The gig economy is rapidly swaying the portion of traditional ‘9-5ers’ but many aspiring bloggers are still unaware of the strategy, determination and consistency it takes to successfully make money blogging. The better you set your expectations and prepare your trajectory, the more likely you will be able to replace your income from blog revenue. Below are four of the top ways you can successfully monetize your blog. These strategies can apply to just about any niche or topic, as long as you are proactive and are willing to put in the hours to build your business.
Make Money Blogging and Selling Courses
A great way about how to start a blog and make money blogging is by developing and selling courses in your area of expertise. For example, let’s say that your blog is about home improvement and interior design. A great way to connect with clients through a “soft sale” is to develop a series covering interior design basics. There are few initial costs, and once you have completed editing and packaging the digital file, you simply let it sell 24/7/365. You can make money in your sleep!
Every industry can sell courses. Whether it’s real estate, business consultation, luxury apparel, or food-related there is always a course that your user base would be interested in buying. Not only does this allow you to reach people globally, but it also encourages them to purchase your actual products and services once they get to know you through your course.
How to Monetize a Blog: Offer Your Blogging Services Freelance
A third way to make money blogging is by offering your services as a freelance blogger. While this isn’t directly related to your brand, it is a great way to receive money through a diversified income stream and give you practice with various topics.
There are several ways to generate a client base. New businesses launch in astonishing numbers every day, with owners who need content but can’t do it themselves. You can find jobs by marketing your services through social media, searching job posts on platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed, or try your hand at gig-matching platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Contra.
If you are brand-new to writing, this will likely take some time. Many new writers need to develop a professional portfolio of published work to land jobs. Therefore, it is critical to practice writing as much as possible on your own and to network as best you can with those you know in marketing positions or small business owners.
Make Money Blogging: Affiliate Marketing
One of the most attractive ways about how to start a blog and make money blogging is through affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing happens when you can partner with other brands by allowing them to market their products on your blog.
These partnerships can be done through direct sponsorship, like receiving their products and reviewing them to your reader base. It is also very commonly done through “selling ad space” in your blog. You’ve likely read several articles with either embedded or pop-up articles selling an unrelated product or service.
While affiliate marketing can seem like an easy target, there are a few drawbacks that you should be aware of. First, affiliate marketing partnerships are often reserved for blogs with a significant active reader base. That means that with affiliate marketing you can make money blogging after a few years of hard work building up your brand.
You should also note that some bloggers consider affiliate ads in their content as a distraction from their message. The decision to affiliate market is entirely up to the blogger, their niche, and their personal business goals.
Boost Your Income as a Blogger Offering Related Services
Let’s say that you maintain a blog about best business practices, mainly aimed at small businesses and start-ups. A great way to monetize your blog is to offer related services. In this case, it would be strategic to market yourself as a small business coach. Make sure to advertise at the end of each of your posts in your “call to action” (CTA).
As you build up your reader base, you’ll create more and more opportunities to sell your services. Working with clients in the subject you blog about will also increase your credibility with your reader base.
Selling services that match your blog topic is a great strategy that can pay off early in your brand development. You only need a small reader base to get the consultant gig rolling if you write engaging content.
