Written on August 30th, 2008 at 12:08 am by Darren Rowse
10 Ways to Make Money BECAUSE of Your Blog
What if I told you that there’s a way to make money as a result of your blog where you don’t need to have a single ad on your blog, where you don’t have to run any affiliate programs and where you don’t have to write any paid reviews?
Would you be interested?
Image by iDream_in_Infrared
Much is written about how bloggers make money through selling advertising space or running affiliate programs on their blogs. However there’s a second, somewhat hidden, group of bloggers who make a great living not directly from their blogs - but indirectly as a result of them.
Instead of using their traffic to sell advertising or promote products to earn commissions from - they leverage the traffic to their blog in another way - usually to sell themselves.
Today I want to highlight 10 ways of making money BECAUSE of your blog - as opposed to making money directly from it via advertising, paid reviews or affiliate programs.
1. Consulting
The blogger consultant model is simple. You give away information generously on your given topic and then sell your services to help people apply your teaching to their personal situation with some personal attention from you.
Bloggers who also act as consultants generally charge for their time by the hour, but I’ve also come across some who have landed ongoing consulting work in their field of expertise and have been signed up on retainer by companies.
Some might think that it’s just bloggers who blog about blogging who pick up consulting work (I’ve done my fair share) but it’s not the case. I’ve met dating bloggers, marketing bloggers, photography bloggers, craft bloggers and more who all offer their services in coaching, mentoring and training their readers one on one.
2. Book Authorship
It is becoming more and more common for bloggers to be approached by book publishers to write books. Chris and I were approached to write ProBlogger the Book by Wiley, Gina from Lifehacker landed a 2 book deal, Frank from Post Secret has done numerous books, Steve Pavlina has one coming out soon…. the list goes on and on. Sometimes book are heavily based upon the blog itself - other times the book is completely new.
3. Speaking
Bloggers spend day in and day out writing content for their blogs and so for many it is not too much of a stretch to translate the principles that they are writing about into verbal sessions at conferences or other public speaking opportunities.
Often these sorts of speaking engagements are not for any kind of payment but once you build your profile in a niche the paid opportunities do come along for many - particularly when you’re asked to speak in-house for companies or organizations.
4. Training
There’s some overlap here with ’speaking’ as in many instances speakers are engaged in a training capacity - but some bloggers also take the ‘training’ that they do in another direction and run their own training courses for readers. They leverage the traffic that they have do direct people to training either online (membership sites) or even offline into real life training events.
One blogger who I’ve seen do this really well is David Hobby from Strobist who has successfully run a variety of real life training events on his niche (photography lighting). He’s also done spin off DVDs of the training which he sells.
5. Freelance Writing
I’ve had many approaches for this myself and see quite a few other bloggers land this type of work. Their profile and expertise on a blog leads other websites, blogs, magazines, newspapers etc to ask them to contribute in a paid capacity.
This might be a newspaper column, a regular staff writer role or even a one off paid contribution.
6. Selling Services
Once you establish a readership on a topic other opportunities can arise to sell a variety of services from your blog. Here at ProBlogger I added a job board (something many blogs have done), Blogger Timothy Sykes makes tens of thousands a month with an ’stock market alerts’ service, Shoemoney is introducing ‘Shoemoney Tools‘ (a great resource for bloggers actually - I’ve been playing with it the last few days).
Another example is Kevin from Real Lawyers have blogs who offers lawyers and law firms a blogging solution.
7. Selling E-Resources
Again - there’s some cross over here with some of the above but it’s something that we’ve seen a lot of bloggers doing (or attempting to do) of late with the creation of ebooks, membership sites, tools and software that relate to their niche.
8. Landing ‘Real’ Jobs
One of the great things about starting a blog that builds your profile and perceived expertise in an industry is that others in that industry begin to see you as an attractive addition to their staff.
I’ve seen a number of bloggers write about this over the years - Steve Rubel is one that comes to mind as someone who became very well known in the PR industry and was head hunted by a PR firm as a result of his blogging.
