How to Make Money Blogging Online
Over the past few years, blogs have
risen from an almost unknown “computer geek” secret to the “it” thing on the
internet. It seems that almost everyone, from celebrities to your local junior
high students has a blog.
While it is very common to find blogs
as personal diaries, people that own service based businesses can definitely
profit from having a blog. First and foremost, a business blog helps to build
your web presence. In today’s society, having a strong web presence
is a key factor in your business success.
When a potential client is thinking
about hiring you, there is a good chance that they will do a little
investigation of you online. The potential client may go to Google and do a
search on your name, just to see what comes up. If they find a lot of links,
including blog posts that include helpful information, they will feel more
secure in hiring you.
Using your blog to showcase your
knowledge in your chosen field will help you establish yourself as an expert.
When people see you as an expert, they will automatically think of you when
they need your product or service, and they will also refer others to you.
You can communicate your knowledge in
a variety of different ways. Of course, keeping your blog current and full of
information your target market would appreciate is the main goal, but you can
find ways to make it fun. A life coach, for instance could hold a series on
reducing stress, and each Monday they could post a relaxation technique. You
can also include audio and video messages. This is a growing trend, as more and
more people are getting video iPods.
In addition to using your blog as a
way to build relationships and gain publicity, there are various ways to make
money blogging online. One of the most popular is by displaying contextual ads,
such as Google AdSense.
When you sign up (at
http://www.google.com/adsense), you will be given a small amount of HTML code
to add to your blog; Google will read your blog content and display text ads
your reader may find interesting. For example, a blog about golf may display
ads for golf clubs. When one of your readers clicks on these ads, you will be
paid a commission.
Another option is to join affiliate
programs for products and services your target market would enjoy. When you
join as an affiliate, you will be given special links that you can use on your blog; when one of your
readers clicks on these links and purchases the product or service being
advertised, you will earn a commission.
There are also companies that will
pay you to write about their products and services. The payment will vary
depending on the company and how popular your blog is. There are several
websites dedicated to bringing companies willing to pay bloggers to post and
bloggers together. A popular choice is http://www.payperpost.com.
Your business blog can benefit you in
many ways. It can help you earn income by raising the public’s awareness of
your business and cementing yourself as an expert, and by applying the above
suggestions, you can also begin to make money blogging online. This will give
you an additional income stream, and more than likely, it will also help you
create additional buzz around your business.
If you are ready to start your own
business blog then join me as I teach you through my online video, webinar and
email coaching program how to create a great
business blog with WordPress.