Starting a paid blog is one way to make money on the web. Thanks to free software such as WordPress, it is easy to create a blog for free to live from your passion online. Every year, famous bloggers generate significant income and many Internet users create their website in the hope of becoming a professional blogger in turn. But, can you really make a living from a blog? The answer is yes! However, making your site known is a long-term job that requires skills in web writing and natural referencing. Are you wondering “how to monetize your blog”? We reveals the most profitable sources of income!
Create a paid blog: 2 questions to ask yourself before you start!
1 – Which subject should I choose for my blog?
A topic that interests you
The first thing to do before creating a blog is to choose its theme. Developing your site will take a lot of your time. Indeed, you are about to explore a subject in depth, to dissect it and to monitor its trends and developments.
Growing your blog can take years. According to Olivier Roland (professional blogger), 95% of his peers abandon their project after six months. The reason? After the euphoria of the beginnings, they become discouraged in the face of the workload. To avoid this pitfall, only a real interest in your subject will allow you to overcome moments of doubt and persevere.
A niche topic that interests Internet users
Choosing the right theme for your blog also means choosing a subject that meets the needs of Internet users. Indeed, blogging on a sector that no one is interested in will generate no audience and therefore no income. Why? Because without readers to click on your advertising inserts or to buy your products, it will be impossible for you to monetize your Twitter! So you can get helped by the Twitter blue tick verification service for the monetization of your Twitter Account.
To stand out, you will have to focus on an uncompetitive sector called “niche”. Are you planning, for example, to create a culinary blog? By positioning yourself on “eco-responsible cooking”, you will distinguish yourself from the thousands of sites already devoted to cooking. Your “zero waste” recipes or your articles on “short circuits” will not attract a large audience but, on the contrary, will reach Internet users who share your interest in slow food.
2- How to attract readers to my site?
Define your target and your editorial line
By identifying the specific needs of your readers (your “target audience”), you can offer them tailored content. Seduced by your unique publications, they will form a loyal readership that will contribute to the growth of your blog – and therefore to its monetization. Targeting your customers will also allow you to define the common thread of your blog. The goal? Never disappoint your audience by respecting your editorial line.
Create an optimized schedule and content
After opening your blog on a content management system (such as WordPress or Drupal), you will need to set up an editorial calendar. Far from being a simple Excel table, this strategic tool will allow you to never run out of ideas and plan your publications.
To appeal to both readers and Google (or other search engine) algorithms, your articles must be optimized. This type of content requires strong web writing and SEO skills. Good, poorly optimized writing won’t help your blog. Well referenced, they will on the contrary increase your traffic, and therefore the amount of your income.
Monetize your blog with 4 profitable sources of income
1 – Participate in an affiliate program
Affiliation consists of highlighting a product or service on behalf of a brand. Each purchase made via your blog generates a unique link (containing a cookie) which allows the seller to trace the origin of the sale. This is a win-win technique:
- the affiliate (the intermediary) earns a commission on each sale without providing titanic work (no content creation, stock to manage, etc.);
- the seller benefits from free publicity and pays the affiliate only in the event of a result;
- the customer buys a product that corresponds to him at cost price.
Finding an affiliate program is quite simple via dedicated platforms. But be careful, be sure to only offer quality products at the risk of losing the trust of your readers.
2- Publish sponsored content
Brands often solicit bloggers to promote their products, in return for compensation. This technique can be very profitable, but it is framed. In France, sponsored content must be indicated to Internet users. Otherwise, it is a deceptive commercial practice punishable by law. The Consumer Code is clear, it is forbidden to use:
“Editorial content in the media to promote a product or service when the professional has financed it himself, without clearly indicating this in the content or with the help of images or sounds clearly identifiable by the consumer” – Article L.121-1
3 – Sell digital products
Marketing your own digital products (or “info products”) is undoubtedly the most profitable source of income for a blog:
- you receive the full number of sales;
- you have no production, storage or shipping costs;
- you generate passive income (you resell the same product over and over again).
Write an eBook
An eBook is a complete digital document on a subject (guide, report, study, etc.) appreciated by Internet users. The reason? More and more people are turning to the Web to find specific solutions to their problems. Selling an eBook that meets a specific demand can therefore be successful. It is also an interesting info product for a blogger, because it allows him to establish his position as an expert while monetizing the traffic of his site.
Offer premium content
Another way to monetize your blog is to sell premium (exclusive) content. To arouse the curiosity of your readers, you can offer them a free excerpt. If they’re satisfied, they’ll be willing to pay to unlock the full content.
Become an infopreneur
You can also capitalize on your passion by selling:
- online coaching;
- des formations e-learning;
- tutorial videos;
- etc.
If these services take a lot of time to design, they are also the ones that will generate the most profitable passive income.
4– Integrate advertising
The first source of income that we think of to pay for a blog is often advertising, yet it is the least profitable! Indeed, unless your site has a large audience, its income is extremely low, because it only represents a few cents.
The advertising department
The best known is Google AdSense. After registering on the platform, you embed codes on your blog to display the ads there. If these are still related to the theme of your site, note that you cannot choose them.
Advertising inserts
Regardless of the type of advertising insert (banner, pop-up, expandable banner, etc.) you will receive payment by the number of clicks or the number of views. Either way, only heavy traffic will generate real revenue.
Finally, keep in mind that the monetization of your blog depends solely on the satisfaction of your readers. Do not multiply the advertisements, harmful to the design and the user experience. Banish pop-ups and other intrusive ads that interfere with reading – and therefore your work!
