Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Making money through your blog is not as easy, comfortable or as difficult as bloggers claim.
Of course, bloggers often trip over themselves trying to figure out how to monetize their blogs.
I wrote this post to offer you specific blog monetizing ideas.
But before listing the income channels I want to share a harrowing tale from my trip to Bali.
Touts and Monetizing
Transport #1, #2 and #3 clawed at me like a group of starving Grizzly bears savaging a salmon.
I’d just landed in Bali. My arms were tired.
Anyway, the 3 non-amigos were transport (aka taxi) drivers hellbent on getting a fare.
One grabbed my luggage and nearly walked off before I wrestled my suitcase back.
These are the type of guys who struggle to make $10 a month through driving taxis in Bali. The competitive crowd. The scarcity crowd. The fearful crowd.
But Bali Joe, our Bali taxi driver of choice, commands a fleet of polite, prompt, pleasant drivers. The guy is a playa. He runs his own little company, with a growing workforce.
Old BJ makes so much scratch that he advertises through Google. We found him and his service on Page 1 for a “Bali taxi” search.
What lesson does this teach you? (Other than the fact that you should dress up like the Michelin Tire Man when leaving the main airport in Bali to wade through the terrifying taxi pool.)
Income streams don’t make you money. Your energy around money determines if you allow money in or keep it out….of your wallet.
It’s not the income stream. Nor your actions. Your energy determines if you profit online. Or if you go to the cyber poor house.
If you are being love, you do things from a place of love. And fun. Meaning, you’ll make some great coin with *any* income stream.
But if you are being fear, you do things from a place of fear. And scarcity. Meaning, you’ll make little or no money with *any* income stream. Including those below.
Keep that in mind as you dive into these 10 blogging income stream ideas.
Most bloggers flounder income-wise for believing action yields profits. But energy nets income. Some action does seem to be required to make money through blogging but bloggers overestimate action yet underestimate energy. Abundant feelings, thoughts and actions steadily yield blogging income. Income streams you pick play a little part in earning chedda because how you make money determines not if you make money. Money is in mind, but moves through income channels.
Allow this concept to sear itself onto your mind. Work each of these income channels from an abundant mindset.
1: Online Courses
I sell:
How to Get Featured on World Famous Blogs
Courses are rich, comprehensive, helpful teaching tools which are effectively structured and formatted for optimal student learning.
Or in Ryan speak, people learn this crap SO much more easily through an online course.
As for creating a course, dive in. Learn your craft. Then, turn right around and teach the lessons you have learned through an online course.
Frame courses as ways to learn thorough concepts in one spot through one manner of formatting. Online courses give readers a simple way to learn concepts in effective fashion. Think of an online course as learning something in a cyber classroom. Understanding this idea gives you sufficient motivation to create online courses as one dependable blogging income stream.
2: Blog Coaching
Blog coaching packages your experience, knowledge and wisdom into a tidy monetizing channel.
Clients appreciate the intimate nature of receiving blog coaching. Devoting full attention and energy to clients creates an environment conducive to both learning and receptiveness. Open this blogging income stream to allow folks to access your blogging experience. Prosper by sharing what you know to ease blogging struggles suffered by your readership.
Coaching programs vary widely.
Some ideas:
- offer one-off coaching sessions spanning 1 hour
- offer a 12 week coaching program for a thorough, on-going solution
- give clients the option to receive email support as a profitable add-on; promise same-day response time to instill confidence in your service
3: Freelance Writing
Set your freelance writing rates. Write 500 to 1000 words daily for practice. Gain writing confidence and clarity.
Consider charging $35 to $50 per 600-1000 word post as a new freelance writer to get clear on your rates. Progressively increase your rates to mirror your:
- confidence
- experience
- skills
4: Sponsored Posts
After building up your content library – aka, publishing a rich collection of helpful posts – some businesses or individuals may want to place sponsored posts on your site.
Set your rate. Accept. Or, reject, if the post is not a match for your audience.
Keep in Mind
- Virtually all businesses or individuals will want to get a DoFollow link for the post, but Google wants you to make all sponsored post links NoFollow…..if you have little or no Google traffic, go with DoFollow but if you have substantial Google traffic only place sponsored posts if the advertiser is cool with getting a NoFollow link
- Per FTC regulations (for my fellow US bloggers) you must disclose that you’re publishing a sponsored post
I have changed my perspective on sponsored posts deeper into my blogging career. Although I no longer accept sponsored content I advise being open to placing sponsored posts. Publish only aligned posts attractive to reader needs. Charge anywhere from $50 to $100 per sponsored post as a new blogger. Raise rates as your confidence, clarity and blog brand awareness grows.
Carefully reader sponsored content to engage in mindful quality control. Resist publishing a running commercial consistent with a sleazy used car salesman hawking his dubious wares. Publish high quality sponsored content promoting businesses beneficial to your readers. Let go all else.
5: Advertising
If the advertisement aligns with your blogging brand, feel free to get paid for placing ads on your blog.
Advertisers tend to stalk/hunt/track you down via email after you gain some exposure online. Accept matches. Release on non-matches.
Banner sidebar ads can fit seamlessly into your blog design.
Rates vary.
6: Affiliate Marketing
Promote somebody else’s product. Or service. Get a cut.
Use the product. Or service. Or get 100% clear on the product or service even if you have not used it. I prefer to use it before I review it, though. Easier to offer an authentic, genuine review and easier to sell……too.
Be clear on your affiliate offering by ensuring all promotions resonate with your:
- niche
- reader’s needs
- blogging brand
Getting clear on each quality allows affiliate income to grow.
Read this post to understand how bloggers earn commissions:
How Bloggers Earn Affiliate Marketing Commissions
Your Turn
Do you work these income streams?
What streams can you add to this list?
