You started the blog, written a few posts, but how do bloggers actually make money? There are literally probably over a hundred different ways to monetize a blog, or at least use it to help generate a steady stream of income. I am going to go over a few of the most common strategies that bloggers use to make money.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate Marketing is one of the easiest ways to generate an income. It is basically the process of earning a commission from selling goods or services someone else produces. Now I know you are asking, how does this work? All you have to do, is refer people to a unique product link. If that person purchases that product or service from that link, then you get paid a commission.
What is the best way to do this? Lets say you run a hiking blog focused on extended outings over long distances. There may be users needing advice on a durable and easy to assemble tent for shelter overnight. You will want to pick a product and test it yourself to remain trustworthy and knowledgeable. When choosing these products, try to focus on items that have an affiliate program. To find these companies easily, just type the company name into a Google search followed by the word “affiliate”. Some companies are willing to pay you anywhere from 1% all the way up to 75% of a sale they get from someone directed to them from your advertising. Each program is slightly different so be sure to read all the fine print so you understand what you are signing up for and how you will be paid.
Paid Ads
Once you start getting more traffic to your blog, you can start having companies pay you to show ads. There are many places out there where you can actually submit the information for your website to find advertisers. Outside companies may also reach out to you individually to ask about advertising with you. Another great resource is Google AdSense. Google is always looking for quality websites to feature ads for them, but you don’t always get ads pertaining to your blog. In fact they usually are not pertaining to your blog. These ads show users all sorts of things from musical instruments, to appliances, to home financing.
Include Videos
Including videos with your blog is an extremely effective way to reach readers and can also benefit you monetarily as well. By uploading a video to video sharing websites such as YouTube, you can earn money when that video is viewed. Once you start to gather enough YouTube views, you can apply for their program to be paid. With each video you upload, you will see your views and followers start to add up. Once you have 20 or 30 videos, each generating an income every month, you can really see your earnings take off. This strategy is a favorite of mine, because it allows you to do something really well once, and continue to see profits for years to come.
Consultinng/Public Speaking
If you can prove that you are an expert in your blog subject, tap into the wealth of consulting and public speaking. Most of the time, events and companies will contact you directly looking for your services. They may be looking for you to do something like speak at a conference about your blog subject. They may also seek advice about developing items or products related to your blog. I have a friend who ran a very successful hiking blog for years. He received a lucrative offer to consult with a company developing hiking boots. Even if you do not yet have a large following online, I recommend a having an email address or some way for people to reach out to you with possible opportunities. You may not even know that an opportunity even exists until a company reaches out to you with it.
Get To Work
Now that you have seen a few ways that bloggers make money, I encourage you try these strategies yourself. I recommend starting with affiliate marketing, and creating YouTube videos. They are the least expensive ways to start making money. Once your blog has more followers, you can put up paid ads from companies, earning a steady monthly income. From there, you can dive into the highly lucrative world of consulting or public speaking. I plan to start doing some consulting myself once I can get a few more blogs up and running.