If you want to know how to make money blogging this year, this post is for you.
When I started blogging in 2019, I had a truckload of passion and zero interest in monetization.
But, I started expecting more from blogging and knew I needed a good monetization strategy.
I got serious with blogging, took courses, and tried many things (including Google AdSense). In 2021, we made a little over ₦1,000,000/$1,230—an accomplishment considering we made ₦100,000/$123 the previous year (2020).
Fast forward to 2022, we made approximately $15,000+ (almost $16,000) organically!
If someone ever told you you couldn’t make money blogging, it’s either the person told you a lie or they’re doing something wrong.
You can’t make money overnight from your blog, but if you put the right strategy in place, you can achieve it.
In this post, I’ll come clean about how I made that much in a year and how you can too! It doesn’t matter your niche; you can even beat that!
Let’s go!
What you need to have before you can monetize your blog.
A profitable niche with a defined target audience
To make money blogging, you must have a clear niche with a defined target audience.
What is a niche?
A niche is a topic or area you will write on—for example, sustainable fashion, DIY baking, online side hustles, etc. It won’t be easy to monetize your blog if you are not clear on what you do and who your content is for.
You want a defined target audience for your topic or niche to attract the right people. While choosing a niche, research to see if there is enough audience to monetize. Conduct thorough keyword research to determine what topics people are searching for and how much competition exists.
Check to see if people are already creating content on that topic. Check if there are Facebook groups in that niche and if people are asking questions or searching for that particular topic. This will help you to know if there is already a demand for this niche. Be sure to select a niche you are interested in and passionate about, as it will make blogging much more enjoyable and sustainable long term.
A good content writing skill
You need good writing skills to create content that will attract your target audience. If your blog post is terrible, nobody will read it, and you won’t be able to grow a readership, and if you don’t grow your audience, you can’t make money blogging.
Learning how to create valuable and engaging content on a consistent schedule is essential. Focus on in-depth, well-researched content that provides true value for your readers. Content quality and consistency are vital in growing your audience.
Hence, it is crucial to improve your content writing skill. The only way to improve at writing is by writing and learning how to improve your writing. You can watch YouTube videos, read books, take classes, or pay for coaching. Whatever you do, make sure you get better at content writing.
It may take a while but remember that Rome was not built in a day. As you keep writing, you will get better at it.
A good traffic source
To monetize your blog, you need a good amount of traffic to your site. Optimize your blog for SEO to increase your website traffic. Research to find out what people are searching for in your niche and include relevant keywords and internal links between your posts.
You can also increase your traffic by promoting your blog on your social media pages and doing guest blogging.
An active email list
To monetize your blog, you need an active email list to build a deeper relationship with your audience. These people will most likely buy from you because you have created the know, like, trust factor with them.
To build an email list, you need to create a lead magnet that people will give you their email in exchange for it. It doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be a checklist, an ebook, a list, a video, etc. Think about something valuable to your audience and offer it for free. You can test different lead magnets to see which one works best. Promote your lead magnet on your blog so people can know about it.
A monetization game plan
There are several ways to make money blogging, including ads, affiliates, sponsors, digital products, consulting, and more. You need to choose a strategy that works for you and your audience. It is a good idea to start with just one or two plans, then expand as your traffic and audience grow.
12 proven ways to make money blogging in 2023.
1. Sponsored Posts.
a. What are sponsored posts?
A sponsored post is a social media or website post where you get paid by a brand or business to promote their products or services to your audience through your blog posts or social media posts.
b. How to make money with sponsored posts.
There are two ways to go about this:
i. Promotion only.
The brand or business brings you the post to promote, so you don’t have to do any work; you just post it.
ii. Content creation + promotion
You write the post yourself. Sometimes you may have to use the product or service before writing about your experience. Since you will be doing more work for this type of sponsored post, you can charge more for this.
