There are several ways to earn money blogging, and here we will discuss some ideas for monetizing your blog. Remember, the most successful blogs are the ones that have a mix of revenue streams.
If one is doing poorly, you will still have other opportunities to earn.
Here are some of the most common ways people earn from their blogs.
Ads
Ads are one of the most tried and true forms of monetization for bloggers, magazines, newspapers, radio stations, podcasts, videos, television, and so on. Ads have been around for hundreds of years, and it's the easiest, most passive way to earn money on your blog.
The other upside of generating revenue from ads is that you can write about anything you want. As long as people are visiting your website and clicking on those ads, it doesn't matter what your content is about. You don't have to write content that promotes anything. Instead, you can write whatever might attract people to your blog.
There are a few downsides to advertisem*nts as well. For one, they can slow down your blog and make your blog's aesthetic look cluttered. In addition, the ads themselves can detract from your content. Finally, they may make some people want to back out of your website, especially if your ads are too intrusive.
The other negative of ads is that they tend to make less money than different types of monetization. A general rule of thumb is that people make between 1-3 dollars per 1,000 impressions. That means your blog will have to receive 1,000 visitors before you make $1.
Some ad companies pay a sum per click. It's possible to make more money this way, depending on how many people click through your ads. Still, advertisem*nt income tends to be pretty low unless you get substantial blog traffic.
Popular ad sites for bloggers include:
- Google AdSense
- Infolinks
- Mediavine
- AdThrive
- Ezoic
- Propellerads
Affiliate Content
Affiliate content is another innovative way that many bloggers use to monetize their blogs. This teamed content creators with businesses to promote products and services. This is also known as affiliate marketing.
Affiliate content usually includes helpful information to readers while attempting to sell something. For example, a blogger might write a blog post about how to bake bread and then have links to their favorite bread pans.
This type of monetization can be very lucrative when you find an affiliate partner that pays a high percentage or can sell many products.
Amazon affiliates are one of the most accessible affiliate programs available to new bloggers because they sell such a diverse number of products that most people can find something they can link to in just about any article.
However, unless a blogger sells a high quantity of products through these affiliate links, they are unlikely to make a high profit because Amazon's affiliate percentage of a sale tends to be low.
Bloggers are more likely to profit more when they team up with specific brands that pay a higher rate.
Some of the most popular affiliate programs are:
- Amazon Associates
- ShareASale (includes affiliate opportunities to many different businesses in a network)
- Fiverr
- Bluehost
- Clickmagick
- Legendary Marketer
- Canva
- ClickDesigns
- Book Bolt
- Groove
- AWeber
- Jasper
- Coinbase
**For some of the above affiliate programs, you will have to scroll down to the website's footer and look for “Affiliate Program,” or “Partner”, or something similar.
Sponsored Posts
Bloggers with a lot of website traffic and an interested audience can start working directly with brands through sponsored posts.
Sponsored posts are sometimes written by the blogger and sometimes by the business. Either way, the blogger usually receives a flat fee for allowing the sponsored post to appear on their blog.
New bloggers may have difficulty finding businesses to partner with, but once your blog receives a lot of traffic, a brand will likely approach you. When that happens, you may start to make money online. Additionally, you may be able to reach out to advertisers to sell or promote a product or service.
If not, you can reach out to some of your favorite brands and ask if they would like to partner with you. Don't feel discouraged if you don't get a response from everyone you contact. Keep trying until you find the right match for your blog.
Sell Branded Merchandise
You can make money from selling related merchandise and apparel if you have a loyal audience. You can generate revenue by selling related merchandise and apparel if you have a loyal and engaged audience. This can be a great way to monetize your platform and connect with your fans on a deeper level.
To be successful, it is essential to choose merchandise that is high-quality and relevant to your brand. You should also ensure that your pricing is competitive and that your ordering and shipping process is smooth and efficient. With a little effort, selling merch can be a great way to generate additional income and grow your business.
There are many different ideas for brand-related merch that you can sell on your blog, such as:
- Hats
- Shirts
- Mugs
- Posters
- Tote bags
- Phone cases
Branded merchandise is excellent because you can generate revenue selling the merchandise, and also works as an advertisem*nt for your blog.
Sell Your Own Products
Many people earn money selling their products related to their niche. For example, a fashion blogger may sell their apparel line, just as an outdoor blogger may sell camping gear. Others may sell handmade items like clothing, paintings, or furniture.
To sell your products on your blog, you will need to work with a platform that allows you to sell products. Many website builders have this feature built into their platform, but if you think it will be vital for your blogging business, make sure you search for one that includes it.
Selling your products does add another element of work to your blogging business. Unlike ads or affiliate content in which you are not responsible for storing or shipping products, you will be dealing with extra work and customer service if you sell products. That's something to keep in mind if your goal for blogging is to create mostly passive income.
If physical products sound too laborious, you can also sell digital products. Digital products are a better fit for passive income and allow you to work hard on something once and reap the benefits. This is one of the easiest ways to maintain a passive income from your digital products.
