So, we all start our blogs for fun, and entertainment value but there comes a point when we realize we could actually be making some money from this, right? What’s better than doing something you enjoy, and also getting paid for it? Not much!
There are a few ways that we bloggers can make money, which, I will breakdown below. Some methods do take more work than others, but like anything in life – nothing valuable is achieved without a little effort.
The first method of making money (and the best, in my opinion), would be to sign up for Paid Posting Services. Paid Posting Services (also called Blogging Firms) are companies than act as the middle man between you, the blogger, and a potential advertiser. What you’ll need to do is submit your blog to said company, and then wait for the opportunities to roll in. Each company has their own standards and rules which differ, so it’s up to you to see what company you feel you would fit best with. My personal favorite would be www.BlogDistributor.com – as they are set up to deal with large quantities, resulting in more opportunities for us as bloggers, and the ability to make more money in the end. Working with Paid Posting Services has the potential to be the most lucrative money making opportunity on your blog.
Another popular method to making money on your blog is Google AdSense. Most sites qualify for Google AdSense, though the range in payments is quite drastic. If you’re a popular site, with the potential for a lot of traffic, you will get paid more as opposed to being a small site, which won’t get paid as much money. However, small or big site, this is a great thing to use simply because it takes little work on your part. Simply install the Google AdSense ads on your blog, and let it make money for you. Over time, you’ll forget about it, log in one day, and see a large sum of money sitting in your account waiting to be cashed out. It is well known that blogs that do product reviews do make considerable amounts of money using Google AdSense.
When it comes to blatant advertising, Advertising Campaigns and Affiliate Programs are another great way to cash in. As far as Affiliate Programs, here is how they work. A company lets a website owner place a link or button on your site promoting the company’s product. When one of your site visitors clicks on the link or button, the visitor is taken to a landing page where visitors can buy something. If the visitor buys something, you get a commission from the company. Sometimes the commissions are for leads, but most often they are for completed sales. Now, as far as blatant advertising, you can do this a variety of ways, via banner ads, 125×125 ads, etc. Simply create available space on your blog as a “billboard”, and allow advertisers to buy those “billboard” spots. You can promote your blog yourself, and hope that advertisers contact you directly, via a contact form on your blog (or an e-mail address on your blog), or you can sign up for a blog advertisement company such as BlogAds or CrispAds, and they’ll sell your ad space for you and take commission from it.
One other easy way to make money is to place a “donation” or “tip jar” on your blog, which allows your blog readers to donate to your cause. You can do this by opening a PayPal account, and then by placing a Paypal icon on your blog, which will allow your readers to send you money or donate to you because they like your blog and the hard work you put into it. In all honesty, I’m not sure how well these work, but, it doesn’t hurt to put one on your blog. You never know who might be reading your blog…
In conclusion, if you work hard, your blog not only can be a form of recreation and fun for you, but also a money making tool – and one that can really provide a nice, steady stream of income. The more people that visit your blog, and the more content you provide, the more money you’ll make – it’s really as simple as that. Will these tips make you rich? Most likely not – but, follow these easy steps above, and you’ll be making a very nice side income in a very short amount of time.
