And if you went into blogging with the hopes of starting up a business, you’re probably on the lookout for ways to monetize your blog(s).
These are seven straightforward ways to make money from a blog. I’ve ordered them, roughly speaking, from the easiest and fastest to implement up to the hardest and most complex – though also most potentially rewarding.
#1: Donations
The simplest way to monetize your blog is to put up a “Donations” button or similar. Some blogs refer to this as a “tip jar” – or the “buy me a coffee” or “buy me a beer” button.Works well if: You just want to cover your hosting cost; you have particularly loyal readers.
Drawbacks: Unlikely to result in much money; can make your blog look rather amateur.
Read more: Buy Me a Beer: Why the “Donate” Button is Dead … Almost (Blog Tyrant)
#2: Advertising
However big or small your blog is, you can run ads: this might mean GoogleAds or selling individual slots for banners.Works well if: You have lots of traffic; you have a niche where advertisers pay well.
Drawbacks: Too many ads can make your blog look unattractive; ads will drive readers away from your site.
Read more: 22 Ways to Find Advertisers for Your Website
#3: Affiliate Sales
Many sites, including huge ones like Amazon, offer an affiliate program. You link to their products with a special affiliate link, and if anyone buys something, you get a cut. (For digital products created by other bloggers, your affiliate cut will often be as much as 50%.)Works well if: You write an in-depth review; the products are a good match for your audience.
Drawbacks: Could distract readers from buying your products; may take a while to build up a steady income stream this way.
Read more: 15 Affiliate Marketing Questions Answered by 3 Experts
#4: Digital Products
Many bloggers create their own digital products – ebooks are particularly popular. These can take a lot of time to put together, but they also can act as the first step toward turning your blog into a real business. (You’ll sometimes hear these called “information products” or “electronic products”.)Works well if: You can create something genuinely valuable; you’ve built up a good relationship with your readers.
Drawbacks: An over-priced or underwhelming product may put readers off ever buying from you again.
Read more: Get Started Selling Electronic Products on Your Blog (ProBlogger)
#5: Services
Have you ever seen a “Hire me” page on a blog you were reading? Some bloggers offer their services as freelancers – perhaps in areas like design, business consulting, or even blogging. This is an alternative to the product route of turning your blog into a business.Works well if: You’re skilled in a specific field; you have time to work one-on-one with clients.
Drawbacks: Hard to scale up (your time is finite); depending on your niche, your readers may not be able to afford to pay a good rate for your time.
Read more: 7 Lessons from a Full Time Freelance Blogger
#6: Physical Products
Blogs that sell physical products are often ones that were created to support an existing business, like an online or bricks-and-mortar store. They arrange shipping of the products (either directly or through a drop shipper). The products may be ones they create, or ones they buy wholesale.Works well if: You already have a business selling physical goods, or experience of one.
Drawbacks: Many more overheads than selling digital products; likely to involve upfront costs.
Read more: An Introductory Guide to Selling Physical Products Online From Anywhere (Location Independent)
#7: Membership Site
A membership site charges a fee (normally monthly) for members to access content. The content might be “dripped” (every member gets certain content at week one of their membership, at week two, and so on) or new content might appear for all members at the same time, regardless of when they joined.Works well if: You have in-depth, multimedia content to share; you can create a sense of community.
Drawbacks: Likely to require some technical support; may be tougher to promote than one-time payments for ebooks or similar.
Read more: 7 Tips for Creating and Running Your First Membership Site (Copyblogger)
Original file in http://www.dailyblogtips.com/7-ways-blogs-make-money/
