I've been thinking about starting my own personal finance blog for some time now, but the one thing that has always held me back is how much it costs to set up such an online presence. Blogger was always out of reach because their prices are so high, plus they take forever to get started with if you don't already know HTML or CSS code (which most people who want to learn web development never bother to look into). Then there's WordPress.com which will cost $99 per year once your site reaches 10,000 visitors/month -- not exactly affordable for anyone on a budget.
So what other options are available for someone looking to create a simple website without paying thousands in fees? The answer may surprise you...
The solution lies with Google AdSense. It does require some technical skills, but even those who aren't familiar with coding can easily build a basic, static blog using Wordpress' built-in editor. And, while this isn't as easy as just installing a plugin like Paypal Here [Broken URL Removed] - where users pay directly through PayPal when checking out at brick-and-mortar stores - it's still far easier than setting up an account with a platform like GoDaddy or HostGator. What makes this approach ideal is its simplicity, no monthly fee required, and the ability to display ads anywhere on the site. No wonder why it's so popular among small business owners!
But wait, you say. How could displaying adverts possibly help me make money from home? Well, let me explain further.
If you're wondering whether or not monetizing a blog requires any special knowledge beyond simply building an interesting blog with good content, then the short answer is yes. However, if you plan on generating revenue solely by placing advertisements, you'll need to understand how affiliate marketing works before getting started.
Affiliate marketing involves promoting others' products or services in exchange for commission payments when customers purchase said product via links placed throughout your site. This means that every time someone clicks on one of these links and purchases something, you receive a portion of the profit made. For example, Amazon offers affiliates 70% off all items sold within their network, including digital downloads and CDs. Affiliates also get access to promotional materials such as banners, text link ads, etc., along with customer support and feedback forums. All of these perks come naturally when working from home since you won't see another human being until your next paycheck.
That being said, while earning income from advertising might seem complicated, it really isn't. We offer detailed information regarding affiliate programs here, complete with step-by-step instructions on how to sign up and promote others' products. Of course, we only cover the basics here. You'll find plenty of great tips and resources elsewhere on our website, including articles explaining how to use Twitter effectively, Facebook Marketing 101, and even SEO techniques. To summarize, below are the steps you must follow to maximize earnings potential:
1) Register for free at ClickBank. They provide detailed tutorials on how to join their program. Once registered, you'll receive commissions each month based on sales generated from your referrals.
2) Create unique URLs linking to the merchant's webpage containing sale details. These links appear on pages across your entire site. Be sure to include "aff" somewhere in them, otherwise they'll show up as plaintext links instead of clickable ones.
3) Place links onto your blog posts to redirect readers to the appropriate sale page.
4) Write informative descriptions for your post(s) highlighting the benefits of whatever it is you're recommending. Make sure they're at least 2--3 sentences long and contain keywords related to the item(s) you're selling.
5) Use relevant images to accompany your description and encourage readers to read deeper into the article. Try to incorporate both visual and audio elements whenever possible.
6) Encourage visitors to visit the merchants' websites and buy things by offering incentives, discounts, bonuses, coupons, and similar. Give away prizes from your own store. Consider doing contests and giveaways too.
7) Don't go overboard with promotions. After all, you don't want to scare off visitors due to excessive hype and noise. Keep everything subtle and professional.
8) Monitor your stats closely. A few hundred visitors over several months doesn't mean anything unless it translates to actual dollars spent.
9) Repeat the above process for multiple sites -- especially if you intend to launch new blogs regularly.
10) Rinse and repeat. There's nothing wrong with trying different types of strategies until you find the right formula that works best for you.
Once you figure out how to maximize your profits, you can focus entirely on writing and editing quality content rather than worrying about making ends meet. While it takes patience to succeed with affiliate marketing, it definitely beats having a job! So give it a try today and start seeing results tomorrow.
