For some people, blogging is just a fun way to share thoughts and personal news with friends and family. But for many, blogging is more than that—it’s a hope that, somehow, they will be able to break into the infinite possibilities of a blogosphere that’s enabled many people to live lives we can only envy. There are the legends. People like Ash Ambirge who’ve turned their devoted audience into an active customer base and are now living in Chile, Brazil, wherever they please, sipping cocktails on the beach while the rest of us type away in our cubicles. That level of success may not be realistic for most of us. (I’m sorry to say. Believe me, I secretly wish for it, too.) But that doesn’t mean you can’t mine your blog in a number of ways to generate a nice side (or even full-time) income for yourself. Here are some of the biggest ways that people have used their blog to create a profitable business:
Create a Product or Service. By guest posting on other blogs, engaging with reader comments, and regularly providing links to useful resources, you can build up a reputation as an authority in your field—and once your readers see you as an authority, there are all sorts of side products you can offer them. Do you blog about entrepreneurship? Maybe you could launch a consulting service where you guide others through starting their businesses. Do you blog about healthy living? Maybe you could create a course that takes people through 30 days of healthy and easy recipes. The possibilities are endless; just listen to what your audience needs and wants, and tap into that, and you have a market of people already waiting to hear what you’ve got for them!
From Blog to Book. If you have a decent following, one way to generate some “passive income” is to create an ebook that fits with your blog topic. You can write a manifesto that summarizes your blog philosophy, consolidate your most popular posts and repurpose them into a book, or create a guide on a topic you know your audience is interested in. It’s “passive” income because once the ebook is written, all you have to do is set up an order form and delivery system and your work is done. People buy your book, pay for it online, and it’s automatically delivered to them electronically. You just sit back and watch the payments come in!
Make It Your Portfolio. When I started freelance writing, I was nervous because I had no real “portfolio” to show prospective employers what I could do. Then I realized: I’d been blogging for a year and a half. I had guest posts on several major blogs and contributed regularly to several others. When I added a Hire Me tab to my blog, the proof of my ability was already there! People could browse the blog for an idea of my personal style, and they could check out my Featured On page to see how I wrote for other blogs. (Just make sure your blog reflects the sort of work you’d like to get; my off-the-cuff, irreverent style definitely lends itself to certain projects better than others.)
Give Your Product or Service a “Face.” Whether you’re a life coach, a digital media artist, or have a boutique on Etsy, a blog can be a great way to bring some personality to your product or service and help you connect with potential customers. People are more drawn to brands they relate to; create a blog that’s fun, engaging, and optimistic, and people will be much more likely to choose your business over bland Brand X.
Sell Advertisements. I put this one last because many bloggers jump on this strategy first, thinking it will bring them millions, only to be disappointed when they see a few cents come in each month. While some of the high-traffic sites generate a large amount of advertiser revenue, the truth is that the average small-time blogger won’t be able to quit their job solely on ad sales. Paired with the above techniques, ads can increase revenue from your blog, but I wouldn’t depend on them. You also need to be extremely careful about the sort of ads you accept. Whether it’s a visual ad through Google AdWords, an in-text link, or a sponsored post, be extremely careful about the sort of ads you foist on your audience. My rule is that if I don’t believe a product or service is legitimate and will truly help my audience, I won’t accept an ad for it. I’d rather miss a few dollars here or there than damage my audience’s trust.
About Kelly Gurnett
Kelly Gurnett, a.k.a. “Cordelia,” runs the blog Cordelia Calls It Quits, where she documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don’t matter and focus more on the things that do. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook and check out her ebook here. She also offers her services as a blogger extraordinaire to those in need of some bloggy awesomeness.