links that collect commissions.

Not to mention whatever this website has to sell or offer via its business model.

This multiple stream of income loop allows an online business to constantly be earning money, 24/7.

Scalability with a traditional business

A traditional business will always be limited by a demand for your service or product.

This type of business is usually limited by its location as well.

Most small businesses cater to their surrounding area and tend to expand outward with time.

What limits business owners with a traditional business is their growing overhead as their business scales.

When a traditional business scales new employees must be hired, more money has to be spent on payroll and other possible discrepancies that are human nature.

Lawsuits, raises, insurance, etc.

Although scaling a traditional business can be very rewarding, the responsibilities at this level compound as well.

The costs to run a traditional business when scaled go up and your business may become stagnant due to the increase in cost of goods and minimum wage.

A traditional business cannot scale without the addition of new employees and increase in sales.

An online business on the other hand requires traffic, or an audience which has no limit.

More on Scalability

Small businesses can learn valuable lessons from larger enterprises regarding sustainable growth strategies.

Large enterprises often emphasize efficient resource allocation, customer relationship management, and diversification of revenue streams.

These principles can be adapted to fit the scale of smaller startups, helping them make informed decisions and optimize their growth trajectory.

Equity management software for large enterprises is an essential component as it streamlines complex equity distribution processes and ensures transparent communication with shareholders.

This is important during the expansion time.

This software streamlines equity distribution, facilitates communication with shareholders, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.

Small businesses can also benefit from this practice, albeit on a smaller scale.

Implementing equity management tools can help startups manage equity distribution transparently, attract investors with clear ownership structures, and mitigate future complications.

How much time does it takes to make money from a startup?

The amount of time it takes an online business to earn money is also very different from the time it takes a traditional business.

Here is where a traditional business has the advantage.

How long does it take for an online business to make money?

An online business can take quite some time to make money. I would refer to this disadvantage as a con.

An online business takes time to monetize, especially if you’re not selling a service or product per say.

Even so, selling a service or product online takes brand building and brand recognition.

This is just as competitive as a brick and mortar if not more challenging.

I monetized my online business the first month of it going live but didn’t start making any ‘rent money’ until after a year of non-stop dedication.

I would work on building it after my 9-5.

Now I work on my online business full-time providing value to different online communities.

Now, I wasn’t selling a service or product so this does not mean it’s going to take you over a year to make money from an online business.

My online business revolves around advertising displays and affiliate programs.

You may have an outstanding pre-launch that enables you to earn money your first month or two in.

How long does it take a traditional business to make money?

If you have a product or service that’s in demand, your business can begin earning sales revenue in just days to weeks.

Landscaping and mobile car wash detailing businesses just have to knock at peoples doors.

Someone will schedule you.

I know people in these businesses that started earning money right away.

If you know who to target, your traditional business can start earning sales revenue fairly quickly.

Even if it’s just to break even.

While most businesses don’t profit until their second or third year in business, those tackling it hard may profit their first year.

Running an online business often times requires you to be tech savvy and marketing oriented.

These skills take time to build which means earning money online may take more time for new entrepreneurs.

Flexibility: Online business vs traditional business

Flexibility is a deal breaker for most entrepreneurs.

The flexibility an online business provides is way different from that of a traditional business.

The flexibility you have as a business owner with a traditional business is almost non existent.

Let’s dive into it.

Online business flexibility

With an online business you have the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world.

Most online business owners work from home and tend to work on their business while they travel once they’ve figured out how to scale.

This flexibility makes an online business such an attractive business model to most younger entrepreneurs.

An online business allows you to earn money while you’re on the road with absolutely no overhead.

Some online businesses do have teams of intrapreneurs growing the business, but even this small team does not compare to the amount of employees a traditional business needs in order to scale.

Traditional business flexibility

A traditional business on the other side has very limited flexibility.

Most business owners cannot manage their business on travel.

And if they do, they don’t truly get to relax due to the amount of physical responsibility they’re leaving behind.

Unless you’ve hired a great management team that can take care of business while you’re out, your business requires you to become a worker yourself within your own business.

In a lot of cases, entrepreneurs who fail to build a team end up becoming a slave to their own business.

This is essentially when time off is almost impossible.

Online business pros

  • Startups are more cost efficient
  • Scalability is limitless
  • Provides the flexibility to travel and work from anywhere in the world
  • Allows for multiple streams of income to loop with one another
  • Ability to earn passive income 24/7

Cons

  • ROI takes longer to receive in most cases

Traditional business pros

  • ROI may be quicker than an online business
  • Brick and mortar companies attract a local community

Cons

  • Startup costs require building capital in most cases
  • Flexibility is severely disrupted
  • Scalability is also limited compared to an online business

Which business model is right for you?

Figuring out which business model is right for you will determine on what you value most.

If you value your time and flexibility than an online business is tailored for you.

If you don’t mind a traditional business model for the sake of a simpler and offline experience, then go all in.

Both an online business and traditional company are going to allow you to earn a lot of money.

Each model will provide a unique lifestyle that is tailored just for you.

And it’s up to you to find out what type of lifestyle you would like to get from it.

Is it the laptop and travel lifestyle or is it the tangible business owner lifestyle?

I favor the online business model.

Most of my family favors the traditional business model.

But I think it’s because they’re significantly older, too.

Is there a hybrid business model of online and traditional?

Of course.

There are many businesses who implement both business models in order to diversify the way they connect with their customers and audience.

If you have a traditional brick and mortar and are looking to scale it online you can certainly do so.

You can do this by starting a blog on your niche industry or publishing YouTube videos online.

You would then need to monetize your content with advertisement.

This hybrid business model will allow you to run your traditional business as you have while earning passive income when your company is closed through the content you publish online.

Hybrid model with a blog

If your plumbing company is doing well but becoming a little stagnant, you can always write about your experience as a business owner in this industry via a blog.

My beginners guide walks you step by step how to accomplish this.

Read: Blog like a champ in 2021: Easy beginners guide

Hybrid model with a YouTube channel

Back to the plumbing company example, you can leverage YouTube channel views by publishing videos for an audience.

You can do tutorial videos for people to gain knowledge from and create episodes others will find enticingly valuable.

No matter what your industry or business is, you can earn money 24/7 with it online once you monetize a platform such as a blog or YT channel.

Hybrid startup model

A hybrid online business model will allow your traditional business to earn revenue even after its doors close.

Is your company closed during the weekends?

A hybrid online business model can earn you revenue while your businesses’ doors are closed.

The point is you can earn a lot of money with an online business.

For online business ideas click here.

And Lastly

If you enjoyed this post please be sure to give it a like and give it a social share.

Let me know in the comments section below if you’d like me to get more into detail of what a hybrid online business model is.

I’d love to help take things a step further for your traditional business.

Related: How to start a thriving online business in 2021!

Also, be sure to connect with me on social media!

You can support the blog on Patreon.

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