If you have a good following on social media, you can even charge a higher price to promote it on your social media platform too.
c. How to get started with a sponsored post
i. Reasonable traffic
You will need a good amount of traffic to your website before reaching out to brands or small businesses to pitch them. Brands and small business owners are looking to reach a new audience, so you must show them that, one, you have their target audience, and two, you have a good amount of traffic coming to your site.
ii. Competition research
Research other people in your niche to see the people they work with; it will give you an idea of brands or businesses that pay and people you could likely work with. Write a list to see which one aligns with you, and research other brands like them, so you can have a comprehensive list of brands to reach out to get your first sponsored post-gig.
iii. Media Kit creation
Create a media kit to reach out to the brands to pitch what you do. You will use a media kit to introduce yourself, who you are, what you do, and your target audience. It also includes your audience demographic and your web traffic.
READ THIS: How to Create a Media Kit
iv. Direct outreach
Send an email with your media kit pitching yourself to the brands you align with. The best place to start is by offering a free post for them. Or you can offer to do it at a smaller fee, that is if you are just starting. If not, you can include your rate in your media kit.
The idea of the free work is to impress them and then pitch paid work. The free work is meant to give you experience and data to work with so you can get feedback and position yourself for the paid sponsored post-gig.
Email a few brands because you might get plenty of nos and a few yeses. When you get a yes, you are on your way to making your first sponsored post.
And if you know someone who runs a business with the same target audience as you, you can offer to do it for them for free to get a review and then use that to pitch yourself to brands or small businesses.
2. Create and Sell Digital Products
a. What are digital products?
Digital products are intangible products or items delivered electronically or online, such as ebooks, digital planners, courses, music, software, etc.
b. Why digital products?
With digital products, you don’t need inventory or any overhead cost; the production cost is relatively low compared to physical products. They are easy to deliver, so you don’t have to worry about shipping and delivery. This way, you have a passive source of income.
c. 12 digital product ideas you can create
Here are some digital products you can create regardless of your niche:
i. Ebooks
Ebooks are books that are written and delivered online. You can write ebooks on different topics and for various purposes. It can be a recipe book, an ebook on “how to put your baby to sleep,” a resource book containing a list of things you used for your DIY project, a list of vendors they can purchase from, etc. The good thing about ebooks is that they are easy to make and deliver.
Research to see what niche-related topics people are interested in; you can check Amazon to see what is already available and read the good and bad reviews. The bad review will tell you what’s missing in the market. You can survey your audience to see what topics they are interested in, and if you had a blog post that did so well and got several questions or feedback on it, you could consider creating an ebook from it.
ii. Online courses
There is a prediction the online education market will reach US$ 350 Billion by 2025 due to the flexibility it provides learners. It means online courses are going nowhere soon, and there is an opportunity to tap into them. You can share your knowledge or skills in a course; this will let you explore the topic.
Whether you know how to bake, play the piano, do DIY decorations, plan a wedding, or paint, you can teach others something. Creating an online course involves some work and investment, but it can make you money if done right.
iii. Workshops or Masterclass
With workshops or masterclasses, you can teach one topic in a live class or prerecorded video, showing people how to do something step by step. For example, if you blog about baking, you can host a workshop to teach people how to bake and ice a chocolate cake using ingredients in your home. The topics are usually specific with one outcome. The good thing about it is that it is easier to create than an online course. You can host one live class and sell the replay when you are done. Make sure you choose a topic that interests your audience.
iv. Templates
You can create templates that make people’s lives easier so they don’t have to start from scratch. You can create templates for others using Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, Notion, Canva, etc. Examples include social media content templates, productivity templates on Notion, pricing sheets on Microsoft Excel, and website design templates; the list is endless. If you already have a template you use, you can sell it to others and make money, or you can create one from scratch to solve people’s problems.
v. Audiobook or Audio file
Audiobooks have increased lately; more people are listening to them. Like ebooks, you can create audiobooks or audio files on different topics. You can sell audiobooks, audio mini-courses, mediations, instructional audio, etc.
vi. Printables
Printables are digital products that can be printed for use—things like planners, journals, calendars, cards, etc. If you already have printables you use every day, you can turn them into a product, or you can create one that meets the needs of people. You can research marketplaces like Esty and Creative Marketplace, where they are sold, to see what people buy.
vii. Swipe files
A swipe file is a document that is a valuable asset for a particular goal. For example, copywriters have a swipe file of copies for inspiration or reference. If you have a swipe file you use for your work, you can sell that to others.
viii. Membership subscription or Paid community
A paid membership is where people pay monthly to be part of an exclusive community. One of the biggest benefits of having a membership is the recurring revenue.
