Whether you’re thinking about starting a blog as a hobby, or already have a well-established subscriber base, there are many opportunities to make money while you’re writing. You should treat your blog as an investment — not only of your time, but as a potential revenue stream. Don’t expect to get rich overnight, but blogging about what you love most can be a fun and lucrative way to earn some extra cash. Here are some tips to get you started.
Content and Voice
Are there certain blogs you subscribe to that you can’t wait for the next post to come out? What is it about them that keeps you coming back? Most likely, these blogs are frequently providing relevant content in a voice that resonates with you. Readers now have almost 175 million blogs to choose from, and their time is valuable. Naturally, they’re going to gravitate towards those blogs that continually provide them with the best experience.
Make sure your blog’s subject matter is something you’re extremely passionate about, because you’ll need to churn out fresh content frequently. Once someone has visited your site and sees you haven’t posted anything recently, they’ll quickly lose interest and move on. Make sure whatever you post is genuine and well written. Whether your “voice” is friendly, comical, or highly intellectual, there will be an audience who resonates with it. For example, there are computer-related blogs for those interested in the latest cutting-edge technology, but also for those who have no idea how to attach a picture to an email. Write in a tone that is comfortable and authentically “you”.
Incorporate Advertising
Incorporating advertisements on your blog is one of the easiest ways to earn money, but bear in mind the amount you will earn will be relative to the number of people visiting your site. There are a couple different types of advertising that you can include. The first are banners and display ads, such as those from Google AdSense. These will pay you by the number of times they load, whether or not anyone actually clicks on them or not. You can also add Sponsored Links, which are text-based. These links are typically content-driven — meaning that the ads that show up will be more relevant to your blog’s topic — but visitors must click on them for you to receive a kickback. The greater your readership, the more negotiating power you’ll have to determine the prices for advertising on your site.
Solicit Contributions
Per the old adage, “It doesn’t hurt to ask!” If your blog is providing excellent value for your readers’ time, they may be inclined to make a donation to ensure you continue posting. It’s easy to set up a link for contributions through PayPal and ask for your readers’ support. This is especially viable if you are frequently blogging about worthy causes, and do not personally sell any products or services.
Product Reviews
Public relations firms understand that people are more inclined to purchase a product when it comes recommended from someone they trust. If you have established a solid readership, consider doing some product reviews. Make sure what you’re recommending is something you would actually use yourself, so as not to undermine your readers’ trust. You can solicit local providers of that product and negotiate a price in advance for recommending them, or sign up as an affiliate with online vendors such as Amazon. If you recommend a certain computer, for example, you can provide a link to Amazon at the end of that blog post. If someone clicks through and purchases it, you’ll receive a commission from that sale.
Market Yourself
If you offer any type of service, make sure your readers know that you are available for work. They may love your extensive knowledge about different flowers and landscaping, but not realize you’re available for consultations when they’re ready to overhaul their yard. Blogs are an excellent way to drum up new business. If they trust in your blog and know you’re available, they’ll be likely to turn to you when they need some face-to-face help.
These methods are all easy ways to earn money simply by doing what you love: blogging. Just remember that you’ll need to do the hard work before they begin to provide a reliable stream of revenue for you. When you’re sharing so much of yourself with the world, it only makes sense that you should be reimbursed for the time you have invested.
Author Francine Gomez is a career consultant who loves giving advice on new ways to get money from working online. Here are some great tips about choosing a domain and creating a website. This article was written by a guest author. Would you like to write for us?