9. Finding Business Customers and Clients
Another indirect income earner that many bloggers tap into is leveraging their blog’s profile to send find new clients and send new business to their offline companies.
In a sense their blog becomes like an advertisement to their company’s products and services.
There are literally thousands of ‘business blogs’ who do this. The key is not to make the blog purely a sales pitch or marketing device but to make it a destination of value to readers and to let this sell you and your business.
What’s Number 10?
Every week I ‘meet’ (virtually) bloggers who are making money from their blogs in ways that I’d never considered before. There are certainly some creative people out there coming up with some innovative ways to build blogs into income streams.
So I’m leaving #10 in this list up to you. What other ‘indirect’ ways of making money from blogs do you do or see others doing? I’d love to see examples of any of the methods above or any other that I might have missed. Can’t wait to read your number 10s!
Tags: indirect methods, make money blogging, make money online, monetization, money blogging
86 Responses to “10 Ways to Make Money BECAUSE of Your Blog”
Lenin Nair
August 30th, 2008 12:09 am
Most bloggers wouldn’t agree, Darren. In fact, if they wanted to do freelancing or their own jobs, they would never have started blogging Right?
For me, I still make some bucks through freelancing, and until I get my blog to be another Professional blog, it will be my sole source of income. I hope the blog will be a professional blog one day.
You remember me, I hope. I am the person who took your interview.
Lenin
david
August 30th, 2008 12:19 am
Tip #8 rings true for me — I was recently hired by a local TV station to be the “online content producer,” and all of the hiring execs pointed to my blog as an example of what they hired me for.
Sunil Pathak
August 30th, 2008 12:33 am
my blog is hardly 2 month old (i get 500/600 unique visitors though) so right now i am not showing any ads on my blog. so cant say much about making money online
but i would like to read how my other fellow bloggers are making money online.
Bruno Auger
August 30th, 2008 12:33 am
I think some bloggers use a blog both direct and indirectly to generate income. I know personally i’m not into the wrtting aspect of blogging but more of the back end of it.
Its funny you mention book authorship because a friend of mine who write books wants to go online now instead of publishing books because its cheaper.
Dominique
August 30th, 2008 12:49 am
It would be great if any of the 10 ways that you mention come true for me. that will be the day I can safely quit my day job. I’m still learning how to make money both directly/ indirectly from my blog.
Kimberly/Mom in the City
August 30th, 2008 12:49 am
I totally agree with #8. Landing ‘Real’ Jobs. Because of work that I had done on my mommy group/blog, I was hired as a paid parenting guide for BabyZone/ParentZone.
Currently, I’m focusing on building up other paid writing and speaking opportunities.
Cheryl Allin
August 30th, 2008 12:58 am
I would say #10 could be creating products to sell that harmonize with your blog - such as training DVDs. Great post!
Larry
August 30th, 2008 12:59 am
These tips are great, One day when I can afford it I plan to find me a nice spot to give classes on setting up a website, internet marketing and blogging. My target will be all the people who only use their computer for solitaire. :) I talk to a lot of people who have computers but don’t know that they can make money from it.
Laurie/Halo Secretarial
August 30th, 2008 1:01 am
Wonderful! This is exactly why I blog - I am a VA and so my income comes from selling my services. I use my blog to get name recognition, to make contacts and friends and to educate potential clients about how I could help them grow their business.
I disagree with Lenin’s comment that most bloggers would disagree - I know many bloggers who blog to assist their business, not just to be a business in and of itself.
Alex Sysoef
August 30th, 2008 1:02 am
#10 - create a product based on your expertise and sell it. Could be an eBook, audio product, video tutorials (like we have done with Expert WordPress) - you imagination is the only stopping point.
In this case your blog serves as a front end to your product, establishes your right to speak on the subject and front end for sales and prospects capture to related mail lists.
