How to make money with your blog [9 tried and tested ways]

 

 

I don't need to tell you why you should start a blog and how to start a blog. You already know that.

You've probably not only invested time in your own blog, but also money. In many cases, it's a lot of both! This money - and much more - should now come back to you in one way or another through your blog.

But how can you finally earn money or make a living from it?

Find out what you need here:

What sources of income are available to a blogger?

The first thing that comes to most people's minds is

Google Adsense

That's not entirely wrong, but (almost) nobody has ever got rich blogging through Adsense.

Sure, there are exceptions. But your blog has to be running properly and generating huge amounts of traffic (more on this later).

Just to give you an idea of the scale we're talking about, take a look at this video:

The Google AdSense Formula - How Much Traffic Do You Really Need?

 

As you can see, you need a lot of traffic to earn really good money with Google AdSense. Your blog must already be well established, otherwise you'll be left with small change.

If you still want to give it a try, here's a very good guide: AdSense Guide - Step by step to good AdSense income

"Surely there are other promising sources of income that even a blog that's just starting out can use to make money?"

Yes, there are.

But you should know one thing. Without visitors or readers, you won't earn any money as a blogger, even with our tips.

Traffic. You need visitors to your blog.

Not as much as with AdSense, but enough to make it worthwhile.

You only have a chance of generating income if you have enough traffic. Only when enough readers consume your content can you convince them of your offer - whatever it is.

And that's why I recommend you read our 23 surefire tips for more visitors to your blog.

Ok, ok, I get it. So what's the secret to making money from blogging?

 

The big secret to making money from your blog..

...is no longer a secret. As a blogger, you don't have to have any special skills.

Or maybe you do?

You "only" need:

• Entrepreneurial spirit
• A technically flawless website
• Excellent content
• Perseverance, patience and self-discipline
• The necessary know-how
• Traffic (visitors)
  
  

Entrepreneurial spirit

Let's not kid ourselves. Being a blogger means more than just publishing a blog article every now and then, placing a few banners, adverts or affiliate links and waiting for the big bucks to roll in.

If you want to earn money with your blog, you have to realise that it means work. A lot of work. Hard work.

VLADISLAV MELNIK described it very well in his article.

He compares the blog to a hammer. He's saying that the blog is just the tool - the tool with which you can earn money through hard work and the right commitment. I agree with him wholeheartedly.

 

technically flawless website

Make sure that your online presence meets the latest technical standards. Just a few keywords here.

• Permanent availability (24/7)
• High server speed
• Impeccable programming
• Mobile friendly
• High UX (user-friendliness)
• SSL encryption
  
  

The technical condition of your blog has an impact on your readers, but above all on Google and other search engines (indexing, ranking).

 

Outstanding content

Write interesting, informative content withgreat benefits and added valuefor your readers. This is important for your visibility in the search engines and for the satisfaction of your readers.

If you read our article TOP SEO copywriting, you will realise that the two are inextricably linked. Without search engines, no visitors - without satisfied visitors, no ranking (at least in the long term).

 

Perseverance, patience and self-discipline

Don't expect to set up your blog and start making profits the very next day. That's not how a blog works. It needs time and care to mature - like a good old wine.

Google first needs to be convinced of the quality of your articles and the seriousness with which you run your blog. Only when this has happened will you get good, top positions in the search results.

To convince Google of this, publish high-quality content regularly, continuously and persistently.

Is there no fastersolution?

Yes, there is. But you'll have to pay for it.

You can place adverts. Google AdWords, Facebook Ads and Instagram Ads are just a few examples.

There are many ways to publicise your website (blog). For all of them, however, you either need time or money. The quick solutions cost money.

 

The know-how you need to earn money with your blog

Once all the other requirements have been met, you can start thinking about making money. I'll give you the necessary know-how below.

There are basically two different forms.

• Earning money with your own products and services
• Earning money with third-party products and services
  
  

#1 Own products and services

If you offer a physical product, a service or coaching, for example, a corporate blog is a great way to draw attention to your offer. This is called content marketing. And this is almost unimaginable without a blog.

To do this, you integrate a blog into your website and blog about, among other things

• News on the market
• Benefits of your solutions
• Product reviews
• Case studies
• Insights into your company
• Special offers
• Etc.
  
