The Programs Bloggers Actually Use To Make Money
The key to success in blogging is truly understanding your audience and providing them with content that is engaging whilst subtly incorporating your income generating streams.
The information you provide should be the main benefit and selling should be secondary. Think about websites you frequent, what do they provide which keeps you returning to their site? Try to incorporate these things into your site, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Below are the actual programs bloggers use to make money online. These are proven programs and methods that are core to any blogger who is successfully making money online. The most exciting aspect of this is that it is easy to setup and do – the trick is building up your audience as traffic = money.
Google Adsense
Adsense is by far one of the most popular methods of making money online. It is extremely flexible, easy to implement and very effective. Adsense ads come in a range of formats including: text based, banner ads, video, mobile and more.
How it works – you simple pick an ad format you’d like to test > Copy and paste the code onto your website > if people click on your ad, you get paid – simple as that.
Below are examples of Adsense ads
The first example shows “link units” and a “banner ad”
The below example shows two “text ads”
Learn more about Google Adsense here and see other ad format examples here.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is another very popular way to make money online and is often used simultaneously with Adsense. It is a very straight forward commission based model where you sell products for a business. Essentially you sign up to a third party provider whom facilitates and supports the relationship between an advertiser (the merchant or retailer) and a publisher (you). In addition, many businesses have their own affiliate program’s which do not require a third party. The benefit of a third party provider is multiple businesses to choose from in one place.
Once you have created an account, you gain access to a number of advertising resources such as; custom banner ads, text links, product links and tools to create your own.
These resources can then be used on your blog, newsletter, email blasts, etc… (Just like Adsense, you just need to cut and paste pre-made code – its very very simple)
The key here is to get people to click on your links and purchase or download items in which you will then receive a commission.
Commissions can range from a set price or percentage of sale. Depending on the industry you choose, payouts can be very high.
In Australia there are a handful of affiliate platforms, some of the bigger ones include: CLixGalore AU, Commission Monster and Commission Factory. Other large businesses that have their own programs include eBay and Amazon.
To identify other opportunities just search online – i.e “insurance affiliate programs Australia”
The above two income streams are by far the most popular and easiest to setup and start straight away. If you have a well constructed blog with great content and decent traffic, Google Adsense and Affiliate marketing are great ways to make money. As your experience with managing your site and traffic grows, other money making opportunities will eventuate and you may also want to try some of the below.
Sponsored Ads
If you have a popular blog which drives a lot of traffic, businesses will eventually find you and come to you direct to advertise on your site. In instances such as these its a matter of negotiation and agreeing on a deal you are comfortable with.
Sell Your Own Product
If you have a hobby or experience with creating things, why not create a blog for selling these items. In addition, if you aren’t creative but are an expert on something – create an e-book and sell them via your blog. Depending on your entrepreneur nature, you can even hire someone else to write an e-book for you and then sell it via your blog.
The above are the main forms of generating an income online and have proven to be effective for some time. Other money makers include registration based models where you can provide a service online and users pay a reoccurring fee (monthly, quarterly, annually). There really is no limit to the money making opportunities online, it really comes down to your creativity and drive.
Please feel free to share other income generating ideas that you have tried or are not mentioned here.
