Lifestyle blogs can net big money. Financial Samurai says a blogger can make over $100,000 every year in three years. Within a decade, that same blog can bring in a million or more every year!
So how do you actually monetize your blog? We cover the different ways you can make money off your blog.
Myths of Blogging
First things first, let's knock out some common myths about blogging.
It's easy money.
It's true that bloggers can nab big bucks with blogging. But actually making a successful blog requires diligence and hard work, and a lot of patience.
Most bloggers don't see their site take off for years. The few exceptions will tell you first hand they worked hard for it.
Occasional Posts Will Do The Trick
Same with diligence, you need to be consistent while blogging. Keep a blogging plan and a marketing plan, and stick to it. Sporadic, irregular, and off-topic posts won't get you anywhere.
It's Fine to Write Whatever I Want
Chasing Foxes were able to take their blog from scratch to full time travel in just six months. Plus they write about whatever they want.
But they're the exception to the rule. Most blogs need to focus down in a niche to make a dent in the industry. Consider mommy blogging. You'd have more luck mommy blogging about autism, or mommy blogging as a full-time nomad. Where there's less competition, you'll have more luck being seen.
Blogging is Just Writing
Er, sort of. But don't expect to see big returns by publishing an article two or three times a week. To be a successful blogger, you need to understand your audience, and you need to know how to write and market to them. We teach you how to use YouTube as a marketing tactic here.
That's a big part, marketing. For your blog to take off, you need to know how to market it.
But that's for a different article. This is how bloggers make money off their blogs.
Affiliate Programs
Affiliate programs are the most popular way to make money with a blog, and for good reason too. They're pretty easy to install and use. Depending on what you promote, you can earn anywhere from 5% to 75% commission. All you have to do is link to the product in your blog!
Pros and Cons
Pros: It's pretty easy to get started as a lot of companies have an affiliate program.
There are also tactics you can use to improve your conversion rates. Try writing product reviews and comparisons.
Cons: Like most items on this list, you need at least 1,000 daily visitors to see an impact.
But it's also important you only advertise products you support. Give a disclaimer in your articles so your readers know you get paid for promoting the product. A bad promotion can ruin your reputation, so be diligent, and always protect your good name.
How to Get Started
Start by joining the biggest affiliate marketing companies. Join Amazon Associates, ClickBank, and Rakuten. Reach out to products you already love. Check their headers and footers to see if they already have a program.
And of course, cross-collaborate with your fellow bloggers! It's likely they have products they would love your support on, and they're likely to return the favor.
About How Much Can You Make
Even at a low level, if you're doing affiliate marketing right, you can earn around $300 a day.
Advertising
Next, let's talk about advertising on your blogs. This is tricky territory. Even though Google makes billions off Google AdSense, websites with a lot of ads don't rank as well.
So if you do put ads on your site, do not overdo it. This could hurt your rankings on Google.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Ads are easy to put in place. It's a set it and forget it technique.
Cons: But ads can detract from a users experience with your site. Many marketers tell clients to avoid ads on your site until you're seeing about 1,000 visitors a day.
Customers who follow ads are also no longer your customers. Ads pull readers off your site onto some other site.
How to Get Started
It's easy: sign up for Google AdSense. There are other options available, but Google AdSense is the favored route. It's popular and easy to use with most blogging platforms.
About How Much Can You Make
You get money two different ways with advertising. By view, and by click. You can get a set dollar amount per every 1,000 views. Or you can earn anywhere from one cent to a few dollars per click. It depends on the add and the site.
Most sites can make anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 per month, depending on the blog.
Sponsorship
Ever hear “This podcast was brought to you by. . .” Of course, you have. That's a sponsorship. On blogs, the sponsorship will usually be at the top of an article or newsletter.
Pros and Cons
Pros: A sponsorship can pay out big bucks, up to $5,500 for a single post.
Cons: They're hard to come by, and you need a big audience for the sponsor to consider sponsoring your site. If you have fewer than 5,000 daily visitors, don't expect sponsorships. Don't expect big bucks until your audience is closer to 50,000 regular visitors.
How to Get Started
The best way to get started finding sponsors is to grow your audience. After that, send out emails to companies you're hoping will sponsor you.
Keep an eye out for scams, and don't accept any deal that's too good to be true – it likely is.
It's okay to turn down sponsorships – and in fact, you should! If a company doesn't line up with your values, it's important to say no. You can never repair a tarnished reputation. So stick to your guns.
About How Much Can You Make
Sponsorships range from $75 to $5,500 per post. This depends on your audience size, and your domain authority.
Freelance Writing
Most bloggers don't rely solely on their blog for all their income. They often use it as a portfolio to advertise their writing skills. Many bloggers have a “Work With Me” part on their about page, where clients can find them.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Freelance writing has all the perks of blogging – your own schedule from anywhere you want in the world.
Cons: As a freelancer, you have to deal with deadlines and someone else's expectations. You also may have to chase down clients who don't pay on time.
How to Get Started
Reach out to companies you want to freelance for. Put a “Work With Me” section on your web page and let clients come to you.
About How Much Can You Make
This varies on the client, your ability, and the product you're writing. But quality freelance writers are in high demand. Some freelancers can charge several thousands of dollars. Depending on the project, you can charge anywhere from $0.15 per word, to $10,000 for a high-quality full-blown sales page.
Offer Coaching or Other Services
People love your blog, so they obviously respect your opinion and advice! Consider offering coaching or consulting services.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Bloggers who offer coaching feel like they're impacting their readers' lives.
Cons: Make sure you can deliver on the coaching you promise. Again, you need to protect your reputation.
How to Get Started
You can advertise on your website, or in a regular newsletter you send out to your readers.
About How Much Can You Make
You can usually charge anywhere from $100 to $300 per hour.
Create and Sell an Online Course
You're already teaching your readers through the stuff you write, why not put it in a course and market it! The difference between the content on your site and the content in a course is convenience.
Pros and Cons
Pros: People love buying courses. And there are a lot of platforms you can use to market your course.
Cons: You have to take the time to put together a quality course. But typically, it's worth it.
How to Get Started
You can launch your course directly on your website. Or you can publish on a different platform such as Udemy or Skillshare.
About How Much Can You Make
Most bloggers can make about $1000 a month off their course. But some people can make $100,000 or more every month, just off courses alone.
Write a Book
A book is an easy way to make money off your site. The hardest part of writing a book is writing it.
But wait, you've already done that! You can compile, organize, and fine-tune blogs you've already written and then compile them into a book. You can publish directly to kindle.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Books are easy to publish, and people like them for the convenience.
Cons: Most often, they don't actually bring in that much money by themselves.
How to Get Started
Compile and organize blogs you've already written into a comprehensive book. Publish it on Kindle. Then you can market your e-book to your readers.
About How Much Can You Make
This will depend on the book's topic and how well it's marketed. Your e-book doesn't typically bring in a huge revenue share. Most publishers make less than $10,000 annually. But every bit counts to monetize your blog.
Lifestyle Blogs Take a Lot of Work
If you think you can start a blog and be a millionaire overnight, you are very wrong. Lifestyle blogs take time, research, and energy. To make money as a lifestyle blogger, you have to be a writer, a marketer, a salesperson all while being your own boss.
But they can definitely pay off if you use the tips above to properly monetize your blog.
Are you ready to up your game and get your marketing to the next level? Check out this free course.