Alex Sysoef
BlogSavvy.net
August 30th, 2008 1:05 am
Nice list, there are so many ways to make money from blogging other than advertising, as there are only a # of blogs that will fall in the top of each Niche that will beable to capture the advertising dollars. You always need to keep your options open as you may have started Blogging to make money and if another opportunity presents itself you should think long and hard about it. YOu might have also started bogging simply as an outlet, and while the money’s great it isn’t your sole income.
Dave Saunders
August 30th, 2008 1:17 am
Great article. A blog is an essential element to personal branding online and as you show, there are many great options for monetizing your traffic while sharing value with others.
CarpNation
August 30th, 2008 1:35 am
Great article, I certainly have a lot to think about as I come closer to the launch of my new blog.
Bryan
August 30th, 2008 1:41 am
Great Post. I think this is something that is lost with all the “Make Money with your Blog” articles, ebooks and videos flying around right now. I recently started a blog knowing that most of the value I would net would be in relationships and new opportunities much more than direct income on the site.
MaxBro
August 30th, 2008 1:41 am
While not money, I notice many entertainment bloggers using their sites as vehicles to obtain press passes for conventions and various movie-related events. This is certainly true for the Aint It Cool, JoBlo or CinemaBlend founders.
I have also noticed some tech review bloggers mentioning receiving free gifts from companies for exposure on their sites. John Chow has made mention of that for his blog thetechzone.
It seems a good course of action is to identify your niche, identify the players involved, and segue your blog’s identity into getting access to places the average person would not have the chance of going.
Todd
August 30th, 2008 1:50 am
Right on….I’ve been hired a few times by publishers looking for professional reviews of book content prior to publishing….
Melissa
August 30th, 2008 2:05 am
I blog first and foremost as a form of expression. The idea that there are a myriad of ways for me to make money doing this thing that I love so much is like the most awesome gift from heaven for me! I look forward to the day when I will be able to earn enough through my passion to leave my day job and spend my days like I am right now; barefoot in my jeans listening to my daughter play while I gaze lovingly upon my monitor and keyboard in cybernetic bliss ;-)
Bruce
August 30th, 2008 2:48 am
Great post, Darren!
I’m planning to enact all of these - except the so-called “real” job one - because I want the freedom of not working for anyone else!
PastaQueen
August 30th, 2008 2:56 am
Some bloggers sell merchandise related their site. At CuteOverload.com, their daily calender sold out on Amazon within a day. Other bloggers use sites like Cafe Press or Zazzle to sell shirts, coffee cups or even shoes with funny graphics or slogans from their blogs. I suppose this is similar to writing a book in that you’re selling a product connected to your blog.
Mike Nichols
August 30th, 2008 3:00 am
I am looking to the points you made as the main source of revenue from my blog. The authority I build there is worth more than the little bit I would get from ads.
In addition, I’m investigating ebooks and similar products.
Chris Garrett is a prime example of the use of your blog to build name recognition and authority.
Timothy Sykes
August 30th, 2008 3:07 am
thanks for the mention mate!
Alex
August 30th, 2008 3:53 am
I’ve found the ad system to be completely ineffective on my video blog, as it seems my site visitors are too ‘web-aware’. However, I have started having some success selling DVD and Quicktime downloads of my video tutorials, and I’m hoping to branch out with some other products related to bicycle repair… we’ll see how this goes. It certainly seems that bloggers will have to start getting creative with ways to monetize their niche as the ‘ad-blindness’ grows…
Good luck!
Michael Martine
August 30th, 2008 3:57 am
Consulting and services is a great way to make a living, but you have to stop thinking of yourself as a blogger and start thinking from the point of view of a business person. Creating a successful business that attracts paying clients through a blog is a different game altogether than the monetized blogging Darren writes so well about here.
Diana L Guerrero
August 30th, 2008 4:00 am
Hmm, I guess I am doing things backwards. I covered most of the things on the list before I started blogging. After a major setback I am attempting to revitalize my career through those avenues.
I can’t help but blog and am experimenting as I grow more experienced.
Since I live in a rural area it also helps me feel connected.
Wakas Mir
August 30th, 2008 4:05 am
Nice one Darren..