As mentioned earlier, most successful bloggers make money quickly. In fact, the majority of top earners began posting their first entry sometime around 2006. But just because success comes faster than ever before doesn't necessarily imply that everyone can achieve this goal. Before you decide to put yourself on the path towards financial freedom, ask yourself two important questions: Are you willing to sacrifice sleep? Is your schedule flexible enough to accommodate work hours?
If you answered yes to either question, consider turning your passion project into a career, even if it's part-time. Remember, you can start a profitable side hustle with very little investment capital. In fact, it could literally cost you less than lunch each day. Sure, it might take longer to become financially stable than if you were employed, but think about how many extra years you'd have left to live life on your terms if you didn't waste countless hours watching TV or playing video games.
Here are three ways you can turn your hobby into a lucrative second source of income:
One: Become an expert marketer. Whether you prefer cold calling, emailing prospects, or creating flyers, there are tons of ways to generate leads and ultimately sell stuff online. You can use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, and Reddit to attract followers interested in purchasing goods from you. Then, leverage your existing contacts list to expand your sphere of influence.
Two: Develop niche expertise. If you enjoy photography or cooking, for instance, you probably know a lot more than average consumers do. Take advantage of this edge to charge higher rates for your services. Offer packages tailored specifically to clients' needs.
Three: Start your own ecommerce store. With a well designed storefront and solid backend technology, you can allow buyers to browse and shop from wherever they happen to be. Plus, the power of automation allows you to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up your time for higher-value activities.
You can also opt to run a membership site. Membership sites involve charging members recurring monthly dues, usually ranging between $20-$100 depending upon price points and offerings. One of the fastest methods to create passive income is to tap into pre-existing markets and businesses that often struggle to fill certain niches. For example, if you love music, you could start a subscription service featuring independent artists that release albums exclusively for subscribers. Alternatively, you can create your own line of branded merchandise, such as T-shirts, mugs, hoodies, bags, stickers, calendars, and iPhone cases. Not only would you stand apart from competitors, but you'd also gain loyal fans eager to snap up your latest creations.
Fortunately, learning how to earn money from your blog doesn't demand lengthy periods of training. Simply begin researching topics of interest to your target audience and write compelling copy. When done correctly, this strategy produces results almost immediately. As an added bonus, the following tactics can increase your chances of attracting attention from search engines:
Use targeted key phrases. Search engine optimization experts agree that keyword research plays a critical role in boosting rankings and overall visibility. According to Matt Cutts of Mountain Goat Productions, "Keyword Research is the foundation for effective Web Content Creation." He suggests finding a keyword density of 1%-5%. That number ensures optimized placement in SERPs, thus increasing traffic.
Create original content. Writing fresh material consistently helps keep visitors returning again and again. If you publish duplicate entries, however, you risk losing credibility with audiences accustomed to reliable sources of news. Also, remember that publishers typically penalize duplicate submissions. On the contrary, producing unique pieces gives editors reason to highlight your contributions.
Write shorter paragraphs. Readers tend to skim copy written under 400 words, regardless of length. Therefore, condense your essays into smaller chunks. By breaking down large blocks of text, you minimize unnecessary fluff. Longwinded passages weaken an article's impact, whereas concise prose attracts eyeballs.
Incorporate visuals. Pictures speak louder than words, particularly in today's hyperactive world where attention spans plummet. Images play a vital role in capturing reader's attention, so be sure to supplement your writings with corresponding photos.
Blogging seems like it's the easiest way to earn an honest buck online - just write a few words about something that interests you and put them up there for people to read. But how does one go about bringing in those coveted millions of dollars per year as some bloggers seem to achieve with ease? The truth is that if your goal is to become wealthy through blogging, then yes, it can happen overnight. However, most bloggers don't want overnight success (or they are afraid of being "overnight"). They would rather work hard towards their goals and see them come true over time.
So what happens when someone works hard at becoming successful at something but doesn't see immediate results? It could mean two things: either he/she has been working too long or she hasn't worked enough yet. The solution lies somewhere between these extremes. Let me explain...