Depending on your audience’s wants, you can offer different things in a membership. Some memberships are community-based; others include monthly tutorials and monthly coaching calls. Others have access to a library of video training; some get monthly templates, like social media templates, etc. The ideas are limitless; you can create a membership that solves a need of your audience.
To get started, you need to research what your audience is struggling with and how to solve that problem with your membership. For example, if you have a food blog and your audience needs new recipes every week, you can create a membership that delivers weekly recipes. You can also add other perks, like a Facebook community where you answer their questions, making your membership more valuable to your members.
You can also create a content-based membership where people pay to access content unavailable on your blog or social platform. The good part is that even with a small audience, you can launch a membership and profit from it.
ix. Software
You can offer software as a service (SAAS) if you know how to code. For example, Convert Kit is an email platform created by a blogger for other bloggers because, during his blogging career, he wanted an email platform designed for bloggers, so he made one. You can also create software that solves a problem even if you don’t have coding skills; you can get people to help you with it, although it may involve a huge investment.
x. Music
You can make music and sell it directly to others. Many people are creating content these days and need to include music in their content.
xi. Stock photos or Videos
So many creatives and business owners need stock photos and videos to create content. If you take photos for your blog or make videos yourself, you can consider selling them to others.
xii. Lightroom presets
If you already use Lightroom presets for your photos, you can sell them to others. Presets are like templates; they make photo editing easier.
d. What digital product should you create?
When choosing a digital product to create, think about your target audience’s problems or challenges and find a way to solve them with your digital product.
You want to research to see if there is demand for the product before you make it. The best way is to do a prelaunch to test if there is interest in it so you don’t waste time creating what nobody wants. Make sure you validate your ideas to see what sticks.
When choosing the type of digital product to create, consider what you want to share with your audience and the best format, whether it is an ebook, a course, a template, etc. And you can research to see the type of digital products they buy or are interested in.
If you have a food blog, you can make a recipe book and organize cooking workshops or masterclasses where you teach a specific recipe from start to finish. You can also create an online course to teach different recipes or help people go from novice to expert chef. The opportunities are endless. Ensure to choose a format that matches the outcome that your audience desires.
e. Tools you can use to create the digital products
Here are some tools you can use to create digital products:
i. Google Docs or Microsoft Word
You can use Google Docs or Microsoft Word to write your thoughts, map your workflow, and write ebooks and presentation slides.
ii. Canva
Canva is a design tool for non-designers. Design templates are available; you can design ebooks, printables, templates, and presentation slides for your workshops, masterclasses, and courses. You can also record them inside Canva. The free version allows you to access templates, photos, and videos. If you need more, you can upgrade.
iii. Zoom
You can use Zoom to host live workshops, masterclasses, and courses where you can interact with your students or record your presentation and upload it to a host platform.
iv. Google Meet
You can use Google Meet instead of Zoom to host live workshops, masterclasses, and courses where you can interact with your students or record presentations.
v. Loom or ScreenPal
You can use either Loom or ScreenPal to capture your screen and presentation.
f. What platforms can you sell and host your digital products?
There are different platforms to host your digital products. Here is the list of some:
i. Gumroad.
Gumroad is one of the most popular and simple platforms for selling digital products. You can integrate it into your site or use it as a stand-alone platform. It has a payment gateway and allows you to host your digital products. You can upload ebooks, albums, games, films, online courses, Lightroom presets, stock photos, templates, etc. The platform has a free version.
ii. Podia.
Podia helps you to build a website where you can sell and host digital products like online courses, membership, downloads, webinars, workshops, and bundles. It also has a community feature for membership subscriptions and online courses with community options. There is a free version that allows you to get started.
iii. Sellfy.