  

Then follow the tips on how to publicise your blog (see link above). This and proper search engine optimisation will ensure you get enough traffic to your blog. You can then convert this traffic into customers. Incidentally, this also applies to the following ways to earn money with your blog.

Let's now move on to the possibilities of making a profit with third-party products and services.

 

#2 Affiliate marketing

The first strategy for earning money is affiliate marketing. You've probably heard the term somewhere before.

Definition for dummies: In affiliate marketing, you do nothing other than get people to click on a link that takes them to a sales page and make a purchase there. If a purchase is made, you get a commission.

Of course, it's not quite that simple.

 

 

Peer Wandiger describes very well how to integrate affiliate links into your text.

Depending on the niche and product, you can make really good money with affiliate marketing. Even with quite unusual products. For example, if you cover the topic of chicken coops on your blog and someone clicks on your link (which is offered on Amazon) and makes a purchase, you can earn money.

Of course, you need to build up your expert status first, because why should people trust your advice? You can achieve this through comparisons, analyses of reviews or your own unboxing videos, for example. And a blog is the best medium for this.

Tip: Comparison calculators and costing calculators are very popular. For example, include a loan calculator in your blog. The prospective customer can compare the lenders and you can then forward them to the institution of their choice. This generates income in the form of commission.

But as I said, the product must match the topic of your blog - otherwise you are not credible and will not earn any money.

There are various platforms on which you can register to earn money with affiliate links. The best known and probably easiest way is via Amazon.

How you can profit from Amazon is already described here: Earn money with Amazon

Attention: Affiliate linksmust be labelled as such! More about this at the end of the article.

 

 

SelbstständigImNetz offers a very comprehensive series on affiliate marketing.

The next way to finally earn money with your blog

 

#3 Sponsored posts - advertorials

If the affiliate marketing route doesn't suit you, there is also the option of earning money with advertorials or sponsored posts.

You can get paid for publishing commissioned posts on your blog. These posts are linked once or several times to the website of the client or cooperation partner.

Looks suspiciously like buying and selling backlinks? That depends on whether you do it the way Google requires or not. According to Google guidelines, links from such purchased articles must be set to "nofollow".

Does anyone do that? Hmm..

Would be suboptimal from the point of view of the client, who is hoping for backlinks to his site as well as advertising.

How does Google recognise such a sponsored post? With a good advertorial, not at all.

But if it does somehow get out, you can expect to be penalised or even kicked out of the search engine index.

That's why I don't recommend earning money with your blog in this way (against Google's guidelines) .

It probably won't be an issue at the beginning of your blogging career either. You'll only receive enquiries in this regard when your blog already has a certain standing. And to be honest - then you really don't need it anymore.

Instead, offer your expertise in the form of e-books, video courses or coaching sessions. I'll come back to this in a moment. Or try affiliate programmes - they don't bite. You can do almost nothing wrong and won't jeopardise your reputation and rankings.

If you do decide to go for sponsored posts and have the enquiries, you can take a look at the ultimate sponsored post formula for paid blog articles. There you will find information on pricing.

Please note: Sponsored postsmustalsobe labelled as such and the linkmust be set to nofollow! More about the labelling requirement at the end of the article.

 

#4 Earn money with banner advertising

Banner advertising was once very popular, but soon fell out of favour with readers. The reason for this was that it was overdone. On some websites you only saw banners. That was and is spammy and unpopular.

However, if you sparingly add one or two banners to your sidebar, footer or another prominent place on your blog, they are still very effective.

 

Of course, the adverts must match the content. A banner for car insurance on a blog with the topic "lose weight healthily" does not fit and will not be clicked on.

In addition to banners from partner programmes that you obtain from affiliate networks, you can also sell banner spaces on your blog. This means you are not dependent on clicks, but can charge a flat rate. The amount depends on the size and banner space.

It goes without saying that bannersmust also be labelled as advertising. More on this at the end of the article.

Next tip: Make yourself independent of others..

#5 Earning money as a blogger: Sell your expertise

Earn money with digital products

You run a blog. This blog has a topic in which you are an expert. You know more about your topic than your readers. Offer this expert knowledge for sale in the form of digital products.

