Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
It’s not impossible for bloggers to make money from just about any kind of website. However, it does take a lot of effort and content to really become a success. It’s not something that will happen overnight.
Today, I’ll go over the basics of how you can generate income and what methods work best.
Keep in mind, though, that I’m probably going to burst a few bubbles in this article. If you want to make money from your blog, it’s not a get-rich-quick platform.
Creating Good Content is Where it All Starts
Content is what drives people to your website. Without text on posts and pages, no one will come to visit. As a result, your blog needs to have stellar articles that get attention.
And you’re not only trying to appease readers. You also have to consider how Google search plays a role. Because most of your traffic will come from search engines.
So, how can bloggers make money through the content they create?
Finding the Most Profitable Niche
There’s a ton of lists on the Internet that break down the most profitable niches for blogs. But what if you’re not interested in any of those things?
I know I have no interest in writing personal finance blog posts.
Usually, I advise everyone to find a niche that drives their interest. This is because the more interested you are in a topic, the more likely you’ll keep creating content.
However, you can take it a step further by finding elements of your niche that are more profitable from an advertiser standpoint. This is done by seeing how brands bid for advertisements in Google Ads.
Knowing What Your Audience Wants to Read
The key to getting traffic for any website is by knowing your target audience. You can’t assume that everyone will read every blog post you publish.
For instance, the vast majority of people visiting my gaming site are there for the OBS tutorials. Very, very few people read about the fun things we do in Colorado.
But, we still like to write those pieces.
It’s OK to come up with a piece or two that you know won’t be very effective for your audience. But, most of your content should center around what visitors want to read according to your niche.
Besides, you won’t know what will impact your audience until you expand what kind of articles you write.
Practicing Good Grammar and Spelling
Good grammar and spelling play a role in how bloggers make money as it does two things: 1) demonstrates professionalism, which makes the audience trust you more, and 2) makes content far easier to read.
Personally, I have the Grammarly extension installed in Google chrome to help me write all kinds of content.
The more engaged your visitors are in the content, the more likely they’ll click affiliate or ad links. It can also affect sales should you go the eCommerce route.
My point is that practicing good grammar is pivotal for attracting and keeping an audience.
Having a Dedicated Publishing Schedule
Most bloggers make money by having a realistic publishing schedule. When people can depend on when new content comes out, they’re more likely to subscribe to your blogs and follow social accounts.
And speaking from experience, having a regular schedule of content has helped me as well as my clients. In one instance, a regular schedule increased traffic by 400%! I’m talking thousands of views per week extra, here.
This is one of the biggest reasons why I add OneSignal push notifications to all of my own blogs. Subscribed visitors will get a notification when I publish a new article. Then, many of them rely on that content according to the schedule.
In other words, it vastly boosts return visits.
Sharing that Content Any Way Possible
And lastly, sharing your content in any way possible gets the content in front of more people. It’s true that most of your traffic will come from Google search results. However, a big chunk can come from other sources.
Not to mention the more often people see your domain name, the better. This is about boosting your blog’s reputation for having quality and informative content.
For instance, you can share your site using:
- guest blogging and getting backlinks.
- links on forum and Q&A websites, like Quora.com.
- social media and building a following there as well.
Be creative when sharing your website. Just make sure you’re not violating rules or terms of service. For instance, some platforms like Hubpages don’t like it when you try to link to your own website from its articles.
I found that out the hard way.
Realistic Ways Bloggers Make Money
As I said earlier, there are a lot of different ways bloggers can make money from their websites. And for the most part, they are easy to implement. However, some will take quite a bit of effort to really bring in the dough.
Some realistic methods include:
- Using Ad Sharing Networks
This is when you add advertisements to your website from third-parties. The most common of these networks is using AdSense. - Affiliate Banners and Links
Signing up with platforms like ShareASale.com or CJ.com can help you find some great brands to add to your blog. - Selling their Own Products
A lot of bloggers make money by selling their own merch. You can directly use eCommerce systems like WooCommerce or add print-on-demand services like Teespring. - Sponsored Posts and/or Reviews
One method that can make you a lot of money is offering sponsored posts or reviews. This is when a company pays you to post content on your blog which either they write or pay you to create. - Collaborations with Brands
Collaborations can open all kinds of doors. Whether it’s through your blog or social media account, there is potential for brands to toss money at you for a variety of content. But, you need to have an established and popular blog or social account in most situations. - Being Hired By a Brand or Website
Many bloggers will make money simply creating content for other brands and websites. Instead of being an employee, many are paid per word or per project as a freelancer. If you could line up a few of these clients every week, you could make some decent money. - Writing and Selling Books?
Yes, writing and selling books regarding your niche can bring in a bit of money. Especially if you’re covering topics that a lot of people want to know about. Since self-publishing is easy nowadays, you can crank out all kinds of books.
And these are just a few of the realistic and most popular ways to monetize a blog. The hard part is figuring out which works best with your specific audience.
Because every blog is different, what works exceptionally well for one may not work out for another.
It Takes Effort for Bloggers to Make Money
In any case, it takes real effort if you want to generate income from your website. I’m talking time to write blog posts, marketing, keyphrase research, trend research, and so much more.
Don’t believe the hype of only working an hour per day and rolling in the dough. You may get to that point eventually. But in the beginning, it’s going to be an uphill battle.
And although it does take a great deal of effort, the rewards can be worth the time if you set up an amazing blog.
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