How to Start a Sports Blog

If you want to know how to start a sports blog, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you enjoy playing sports or prefer just watching them, starting a sports blog could be the perfect way to share your expertise, build a community of like-minded fans, and even make some extra money.

This post will:

1. Tell you what a sports blog is
2. Outline some reasons for starting one
3. Show you how to create your own successful sports blog
4. Introduce ways you can earn money from your blog
5. Inspire you with five examples of popular sports blogs

Step up to the plate and keep reading to learn how you can start a sports blog.

What Is a Sports Blog?

Blogs, originally called weblogs, have been around for a long time. The first blogs were published around 1994 and started as online journals you could share with others. Since then, they have evolved to mean any web page dedicated to a given subject that is updated with new content on a regular basis. 

A sports blog is simply a website dedicated to sharing sports-related content, including:

• General sporting news 
• Commentary on sporting events 
• Analysis of specific sports (e.g., rugby, stickball, donkey racing)
• Sport and activewear fashion trends
• Sports betting tips, predictions, and analysis
• Athlete profiles and interviews
• Sports technology and equipment reviews
• Fantasy sports advice and predictions (e.g., Fantasy Football) 

A lot of successful sports blogs combine several of the above to create unique content that will appeal to their target audience. Popular sports blog posts often include timely reporting, insightful analysis, engaging writing, and multimedia content like photos and videos.

Why Start Your Own Sports Blog?

Becoming a sports writer is an exciting way to combine your passion for sports and writing. There are numerous publications that will pay you for sports writing, so it’s totally achievable to earn money by writing about something you love. But if you want full creative control over what you write, there is no better way than starting your own sports blog. A blog allows you to benefit in multiple ways:

1. Share what you love: A blog provides a platform to express your passion for sports and share your unique perspectives.
2. Connect with like-minded people: Through your blog, you can build a community of sports enthusiasts and engage in discussions about your favorite teams and athletes.
3. Make some money: A lot of people don’t realize you can start a blog for free and make money. Successful sports blogs can generate income in a variety of different ways (more on that later). 
4. Enhance your skills: Blogging can help you improve your writing, analysis, and digital media skills.
5. Become a respected voice: Over time, you can establish authority with your audience in your chosen sports writing niche.
6. Access opportunities: Your blog could lead to exciting opportunities like press passes to sporting events or interviews with athletes.

How to Start Your Own Sports Blog

So, if you’re a sports enthusiast and love to write, starting a sports blog could provide you with a fulfilling creative outlet while also opening the door to new opportunities. If you want your blog to be a success, follow these seven key steps:

1. Choose Your Focus

There are hundreds of different kinds of sports and almost just as many ways they can be written about. A good blog should focus on a specific niche. So, you need to keep your eye on the ball and decide on the type of sports content you want to create. This could be anything from general sports news to in-depth analysis of a particular sport or league.

2. Select a Blogging Platform

There are plenty of free blogging platforms available for new writers. For more customization, there are a lot of great subscription options. See what’s out there and choose a platform that suits your technical skills and goals.

3. Pick a Domain Name

A domain name is the address used to access your website (e.g., facebook.com, cars.com). After you have decided on your focus and selected your platform, it’s time to come up with a name. Here are some tips for selecting a memorable and relevant domain name for your blog:

• Pick something easy to spell and remember. 
• Include sports-related terms to make your blog’s focus clear.
• Make it short, catchy, and relevant to your chosen niche.

4. Design Your Blog

How you design your blog will depend largely on your chosen platform because each one offers different customizable templates and design tools. You want your blogs to have an appealing appearance and user-friendly navigation. Ensure your design incorporates sports imagery and colors that reflect your niche.

5. Make a Plan for High-Quality Content

A blog is only as valuable as the content it contains. Make sure you post relevant, up-to-date content on a regular basis. To stay organized and on task, consider creating a content calendar and aligning it with the sports seasons and major events in your niche. Decide on the types of posts you’ll create, such as match previews, post-game analysis, player profiles, or opinion pieces. Then, schedule when to publish each post on your blog.

6. Create a Few Captivating First Posts

To hit the ground running, start your blog by publishing a few high-quality posts to give new visitors a taste of what your blog is about. Always proofread and edit your writing so these initial posts showcase your best work, interest your readers, and contain zero errors.

