Did you know that programming jobs are growing 12% faster than the average job in today’s market? The huge demand for developers is only expected to grow in the coming years. That’s why so many people are attempting to learn programming through resources like a programmer blog.
With lots of companies and employers looking for programmers, it only makes sense that there would be a large number of people looking to get the skills needed for these jobs. If you are someone skilled at one or more programming languages, interested in helping prospective developers, and want to open up a new avenue for potential income, consider starting a programmer blog to teach people your knowledge.
Reasons for Starting a Programmer Blog
There are many reasons someone may want to help other people in their efforts to learn to programme. First, as mentioned, programming is one of the most in-demand skills in today’s world. That value is reflected in the typical salary a developer can expect to earn.
The BLS reports that the average salary for a programmer in the United States was $79,840 in 2016. This is well above the median average for someone living in the U.S.
Beyond its popularity, programmers also make a big difference in the world today. Without code, we wouldn’t have apps like Netflix or Instagram. The ability to create software for use online is a powerful one that can have a big impact on a person and their family, but also the entire world.
Finally, starting a programmer blog is one of the best ways to make money from a blog site. Not only will a programmer blog help the owner increase their reputation as an expert & authority when it comes to coding, it provides a clear way to create digital products like courses, video lessons, and eBooks that teach people how to become programmers. If you’ve been coding for several years and are asked about how you learned or if you can teach others your skills, a programmer blog is an excellent option.
Now that you know some of the reasons people choose to start a blog devoted to teaching people how to code, let’s look at some of the basic elements of starting a blog. The first step is choosing a certain topic or programming language.
Deciding on a Specific Niche for Your Programmer Blog
The most obvious way to select a niche for your blog is to pick the language of code that you specialize in. It’s hard to teach people about a programming language that you don’t know about! On the other hand, there is some value in starting a blog that documents your process of learning, as opposed to claiming to be a master in a specific skill right away.
For example, many travel bloggers are finding great success through monetizing their travel diary blogs. In other cases, people make money by documenting their fitness journeys as they attempt to lose a specific amount of weight.
Another way to select a great niche for your programmer blog is to choose a focus area related to the type of people you want to educate. For example, maybe you used to be employed as a senior-level developer, but decided to leave your position to raise children. You could start a programmer blog that talks about how stay-at-home moms can learn to code in their free time, so that they can take freelance jobs that let them work at home and be with their kids.
College students, high school kids, or retired business executives are other great groups to target. Even if your programming blog covers a language that is taught in many other places, this kind of demographic niche can help your blog stand out and gain loyal readers.
If you aren’t sure which niche to start your programmer blog in, pick one and get started creating content. You can always switch later!
How to Set Up Your Programming Blog
First, you’ll want to pick hosting and a domain. Popular options for these purchases include GoDaddy, Bluehost, and InMotion. Your best bet is to choose a host that supports a WordPress blog site, as WordPress is the easiest blogging platform to use.
From there, you can install a basic WordPress layout and use it to design visual elements – your fonts, colors, and graphics. Try to err on the side of caution here – it’s better to go simple and plain than try to be fancy.
Publishing Content on Your Programmer Blog
The top programming blogs have one thing in common – they all publish high-quality content often. If you want your blog to succeed at teaching and informing people of what they need to know, you will also need to meet this demand.
There are many ideas for programming blog post topics. They include:
- Your take on programming news stories and how people can learn from them
- Real-world programming situations that you (or your friends) have faced
- Deep-dive examples of important programming concepts
- Guest posts from other programming bloggers
You can also supplement your original content by curating blog posts from other sources, sharing valuable information that you think your audience will be interested in. This is a great way to get your blog off the ground – you can start with a mix of content curation and original content, and as you get more time and experience with writing content, increase the number of original posts.
Share Your Programming Gift
There are still millions of programming jobs available around the world. Do your part to help people get a great-paying job that allows them to take care of their family by starting a programmer blog to instruct and educate. With a little bit of effort and a bit of investment, you can make a real difference in the world.
If you have already started your blogging journey, you may want to take things to the next level. Check here for more helpful blogging tips to get you seen online and help you establish authority as a programming expert.