Did you know that Perez Hilton pulls in an estimated $200,000 – $400,000 per month for his celebrity gossip blog? Per. Month. That is insane.
I learned this interesting little fact from one of my favorite blogs, ProBlogger. Just about anything you might want to know about blogging gets published on this awesome site. (Subscribe – it’ll be worth your while).
The blog post that included the Perez Hilton factoid was all about making money on your blog, even if you don’t have a more traditional e-commerce site. If you have a decent audience and good traction, then blogging can potentially provide a great revenue stream and is worth considering (if you like to make money!).
According to ProBlogger, there are five basic ways to monetize your blog. If you’re serious about turning your blog into an income generator, chances are, you’re going to need to do it using one or more of the following methods:
Google AdSense
Google AdSense is probably the best known form of blog revenue out there. Here’s how it works: Companies pay Google to run ads, and some will opt to use Google’s Display Network. Their ads will show up in “AdSense slots” on your website. You get paid when someone clicks on the ad.
Affiliate marketing
I have actually considered doing this, because it provides more value to a blog reader than getting bombarded by ads. Affiliate marketing allows you to sell related items on your site. For example, a tax accountant could sell financial planning software on their blog.
Banner ads
Banner ads had their hey day in what – 2004? You could certainly try selling banner ads to see what happens. If they get zero engagement, well, you know they don’t work for your blog! (You can sell ads through third party sites, like BuySellAds.)
Selling ads directly on your blog
You can certainly cut out third parties and sell ads directly on your blog, but you have to have a lot of traffic first. Use Google AdSense, CrankyAds, and other third party platforms as you build up your blog traffic. Then consider direct sales.
Product reviewer
While you might not make money as a product reviewer, it could be a jumping off point to a paid advertising relationship. Plus, you’ll get free stuff. Here’s how it works: Companies and brand send you books, apps, products, whatever to try out and then you blog about your experience. Obviously, you need to be an influencer in your niche to do this.
How do you monetize your blog? If you have thought about blog monetization but haven’t moved forward with it yet, why not?
Photo by Christine Roy on Unsplash
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Monika Jansen
Monika Jansen is a freelance copywriter and editor who helps with companies of all shapes on sizes kick their content up to the next level. You can find her online at www.jansencomm.com.