Sellfy is a simple platform that allows you to sell and host digital products like, digital art, videos and films, tutorials, music, audiobook, photography, videos and photo effects, online memberships, online events, and promotions. It also has agile tools that help with sales and marketing. You can integrate it on your website or use it as a stand-alone tool. You can also get started with a free trial.
iv. Shopify.
Shopify is an eCommerce platform that allows customers to sell physical and digital products like ebooks, templates, printables, digital art, etc. It also allows you to host your digital products, and the platform provides a free trial.
v. Teachable.
Teachable is an excellent platform for digital products related to knowledge and education, like online courses, workshops, group coaching, etc. The platform allows you to customize the learning experience and has a free plan allowing you to host one course.
vi. Kajabi.
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform that allows you to host, market, and sell digital products like membership, online courses, etc. You can create landing pages, build sales funnels, integrate payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal, and manage your customers. The price is higher than other platforms, but it is worth it. You can get started with a 14-day free trial.’
vii. Marketplaces
Marketplaces like Esty and Creative Market allow you to host and sell simple digital products like printables, digital art, templates, swipe files, stock photos, downloadable files, etc.
g. How to sell your digital products
- Create quality and valuable content that will create desire and demand for your digital products.
- Create a marketing strategy for your digital products. What channels will you be promoting it? How long will you promote it?
- Promote it on your blog, social media, and email list.
- You can do the prelaunch strategy, where you sell to a small group of people at a discounted price, then launch out with the full price.
- Ensure you deliver on your promise so you can get good reviews and testimonials. You will use the reviews to drive more sales.
3. Affiliate Marketing
a. What is affiliate marketing?
You get paid to recommend products or services to your readers. When someone buys through your referral link, you get paid some percentage.
b. How to get started with affiliate marketing?
i. Build trust with your audience.
Before promoting any product, you need to build trust with your audience. Your audience needs to trust you because it can impact your recommendation. Hence, the first thing to do is to build the know, like, and trust factors.
ii. Find out their pain point.
Find out their pain points and research products or service that will be helpful to them.
You want to bring a solution to your audience, so it is essential to research their pain point. What challenges do they have, and what solutions are they looking for? You can do a survey and talk with some people to learn more.
iii. Try out the products to see how they work.
After your research, find products or services to solve your audience’s pain point and try it out to see if it works. It is essential to recommend only products or services that work. Document your experience using the product; this will be shared as content.
iv. Make social proofs of products or services.
Use social proof from using the product or service to promote.
Customers believe other customers, so you need to test and experience the product—that is your social proof. Create content sharing your experience and results with the product or service, and include your links. When someone makes a purchase, you get a commission.
Be honest with your audience and ensure you don’t break that trust. Only recommend things you have tried and believe in.
v. How to find companies or brands that offer affiliate programs
If you like a particular brand, check their site to see if they offer affiliate programs. Still, affiliate networks like Impact, CJ, ShareASale, and Amazon Affiliate Program allow you access to affiliate marketing programs.
4. Sell Your Services
If you have a skill set related to your blog, you can offer that as a service and get paid.
a. What services can you sell?
You can sell your cooking, writing, photography skills, etc. You can also work on DIY projects for people.
For example, at SARMLife, we started offering paid SEO services to our clients, and it’s been a game changer for us and one of our primary sources of revenue.
b. How to sell your service
- You need to create content that positions you as an expert. Use your blog post to show your capability.
- Talk about your services in your blog, social media, and email. Let people know you offer that service.
- Create a “how to work with me” or “service” page to inform people about your services. Include a portfolio for your work and reviews. It is a good way of promoting yourself.
5. Become a Coach
Coaching or consulting is guiding others in your expertise or showing them how to achieve the same result as you. You can offer this service if you’re an expert in your niche or have achieved some results. Some people are interested in learning with a high touch point, and 1-1 or group coaching provides that opportunity.
a. How to get started with coaching
i. Position yourself as an expert in your niche.
