How to Charge for Blog Commenting
Blogs provide several ways to make money in online publishing. One way to generate income from a blog is by charging for blog commenting. When a blogger makes a post, the typical blog software includes the ability for readers to post comments about that blog entry. The commenters can also get visitors by putting hyperlinks to their own sites in the comments. A blogger should first learn how to administer the commenting features to limit comments to paying members. He can then combine that with an online payment system to make money from blog commenting.
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Instructions
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Log in at your blog control panel. Blogging software has a control panel for posting blog entries and administering other features of the site. This is where you will find the blog comments settings. Services that allow blog commenting include WordPress, Blogger and LiveJournal.
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Set the comments on your blog to moderated status. Moderation means you can view and approve or deny comments posted by visitors before they are published. This is the way to prevent nonpaying members from posting free comments. The method to put comments in moderation depends on the software you use. For example, if you use WordPress, select the "Discussion" tab in the "Settings" section of the control panel. Choose the "An administrator must approve the comment" option on the next page.
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Write a sales letter offering blog commenting on your site for a fee. You can post the sales letter as a blog post so visitors to your site can read the sales letter.
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Open an account for online payment processing. Although you could put your physical address in the sales letter and accept checks and money orders, you will increase your sales potential by taking instant online orders for blog commenting. Examples of online payment processors include PayPal, Google Checkout and Amazon Payments.
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Add your payment order button to the sales letter. Online payment processors provide a special button your blog visitors can click on to order the commenting service. You get the code for this button inside your payment-processor account. Visitors click on the button and send you the payment for your commenting service. You can follow sales activity in the account of your chosen online payment processor.
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Approve comments of paying members using the blog's control panel. The exact procedure for accepting moderated comments depends on the blogging service that you use. However, you generally just click a link or two to accept the comments. For example, WordPress users click on "Comments" after logging in and select "Approve" for each comment from a paying member.
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Tips & Warnings
Review all comments before posting them on your blog. Comments should not appear too much like spam or have more than one or two external links. Otherwise, your site could lose credibility as an objective source of information.
You may need a state tax ID number to accept direct payments online from customers. Check with your state's tax agency to determine the rules for Internet sales in your jurisdiction.
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