If you’re looking for ways to earn extra cash, why not consider creating a free blog? There are several viable options available, but first you need to establish a presence on the Web. Luckily, there are several established sources you can tap into to get the ball rolling. In this article, we’ll introduce you to six ways you can monetize a free blog.
1. Hosting and Charging For Surveys
One of the simplest options is to host and charge for surveys. You can find several reputable survey companies that will pay you to take surveys online. Some of the more popular survey sites include Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, OneOpinion, Ipsos iSay, Ipsos ISay, and Ipsos iSay Single Platform.
You can find a complete beginner’s guide to taking online surveys at freelancing.com/how-to-make-money-online/earn-money-online/surveys/.
2. Start An Affiliate Program
An affiliate program is similar to a traditional product review, but instead of reviewing a product, you’re promoting a company and its products. As an affiliate marketer, you’ll be asked to connect popular brands with monetized blogs. You’ll have to pick a specialized niche and build a reputation before you can promote products from reputable brands.
The difference with affiliate marketing is that you won’t be reviewing products or giving your honest opinion — instead, you’ll be essentially selling something. Even though you’re an independent contractor, you’ll still be expected to meet sales objectives set by the company you work for. Setting up an affiliate marketing program is relatively simple. You can launch a basic version for free and then upgrade to a premium version at any time after your blog has reached a certain threshold of quality content and engagement.
3. Start An Online Store
If you’re the creative type, you can start up an Etsy shop. Etsy is the largest online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods. You can use your creative skill to design and make unique products that people want to buy. Launching an Etsy shop doesn’t require a lot of capital. You can use the free version and then upgrade to a premium account as your business grows.
A downside to Etsy is that you’ll have to manage the entire process yourself, from product design to delivery. Also, the profit margin is typically low since Etsy takes a cut out of every transaction. However, if you already have a following among the creative community, Etsy could be a viable option. If not, you can use Etsy to find the handmade goods and designs you like and then create a store around them.
4. Start A Dropshipping Business
A dropshipping business provides all the products that you’ll be selling, and they’re shipped directly to your customers from a third party. You’ll simply need to collect payment and ship the ordered products. You can find reputable dropshipping providers such as Shopify, Big Commerce, and Volusion.
The advantage of a dropshipping business is that you have nothing to risk since you’re not owning or managing any physical products. Many dropshipping businesses make money online by putting products on sale, and there’s no price threshold below which you won’t make money. For example, if you have a Starbucks product that people are buying at a higher price than your cost, you could make money off the difference.
5. Start A Clickworker Or Crowdfunding Platform
If you’re motivated by potential profits, you can consider a clickworker or crowdfunding platform. With a clickworker, you’ll be essentially selling your clicks. For example, if you have a Google AdWords account, you can connect that to a clickworker account. When someone clicks on a sponsored link or makes a purchase after clicking on one of your links, you’ll get a small commission.
Crowdfunding platforms are similar to clickworkers, but instead of paying you per click, you’ll be seeking funding from a group of investors. If you have a specific product that you think you can convince people to fund via a Kickstarter campaign or Indiegogo page, you can use a crowdfunding platform to get the word out.
The advantage of a crowdfunding platform is that you reach a much wider audience than a clickworker. With a clickworker, your potential customer base is limited to those who have heard of your product or service. On the other hand, a crowdfunding platform allows anyone with an internet connection to get involved.
6. Start An Online Travel Agency
If you’re the entrepreneurial type, you can start an online travel agency. The travel agency model is pretty self-explanatory; you’ll be marketing travel destinations and packages to affluent customers who are looking to travel but don’t want to spend too much money. While this might not seem like a direct route to earning quick cash, the travel agency niche is highly scalable and can provide a steady stream of revenue.
Starting an online travel agency doesn’t require a lot of capital. You can use the free version of Shopify to create a robust and professional-looking website. You can then use agency management software such as HubSpot or Concourse to take care of the back-end operations. Travel agents typically work from home, so this is an option if you’re looking to eventually quit your job and become your own boss.
What Is A Blog?
Blogs, or weblogs, are a type of website that focuses primarily on content creation and sharing. They were originally created as a way for individuals to keep track of interesting articles and stories that matter to them. In addition to sharing content, many blogs will host events, such as interviews or guest posts by well-known figures in the industry.
Since most bloggers are independent contractors, they don’t necessarily have to make money off their blogs. However, they can choose to do so. Some monetize their blogs through affiliate marketing, while others use other methods such as sponsorships, affiliate programs, and online auctions.
How To Make Money Online With A Free Blog: The Basics
To get started, you’ll need a domain name for your blog. There are several popular blogging platforms available, such as WordPress and Blogger. If you’re choosing WordPress, make sure to get the very popular and flexible free version first. Once you’ve registered a domain name and logged in to your WordPress account, create a new blog post. Be sure to check out the WordPress tutorial section on YouTube for help getting started.
Once you’ve launched your blog, you can take advantage of the various monetization options discussed below to start making money. Even if you choose not to monetize your blog, you’ll still be able to find several options that’ll allow you to make money online with a free blog.
How To Make Money With A Free Blog: Monetizing Options
Depending on your interests and expertise, you’ll have several options when it comes to monetizing a free blog. For example, if you’re a fitness enthusiast, you might want to consider using your blog to promote weight loss products or supplements. If you’re a photographer, you could use your blog to promote your clients’ photography projects or to showcase your own work.
Since your blog is free, you have complete control over the content (within reason). One option is to use affiliate marketing to make money online. This is where you’ll be introducing customers to a product, service, or company and earning a commission when they make a purchase after being informed about your affiliation with the brand.
To find affiliate programs, you’ll have to first create a platform. This could be anything from a blog to a Facebook page to an email list.
Once you have your affiliate platform set up, you can search for affiliate programs from reputable brands that are interested in partnering with you. Once you’ve found an affiliate program that suits your interests, you can connect your blog to the program and start making money online.
Are Blogs Worth It?
Even though we’ve established that blogs can be a viable way to make money online, it still doesn’t mean that all blog posts will make you money. There are several factors that go into determining whether or not a blog post will be profitable. Is it informative? Does it provide unique and valuable content? Does the subject matter resonate with your target audience?
To find the right niche, you’ll need to do some research. If you’ve never blogged before, it can be difficult to know what topics will be valuable to others. However, once you’ve found that sweet spot, you’ll be able to build a profitable blog around it.