Create authority-building posts that let people see you as an expert. Share your experience and your unpopular opinions about your niche. Share how you were able to achieve some of the results you got. This will pique people’s interest and create a desire for your coaching.
ii. Build your portfolio
Help a few people get free results to show that your framework is effective and works for everyone.
You can announce on your email list or social media platforms that you are offering free coaching or consulting spots to a few people.
With these, you can get started, and after building your portfolio to a reputable state, you can start charging for the value you offer.
iii. Document your process.
This is important because this is the process you will be taking people through. You want to create a framework for your coaching or consultation; this way, you can get your clients consistent results.
iv. Create a case study from the people you’ve worked with.
Create and share it with your audience. You can write a blog post on the case study, share it with your email list, and create content around it on your social media. This strategy will let people see how you have helped others. Don’t forget to include a call to action to work with you.
v. Package your coaching or consultation service.
You want to create an offer that is enticing to people and put a price on it. What transformation are they looking for? How can you get them that transformation with your coaching? This is what you will package together as your coaching program.
b. How to sell your coaching or consultation
- Talk about your coaching service in your blog, emails, and social media posts. People can’t buy what they don’t know about, so talk about it.
- Share social proof reviews and testimonials of people that have worked with you and got results. This will help to build trust.
- Share case studies of your past clients or people you have helped to help build trust and position you as an authority.
- Create valuable posts. You can teach, shift perspective, share stories of how your clients achieved results, etc.
- Include the call to action to “book a session with you or join your coaching program” in your blog posts.
- Include your coaching service in your “how to work with me” page so people can know about it.
c. Tools you need for your coaching
- A payment platform: you can use Stripe, PayPal, or other payment gateways like ThriveCart, SamCart, etc.
- A scheduling tool: you can use Calendly or Acuity.
- A platform to host the session: you can use Zoom, Google Meet, or Telegram.
- A communication channel: you can use Slack, WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, or Email to communicate with your clients.
- A feedback loop: you need to create a system that allows you to collect feedback and testimonials.
6. Freelancing
With freelancing, you can make money writing for others. If you have good writing skills, this is an excellent way to make money blogging. There are platforms where you can sign up to get jobs.
a. How to get started with freelancing
i. Ensure you improve your writing skills.
Others will also compete for the job, and the companies will want to give it to the best person. Make sure your writing skill is good enough to win.
ii. Create a writing portfolio.
A portfolio shows your writing skill and the type of work you have created. You can use your best work and write as a guest blogger for other bloggers.
iii. Get testimonials from the people you have written for.
Social proof is essential because it will help you build more trust.
iv. Learn how to write a good bio.
A good bio will help sell your service. Write a bio that makes you stand out and be memorable. If you have achieved results with your blog, ensure you include that in your bio.
v. Learn how to write a pitch for jobs.
You will need to write pitches to get the job on most freelancing sites. Your pitch should tell them why they should hire or work with you, and your pitch should talk about how you will add value to their brand or business with your writing.
vi. Register on freelancing sites.
Sites like Fiverr, Upwork, Writers Work, ProBlogger Job Board, Freelancer.com, iWriter, Guru, BloggingPro, and others.
vii. Use social media platforms like LinkedIn to find jobs.
Consider your profile as your bio, set it up to reflect that you are open to work, and include a link to your portfolio. You can also use the search feature on Twitter to find jobs; some companies post about their job openings.
7. Speaking Gigs
A speaking gig is where you are invited as a guest speaker to an event and get paid for it. It can be another source of income for you if done right.
a. How to get speaking gigs
i. Position yourself as an expert in your niche.
Creating authority-building posts will let people see you as an expert. Share your experience and your unpopular opinions about your niche. These will help you stand out.
ii. Practice public speaking
This helps you to become better and more confident. Just like anything else, practicing is the only way to improve speaking. Practice in front of your mirror, try going live on social media to teach others, and host live sessions on Zoom. Also, learn from other speakers you admire.
iii. Research event organizers in your niche.
