Many people start blogging for many different reasons . There are some who use their blog as a personal journal of their lives, others just want to share what they know while others blog as a way to make some passive income. But whatever your reason for blogging might be, it is always wise to consider some ways to make money off you blog to enable you to pay for the domain and hosting and also leave you with some cash in your pocket. If you are looking to make some serious money and maybe quit your day job later on, here are a few tips to help you with that.
Pay Per Click Ads (PPC)
Pay Per Click ads are usually small text links that are displayed on a blog which when a visitor clicks the link you get some commission. The rate usually starts from pennies per single click, but it can go to as much as $10 per click. The most popular network for PPC ads is Google Adsense. Creating an account with AdSense is free and simple. AdSense ads come in several shapes and sizes, and you can change the design of the ad so that it fits nicely with your blog. Once you're satisfied with the results, you can copy the ad code into the page where you want it to appear on your blog. You can log into your AdSense account any time to see how your ads are performing - and if you're making any money.
Sponsored Posts
Advertisers sometimes hire bloggers to write posts about their company, services, or products. You write a post and include the links supplied by the advertiser to their company, products or services. Requirements for each post vary based on the needs of the advertisers. There are many reputable sponsored posts networks, like SponsoredReviews, where bloggers can find advertisers offering to pay for sponsored articles. If you create paid posts, you need to be honest. If the advertiser is looking for a positive review and you don't like what they have to offer, pass on the opportunity to another blogger rather than misleading your readers. Popular blog networks don't require you to rave about things you don't know about, and most advertisers on these networks don't mind a bit about criticism in a review.
Affiliate Links
Let's say your blog is all about cats. Cat owners would be likely visitors to this blog. This can be a great place to sell cat food, cat beds, and toys. After all, you are offering great cat products directly to cat owners who are likely to want or need them. But you most likely don't want to go into the business of warehousing, manufacturing, and shipping cat products. But, there might be a company out there that is in the business of making cat goods that would pay you a commission for every customer you send to their shop. Finding products that you can promote as an affiliate is easy with affiliate networks like Commission Junction or directly through Amazon Associates. Probably you've written a great post on what to look for in a toy for Fido and right there next to your post are advertisements for cat toys. It is convenient for your reader and you earn a commission if they buy through your account. Again, you need to be honest. Never recommend something just to make money.
Reviews
Offer to write reviews of other people's sites. You can easily make a nifty little banner for your blog that shows a price for your services. Other bloggers and web masters who see your banner can contact you directly to buy a review of their site. This is somehow similar to the sponsored post idea i mentioned above, but in this scenario you work directly with your buyer and not through a network. This will be most successful if you have a decent amount of traffic to your site and a good Google PageRank. Again, be honest. If someone asks you to do a review of their site and you can't find anything good to say about it, let them know that you won't be able to accept the task and refund their money if they've already paid.
Sell Ad Space
Banner ads are another opportunity to monetize your blog. You can either sell ad space directly to advertisers or go through an ad network. To sell space directly just create a simple banner ad that includes a graphic background, perhaps with the words "advertise here", and negotiate directly with the advertiser. You will need to work out the details in addition to the price, such as whether you are going to create the banner or the advertiser is going to supply it. The charge you will be able to command will vary depending on your sites popularity and traffic. Be careful not to commit yourself to terms that you'll regret later. For instance, you don't want to offer a big space on your blog for a small fee for a year and find a month from now that space could be much more profitable.
There are plenty of ways you can make money with your blog. While these are probably the top ones, there are many others out there. While you don't have to limit yourself to just a single method, you also don't want to put a lot of money making methods in one place that they crowd the content and make your blog look unwelcoming and spammy. Remember that whatever way you choose to moneytize your site, content is king. Be sure you are providing your readers with content they can use and enjoy.