I feel that one can only benefit from a blog IF the person can somehow show credibility through their posts and much they enjoy their blogging. If it’s only to earn money, then lots more work is required. Because talent can’t be bought, but yes skills can be polished..
Koichi
August 30th, 2008 4:07 am
I have a blog / vlog all about learning the Japanese language and culture. I’ve been building it up for about a year, but haven’t made any large amount of income directly from it (usually between $200-$400 a month). Certainly not enough to live off of, especially if I want to pay for wonderful things like the Internets. Other than that, I’ve been doing odd jobs - some web design, some manual labor, some customer service for a website…definitely not enough to live comfortably, though.
Just recently (yesterday, officially), I decided that I’d start tutoring Japanese online. I have had a lot of people ask for tutoring, but I’ve always denied them in the past, since I was looking for other things to do. Then, my friend told me about eduFire, a website that lets you tutor people in any language you want (and they only take a 15% cut, which is nice). I decided to give it a shot, and announced it on Youtube / my website. Now, I have around 30 sessions scheduled over the next week, and at $25 a lesson (minus $3.75 for edufire, I think?), that’s not too bad for a recent college graduate who couldn’t get a job for the last three months.
This is kind of like consulting, I suppose, but it is more specific to my niche. So far, I’m really enjoying it, too! Really, it’s thanks to blogs like this one that I’m able to figure out ways to make an income via my blog, even though you don’t directly say “go teach people your language.” It’s a good guide for thinking about blogging and how it should and can be done. Thank you ProBlogger! :)
Shawn
August 30th, 2008 4:47 am
This is actually a great idea, but I gotta get more knowledgable first about blogging and the whole yadda yadda yadda before I step my game up to that level…:-)
http://www.ShawnDrewry.com
Clara Mathews
August 30th, 2008 5:02 am
This is one of the reasons I started blogging in the first place. I want to draw attention to the concierge services company I am starting in the next few months. If I can also earn some income from affiliate ads that would be icing on the cake.
Andrew G.R.
August 30th, 2008 5:15 am
The best jobs often come through connections. What easier way to initiate contact with the rest of the globe than by starting a blog and communicating with your readers?
Solid post. I’ve made more money BECAUSE of my blog, rather than with it. Couple that with my passion for the medium, and I’m in for the long haul.
axel g
August 30th, 2008 5:38 am
Great post!
Most of us try our best to make a buck with adsense and all the rest of it. This article is a much needed reminder, saying that there are other ways to make use of traffic…
axel g
August 30th, 2008 5:42 am
Inspiring post!
Most of us try our best to make a buck with adsense and all the rest of it.
This article is a much needed pointer, reminding us that there are other ways to work with traffic…
Lindsay
August 30th, 2008 5:42 am
Nice list and a great reminder that there’s more to making money online than ads and affiliate links.
I currently make a living from my home and garden blog (along with some smaller sites), and a lot of the income comes from Adsense. I’m planning to redesign the site to include a marketplace (HGTV has something like this on their site) where merchants can buy pages devoted to their site/products (kind of a virtual stall) for a yearly fee. Sort of a fancy directory. Based on the number of requests I get to buy links (I don’t currently sell them), I’m cautiously optimistic about the plan. :)
And here’s my suggestion for finishing off the list above:
10. Subscriptions to Premium Content
You mentioned membership sites, but I know a real estate writer who uses his site (full of guru reviews and informational articles) as a way to get people to subscribe to a physical newsletter that arrives in the mail. I think it’s around $100 a year to subscribe, so I’m sure he does pretty well with that.
Sherry
August 30th, 2008 5:48 am
I agree with the idea of products as payment. I have received a great deal of things completely free in exchange for a review. I always clarify that I will only write honest opinions, and that I won’t write how wonderful something is if I didn’t like it but so far no one has balked at that.
I’ve gotten many great things that way - including a photo printer! - that I didn’t have to pay for.
I make little money from my personal blog - it’s freelancing as a professional blogger for several niche blogs on blog networks that make my money for me.
dewey
August 30th, 2008 6:40 am
#10: Blog posts, if they’re true, personal anecdotes, can be submitted to fieldreport.com for their writing contests. Cash prizes!
