Ways to Legitimately Get Paid for Your Blog
Inexpensive Web hosting plans and free blogging software have combined to make the enjoyment of running a website a reality for nearly anyone, regardless of technical ability. As your new blog begins to attract visitors and consume more of your time, however, you might begin looking for a way to make it earn money. With enough traffic and the right monetization plan, your blog may pay its own hosting bill -- or even become a path to a new career.
Other People Are Reading
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Advertising Networks
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Of all the available options for monetizing a blog, joining an advertising network is the option that requires the least effort -- simply apply to join the network and add the code to your blog to begin displaying ads. The advertising network selects the ads to display based on the content of your blog, increasing the likelihood that your readers will see ads that interest them. The advertising network pays you when readers click the ads. Google AdSense, Kontera, Chitika and AdBrite are four networks that you can join.
Affiliate Marketing
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With affiliate marketing, you select a specific company or product to advertise on your blog. When your blog generates a sale, you receive a portion of the proceeds. Because an affiliate commission requires a customer to make a purchase, the pay can be higher than with an advertising network. Affiliate marketing tends to be most effective when the product ties in well with the theme or content of the blog. If you endorse a product personally, your readers may be more likely to purchase it.
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Sponsorships
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A sponsorship involves a company paying you to display its advertisement on your blog. A sponsorship can be challenging to obtain, as many companies use advertising networks rather than approaching blog and website owners directly. If you have a blog with a local focus, you may be more likely to obtain a sponsor. A sponsor may pay a flat rate for you to display its advertisement for a specific length of time, or according to the number of unique visitors who view the ad.
Product Sales
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As a blog owner, you stand to make the most money if you have a product of your own to sell. If you have a great deal of information to provide readers, consider packaging that information into a product that stands alone from the content of the blog. For example, you might create an e-book with instructional content on how to repair or create something, or a downloadable archive of your previous blog posts. Alternatively, create a premium section for your blog and make it available to paying members.
Donations
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If you do not have a product to sell and do not want to display advertisements, consider accepting donations. A donation system allows your most loyal readers to sponsor your website directly without being annoyed by advertisements. Although a donation-supported blog is unlikely to earn a great deal of money, the donations may be sufficient to pay the hosting fees.
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