Creating a Profitable Blog and Website is Possible if you have an Income Strategy
When I started my first website 10 years ago, I didn’t exactly have an income strategy; I just wanted to take the workshops I was teaching at community colleges, adult education centers, and my church…and put them online so women all over the world could take them.
Creating a profitable blog isn’t easy these days because the barrier to entry has been lifted; which means anyone with a computer, an internet connection, and a little tech skills can start a blog. There are a lot of blogs out there that were put up strictly to not deliver value and just to get traffic and hope that someone will click on their Google ads so they can get paid.
If you look at the statistics approximately 60-75% of bloggers make less than $100 per month with their blog.
I’m happy to report that my online income for this month (August 2014) is $11,471.25 and this comes from “multiple streams of income”!
Now you’re probably wondering exactly “where” that money is coming from.
I’ve been preaching and teaching for years that if you want to become a 6-figure woman, then you need to have multiple streams of income! So what I’ve done over the years is create multiple streams of online income.
For 10 years I was an outside sales representative in a 100% commission job (in-home sales) working 20-25 hours per week and making a nice 6-figure income. Looking back I can tell you the secret to my success: I put the relationship first and the sale second!
I was in a one call close environment, so there were no “be-backs”. I had to make the sale in a 2-3 hour time period and I was asking for a lot of money. The product I sold ranged from $10,000-$35,000! I became a master at developing trust in a short period of time.
If you really want to create a profitable blog and website, then you need to develop TRUST with your audience. Here’s a few ways to do that:
- Tell the truth. Sounds crazy I know! You don’t have to tell your whole life story, but you need to be visible and to share your truth with your audience.
- Create great content that tells your audience that you truly care about whatever it is you are teaching/sharing with them.
- Show your face. I personally hate it when I go to a website and there is no photo of the creator/owner of the website or blog. I want to know who I am doing business with and it helps me develop trust.
- Be accessible. Okay, when you get rich and famous, then you can hire an assistant to answer your emails and take your calls, but until then — be accessible to your audience. I love interacting with my students, clients and visitors to my site!
When doing research for my 6-week online course, Blogging with Passion 4 Profits, I studied some of the most popular blogs to see how they were making money. Here are some of the successful bloggers I’ve discovered:
Just like me, these bloggers have created multiple streams of online income. Here are where some of their streams of income are coming from:
- Google Adsense
- BlogHer
- ShareASale
- Commission Junction
- Add Speed
- Media Net
- LinkShare
- Tasty Food Photography
- Sponsored Posts
- Genesis Themes
- BlueHost
- Aweber
- Direct Advertising
- Amazon
- Information Product Sales
- Coaching Sales
- Consulting Fees
- Services
- AND MORE!
There are 100 different ways to make money with your blog/website and the most important thing for you to know is that there is no “one way”.
I know that because I’ve never found 2 blogs that have income coming from the exact same sources. You have to do what’s right for you and what’s right for your audience.
I didn’t start out as a blogger. I started out an an Info-preneur. I made 100% of my online income from selling online courses, however, in 2009 I started blogging and my income increase substantially and I started creating more income streams (blogging helps you to be seen as an “expert” in your field…because what we teach…we learn at a much deeper level).
Here’s where my $11,471.25 income is coming from this month:
- eCoaching
- Online Courses
- Website Design
- Website Maintenance (recurring income)
- Apprentice Program
- Bluehost Affiliate Income
- Aweber Affiliate Income
- Marketers Mojo Affiliate Income
As you can see I don’t use Google ad sense, I don’t promote a ton of affiliate products and I don’t have sponsored ads, but I still made a great income this month.
I love writing, teaching, creating and working one on one with my students! That’s where my passion is and that’s my focus.
I have students that tell me that they want true “passive” income and that’s fine too. Although, if you have a blog…you can’t just sit back and do nothing. You have to keep creating valuable content and build your list, however, you could focus strictly on promoting quality affiliate products, google adsense, and other types of advertising income.
If you’d like to learn more about creating a profitable blog and website, then please consider taking my 6-week online course, Blogging with Passion 4 Profits!
I’d love to work with you in designing a business and a lifestyle you love!