Kim
August 30th, 2008 7:21 am
Nice list. It’s taken me a while to realize that the income and benefits from blogging truly come from a mix that hopefully ads up to an attractive total! I’m trying to think “out of the box” these days and this post is good inspiration.
Angela Booth
August 30th, 2008 7:25 am
Here’s #10 for me… teaching.
Although I’ve been teaching writing for around 20 years, my blogs have extended my teaching, mentoring and coaching services in ways I could never have predicted when I started my first blog way back in 2002.
I started that first blog as an experiment on Blogger. I had no idea where it would lead.
Blogging is an incredible journey. Not only do you discover new things about yourself every day, you also find more ways to use your skills to help others.
I’m addicted to blogging because it’s instant gratification - I write, and within a minute or two, my words can be read by people all over the world.
A blog gives you incredible power. How will YOU make money because of your blog? You’ll discover your own hidden resources when you blog; this is what makes blogging so fascinating and addictive. :-)
Damien Lovegrove
August 30th, 2008 7:47 am
I started my blog to meet all of your first 7 and the 9th reason. I’m already an author and a consultant with just over 2000 signed up members on my static site. My blog went live this week and I’ve had over 800 visits in week 1alone. I’m only mentioning this success because I read your ProBlogger book on a flight from Singapore 3 weeks ago and now it’s a reality. I’m living your advice and it works. With viral marketing alone I intend to have a community of about 5000 unique visitors by Christmas - just in time for my next DVD releases. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge and experience. This sharing of valuable information will drive traffic to my blog too. I owe you a pint :-)
Jeannette
August 30th, 2008 7:52 am
Great post, Darren! I agree with Bryan in that the main reason I blog is to deepen relationships and grow rapport within my community. (But selling product and a little bit of ad revenue doesn’t hurt my feelings, either.)
It also makes my coaching more efficient because I don’t have to retell a story that I’m using to make a point during a session with a client!
Jeannette
http://www.goodvibeblog.com
SEO Web Design Service
August 30th, 2008 8:51 am
This is all good and well, i think alot of bloggers know about this, but the problem most bloggers ahve is getting targetted traffic….
"Motivate Thyself"
August 30th, 2008 9:22 am
Other than maybe selling an ebook, I prefer the idea of indirectly monetizing my blog through advertising. There’s just something more appealing about not having to work directly with a company to make money. Though, a mix of both is probably ideal in the long run.
jennydecki
August 30th, 2008 9:25 am
#5 worked WONDERS for me. It will continue to do so, methinks. This stuff builds on itself. Pretty amazing, really.
Ari Herzog
August 30th, 2008 10:56 am
Darren, you are far too modest.
Folks, the 10th way to make money BECAUSE of your blog is to read and read some more and keep reading more of Darren’s wise (yet simple enough that anyone can replicate) advice on problogger.net.
Need I say more?
Dr. R
August 30th, 2008 11:26 am
Number ten would be my profitable niche blog for selling human organs online. Can you spare a kidney?
Laura
August 30th, 2008 11:44 am
One thing I love about blogging is the new people I meet virtually almost every day. All kinds of money making collaborations can come when creative people start talking.
Sire
August 30th, 2008 12:20 pm
These all make perfect sense but unfortunately for me I do not fit into any of those categories. Maybe one day someone may recognize my raw talent and offer me a ‘real’ job, but then it will have to pay me a whole lot more than what I am earning now with my current one.
Until then I will just keep blogging merrily away, having fun and enjoying earning what I do whilst doing it.
Paul
August 30th, 2008 12:21 pm
Book writing and freelance writing appeal to me the most at the moment. Has anyone here given away portions of their writings as free ebooks to market the fully paid product? Would love to hear about it if you have.