There are others who know more about it? So what? They won't buy your e-books and courses anyway. But those who are looking for your solutions and ideas will. They're willing to give you their money.

And this is how you do it (in a nutshell):

1. Research your target audience and their problems.
2. Write blog articles in which you describe in detail WHAT to do to solve the problem.
3. Offer an e-book, webinar or video course in which you explain exactly HOW.
   
   

Write your blog articles in a way that makes the prospect want to buy your product. Take a look at the article The AIDA model - writing advertising copy like the pros.

 

earn money through lectures and coaching sessions

Once your blog is filled with your expert knowledge and high-quality content and you have established yourself as an expert, it is quite possible that you will receive requests for lectures and coaching sessions.

However, you can also take care of this yourself. Look out for event organisers in your area of expertise and actively approach them. Refer to your blog and its figures (visitors, conversions, etc.) and to your social media channels as a reference.

A good example of how you can earn money as an expert with your blog is Benedikt Ahlfeld with his website EOM (Honest Online Marketing). He runs a blog there, which has helped him to establish himself as a brand and specialist in the field of online marketing.

He runs a blog on his website and sells digital products - offline he gives talks and coaching sessions.

 

#6 Income as a blogger through donations

There are readers who like to support their favourite blogger through donations. And there are bloggers who actively ask for donations.

That's not everyone's cup of tea. Nevertheless, I don't want to withhold this source of income from you.

The donation button (from PayPal, for example) is very rarely seen among bloggers. The reason is often that the call for donations is seen by many as begging. By the blogger themselves, but also by some readers.

Why don't you try a different kind of packaging: "Help, I've run out of coffee! I drink loads of coffee while blogging my best tips and ideas for you. I can't do anything without coffee. Help me keep my caffeine levels up."

Or, it doesn't have to be coffee. See here how Sebastian from Hypersuggest com does it:

 

#7 Crowdfunding as a source of revenue for new developments and innovation in business

I can understand why you don't want to include a donation button in your corporate blog. But there is another way to get support through donations - even as a company and without ruining your reputation.

Crowdfunding.

 

Screenshot CONDA Crowdinvesting

Crowdfunding is an alternative financing model. It is an instrument of early-stage financing and provides risk capital for the development of young companies or for the financing of innovation projects in SMEs, writes the WKO in its report Crowdfunding for Austrian companies.

Which crowdfunding platforms are there in Austria?

• www.1000x1000.at - specialised in innovation projects and SMEs
• www.conda.at - specialised in start-ups
• www.dagobertinvest.at - specialises in established companies
• www.dasertragreich.at - specialises in existing companies
• http://www.evercrowd.com/ - specialised in crowdinvesting and crowdfunding
• www.finnest.at - specialised in successful medium-sized companies
• http://www.fundraizer.at/ - specialised in reward based crowdfunding
• www.greenrocket.com - specialised in startups in the field of sustainability
• www.homerocket.com - specialised in real estate projects
• http://www.regionalfunding.at/ - specialised in regional projects in Lower Austria
• http://www.rendity.com/ - specialised in real estate projects
• http://www.respekt.net/ - specialised in donations for civil projects
• www.gemeinwohlprojekte.at - specialised in ethical projects

Source: WKO

 

How you can use your blog to generate income through a crowdfunding project

1. Choose the right platform and launch your project
2. Write several blog articles about your business idea, innovation or new development
3. Link to your crowdfunding project from the articles

 

way #8 for income through blogging - the paywall

Many readers are put off by it - the paywall. And actually - at least from my point of view - it's not always effective.

With a paywall, you only make parts or entire articles or series of articles available for a fee. This could be a paid member area, for example, or you can install payment barriers for (further) reading of content.

As I said, I don't think this model is entirely suitable for generating profit for bloggers.

Do you have absolutely unique content that can't be seen anywhere else? Then the paywall is a suitable source of income.

If your content is good, but similar content can also be found on other sites and blogs, a paywall or membership area is not suitable for generating revenue.

With the amount of good information on the web, visitors are more likely to find it elsewhere than pay for it. This may work for large online media, but not for blogs. But who knows. Maybe I'm wrong.

Do you want to give it a try? Then get 7 tips for a successful and accepted paywall.

