Blogging Masterclass: How To Build A Successful Blog (Udemy.com)
Build a successful blog using these proven blogging strategies for content, promotion, list building, and monetization
Created by: Brad Merrill
Last updated July 2024
What you will learn
- Build a successful blog from scratch, or take your existing blog to the next level
- Develop the mindset of a successful blogger
- Discover a blogging niche that is both profitable and interesting
- Build a beautiful website using WordPress
- Develop a system to plan new content, and never run out of ideas again
- Understand the importance of effective writing and how to become a better writer
- Become familiar with some of the most effective types of blog content
- Generate an endless stream of fresh content by repurposing what you've already created
- Optimize your website for search engines to drive a consistent stream of free traffic
- Get your content in front of people using a variety of free promotion strategies
- Grow an email list that allows you to generate traffic and revenue on demand
- Build a profitable business around your content and turn your blog into a revenue-generating asset
How it compares
Against the other 173 rated Udemy courses in Marketing on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.4 out of 5higher than 44% of them
- Reviews13,241#2 of 174 by number of reviews
- Length3.5 hoursshorter than 51% of them
- Last updatedJuly 2024earlier than 62% of them
Course Description
UDEMY'S #1 BESTSELLING BLOGGING COURSE — REDESIGNED WITH ALL NEW CURRICULUM FOR 2024 AND BEYOND
"Merrill provides invaluable tips and examples for starting a blog and making it into a career." —CNN
"...the entire process for turning a blog into a bonafide moneymaker." —The Next Web
"Brad is clearly experienced, accomplished and an expert in this subject. His knowledge will be very helpful for those who are able to absorb & implement all of his suggestions and tips." —Leah, Udemy student
"Totally AWESOME course! You have addressed every aspect of getting started with a new blog, but better yet what it takes to make it a success. I can't wait to get started." —Terry, Udemy student
"Excellent material, well explained, and a talented & experienced instructor who is not afraid to share his opinion on what it does or doesn't work for him." —JP, Udemy student
Brad Merrill has been building things on the web for well over a decade. In 2010, he started a blog about technology and innovation, and in just a couple of years it grew into a large publication with staff and revenue, serving more than half a million monthly readers. His work has been featured on Techmeme and cited by a number of notable blogs and publications, including the Wall Street Journal.
In this course, Brad condenses more than ten years of trial and error into a simple blueprint designed to help you build a successful blog. You'll learn all the essentials, including:
The mindset of a successful blogger
How to build a WordPress site
How to write amazing blog content that readers will love and share
How to promote your content to ensure people actually see it
How to build and leverage an email list to generate traffic and revenue on demand
How to turn your blog into a business that generates revenue
Why would you want to build a blog? Well, there are many different motivations, but here are a few of the most common:
Build a business: A blog can be the center of a low-overhead, location-independent, lucrative business. There has never been a better time to do this—the Internet has made it cheaper and easier than ever before for anyone to start a business.
Grow an existing business: Content marketing is one of the best ways to drive your business forward, and a blog is a tried and true format. Many of the world's biggest companies and brands are now using digital content to market their products and services, so you'll be in great company if you do the same.
Showcase your expertise: If you want to position yourself as a thought leader or expert, blogging is an excellent way to do it. A blog can be a powerful asset if you're trying to build a personal brand, get a job, sell services, or launch a career in public speaking.
Build Relationships: Blogging is a great way to become an active and influential member of your community, which can help you build relationships with people you want to reach.
If you're thinking of starting a blog this year, there's never been a better time. This course will walk you through the entire process—setting up WordPress, writing stellar content, promoting that content, building an email list, and implementing a revenue model to turn your blog into a business. It's all here.
Instructor Details
- 4.4 Rating
13,241 Reviews
Brad Merrill
Brad Merrill is the CEO of Merrill Media, a modern holding company focused on building independent, scalable businesses at the intersection of technology and media. He is regarded as an expert in his field, teaching business and technology courses to more than 100,000 students and providing marketing training to a number of prominent startups and Fortune 500 companies.
Merrill considers himself a passionate creative: he loves creating articles, videos, websites, companies, workflows, and new ideas. He has been creating things on the web since 2007, working on dozens of projects and reaching tens of millions of people in the process.
