It must be one of the most common questions asked by people looking to make money online. Can I make money from blogging? Given the ease of use and the tiny investment required (we're talking pizza money here), it's not surprising that people look at blogging as an option.
Well the good news is, you bet your sweet little PC you can!
But you can make money online in numerous ways if you have the drive and determination, so why choose blogging?
Well let's briefly look at those low entry costs. WordPress, probably the most popular blogging platform (software) is actually free. Many of the blog themes and plug-ins (to expand its functionality) are also free. Buy a domain name (under $10.00) and get some professional hosting (starting at just a few dollars a month) and you're good to go.
There's a learning curve to get the best out of blogging, of course, but if you can type (even with a couple of fingers like me) then you can blog. You can get yourself earning and worry about the finer points later!
Traditional websites? HTML and scripting? Good luck with that.
But I'm not really addressing the question, am I. The question is, "can I make money blogging?" If the answer is a resounding yes, what about some detail? What about the HOW to make money blogging.
Well at the risk of being vague, how would you like to?
Pick a subject - pretty much anything you like - and you'll find a blog. If it's popular it probably carries advertising. You make money every time someone clicks one of those little ads. It's called pay-per-click marketing.
Similar thing if it's got offers for Amazon books and DVDs or perhaps other products - except this relies on sales. If someone buys, you get a cut. You don't have all the hassle of setting up the sales site or managing it, you just provide a link to it from your blog. It's called affiliate marketing and there are lots of ways to do it, but basically the programs cost you nothing to join and you get a share of every purchase you help generate...
There are affiliate programs for just about anything you can think of, so whatever your subject you can find something that fits. Is it profitable for your blog? Well that will depend on the number of visitors you get, but people are making six figure incomes and more from this stuff!
Then there's getting paid for your opinions or what you write. Some companies will pay you to review their products and services. It's not huge money per article but if you could write a couple a day, about the length of the one you're reading now, you could be looking at $1000 a month or more. It will take time to build to that level but it's quite do-able.
What about developing your own product. It's never been easier to create your own ebook and using a blog to promote it can be hugely profitable. Whole online business empires have been built on that idea, making their owners millions.
The missing part of the formula so far is that nasty four-letter word WORK. None of this happens without it. It's not hard work - you're not going to get any blisters - but it does require consistent effort. Only got a few hours a week? That's fine - exactly how most people start. If you think doing it for a fortnight is going to have you making a living online though, think again.
On the other hand, a few months from now you could be on the way to radically changing your future. Blogging can make ordinary people - with no special skills or experience - more money, faster, than probably any other opportunity that has ever existed. The question isn't "can I make money blogging?" it's "will you do what it takes?".
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