Let's take a look at some common problems faced by newbie bloggers who are trying to build traffic:
I've spent hours writing content, posting comments, building backlinks and social bookmarking sites, etc., but still no traffic!
My posts are very good quality, so why aren't readers coming back again and again?
It's obvious that some bloggers are making tons of cash while others are struggling to keep afloat. How did they manage to reach such different outcomes within the same business model? What makes the difference here? Why isn't everyone earning thousands every month from their blogs? These questions will probably haunt any blogger hoping to break even soon after starting out. And let's face it - nobody wants to struggle day in and day out without seeing any real return on investment. So how exactly do we find our way to financial freedom? Here are answers from experts:
There are several ways you can get free targeted traffic to your site including search engine optimization techniques, article marketing, video marketing, press releases, forum marketing, link exchange strategies, viral marketing, paid advertising, solo ads, classifieds, referral programs, joint ventures, affiliate marketing, PPC campaigns, directory submission, newsletter publishing, ezine advertising, and more. All of these methods give you instant exposure to potential customers. You may also consider using tools like Google AdWords, Facebook Marketing, Twitter Advertising, Ezines, Solo Ads, Classifieds, EZine Submissions, Directory Submission, Joint Ventures, Affiliate Programs, VIRAL MARKETING, Viral Videos, Press Releases, Blogging, Video Marketing, Article Directories, Social Bookmarking Sites, Link Exchanging Strategies, Forum Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Video SEO, Banner Exchange Networks, Pay Per Click Campaigns, Newsletters, Paid Advertisement, Banners, Email Ads, Solo Ads, Referral Program, Newsletter Publishing, Online Surveys, JV Partnerships, and Ezine Articles.
If you're looking to start generating revenue quickly via your own blog, try implementing all the above mentioned options into your strategy. In fact, having multiple streams of monetized traffic helps ensure steady growth. Don't forget to use free traffic generation resources to promote other products and services offered by yourself and other marketers. This concept of cross promotion is called multi level marketing which refers to promoting affiliates' products and services in order to generate commissions.
However, this process needs to be done carefully because there are certain risks involved. For example, if you join an MLM program without proper training, you might end up losing precious funds instead of profiting from it. Also, remember that you cannot expect quick returns unless you are willing to invest adequate amount of money upfront. Hence, before joining an MLM program, first understand its compensation plan thoroughly, and only proceed once you feel comfortable about doing so.
Here are three tips you can follow to help you avoid falling prey to unscrupulous companies:
1) Always research a company extensively prior to signing up for a product or service. Check customer reviews posted on forums and review websites regarding the product or service and ask around among friends and colleagues. Find out whether anyone else has tried the product or joined the service, and check whether they were satisfied with it. Avoid joining anything where you don't know how much your efforts are going to cost you and where you won't receive regular payment.
2) Before joining any MLM program, verify the credentials of the person recruiting you. Make sure they have experience in the industry. Ask them to provide references from previous clients/customers whom they successfully helped. Get proof of ownership of the product(s) you'll be selling. Most importantly, contact the Better Business Bureau for complaints filed against the company.
3) Never sign up under false pretenses. Do not accept offers that require you to buy large quantities of merchandise right away. Instead, focus on smaller orders initially until you gain momentum. Then gradually increase your sales volume. Remember that big purchases attract attention and can lead to legal issues. It is better to sell small amounts of items regularly until you accumulate enough profits. Once you hit the jackpot, quit buying goods outright and shift your focus onto creating passive income streams.
What if I'm already stuck in another job and am unable to devote much time toward growing my blog? Well, perhaps you should think twice before quitting your current employment due to lack of motivation. After all, if you're serious about turning your blog into a viable source of income, you must treat it seriously and dedicate ample time and effort towards it. Besides, you never know what opportunities life may throw at you tomorrow. Who knows, maybe you'll suddenly discover a passion that consumes your entire free time. That's precisely what happened to Jeff Bezos founder of Amazon.com. He was a computer salesman before his great idea struck him during a trip to Bermuda. Nowadays, a single book sold by Amazon generates almost $4 million annually. With that kind of profit margin, imagine what a well-managed website can create for you.