Build relationships with them and other speakers; people usually recommend people they know, and social media has made it easier to network with people.
Research, follow them on social media, and build relationships with them. Like and comment on their posts; watch and respond to their stories. Listen to their podcast if they have one. Be genuine in building the relationship. These strategies will help you introduce yourself and start a conversation naturally.
iv. Contact event organizers and offer your service
After following them for a while and understanding their mission and what they offer their audience, you can contact event organizers and offer your service for free or a fee. You may have to start with free gigs but use them to hone your skill and get testimonials.
v. Create your portfolio
When you have a few speaking gigs, you can create a portfolio and add testimonials.
vi. Update your “how to work with me” page
Add your speaking service to your “how to work with me” page and let people know you can be a speaker at their event. Talk about it on your social media and email too.
8. Host A Summit
A summit is a virtual event—live or prerecorded—that brings multiple speakers to talk about one topic or theme. The summits usually have a specific desired transformation for the attendees. You can use the interview, presentation, or a mix of both styles. The presentation or interview can be live or prerecorded, depending on your choice.
The prerecorded summits are mostly convenient because everything has been prepared beforehand, so you don’t need to worry about speakers having emergencies or something coming up.
Hosting a summit can be a lot of work, but you can pull it off with adequate planning. Planning at least three months ahead of time is essential so you have everything ready for the event.
a. How to get started with hosting a summit
i. Decide what your summit will be about.
What transformation are you offering people? You just need to have one transformation for your attendees.
ii. Create a unique name
Choose a name that reflects that transformation and your audience. Don’t use a generic name; let it speak to the target audience and the transformation they will get.
iii. Decide your topics
Decide on the topics you will cover during the summit and decide on your speakers. I will show you how to get speakers in the next part.
iv. Decide the date & time
Decide when you will host the summit. What month will you be hosting it? Don’t forget to consider your audience. Think about their calendar and select a time of the year that suits you and them. If you are targeting moms, you want to avoid summer because they will be busy.
v. Decide the duration
Decide the date and how many days you will host the summit. Will it be one day, three days, or five days? Remember that the longer the days, the more people will drop off. You can start with a day or 2-day summit and continue testing.
vi. Decide on the style of your summit
Decide on the style of your summit and the length of each session. Would it be an interview style? A presentation style? Or both? How many minutes will it be? I have seen summits ranging from 15-minute to 1-hour presentations.
vii. Create a schedule
Create a schedule and to-do list for the summit so you can stay on top of your tasks like writing sales pages, emails, and social media posts, interviewing your speakers, or following up on them to submit their presentations, etc.
viii. Create a marketing strategy and timeline for your summit.
Devise a plan to promote your summit and get people to attend. You can promote the summit on your blog, social media, and email list and get your speakers to promote it to their audience. This will increase your visibility and help you reach more people. If you have a budget, you can include ads. However, you don’t need ads to have a successful summit.
b. How to get speakers
Getting the right speakers is one of the most important parts of hosting a summit because it can make or break your summit. Don’t just go with the first name that comes to your mind; find people who can deliver on your topics.
Do a brainstorming session and write the names of people who fit into your summit. Take out some time to research people that can be a good fit. Social media, especially Instagram and LinkedIn, are good places to search for speakers. You can also ask people you know to recommend speakers to you.
Write a comprehensive list and send out the invitations to confirm them as speakers.
c. Tools and platforms you need to host a summit
i. A hosting platform:
You need a place to host your summit. You can do it on your site using some plugins or host it on other places like YouTube or online hosting platforms like Podia, Teachable, etc.
ii. Landing page:
You can create landing pages with your website or use tools like Leadpages.
iii. Organizational tools:
Planning and hosting a summit can be a lot, so you need organizational tools that will help you streamline your activities. You can use Notion, Asana, Airtable, or other tools, or work with a team using these tools and monitor your progress.
iv. Community:
Having a community makes your summit better. You can organize giveaways and Q&A sessions; these will increase participation. Most people use Facebook groups for the community.
v. Email marketing platform:
You need to send out emails to your attendees, so you need an email platform. If you already have one, you can use it; if not, you can use platforms like Convertkit, MailerLite, GetResponse, etc.
vi. Others:
If you want to interview your speakers, you need a good microphone, webcam, and editing tools for your video.
d. How to monetize your summit
You can sell tickets to the replay to make money from your summit. It means people have a certain period to watch it for free, but they must purchase it if they want access to the replay and other bonuses.