In 2010, Merrill founded VentureBreak, which became a leading source of news about innovation for forward-thinking entrepreneurs, investors, business executives, and interested consumers. Under his leadership, VentureBreak served more than half a million monthly readers, appeared regularly on Techmeme, and found itself cited by a number of notable publications, including the Wall Street Journal. While at the helm, Merrill personally interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs and industry luminaries, sharing their stories with VentureBreak’s global audience. In 2015, VentureBreak was acquired by the organizer of Europe’s largest technology meetup.
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Reviews
By Cenk Tekin on 4/27/2026
After completing the Blogging Masterclass, I can confidently say that this course is more than just a 'how-to' guide—it’s a practical blueprint for turning a blog into a real business. I was particularly impressed by the actionable details provided on content strategy, SEO, and email list building. The course cuts out the fluff and focuses on what actually works. If you’re looking to launch a blog, grow your audience, and explore monetization options, this is the perfect resource. Highly recommended for anyone serious about the strategic side of blogging!
By Larissa Botha on 1/22/2026
This course is already beyond my expectations. There were a lot of things that were said that really made me stop and wonder, then having to rewind to listen to it again. I am excited for the rest of the course and what lies ahead, and I've never been more excited about starting my blogging journay than now.
By Kailene Robinson on 1/10/2026
I love that this course has all the things I need to make my blog a success and details every area step by step; however I wish it included Wix in particular, or even google blogger as those two have free options available, whereas the Wordpress does not. That being said I really enjoyed the course and learning everything it had to offer. Thank you this has been a tremendous help!
By Peter Soos on 12/20/2025
No one will be able to learn blogging from this course. It explains things on a purely theoretical level, there are no practical examples at all, and the presentation is boring and slow. The information presented is something anyone can find for free on the internet and on YouTube. There is a lot of filler explanation and empty talk, from which you won’t be able to gain any real knowledge. I honestly don’t understand how this course can be the most successful here. It is an extremely big disappointment.
By Mohammad Morid Kargar on 12/1/2025
Great course for beginners, but for advanced levels, not recommended. And also this course can take advantage of real-world live examples instead just explaining the concept
By John Mahany on 10/31/2025
outstanding, the way Brad explains blogging, the 'mindset', and how it is a business and is really a platform for a product or service that I have to sell. I had NOT thought of it like that. I am just thinking of it as a platform for writing. That is a HUGE difference in my mind! Gee, for $25, I was thinking this might be LACKING in quality, but so far, NO. Another well known blogger is charging $1,497 for her blogging course. Glad I am taking this course first. I might still sign up for the other....will see.
By Arva Seddiq on 11/23/2021
Course was great especially for beginners.However I wish there was some check list on the end with all important steps when setting the blog.Also section on bilingual blog would be super helpful. Overall it was great cours and I would recommend it to everyone .
By Klaudia Stawiarska on 5/11/2021
Wspaniały, spójny, konkretny kurs, przedstawiający wszystko co niezbędne dla początkującego bloggera. Zabrakło mi trochę wyjaśnienia głębszego odnośnie instalacji wtyczek i obsługiwania niektórych narzędzi, wspomnianych w kursie, ale rozumiem, że kurs jest dla początkujących i tych extra informacji trzeba poszukać gdzie indziej. Dziękuję i polecam!
By Lawrence Hwang on 11/14/2020
Pretty solid course for an absolute beginner to blogging. Many topics are covered and the course itself is nice and condensed into only a few hours of content. Of course, this comes with the consequence of many explanations being surface level and only explaining the general concepts, but I would say worth the discounted price and time. The instructor does not answer all of the questions in the Q&A, but it seems like he tries to answer as much as he can.
By Narmeen Idrees on 11/7/2020
It's pretty good to start the course with the mindset of wrong/right perceptions. as a new blogger, starting with fixing all those perceptions will definitely help me to start correctly. thanks a lot
By Daniel DeHaven on 11/7/2020
This is a well paced and perfect sized course for getting a great grasp of professional blogging. Its filled with tons of highly useful tips and philosophy on build EPIC content that are the hallmarks the the best blogs out there. I recommend this as a perfect starter course for those looking to start their own professional blog and online business.
By Cameron Louis Cox on 11/7/2020
I took this course after taking another blogging course. The information provided was up to date and also very engaging. I did have moments where I was faced with familiar information but there was more new information as well. Very well done Masterclass. Thank You
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 88 / 100