Now you know the secret behind many top bloggers' ability to turn their hobby into huge sources of wealth. Take heart and keep learning! Good luck!
To learn more about gaining popularity and increasing your overall visibility please visit http://www.blogtipsformoneymakingsuccess.blogspot.com
Blogging is one of the best ways for entrepreneurs and content creators to get their work out there. It's also an excellent way to generate traffic for your site or blog — but how can you tell if all that traffic will translate into profit? The answer has everything to do with what they call "pageview economics."
Page view economics refers to the amount of time someone spends on your website vs. clicking through to another site. In other words, it's based off metrics like average number of clicks per visit (known as CPM) and total hours spent in a given period (also known as ARPU). However, this metric doesn't take into account any revenue generated by those visitors. To figure out true earnings potential, we'll have to delve deeper into analytics data.
According to Statista, as of September 2014, there were over 1 billion internet users worldwide. Of these people, approximately 45% used social media platforms. This means that about 450 million people use Facebook each month! And while statistics vary by country, Google reports that Americans spend around 4 hours online every day. So let's assume that most U.S.-based readers are using either Twitter or Facebook at least once a week. That makes up just under 40 minutes worth of browsing time daily. Divide that by seven days in a week and you've got yourself roughly 28 days' worth of viewing time.
Now imagine that you're running a popular blog where thousands of people read your articles. You might wonder whether you could start earning some serious cash if you only focused on writing quality posts instead of trying so hard to draw attention away from them. After all, wouldn't your audience rather click through to another article after reading yours? Would that not be better for business? Well...the short answer is yes and no.
Before looking at actual numbers, it helps to understand exactly how advertisers pay for targeted web ads. The basic idea behind advertising is pretty simple – companies want to reach consumers who would benefit from whatever product or service they offer. For example, an advertiser may decide to advertise its new smartphone app on Reddit because it knows that people interested in technology will probably check out r/AndroidPolice and r/iPhoneApps. By paying Reddit $100 dollars a month to display their ad, the company hopes to drive more sales leads back to its store.
But when it comes to paid advertisements on blogs, things aren't quite so cut and dry. There are two main types of sites that accept such ads – sponsored links and contextual ads. Sponsored links appear alongside regular posts, typically near the top of a sidebar widget or along the bottom of the screen. Meanwhile, contextual ads appear wherever a reader happens across them, often without changing anything else.
So why does anyone care which type of advertisement websites prefer? Because advertisers don't really know for sure which kind of people tend to browse certain subreddits or which magazines people pick up when shopping at Barnes & Noble. They simply try different versions until something works well enough to keep customers coming back again and again.
In general terms, advertisers pay higher rates to promote products or services to people who fit squarely within a demographic profile. When it comes to individual websites, however, advertisers don't expect to see huge spikes in traffic overnight. Instead, they look for gradual increases in user engagement and conversion rate.
If you run a blog, then you already understand the concept of converting readers into subscribers and ultimately turning them into loyal fans. Now think about the same process happening on a larger scale. Do you see how this applies to monetizing your blog? A visitor must first come across your post before he or she even needs to leave your site. Once they learn more about you and become convinced that your brand represents something worthwhile, chances are high that they will subscribe to receive updates from your feed.
By understanding the basics of page view economics and knowing what kinds of people tend to watch videos posted on YouTube or listen to podcasts produced by Podchaser, you'll gain a solid grasp of how long it takes to turn a single viewer into a subscriber. But remember - this isn't necessarily going to mean direct financial gains. As mentioned earlier, advertisers generally focus on improving traffic and conversion rate, not maximizing profits directly.