You can sell your products or services and get sponsorship, which means you will sell advertising spots to brands and businesses wanting to reach new audiences.
9. Start A YouTube Channel
Since you are already creating content for your blog, you can start a YouTube channel to have more distribution and build more audience. It will help you create another source of income.
a. How to start a Youtube channel
i. Get a name for your channel.
You can use your name, the same name from your blog, or choose another name—the choice is yours.
ii. Decide on your niche.
It shouldn’t be hard because you already have a niche, except if you want to choose a different niche for your channel. You can decide to stick with your original niche and try to incorporate more personal content and stories.
iii. Set up your channel
Set up your channel, and upload a profile picture, channel art, and channel description.
iv. Research other creators in your niche
Research other creators in your niche to see what types of content they are creating, their best-performing videos, and the kinds of titles and thumbnails that are working.
v. Keyword research
Do keyword research to see what people are searching for and what’s trending. Include relevant keywords in your title, content, description, and tags.
vi. Create high-quality videos.
Create high-quality videos consistently and engage with your audience. You can start with at least one video per work or more. Create a schedule so people know when to expect your content.
vii. Promote your channel
Promote your channel on your blog, social media platforms, and email list.
viii. Tools and equipment needed
The truth is that you don’t need fancy equipment to get started. You can start with your phone and use natural light for your videos, and that’s if you have a good source of natural light. If not, you will need an artificial light like a ring light or a softbox.
Here is a list of some equipment:
- A camera or a phone with a good camera
- Microphone
- Lighting: ring light, softbox, LED light
b. How to monetize your channel
You can monetize your YouTube channel through brand deals or sponsorship, Google AdSense, affiliate marketing, your products or services, and digital products.
10. Start a Podcast
Starting a podcast will allow you to create different content and tap into a diverse audience pool outside your existing audience. You will be able to go deeper with your content. Instead of just writing, you can have in-depth conversations about your niche. For example, Smart Passive Income started as a blog but evolved into a podcast with in-depth discussions.
a. How to get started with podcasting
i. Decide your niche or topic.
Since you already have a niche, you can stick with it. Next, decide on the topics you will cover in your show and consider how to bring more value to your listeners.
ii. Choose a name for your podcast.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can use the name of your blog or your brand. Or choose a name that reflects your podcast’s content, or go with an abstract name. Do whatever works for you, but don’t dwell on this.
iii. Determine the show format.
Will you interview guests? Talk solo? Do a roundtable discussion? Figure out how you want to structure each episode. A solo show is easier to produce, but having guests is a great way to add variety and different perspectives. Consider a blend of both. Experiment with other formats to keep things interesting. Think about a format that matches your strengths and allows you to create great content.
iv. Decide on your podcast art cover and design.
If you already have a brand, you can use your branding. Remember that the podcast cover is the first thing people see when they find your podcast, so you want it to be attractive and pull people in to listen.
v. Brainstorm and map out the first season of your podcast.
How many episodes will it be? What topics will you cover, and if you will be bringing guests, who will you be inviting? Having a plan before you begin is essential so there is continuity.
vi. Get the necessary equipment.
You will need a microphone to record your voice and audio editing software to assemble the show. You may also want headphones. Invest in professional podcasting equipment like a microphone, audio interface, and editing software for good sound quality. You can use Garage Band with a Mac or Audacity for editing for other laptops.
vii. Set up your podcast hosting.
Hosting platforms like Fusebox, PodBean, Buzzsprout, and more will help you distribute your podcast episodes to platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Your hosting platform will provide an RSS feed to submit to podcast directories, allowing you to embed players on your website. Ensure you choose a service that fits your needs and budget. Also, consider options that provide analytics to track your listeners and engagement.
viii. Record your podcast.
