Turning a blog into a source of income

If you think blogging is a way to get rich quick, think again. Most bloggers say you’ll toil long hours, possibly for years, before you make your first dime.

But if you’re a decent writer, have a smattering of technical skills and have something to say that you think other people can relate to or benefit from, it can be a long-term ticket to wealth.

Making money as a blogger is a long game, said Teresa Mears, founder of LivingOnTheCheap.com.

“It can take years, not weeks,” she said. “And even then, you might only make pennies.”

Successful bloggers say you can make blogging a viable side hustle if you stick with it. But you’ve got to start with a strategy that answers three key questions: Who are your readers? What do they need? And why do they need you?

Making money

There are five ways to make money with a blog. Sell advertising. Earn affiliate revenue. Sell subscriptions. Market products. Use the blog to advertise your services.

Successful bloggers generally use a combination of these to earn a profit. But the right combination will depend on your content and why you’re blogging.

Let’s say, for example, that you’re a young dentist who wants to build up her practice. Blogging can help you establish a reputation as an expert, communicate with potential clients and earn commissions on the sale of dental products that you recommend. This blogger could profit by both pulling in new clients for her practice and earning affiliate revenue. (Affiliates typically pay a referral fee when readers buy recommended products.)

What if you’re a financial expert who wrote a book? You can sell the book on your blog and, perhaps, market your financial coaching services too. If you get enough web traffic, you can also host ads on the site.

If you’re a skilled writer and researcher, you may be able to charge readers to get access to your content in addition to offering advertising and affiliate links.

What to expect

How much should you expect to earn? Deacon Hayes, who founded Well Kept Wallet, said you might make only $1,000 or so a month in the first one to three years. However, as you build a following, income can rise rapidly.

Well Kept Wallet now produces revenue in the “mid six figures” mainly from affiliates and traditional ad revenue, he said.

Traditional advertising usually pays by views and clicks. If you sign up with an ad network such as Google Adsense or Media Vine, you might earn $25 to $50 for every 1,000 people who look at your site, for instance.

Affiliate revenue is harder to estimate. Some writers earn a fortune this way, while others earn pennies. The same holds true for selling subscriptions or offering products through your blog.

Because earning money as a blogger can take years, Hayes said it’s important to pursue a topic you like and want to write about.

SEO basics

The bulk of website traffic is directed there through Google. It’s important to learn why Google sends traffic to one blog and not another. Whole books have been written on search engine optimization. But here are a few keys.

Expertise: Google favors people who are genuine experts in a field. Be sure to list your credentials in your “About Us” bio.

Play it straight: Stick to the point, clearly stating what your article is about at the top and throughout.

Popularity pays: If your content is good enough to have other sites link to it, Google’s search engine is more likely to send you visitors too.

Persistence is important:

The longer your site is live and being regularly updated, the more credibility it wins with Google.

Kristof is the editor of SideHusl.com, an independent website that reviews moneymaking opportunities in the gig economy.