Have you ever dreamed of working anywhere in the world on your own schedule? One week you’re at the beach with your toes in the sand. The next, you’re hiking a mountain range. If you’d love the opportunity to work in your pajama’s, you’re not alone.
But how do you get the job that allows this flexibility? Thousands of writers are now supporting themselves by monetizing a blog. However, building a blog that earns revenue does not happen overnight. It requires strategy, time, and most of all, hard work.
The first year you might not earn a dime. If you keep working hard, maybe you’ll earn a few bucks… then a hundred… eventually thousands per month, all within the freedom of your schedule!
Interested? Before you start typing your first blog post, it’s essential that you know how to monetize your blog. There are four core strategies to make beaucoup bucks. As you develop your blog, you may decide to choose one or two that fits best with your vision.
How do I monetize my blog?
Google AdSense
Google AdSense is the most popular go-to source of income for bloggers. You earn revenue by connecting your website to the largest network of online advertisers. Advertisers pay for ad space through Google and when you connect your site to Google AdSense, relevant ads show up on your site. When the ads are clicked, you make money.
For example, Christy syncs her baking food blog to Google AdSense. She posts a new recipe on oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. A fan is reading her blog and sees a banner ad at the bottom for Bob’s Mill Baking products. The fan clicks on the product ad. Christy makes money.
Google AdSense provides a free, flexible platform for making money with relevant ads. It’s a great tool to use if you’re building traffic and want to start monetizing your blog. Google AdSense is also extremely easy to set-up. All you have to do is create an account and add a line of code to your website.
Amazon Affiliate Marketing
Have you ever noticed bloggers posting products directly on their website that link to Amazon? The product is probably on a “Top 10…” or “Best Of…” article. You click on the link and can buy the item that’s reviewed. This is the Amazon Affiliate Marketing program.
Almost any type of blog can utilize this tool to make money. In fact, Amazon Affiliate Marketing can make a lot of money with minimal effort.
For example, Scott is an outdoorsman that provides survivalist tips, as well as some of the best gear to take on an adventure. He writes an article on backpacking gear and it goes viral with the outdoor community. Any product someone buys through one of his Amazon links will net him profit.
Visit the Amazon Associates website for more information. You’ll need to create an account with Amazon, list your website(s), and explain your method of selling. You can then create affiliate links to add to your blog. If you review products on your blog, Amazon Affiliate Marketing is a smart choice to help you earn revenue.
Sell a Digital Product
Instead of selling another person’s product, why not sell your own? I’m suggesting creating an e-commerce site selling hand-painted rocks. There are a variety of digital products you can create and sell. The most popular digital products amongst bloggers are e-books and online courses.
For example, I could turn this short introduction article about monetizing a blog into a lengthy course. The course could include content planners, keyword research, and basics of optimizing your articles for search engines. Can you tell I have been toying with the idea?
Selling a digital product may not be as quick and easy as a 1,000-word blog article with a link to Amazon. However, you keep 100% of the profits. Some experts are even selling courses for thousands of dollars.
Charge for Guest Posts
Charging for guest posts is a relatively new way to monetize your blog. The trend started when Google announced that websites needed backlinks to build their rankings on search engines. Now, thousands of digital marketers across the world are spending money on guest posting services to earn those links.
What is a guest post?
A guest post is when another blogger provides an article for your site with links back to their site. As the owner of the blog, you can charge if someone wants to guest post. The amount for a guest post ranges from $25 to $500 for attorney or medical blogs.
As a digital marketer, I know the demand for bloggers who are willing to accept guest posts. Incorporating guest posts can be extremely profitable once your website gains traffic. The more domain authority your website gains, the more you can charge for marketers to guest post. It’s also one of the easiest methods for your blog to make money since you don’t even have to write. All you have to do is communicate with concise guidelines and choose an invoicing gateway, such as PayPal.
Monetizing your blog is no easy task. At the beginning you will work for nothing. Stick with it! If you do, you can live a more flexible lifestyle on your own terms. Hard work pays off.