You have everything ready, and it’s time to hit the record button, but first, outline your talking points. Start with the end in mind. What do you want your listeners to learn from the episode? What stories or examples will you use? How will the points flow?
Create a structure to hook your listeners from the beginning to the end. If you are doing an interview-style podcast, write out the questions you want to ask and determine the show’s flow. It will make your show more engaging for your listeners.
As you keep on recording, you will get better. You don’t need to record the entire episode in one take. You will make mistakes, and that’s okay. Pause the recording and start from where you made a mistake. Editing is where the magic happens. Take out the mistakes and long pauses to create a cohesive show. When you are done, save the file as an MP3 and upload it to your podcast hosting service.
b. How to monetize your podcast
You can monetize your podcast through brand sponsorship, affiliate marketing, your products or services, digital products, and a membership—where you offer exclusive content to only members. Initially, you won’t get brand sponsorship until your podcast grows; hence it will be easier to start with affiliate marketing.
11. Ads Placement
You can make money blogging by selling advertisement space on your blog. However, this is our least favorite option. There are two ways to do this.
Option one: Offer ad placement directly to companies; you will have to find them yourself.
Option two: Sign up on advertising networks so they can show ads on your blog. They pay you for taking up space on your blog. You can use platforms like Google AdSense, Mediavine, or AdThrive. The last two require you to fill out an application to join the network, and a minimum page view is needed (60,000 and 100,000, respectively).
After signing up on the platform, they will show ads tailored to your blog. You can customize where ads appear on your site.
How to set up Google AdSense for your blog
You can set up Google AdSense in three easy steps:
- Step one: use your Gmail account or sign up for one to access AdSense.
- Step two: fill out your phone number and mailing address associated with your bank account to get paid.
- Step three: Add code to your site to connect to AdSense. Google will take care of the rest.
Google pays per 1000 impressions, meaning you need high traffic to your blog to make money from ad placement.
12. Sell Physical Products
You can make money selling physical products on your blog. It can be your products or merchandise like T-shirts, mugs, journals, etc. You can use print on demand company to sort it out for you. You can also do drop shipping, where you don’t have to touch the products; they will be delivered directly to your customer.
How to research the right product
To find the right products, research to see what people want. You can check Google Trends to see what’s trending. Do people have a pain point that you can get a product to solve it? Or are they interested in a specific product? Or maybe they have been asking you about a particular product. For example, if you have a food blog sharing different recipes, you can sell products like food spices or kitchen wares.
How to source your products
There are different ways to source your products. To start a print-on-demand, you must find a reliable company that can deliver. For other products, you can find local vendors or use international marketplaces like Alibaba and AliExpress.
FAQs on how to make money blogging
Can I make money blogging?
Yes, you can make money blogging.
How much can I make as a blogger?
You can make quite a lot of money as a blogger, but you must put in the work. SARMLife made approximately $15,000 in 2022, but we didn’t achieve this overnight.
Can I make money blogging as a beginner?
Yes, you can.
It will not be an overnight success, but it is possible. You can start with a monetization strategy that only requires a small audience.
Which blogging platform is the best when it comes to making money blogging?
Although platforms like Squarespace, Blogger, Ghost, and more exist, WordPress is still our all-time favorite.
Do I need to be an expert to make money from my blog?
No.
You don’t need to be an expert; you can share your experience and teach what you know. There will always be people who need what you offer. And if you continue to create content in that niche, people will start seeing you as an expert.
Final Thoughts
There are different ways to make money blogging; you just have to find the one for you!
You can start with a single monetization strategy and work from there. Don’t try to cut corners because every good and lasting thing takes time.
The most important thing when monetizing your blog is to get your foundation right before you monetize.
Define your niche, target audience, get good at writing, give value, have a good SEO strategy, and you’re on your way to being a six-figure blogger and more!
Which of these monetization strategies will you use? You can start by selling a digital course or coaching.
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