Here's an example of how Bild Online uses the paywall to bypass ad blockers. After all, the paper (including the online edition) lives from adverts.

 

 

Another way to earn money with your blog soon.

 

#9 Referrals

Are you ready to invest a little more time and energy? Then this is the right way to earn money with your blog.

Let's assume you're a tiler and you have a blog. You describe how to lay wall tiles, how to mix tile adhesive or what to look out for when cutting tiles, etc.

Over time, you'll build up expert status, which means you'll have lots of visitors in the niche you're in who want to read your tips.

Do you know any blogging tilers or blogging master painters? Probably not. So it's a great niche to build something up in the long term.

Now we have a blog and thousands of visitors, but we still haven't made any money.

Now comes the exciting part. Namely the target group. Not everyone can or wants to lay tiles, but will look for solutions if they need them.

If you now have the option of integrating a tile calculator into your website and placing orders, you can also make a living from it in the long term.

The calculator or module does nothing other than take an estimate and offer the customer or prospective customer who needs a tiler three suitable local professionals.

 

If a tiler that your system has generated for the prospective customer is awarded the contract, you receive a commission.

This system is increasingly finding interested parties who are discovering this area for themselves.

These and similar systems are popping up more and more often on the Internet and usually result in entire companies, such as Mjam (a platform that checks for you who delivers food to you and where you can order from). Mjam doesn't have a restaurant itself, it just acts as an intermediary.

Here you can see how it works:

Enter your address and click on "FIND DELIVERY SERVICE"

 

All results will then be displayed immediately.

 

You can select various filters and will then be redirected "TO MENU". If you buy from the delivery service of your choice, Mjam will receive a commission.

 

information on the labelling requirements for affiliate advertising, advertorials and co.

You want to earn money with your blog. And that's a good thing. But you also want to make sure that everything is above board. The last thing you want is problems.

For this reason, it is essential to comply with the applicable laws and regulations. For example, the labelling requirements for advertising on your website or blog.

I did some research on the internet and came across the blog "Sophie hearts". In it, blogger Sophie from Vienna discusses the labelling of paid advertising on blogs in Austria.

Among other things, she writes:

 

 

I think this version is very successful and encourage people to use it as a guide. However, the blogger points out at the beginning of her blog post that she accepts no liability for the tips as she is not a lawyer. But just read the article for yourself and make up your own mind. LABELLING ADVERTISING IN AUSTRIA - MY TIPS FOR BLOGGERS

 

And while we're on the subject of legal regulations:

Earning money with your blog - everything about trade law, social insurance & taxes

If you run a successful blog from which you also generate income, sooner or later three questions will arise:

1) Do I need a trade licence? And if so, which one?

2) Is the blog income subject to social security contributions?

3) Do I have to pay tax on the income?

 

Do I need a trade licence if I run a blog?

That depends on the following factors:

1. Is the blog income the main source of income or a sideline?

• Sideline: no trade licence is required
• Main business: a trade licence may be required
  
  

2. Do you publish posts on your blog at least 4 times a year?

➨ Yes, I publish blog posts at least 4 times a year.

If articles appear on your blog periodically or at least 4 times a year, this is comparable to a newspaper in terms of commercial law.

The activity is specifically called: "Publication of periodical printed works by the media company".

This does not fall under the trade regulations, but rather in the area of "new self-employed persons".

New self-employed persons do not belong to an interest group (chamber) and are insured under the Commercial Social Insurance Act, i.e. "with the SVA". I will explain later when an insurance obligation arises in this case.

 

➨ No, I don't publish blog posts at least 4 times a year.

If you publish posts on the blog irregularly and less than 4 times a year AND the blog is your main source of income, you need to register a freelance business.

In this case, the "announcement company" is considered a trade.

You must therefore obtain a trade licence from the relevant trade authority or directly from the Chamber of Commerce.

The SVA is automatically informed by the Chamber of Commerce when you start your business.

Tip: Anyone who regularly reads the ithelps.at/blog knows that blogging is all about regularity. A trade licence will therefore rarely be necessary.

 

3. Paid writing assignments

If, for example, you run your own blog and write articles for other blogs at the same time, this falls under the category of journalistic work.