Once you know how much money you'd stand to make whenever someone watches your video or reads your blog entry, it becomes easier to determine what kind of writer you should aspire to be. Is it possible to write an entire novel in less than 30 pages? I doubt it. Yet professional writers regularly churn out books that are shorter yet still readable. How did they manage to pull it off?
One thing's clear -- everyone wants to publish a book someday. Unfortunately, doing so requires both skill and luck. Skill because publishing houses require authors to meet strict requirements regarding length, style, structure, etc. Luck because even though millions of people buy ebooks year after year, very few ever end up selling more than a handful of copies.
It's easy to say that success always depends on talent alone, but that isn't entirely true. Yes, there are plenty of talented individuals who lack confidence and refuse to share their ideas with others. On the flip side, there are equally skilled people who lack patience and fail to follow their instincts. Which category fits you? Take heart from recent history. Just ask Stephen King, JK Rowling, Paulo Coehlo, Neil Gaiman, Anne Rice, John Grisham, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Clive Barker, Terry Goodkind, Orson Scott Card, Dean Koontz, Dennis Lehane, Harlan Coben, Ian Fleming, Michael Crichton, and countless others whose names rarely appeared in newspapers outside of obituaries. Those people didn't give up hope when faced with failure. Neither should you.
As far as generating revenue goes, you won't find many successful indie publishers who haven't earned a healthy return on investment (ROI) despite working part-time. The key word here is "healthy" because ROIs depend largely upon the goals set forth by the publisher himself. Some publications choose to invest solely in digital assets while others opt to print physical copies too. Whichever route you choose, make sure you analyze your options thoroughly and consider all expenses associated with printing, distribution, marketing, and overhead costs.
Don't forget to factor in inflation since prices fluctuate according to demand. These days, ink cartridges cost nearly twice as much as they did five years ago ($49.99 compared to $25), while paper continues to drop in price. Even so, publishers who sell printed goods must deal with inventory issues and rising shipping fees. Digital products allow you to eliminate the latter problem altogether. With the right tools, you can produce multiple editions and send them straight to buyers' inboxes. Sure beats waiting weeks for packages to arrive via mail.
With fewer risks involved, digital products give you greater control over pricing. Why waste money on overpriced merchandise that sells poorly? Always compare apples to apples when choosing between traditional and electronic formats.
Some people believe that the golden age of self-publishing began in 2012 when Kindle Direct Publishing launched. Since then, several startups have popped up promising instant riches for wannabe millionaires. According to estimates cited by Inc., Amazon alone made $1.7 billion in net revenues during 2013. Not bad considering that the company started operations in 1994.
Of course, you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket. Don't rely exclusively on one source of income either. Make sure you diversify your sources and spread your risk evenly throughout various areas of interest. Consider creating a combination of free and premium offerings. Offer subscriptions to your newsletter or mailing list while simultaneously providing excerpts from your latest stories for free.
You might even find opportunities to partner with other businesses offering complementary products and services. For instance, if you own a small electronics shop, you can team up with local independent artists who provide custom illustrations for cell phone cases, decals, t-shirts, mugs, and stickers. Doing so gives you access to a wide range of creative clients eager to spend extra money on branded items.
On the other hand, you may not feel confident enough to design original artwork. Fortunately, there are lots of places willing to help boost your reputation among prospective employers. Try partnering with recruitment agencies or hiring managers who specialize in specific fields. In exchange, you can show them samples of your work and possibly even refer qualified candidates to them.
Another option involves licensing your images to third parties. This approach allows you to retain ownership of the intellectual property while letting others market your creations. Be warned, however, that licensing agreements sometimes involve lengthy contracts requiring hefty royalty payments. While signing one certainly sounds appealing, you should weigh the pros and cons carefully before taking action.
Finally, you can join affiliate programs designed specifically for bloggers. Affiliate marketers earn commissions by referring other people to merchants' stores. Depending on the program you sign up for, you could earn anywhere from 5% to 75%. Signing up for an affiliate program doesn't guarantee immediate wealth, but it's definitely a good starting point toward achieving personal financial freedom.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.