Warung Digital
August 30th, 2008 1:41 pm
I have owned my website for some years and now it has about 600 visitors each day. I only run some making money program over website, like selling link and running adsense program. But I am trying to run the other making money online programs like what you have mentioned, thank you for the information
Stephanie Quilao
August 30th, 2008 2:13 pm
Timely post, as this subject has been on mind a great deal lately.
#10 Create a new business venture as a result of a pain you are suffering in your blog business that no one is solving.
I have been experiencing a particular frustration with advertising for quite a long time now, and have looked high and low for a solution that will help me in the way I need. I’ve tried dozens, but no cigar. I see a biz opp and will seize it as I have no doubt that I am not the only one with my issue. Exciting times to be an entrepreneur :)
arun kamath
August 30th, 2008 2:13 pm
#10- Monetize your visitors through metacafe, revver, or best as a Youtube Partner which pays you for your uploaded videos on view count,etc. I mean, if your blog gets over 1000+ visitors per day, you can upload videos to these sites and embed the video on your blog. The visitors combined with your subscribers are going to hit the play button. This will increase your videos view count which will help your video to make it to the front page of these sites bringing more viewers and more revenue.
However, the video should be related to the blog.Eg. For a stock market related blog, video tutorial on how to do trading will be suitable.
PC
August 30th, 2008 4:21 pm
Good One Darren..
My blog is One year old but I make very less money compared to other bloggers of my niche. I have been building up my network and it is helping a lot to improve my income.
ebris of bane
August 30th, 2008 4:40 pm
Thank you very much for your post. This is a nice posting. I really like this post and absolutely very usefull to me. Thank you.
Jess
August 30th, 2008 5:30 pm
Wow…I’d love a book deal!
Number 10#
I’d like it if a movie producer who randomly stumbles upon my blog realises how wonderfully talented and articulate my dear little cats are…and so decides to feature them in the next Milo and Otis style film…And hence being their owner and trainer I accompany them down the red carpet at their film debut
Syed Balkhi
August 30th, 2008 8:09 pm
Awesome post write up Darren. Book publishing is one of the things that I am looking into right now, so might send you an email or two to ask some questions.
Alex Fayle
August 30th, 2008 9:23 pm
This is the route I’m going rather than indirect revenue - and I’m curious something about the ebook/membership site option:
How many people who sell information in the form of membership sites/training have Errors and Omissions insurance?
Banker
August 30th, 2008 9:56 pm
waw…good for us, its informative. Good job.
Ross
August 30th, 2008 10:17 pm
Thanks Darren, this post just shows there is more ways to make money on a blog aside from ads.
program
August 30th, 2008 10:20 pm
i wanna say something. if you write for only money you will lost the competetion. you should love your work.
M.ince
Aussie
August 30th, 2008 10:28 pm
Great article, many people [myself included] focus thoughts entirely on making money through the typical avenues.
Aneesa
August 30th, 2008 11:39 pm
I started a blog to provide a Black woman’s perspective on the sport of ice hockey but the blog has evolved into a major source of information on the local team and the sport including interviews with the majority owner, a NHL wife, and sport agents. I was recently added to the team’s media list.
How do I expose this blog that has been described as an intelligent and thought-provoking blog to be given the opportunities or to be invited to freelance, to write a book, or to hired for a sportswriter position?
Pat
August 31st, 2008 12:18 am
This was an excellent post and is what I am focusing on right now. Not just money though, but also personal satisfaction om my work.
I’m a recent law graduate, and focusing on using my own blog to gain entrance into the specific legal field I want to. Law has one of the highest rates of work dissatisfaction of any profession, and so it is very important I get focused on doing the work I want to do. However, if I was just to apply to any old law job out of uni, I would likely just get stuck in an area that wouldn’t excite me, and just burn out. Through my blog, I’m trying to build up my profile and expertise, so I have more bargaining power when it comes to working in the legal field I want to work in.
However, one thing I think still holds very true for this type of blog is that even though you are not making money directly from it, it is still important to treat it as professionally as a blog that is making direct money. I have just realised this myself, and whilst it started as a bit of a part-time hobby to promote myself maybe posting only a few articles a month, now I am trying to refine it and move it more into being a professional blog with featured content and daily posts.