Examples of digital items you can sell are:
- Fonts
- Music or audio
- Art
- Photography
- Graphic art
- Software
- Craft patterns
- Planners
- Templates
- Printables
- WordPress themes
- Spreadsheets
- Apps
Sell Services
Many people have skills that translate well to online services. Some folks may also want to market their in-person services through their blogging business. As you grow your audience and show your authority in your given niche, people will begin to trust your experience and be willing to pay for your services. So, as you can see, another way to monetize your blog is by selling services.
Common services you might market include:
- Consulting
- Freelance writing
- Marketing
- SEO
- Graphic design
- Logo creation
- Website design
Your niche may give you other opportunities for services. For instance, a travel blogger may be good at helping people plan dream vacations. This is another way bloggers make money.
You can also sell in-person services. For example, a blogger who writes about landscaping and gardening may help people create the perfect backyard, or someone who writes about cooking or baking may enjoy catering parties.
There are a lot of services you can offer on your blog to make them profitable.
EBooks
Although eBooks fall into the category of digital products, it's worth discussing in more detail. First, ebooks are a near-perfect fit for you to earn money online because they're already good at writing a lot of content. The only difference is creating something long and in a slightly different format.
Many will create eBooks as lead magnets to grow an email list, but you can also write eBooks to sell. Your eBook can be marketed on your website, and you can also sell it on online marketplaces like Amazon.
Another perk of an eBook is you can often recycle content you've already written on your blog in your eBook. Of course, your eBook will need to offer something new and different from your blogging content. Still, there's nothing wrong with repurposing blog content as part of the eBook you sell.
Online Courses
Online courses are a growing revenue opportunity and are a natural fit for bloggers. You can find a keyword for SEO research purposes and further optimize your content.
The internet is an incredible resource for anyone who wants to learn something. Although many people go to YouTube for how-to videos, many people are also willing to pay money to learn from people with a proven record of success or a lot of experience.
Some of the best platforms on which to create online courses are:
- Teachable
- Kajabi
- Skillshare
- Udemy
- Thinkific
Frequently Asked Questions
Is starting a blog worth it?
Regarding blogging, there are two primary schools of thought: those who think it's a waste of time and those who believe it's one of the best things you can do for your business. Is it worth it? Only you can decide that. But we hope this post will give you the information you need to make an informed decision.
How much do average bloggers earn?
There's a lot of talk about how much money you can make, but does anyone know? According to recent studies, the average blogger earns around $5,000 annually. Obviously, this amount can vary depending on how popular your blog is and how many sponsors or ad campaigns you have running.
But if you're just starting out, don't be discouraged – with hard work and a bit of luck, you could quickly bring in more than the average! So what are you waiting for? Start blogging away!
So how should you go about choosing a niche?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question; it will depend on various factors. However, there are a few key things to keep in mind when making your choice. First, think about your interests and passions. What topics do you enjoy talking about and researching?
What problems do you have experience solving? These are all excellent starting points for finding a niche. Second, consider your audience. Who do you want to reach with your blog or business? What needs do they have that you can help with? Once you've considered these factors, you'll be well on your way to finding a niche that's right for you.
Why is a niche important?
When you’re first starting out as a blogger, it can be tempting to try to write about everything and anything to attract the broadest possible audience. However, this approach is often unsuccessful, as it’s difficult to compete with established bloggers who can write with more authority on specific topics.
That’s why finding your niche is so important. By focusing on a specific topic or niche, you can position yourself as an expert and build a loyal following of readers who are interested in what you have to say.
In addition, writing on a specific topic will make it easier to drive targeted traffic to your blog through search engine optimization and social media marketing. And when you have a captive audience of engaged readers, you’ll be well on your way to generating revenue from your blog.
Why blog when you have social media?
These days, it seems like everyone is on social media. So why start a blog? For one thing, blogging allows you to share your thoughts and ideas in a more long-form way than social media allows. If you want to say something, a blog post is a perfect platform to say it. In addition, blogging can be a great way to learn.
Whether you want to learn about a new topic or brush up on your writing skills, this is a great way to get some practice. And if you're looking for extra cash, blogging can be a great way to do it. You can earn revenue from your blog relatively quickly with ads or affiliate links. So if you're looking for a creative outlet or want to earn extra money, this option might be the right choice.
How do you start your own blog for free?
There are a few popular ways to start your own blog for free. One option is to use a hosted platform like WordPress.com or Blogger. These platforms will provide you with a domain name and hosting and handle all of the technical aspects. Another option is to self-host your content using WordPress.org software.
This requires you to find your own hosting and domain name, but it gives you more control over the design and features. Whichever route you choose, be aware that most free blogs include ads, and some may even sell your data without your consent.
If you're looking to start a blog without ads or data selling, you'll need to pay for self-hosting or find a hosted platform that offers an ad-free experience. either way, once you've chosen a platform and set up your blog, be sure to promote it heavily to attract readers. And finally, don't forget that regular updates are one of the most important aspects of any successful blog – so be sure to keep your content fresh!
CONCLUSION
A blog can be a great way to share your passions and connect with like-minded people worldwide. Even better, you can generate revenue by doing something you love! While there are many ways to monetize your blog, these are some of the most popular methods. Have you tried any of these on your own blog? Check out our blogging cheat sheet for more information.
“DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS (AT NO COST TO YOU)”
