Welcome to Money making in 2017! I’m Ali and I’m a 17 year old girl who earns a modest living from blogging and reviewing products. When I’m not busy working or studying, you’ll usually find me exploring the world of eSports or playing Pokémon Go!
If you’re interested in pursuing a similar lifestyle to mine, read on. This article will give you a good idea of how to make money online as a teen in 2017. It will cover everything from the basics such as how to make a blog to more advanced topics such as becoming a YouTube creator.
Start A Blog
The first step to making money online is to start a blog. Not only will you have a permanent online space to store your thoughts and musings, but you can also monetize that blog to earn passive income. There are many different ways to monetize a blog, but the most popular and simplest way is to use affiliate marketing with a virtual store. When readers click a monetized link or button on your blog, you’ll earn a small commission.
The most popular virtual store affiliate programs are Shopify, which offers a whole range of e-commerce solutions from basic selling platforms to custom-built solutions geared towards specific markets (such as vape stores or dog clothing brands), and Amazon.com. When users click a monetized link or button on your blog, they’ll be taken to the relevant Amazon page where they can make a purchase. You can also use a voucher code or special link in your posts to drive sales at Amazon.com.
The Downsides Of Blogging
While blogging is a great way to make money online, it’s not without its downsides. The first downside is that you’ll have to manage your own blog. If you want to succeed as a blogger, you’ll need to put in the effort to learn how to use various tools to optimize your blog for search engines (SEO) and how to write compelling content that will draw readers in.
The second downside is that you’ll have to establish yourself as an expert in your chosen subject matter. To succeed as a blogger, you’ll have to prove to readers that you know more than they do about the topic you’re writing about. Researching and learning new things is fun, but it takes time. When you’ve been writing about the same subject for a while, you’ll have to shift gears and establish yourself as an expert in the space.
Blogs Versus Magazines
There is a difference between a blog and a magazine. With a blog, you’ll be able to update the content whenever you want, but with a magazine, you’ll have to wait until the next issue to find out if there’s new content. That’s not always the case, though. Many magazines, or digital publications as they’re often called, will post new content regularly.
Also, with a blog, you’ll have the option of focusing on one topic or spreading your content out over many different topics. As a writer for a magazine, you’ll have to pick one topic and stick to it. It’s often difficult to attract and retain the interest of readers if you don’t offer something new to discuss each month.
In terms of making money online, a blog is worth much more than a magazine because its contents are more valuable. A well-written and researched blog post can generate significant revenue whereas an article in a magazine might only bring in a small amount from passive advertising.
How To Monetize A Blog
Once you’ve got your blog up and running, it’s time to start thinking about how to monetize it. The most popular way of doing this is affiliate marketing, which earns you a commission when someone clicks a monetized link or buys a product that’s promoted on your blog. You’ll need to pick which affiliate program to join, and once you’ve joined, you’ll have to find a product that is related to your blog’s subject matter and then promote it on your site.
Another way to make money online is to become a virtual assistant. Just like the digital nomad mentioned above, you will be equipped with a notebook and a pen. You’ll get paid to help users solve their problems online. You won’t necessarily need to have a degree to get started as a virtual assistant, though you might find that some online courses or certificates can help you gain the skills you need to get the job done. If this sounds like a role you’d enjoy, read on for more information.
The Rise Of Online Fairs
If you’ve been following my blogs or social media posts, you’ll know that I’ve been covering the online marketplace or online fairs for a while now. Essentially, an online marketplace or online fair is where purchasers (usually companies or brands) seek to engage with and buy the services of various content creators (i.e. bloggers, journalists, photographers, designers, etc.).
The rise of online fairs is largely thanks to the fact that traditional retail shops are now opened to the world via online marketplaces. Previously, most purchasing took place in brick-and-mortar stores, but increasingly, people are turning to the internet for all their shopping needs. As a result, online marketplaces such as Alibaba’s Taobao or Amazon’s Wayfair have emerged to provide a one-stop-shop for consumers.
There are many benefits to shopping online. For one thing, you’ll have access to a limitless number of products that you might not have found if you’d been restricted to looking in a single retail store. With online marketplaces, it’s also much easier to compare prices and find the best offers. Some companies, such as Printful, even specialize in finding discount deals for print materials and products related to online stores.
On a personal note, shopping online has allowed me to maintain my favorite brands whilst also helping others earn a small income. For example, if you’re interested in the fashion industry, you can become a stylist for a high-profile brand, sell your photos on stock photography websites, or start a blog on the subject matter.
The Demographics Of My Readers
The first thing you need to do to monetize your blog is to figure out your target audience. This is a vital step; without a clear idea of who your target audience is, it’s difficult to create content that they’ll value.
If you’re worried that your audience might be made up of only individuals from a specific country, you might want to consider creating content for international audiences. The ability to reach a global audience is one of the things that make blogging so powerful a tool for affiliate marketing. Plus, with international readership, you might also attract brand advertisers who want to reach a global audience.
If none of that excites you, go with your gut instincts. Ask yourself questions about what you’re passionate about, what you enjoy doing, and what you find valuable. From there, you can craft an audience that fits around those interests. You don’t need to aim for worldwide readership right away, but thinking about ways to expand your audience might be a good idea.
You might also decide to target a specific niche. If this is the case, consider focusing on a very trendy or specific topic within that niche. The fashion niche is a very popular one amongst bloggers, for example, who can use their platforms to tell the world what brands they love most, what trends they’re excited about, and what products they’ve tested out. This type of content might not bring in the most money, but it’s very easy for bloggers to get started with.
Become A Video Creator
If you’re someone who enjoys being able to communicate directly with your audience, you might want to consider creating video content. Videos require a lot less work than written content, and because they’re usually short, you can produce and upload them quicker than with longer-form content like a blog post.
You might want to start small and film simple explainer videos for businesses, products, or services that you think could benefit from an online video presence. When you get the hang of it, creating videos for online stores is a lot of fun. Just make sure that you stick to using only free video editors such as TikTok’s own Video Manager app or YouTube’s built-in video editing platform.
Make Money With Affiliate Marketing
With affiliate marketing, you’ll be paid whenever someone clicks a monetized link or purchases a product that’s promoted on your site. There are many different affiliate marketing programs you can join, but the two biggest names in the industry are Amazon and Shopify. If you want to get started with affiliate marketing, simply find a product that’s related to your blog’s content and then promote it on your site.