I started to make money from blogging fifteen years ago. My first website was a mommy site. Every time I would talk to someone about what I did, they ask me what I sold. I had to explain that it is an editorial website. I have written hundreds of articles on motherhood. And yes, you can make money online from writing about your passions.
Badass Web Goddess is one of my blogs. I have just launched it and plan to post regular blog posts on SEO, blogging, social media, and general advice on how to make money online. All the tips I have read on monetizing a blog explain how to monetize it (put ads on your blog, join affiliate programs, sell e-books but none of this matters if nobody is visiting your blog). I am hoping to help you get started on a fun journey of making money blogging about your passions.
So here are my tips on monetizing a blog!
Have a vision and realistic goals!
Blogging is not a quick money maker. You are NOT going to start a blog and start rolling in the dough. It doesn’t take months; it takes a few years to grow the traffic needed to bring in any significant revenue. I am not one to lie to people or scam. If you read about someone making instant money from blogging, they are not the norm. It takes a lot of work, writing, and commitment to make money blogging.
Write at least 1 post a week
Fresh content is important for blogging. Every post you write is a potential page view. Bloggers generally make money based on advertising and page views. Google likes websites that update their content regularly, so blogging regularly is the most important thing you can do.
Learn everything you can about SEO
What is SEO? SEO is search engine optimization. I have been doing SEO for 15 years. Writing posts that show up in search engines will greatly increase your traffic. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make a post show up in Google. You should read on SEO practices regularly to keep up with changes in Google’s algorithm. If you would like one-on-one tips. Sign up for a free consultation with me. A few months of working with me should give you all the knowledge you need to make your blog search-engine friendly.
Write quality engaging posts
Just whipping out a post and writing what I call “words on a page” isn’t going to cut it. You can bring someone to your blog with keywords, but if your content sucks nobody will come back. When people talk to me about my website they assume the most important part is web design. This is NOT true. Look around and you will find some websites that look like they were designed in 1992, but they still get traffic because they have useful and engaging content. Content is key!
How to make the money?
Google Adsense:
Once you have some traffic to your blog, you can start making money. Advertising is the way most online bloggers make money. Google Adsense is a good place to start. Adsense will let you start advertising as soon as you have a blog up and running. It is not as profitable as other networks but when you are getting started, revenue is revenue. All you have to do is copy and paste their code onto your page.
Direct ads:
You can also sell ads directly. Charge a reasonable price. When I started my website, I sold ads for $5 per page. Charge the price that you can sell. Once you get the traffic you can demand a higher price or work with an advertising broker.
Affiliate marketing:
Look around for affiliates you can join. I use clickbank.com on some of my sites (*I do not make a commission on this link). The key to affiliate marketing is to develop your content around what you are selling. Work the affiliate links into your post naturally. This way when someone arrives to your page, they are looking for what you are selling and more likely to click on your affiliate link.
e-Books and online courses:
If you are blogging about a specific topic you can use your blog to sell your e-books or courses. These are actually very popular. I have never sold or written my own ebook, but I have sold them through affiliate programs.
Sponsorships:
If your blog has a popular Facebook or Instagram following, you can sell sponsored packages. Companies are always looking for influencers.
These are just a few of the ways you can monetize a blog. If you would like to talk to me more about how you can work from home blogging, please contact me for more ideas and help! If you have no idea how to set up a blog or get started, have a talk with me. I can help you get started.
I am Patty Malowney, the creator of Badass Web Goddess. I am an Albuquerque SEO and digital marketing consultant. I started my first internet business in 2004 with a $40 garage sale computer and a whole lot of determination. I sold my first website, JustMommies.com to the dating company eHarmony.com in 2008. My website was acquired by another company where I worked as a consultant and editor until July, 2019.
After encouragement from friends and family, I decided to branch out on my own and start my own consulting business. I offer advice and services to local businesses on how they can rank better in Google.
In addition to running Badass Web Goddess, I am an avid blogger. I run several blogs including my internet marketing blog here at Badass Web Goddess. If you love my blog, Follow Me on Facebook or Twitter!