So lately I have been working on a future content plan for my ‘indirect income’ blog and moving to treat it as very much a personal business that I can see operating and growing over many years.
As to number 10 - in the future after 10 years of building a brand I might even be able to start up my own legal firm based on my brand and expertise. That’s the long-term goal for my blog.
Aira Bongco
August 31st, 2008 12:21 am
Very nice post Darren.
I have not found a post similar to this so far. Maybe this is the first. I love the ideas. Sometimes I thought blogging is limited to advertising. I didn’t know there are so many opportunities.
Aira.
Winning Startups
August 31st, 2008 12:29 am
What? Did I miss something here or did you miss advertising? i haven’t made more than thirty bucks on advertising on my blog but I thought everyone else was making lots of money with advertising. Apparently not.
Metroknow
August 31st, 2008 12:53 am
Excellent list - definitely expands my view of ways to make money from a blog.
One other (a number 10, though not mine - yet): I know that travel writers are able to get sponsored reviews of cities - they are able to contact a city they want to visit and pitch the idea of writing articles about the city. Using a blog to launch this kind of thing seems logical, and I would guess, already in practice by travel bloggers.
Cheryl the Increase Sales Coach
August 31st, 2008 1:53 am
Fantastic reminder to take what you’re already doing and discover ways to repurpose and multi-purpose those actions to achieve other objectives.
shawal
August 31st, 2008 1:57 am
I make money from my blog by selling real product…
Mike Phillips
August 31st, 2008 1:57 am
Koichi that is very nice! And a great blog you have. However I dug into you edufire site and also founf http://www.myngle.com and http://www.studentteacherexchange.com which posted on my blog. Now I am making money of that as well. Thanks! The last one I just signed up to since it doesn’t take a cut but it’s kinda new and empty so far…
I have yet to make a dime from my blog. I added google ads but noone is clicking on them. Traffic is low as well but I have no idea on how to get more traffic. Any ideas guys?
Moise levi
August 31st, 2008 2:57 am
Wow, you just described what I do :)
Andrea >> Become a consultant
August 31st, 2008 3:04 am
I started consulting long before I had a blog, but my blogs have absolutely led to growth of my business. I’ve been featured in articles. I did a radio pilot. I’ve been asked to write articles for publication. I’ve been offered jobs (which I turn down, due to the success of my businesses). I’ve sold e-resources, as you call them. And, most importantly, I’ve generated far more leads than ever before.
joseph darell adex
August 31st, 2008 4:21 am
wow,this article is sincerely an eye opening into what people never considered for once.
i love your research techniques.
keep it up!
cb
August 31st, 2008 4:36 am
Interesting list. I never considered my blog would make any money. I have no ads on it and it’s just something I do for myself - but I have been approached through it to write in print media so it’s all been a bit of a shock - and just goes to show that you don’t have to have a big or massively commercial blog (I have currently 20 rss subscribers and am lucky if I get 100 views a day!) to make money!
Ben
August 31st, 2008 7:43 am
When you start to think of a blog as a means of introducing your readers to other services you offer rather than as a tool for making money through ads or affiliate links on your blog itself, the goal posts completely shift.
If you want to make money through advertising, your aim is to bring as many people as possible to your site - quantity of traffic is incredibly important.
But if you use your blog to expose the other things you can do, it’s more a question of the quality of your traffic - and low visitor numbers can still bring good results.
Darren’s put together a brilliant list of the ways web publishers can use a blog to attract new customers/employers, and I would merely add that an important part of that process - as Yaro Starak has illustrated very effectively recently - is building an opt-in email list so that you have permission to write to your most interested readers with more information about what you have to offer.
Brusimm
August 31st, 2008 2:36 pm
Fascinating.
Observation: Aside from blogs that bring in some decent beer money, I run a static website, as does a friend of mine that is product specific. No updates, just casual visitation rates that bring in a fair amount of income.
Everything else is, like I said, beer money.