7. Promote Your Blog

Once you have engaging content to share, spread the word so as many people see what you’ve created as possible. Use social media, sports forums, and your personal network to promote your new blog. It also helps to engage with other sports bloggers and fans to build your presence in the community.

Best Practices for Writing Sports Blogs

If you’ve followed the seven steps listed above, your blog should be off to a flying start. But you need to keep your head in the game. In order to have a successful blog, continue publishing engaging sports content. Here are some tips for creating successful blog posts:

• Stay current: Keep up with the latest news and developments in your chosen sports niche.
• Provide unique insights: Offer analysis and perspectives that go beyond basic reporting.
• Use data and statistics: Back up anything you publish with relevant data and statistics to add credibility to your posts.
• Incorporate multimedia: Sports are generally lively events, so use photos, videos, and infographics to make your content more engaging and informative.
• Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and encourage discussion to build a community around your blog.
• Be consistent: Maintain a regular posting schedule, especially during peak seasons for your sport.
• Optimize for search engines: Use relevant keywords to help your content rank well in search results.
• Develop a unique voice: Let your personality and passion for sports shine through in your writing.
• Plan around major events: Align your content calendar with big sporting events to capitalize on increased interest.
• Consider video content: Briefly incorporate video analysis, highlights, or commentary to add another dimension to your blog. According to HubSpot, people are 52% more likely to share video content than any other kind!

How to Monetize a Sports Blog

Professional athletes don’t need to be the only ones making money off the enthralling world of sports. Once you’ve established your blog and built an audience, you can too. Although it may take some time, there are several different ways you can monetize your blog. Below are some popular options:

1. Affiliate marketing: Earn a commission on the sale of sports-related products that you promote on your blog.
2. Sponsored content: Partner with brands or equipment manufacturers to create sponsored posts or product reviews.
3. Display advertising: There are different ways to incorporate ads on your blog. Networks like Google AdSense make it easy.
4. Create and sell digital products: Compile your writing into an ebook, create fantasy sports guides, or develop online courses related to your niche.
5. Offer services: Use your expertise to provide sports writing services to other publications. You could also market your expertise as a coach or consultant.
6. Premium content: Offer exclusive content, analysis, or insider information to paying subscribers.
7. Merchandise: Create and sell branded merchandise related to your blog or sport focus.

Your blog should be fully set up with a growing audience by the time you consider monetization. You don’t want sales to get in the way of posting quality blog content. Also, you should always disclose any sponsored content or affiliate relationships to maintain trust with your audience.

5 Sports Blog Examples

One of the best things about starting a sports blog is that it has been done successfully before – so it’s easy to find some inspiration. Here are five examples of other sports blogs you can use as inspiration for building your own:

1. Deadspin is known for its humorous and often irreverent take on the sports world. It covers a broad spectrum of sports, focusing not just on game scores but also on the cultural and sometimes absurd aspects of sports news.
2. Barstool Sports is an American blog and digital media company with an incredibly engaged audience of 66+ million monthly users. It focuses on sports and pop culture and features viral highlights every day through blog posts, videos, podcasts, and pictures.
3. EssentiallySports aims to bridge the gap between fan opinion and expert analysis. The blog covers a wide range of sports, from Formula 1 to MMA, tennis, and football. It includes news articles, opinion pieces, and exclusive interviews​.
4. We Are Girls in Sport is not just a blog, it’s a global movement to motivate young women to find and play a sport they love. They do this by improving coverage of both mainstream and minority female sporting events.
5. Bleacher Report is focused on delivering news and in-depth analysis across many different sports, including basketball, football, and soccer. In addition to written articles, it is also known for video content and real-time updates of events.

Becoming A Freelance Writer

By following the step-by-step guide we’ve outlined above, you’ll be well on your way to creating an engaging sports blog with a thriving fanbase.

As mentioned, one of the critical steps in our playbook is having exceptional content. Our Becoming A Freelance Writer course teaches you how to research, structure, and write engaging blog posts and articles, as well as source your own clients and launch a lucrative freelance writing business. It includes lifetime access to course content, expert advice, practical tools, and hands-on experience for writers of all experience levels.

Strike while the iron is hot and take advantage of some free lessons today!

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