Monetize Your Blog

Like any other group of entrepreneurs, professional bloggers have bills to pay and need to find ways to monetize their online efforts.

However, there’s a fine line between testing new monetization options and bombarding your loyal audience with “stuff.”

In an interview with WorkingWritersandBloggers.com , successful blogger and eBook author, Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, said: “Making money as a blogger is a small business venture, and needs to be treated as such. And, you need to keep experimenting … until you find what works for you.”

Following up on her suggestion, here are our essential tips to getting the balance just right.

Pace Yourself

Yes, it’s essential that you have a monetization plan in place before you launch your blog, but trying out everything—ads, products, consulting, coaching—all at the same time has the potential to leave both you and your audience fatigued.

Plus, don’t forget that each monetization channel will incur costs.

Instead, thoroughly research each monetization option, then test one or two at a time. If after one or two attempts you realize it’s not going to produce the results you need, cut it loose.

Where’s the Value?

It’s easy to get obsessed with granular details in the world of professional blogging. “If I move my subscription button 1mm to the left and color it fuchsia, will that boost my conversions?”

While these ponderings have their place, if the content on your blog is of little-to-no perceived value to your readership, all the fuchsia in the world won’t save you.

On the other hand, if you can deliver on the promise you make to your audience, they’ll come back for more of the same.

Selling Is Not A Dirty Word

Many bloggers are reluctant to dip their toes into the world of digital product selling for fear of being perceived as “selling out.”

But for every naysayer who badmouths your efforts, there will be a handful of folks willing to spend good money on your expertise—if the product offers that all important value (see above).

Keep Your Moral Compass Steady

Once you start pulling in some decent traffic, chances are that all sorts of sleazy business opportunities will come out of the woodwork, wanting to leverage the audience goodwill you’ve worked so hard to build.

Tempting as it may be, don’t do it. Just one misstep could see you fritter away the value you’ve spent years building, and cut dead your earnings potential for tomorrow, next year and in five years’ time.