I’m using my blogs to develop a portfolio for jumping off into possibly a new career direction and some of the ideas posted by Darren seem almost daunting to contemplate that little ‘ol me could possibly be looked at as an expert, but I suspect that would come from time, experience and confidence.
I need to go get another beer right now!
Ryan McLean
August 31st, 2008 5:53 pm
Make money through people donating to you.
Hugh Kimura
September 1st, 2008 3:52 pm
We do referrals. If someone is interested in a service that we do not currently provide, we partner with a reputable business to get a referral fee if they are able to do business with one of our website visitors. We get as much as $2,000 per referral.
Hans Mol
September 1st, 2008 7:55 pm
What a refreshing article! I am new to the blogging space but do it for my personal gratification - I see my blog as my speakers corner - so to speak. It’s absolutely fantastic to see that people are finding a way to generate income from creating/generating their own content.. Looking forward to the growth that lies ahead.
tehreem
September 2nd, 2008 12:08 am
I like #4 and #5 :)
Katherine Reschke
September 2nd, 2008 6:21 am
I am glad to see this on your blog Darren, as this is exactly my business model and that of many other coaches. My blog has probably generated more clients and business than any other single marketing piece - though I do admit many of my marketing efforts are designed to attract people to my blog. Great post.
Tara
September 2nd, 2008 8:57 am
Just as over the last decade we have seen a huge increase in ‘celebrity chefs’ - cooks getting out of the kitchen and on to TV, I think there will come a time when TV stations are looking to blogging personalities to become part of their TV programs. Especially in blogging niches like fashion and travel.
So perhaps ‘TV appearances’ could become No. 10?
Sue
September 5th, 2008 12:21 pm
Strangely enough, this just happened to me last week. A local photographer and graphic designer is looking to start a new company and wanted someone able to write well, and more importantly, able to put up a web site. He contacted me through my site. When we met at our local cafe this morning, he offered me a job.
It’s a prime example of putting out the best content in the best way possible, and good things happen.
Robert
September 10th, 2008 3:53 pm
Great post, Darren! Indeed there are many ways that you can make money as a blogger,but you need to be a hard worker and a good and fast writer. And also a fast learner because you have to stay up to date, Traffic is the main key and there are a lot of methods out there to get that precious targeted traffic, Internet is wild and change so rapidly web 2.0 will become web 3.0 very soon. I made a living out of Blogging since a year and half now with almost 10 blogs. It’s hard work but I work at home and when I want!
By the way thanks Darren you’ve been an inspiration when I started reading problogger one year and half ago.
My Making Money Blog Last Post:
earn money surveys online
Raj
September 16th, 2008 8:08 pm
Hi Darren,
Interesting post as usual. I’m from Malaysia and very new to blogging. Like what you have done with your photography blog, I started out my gadgets blog which is my passion. And yes, I do intend to make money out of it. If I’m lucky and good enough (as you?) I intend to make this my full time job.
To make a a long story short, I thoroughly enjoy all your posts and have tried to implement all your techniques (post titles, formatting, colors, timing of posts etc etc). I must say that it has definitely helped me build a better blog. Thanks Darren! And oh yeah, I got your book too :)
gout
September 19th, 2008 5:39 pm
good advice…I think by implemented 2 methode above regularly and consisten will have great result…..thanks
العاب شمس الدين
September 20th, 2008 12:40 pm
this is an excellent post , thanks a lot , I’m grateful to you .
atlanta wedding photographer
October 21st, 2008 8:54 am
These are some great ways to market yourself. The key that ties these all together is that you are creating something of value and you are seen as the local expert on that topic. This is such a great resource to think about additional ways for income.
Wisdom Talks
December 2nd, 2008 6:29 pm
I am new in Blogging. And this post in inspiring for me that blogging can earn some bucks for me.That’s really great.
I am not a good writer but just want to collect some good things for my community.
Do you think, a Person who is not always writing original contents can still earn?
mike
December 11th, 2008 11:57 am
It seems more advertising programs are coming out all the time. The money possibilities seem endless now.
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