Journalists are freelancers.

Freelancers do not need a trade licence. They are insured either under the Commercial Social Security Act or under the Freelance Self-Employed Persons Act.

In either case, a declaration must be made to the tax office. The tax office ultimately decides whether the activity is actually a freelance profession.

 

Is the income from the blog subject to compulsory insurance?

On the one hand, this depends on the amount of income, on the other hand, it is also important whether the blog is your main source of income or a sideline.

The distinction between new self-employed persons and freelancers is irrelevant for compulsory insurance in the commercial social security system, as this summarises all non-commercial self-employed activities.

The more important question here is whether and when compulsory insurance begins.

This depends on your "contribution base".

The contribution base is calculated from your average monthly income. In this case, from your blog income.

Roughly speaking, income is all income minus all expenses.

 

The blog is your main source of income

This means that you are not engaged in any other gainful employment and do not receive income from any other source (e.g. from an employment relationship).

In this case, compulsory insurance comes into effect as soon as your income exceeds 6,453.36 euros per year (=insurance threshold I).

 

The blog is a sideline

This means that you have another job or receive a pension, unemployment benefit or childcare allowance, for example.

In this case, compulsory insurance comes into effect as soon as your income exceeds 4,871.76 euros per year (=insurance threshold II).

 

What do you have to do?

Regardless of whether you exceed the relevant limit, you must submit an insurance declaration to the SVA.

Here you already enter what income you expect. Click here for the online insurance declaration.

Attention - if you do exceed the limits: Let's assume you are just starting your blog and don't expect to exceed the insurance limit.

However, your blog is now developing very well and you realise that you will exceed the limit after all. In this case, submit a declaration of exceeding the limit to the SVA.

The SVA will check the actual income and penalties may be imposed for exceeding the limit. You can read the details here.

 

How high are the insurance contributions?

The SVA will calculate your contributions in the first three years on the basis of a minimum contribution base.

Only from the fourth year onwards will the actual contributions be reassessed on the basis of your tax returns. You can find out exactly how this works and what you need to pay attention to here.

 

Is the income from the blog taxable?

With regard to income tax, a distinction must again be made as to whether the blog is your main source of income, a secondary occupation or whether you run your blog as an entrepreneur or as a business.

➨ If the blog is your main source of income, you are, as already described, either a new self-employed person or a freelancer. If you have no income subject to income tax, you must submit an income tax return if your income exceeds 11,000 euros.

➨ If the blog is a secondary employment in addition to income subject to income tax (e.g. an employment relationship), you only have to submit an income tax return if

• the ancillary income (i.e. the income from the blog, but also other additional income) exceeds a total of 730 euros per year AND
• your total income exceeds 12,000 euros per year
  
  

➨ If you run a blog as an entrepreneur and generate income from it, this is recognised as income in your bookkeeping or income and expenditure account and taxed accordingly.

These tips on trade law, social security and taxes only provide a rough overview of the options and the essential steps.

The best way to proceed in your individual situation depends on numerous factors.

We therefore recommend that you seek expert advice from a tax consultant or accountancy firm, particularly with regard to compulsory insurance under the GSVG and tax liability. For example, this consulting and service company specialising in payroll accounting and bookkeeping in Vienna.

 

Conclusion:

As you can see, there are many ways you can earn money with your blog. Not all of them are suitable for every blogger. A company blog will probably not include affiliate links in the blog, but will offer coaching and lectures. A food blogger, on the other hand, will have a good chance of making money with referral marketing.

Whether you decide in favour of one area or a hybrid form is up to you. Regardless of which path you choose, I would like to congratulate you on your decision. This way, you too can become an online entrepreneur of tomorrow. However, don't forget that it takes perseverance, patience and self-discipline. After all, the big bloggers, influencers and YouTube stars of today were also naive beginners ten years ago.

They just stuck with it and learnt, tested, implemented, learnt, tested and implemented... to ultimately earn money with their blog.

 

 

Postscript: You have now learnt about 9 ways you can earn money as a blogger. Each of them has its pros and cons. But they all have one thing in common. To make money blogging, you need tonnes of blog ideas and traffic, traffic, traffic! Check out our article 23 surefire tips for more visitors to your blog - 2019 update right now.