How to Make Money With Your Business Blog

No matter how popular your blog is, it won't make money if you don't monetize it. And even a well-designed and monetized blog can't make money if you don't know how to promote it. Too many recent posts on this topic have failed to point out that what works for the rich and famous is unlikely to work for your small business.

When Neil Patel writes about how to create a blog and mentions that his site earns over $1 million dollars a year, I hope people realize that even when he did this with a brand-new blog, he is still the well-respected, world-famous Neil Patel. I'd like to see some stats on how well a brand-new site launch would do if his name weren't on it and couldn't spend four figures a month promoting it.

Definitely read Neil's post and others to get information on how to monetize and promote your blog, but be clear on what will work for your business versus what only works if you are already famous or have very deep pockets to buy traffic.

First Define Your Goals

Before you set your goals and choose how to monetize and promote your blog, first rein in any unreasonable expectations.

The blogs with the most traffic are not blogs dedicated to building non-advertising revenue. For example, a blog connected to a business is not going to outearn a site that publishes celebrity gossip and photos of half-dressed women appealing to the masses.

Even the major business sites are using Outbrain and Taboola ads that feature click-bait titles and titillating photos to make money. But does your business want half-clothed people in ads on your site? I suspect not. Be clear on what the purpose of your business blog is; it is likely that having it earn a million dollars from ads is not it.

Marketing Plan: How to Get Started

Your business blog may not generate an income separate from your business, and that is fine. Its purpose may be to capture leads or encourage sales; it may be to provide support to existing clients. Making money by getting clicks on racy photos may be far from your goal, so don't expect to turn your blog into PerezHilton.

Methods of Monetizing

The major blogs primarily earn income through various types of advertising and sponsored content. Neil Patel's site generates leads for his marketing programs and high-dollar consulting services.

Mom blogs primarily sell no-followed, sponsored posts to big brands that may pay them $500 to $1000+ per post. They may also sell products they create such as webinars, training courses, e-books, and membership sites. See the details on how a mom blogger makes money in “The Truth About How Freelancers Make Money While Sleeping.”

Small business blogs are typically monetized by adding links to what they sell, and lead generation forms. Unlike the huge blogs that sell ads, it is not advisable for most businesses to put outgoing ads on their blogs or sites. You don't want to be sending your potential buyers off your site–you want to keep them around to purchase what you sell.

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