Many writers begin blogs out of passion, a sense of purpose, a desire to share their expertise and experience, or the need to build platform and promote a book. However, there’s no reason not to monetize all that content. In today’s post, freelance writer Beth Bauer (@JourneyofBethB) offers seven ways to begin generating an income from your blog.
Maybe you’ve been blogging for a few years and are wondering about ways to make money from your site. The first thing that usually comes to mind for most bloggers is to sell advertising or do affiliate marketing. However, there are many other ways to use your blogging knowledge and content to generate income.
Turn Your Blog Into a Book
One fun way to start generating passive income is to turn your blog into a book. You can “book your blog” by turning posts from the past three years or three months into an entertaining or educational book for your audience.
Think about it. If you’ve been writing about food during your travels, maybe it’s time to get your best blog posts compiled into a cookbook. If you’re not sure how to start the process of turning your blog into a book, check this out or click here!
Online Workshops
Online workshops and e-learning have become big business! In 2010, the size of the market was about $32 billion, and by 2015 it soared to approximately $107 billion. Experts in the industry believe that by 2025 it will reach nearly $325 billion!
If you want a piece of that pie, many great e-learning apps can help you develop an online curriculum, such as Articulate 360. Take your expertise in a subject and draft an outline for a specific topic, and then create your workshop. It’s that simple and another great way to develop passive income.
Community Classes
You also can take that outline from your online workshop and create a class for your local community college. Community colleges are often looking for teachers to teach non-accredited community classes.
For example, if your blog is about organizing, teach a course on “How to Organize Your Home.” If you write a travel blog, teach a class on “Budget Travel Tips & Tricks” or “How to Plan the Perfect Vacation.”
Just drop by your local community college to inquire about teaching a class. They will probably ask for your bio and an outline of the course. You’ll also need to agree on compensation and how much to charge each student. The terms are usually written in a contract between you and the college.
One-on-One Consulting or Services
Another fantastic way to generate income is to offer one-on-one consulting on your topic. For example, that organization blog of yours could turn into a business where you go to client’s home and help them get organized. If you have a travel blog, offer guided trips, or custom itinerary planning. If you have a pet blog, provide pet sitting services in your neighborhood.
Speaking Presentations
Organizations, such as the Rotary Club, or schools need speakers to present educational and entertaining subjects to their students or members. Note that many of these speaking engagements don’t pay well, if at all. However, if you have other products or services you sell, such as a book or consulting, it’s a great way to pick up new clients and increase sales. Most organizations will allow you to sell our book at the event.
Sell Things Related to Your Topic
Another thing you can do to generate income is to sell items related to your blog project. Make sure though that you’re set up as a legitimate business first.
You can set up a Facebook or Etsy.com store in a matter of hours. You can create a store in Teespring.com or CafePress.com.
Maybe you could sell handicrafts from your travels, a special homemade pet shampoo, or an organization planner journal to go along with your organization blog. Design T-shirts or hats with your logo or fun saying that makes people take notice.
Write for Other People
You have probably developed some solid writing skills over the years. You can apply those writing skills to work as a freelance writer. Websites like Hubstaff, Craigslist, and Virtual Vocations regularly advertise for freelance writers.
Generally, you’ll need to build a portfolio first, which is an online display of some of your best posts or anything else that you’ve written. The pay rate will vary depending on your experience, the topic, and the employer’s budget.
Make Money as a Blogger
If you’re trying to make money as an entrepreneur, your blog is a perfect starting point. It’s not too hard to self-publish a book, create a workshop, or set up an online store. It just takes a little time and energy.
Remember to keep it professional, and if you need assistance, find yourself a mentor or consultant to guide you and offer ideas.
How do you earn income from your blog? Tell me in a comment below. And if you enjoyed this post, please share it on social media or with other writers or bloggers.
About the Author
Beth Bauer is a freelance writer, travel blogger, yoga instructor, and entrepreneur currently working on her third novel. She has traveled to over 20 countries in just the last two years and enjoys life as a digital nomad. She is originally from the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.A., and when she’s home lives on the Long Beach Peninsula with her dog, Ozzie.
Photo courtesy of Diana Johanna Velasquez
Hi Nina! Great post. So many people don’t realize how many ways they can re-use, and as you point out, generate income from a single pice of content.