The fact of the matter is that most bloggers, even popular bloggers, do not make money blogging, not what you would consider good money. But there are a small minority of people who are making a killing by operating blogs. Yes, it can be done. I’ve compiled the top tips for bloggers that actually want to make money blogging.
1. Blog for search traffic
Writing a popular blog post that gets a lot of social traffic is fleeting. Even if your article makes to the front page of a site like Digg.com the traffic boost that you receive will be momentary. If, on the other hand, one of your blog posts ranks for a popular search keyword on Google that same article can bring you traffic for months, even years.
In addition search traffic is targeted traffic. When your article about, say, Blogging Tips ranks number one in Google for “blogging tips” you will only get traffic from people who are looking for information on blogging tips. This will, quite frankly, make you a lot more money as your traffic will be targeted to your content and offers.
2. Write long posts
It is better to write one long blog post with your top ten blogging tips than it is to write 10 one hundred word entries containing one tip each. The reason for this is that it will be easier to rank a 1000 word post in the search engines than it will be to rank a 100 word post. Additionally, you can more easily promote one post and others can promote it for you by linking to it.
3. Sell something
If the point of your blog is to talk about your day then you will not make money. The point of your blog has to be to encourage some kind of profitable activity. The fact of the matter is that reading is not a commercial. When a person comes to your blog and reads your content, no money changes hand. The simple act of reading does not make you (or anyone else) money. Even your advertisers will pull their advertising if your readers only read.
If you recommend a product on your blog you will be able to earn affiliate commissions when your readers take your advice and buy the product. It is best if you have a product of your own to promote and sell, though affiliate marketing is probably more attainable for the average blogger.
Even if you refuse to specifically market any products you must at least be willing to sell your traffic to someone who will try to market to them. You can sell traffic by using a program like AdSense or by selling advertising directly.
4. Write about a topic that is commercial
For every blogger who writes about their favorite sports team or political party, I can show you a blogger who has a day job that they have to report to every morning. Bloggers that write about their passions, unless your passion is making money, are not getting rich generally. In order to make money from a blog you need to encourage some sort of profitable activity. Like I said, nobody (especially not the blogger) makes any money when somebody reads their words.
