As writers, it is a good move to have some sort of a website in place. Today we’re looking at ways to make money with our websites.
Having a way to make some money through our website can be great, especially for us writers and artists who maybe aren’t raking in millions (yet anways 😉 ).
But is it really possible to make any significant money? And how hard and confusing is it for people (like me) who aren’t super tech savvy?
The good news is, there are lots of options available.
And if you’d like to make some money off your blog but aren’t sure whether you want to pursue that because it just seems a little, well, slimy and salesy- I hear you.
And honestly, I’m glad that’s on your radar. No one likes over the top self-promotion and our readers aren’t going to appreciate aggressive sales tactics that don’t provide value.
The key is that there is a beautiful middle ground here: It is possible to both help other people AND make money at the same time.
That’s our sweet spot.
Today I’ll give a brief overview of a few ways that our websites can be used to make money, as well as some resources for further reading. Hopefully it will be enough to give you an idea which of these may be good fits to use on your own site and where to start.
Note: This is part 4 of my Low Stress Website Building series. Check out earlier posts on starting off with smart goals, a basic step by step guide to getting started, and beyond basic functions to make your website work for your needs.
4 Ways to Make Money with your Website
1. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is number one on my list because it’s the only method I’m currently using on my own site. 😉
Basically, affiliate marketing is when you promote an item or service on your website and then receive some sort of compensation if someone purchases the item through your link.
When not done well, this can come across as scammy or providing biased information. For example, if you visit a site and you think it’s going to be a self-help article but instead it just tells you to buy self-help products, you may feel lied to or tricked. And for good reason: the website is luring you in with the hope of getting you to buy things. Some websites are nothing more than a sales pitch of items in the hopes that people will buy something.
But… don’t we want people to buy things?
Yes.
But it’s all about balance and providing value to our readers.
One good rule of thumb is to only promote items or services that you have personally used and found valable. Think of it as recommending items to a friend. If you loved something, you want to share it with the people you know.
That’s what affiliate marketing should be.
One of my personal favorite services to recommend is Bluehost. That’s because they are where I host my own blog and they’ve been phenomenal in giving me help when I need it. When I have friends or family looking to start up a website, that’s where I send them. So it makes sense that when the occasion arises, I would also share that info on my blog.
Note that the above link for Bluehost is an affiliate link- that means that if you click on it and purchase something I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
That’s an example of this next point- we have to use affiliate links legally.
You can NOT just insert affiliate links into your posts without telling your readers. This is both dishonest and illegal.
However, it’s pretty simple to add a disclaimer like the one I included above. Every affiliate link should be labeled clearly and this information can be restated in your site policy.
If you’re looking to use affiliate links, remember not to go overboard. No one likes to be sold to constantly and our readers are smart. They can tell when you’re just trying to sell stuff.
But if you have items that provide value, books you’ve enjoyed, and services that are awesome deals- definitely share!
There are several larger stores that provide affiliate programs, such as as amazon, walmart, and target. They carry a lot of items that can be shared easily with your audience. Frequently smaller companies also have affiliate programs, though you may need to ask.
Remember- they key is to not be scammy and to always be upfront about what items you are promoting. It’s all about providing something worthwhile to our audience.
For further reading check out this epic guide by Pat Flynn. (And honestly just read, watch, or listen to anything by Pat- he has tons of experience to share!)
2. Advertisements
Having ads on our websites may be the most obvious choice for some, but unless you have a lot of people visiting your site it probably won’t be the best option to make money.
Which isn’t to say it can’t work for you. It’s just something to be mindful of.
Another thing to be aware of is that you may not have control over the ads that are shown on your site, which can result in ads that are unrelated to (or even contrary to) your website’s goals.
For further reading look at How To Get Advertisers For Your Blog.
3- Sponsored Content
Sponsored content is when you get paid to advertise for a product and talk about it directly on your website.
It’s not something I have a lot of experience with, but depending on your website’s audience it could be a good fit especially if you’re set up as an expert in a specific field.
For further reading see How I Make $3,000+ Per Month With Sponsored Content.
4- Selling your own products
Rather than selling other people’s products (or maybe in addition to), you may have products of your own to sell!
Your website is a great place to do that.
There are lots of ways to sell your own products online through your website. One of the most used plugins is called woocommerce which enables people to sell items directly through their website. Another way is to link your website with your items for sale on amazon or etsy.
Whether it’s a book, an ebook, other items, or an online class- there are lots of ways we can provide value to our audiences and get paid for it.
And if you don’t have a product to sell but are interested in doing so, take some time to think about your audience and research what’s out there. Chances are there’s an opportunity for you to provide value in some way.
For further reading check out How to Write an Ebook for Beginners.
And back to Pat Flynn for info on how to create an online course.
Note: A lot of people feel a bit nervous selling their own products, especially at first. We worry we’re not good enough or that our items won’t sell. Take a deep breath, tell the impostor syndrome to quiet down a bit, and be brave! You can do this.
Don’t be shy about promoting your own work! You have much to offer.
And there you have it! 4 ways to make money with your website. I hope you found this overview helpful, and if you have any specific questions or things you’d like to learn more about- definitely let me know!
One thought on “Low-Stress Website Building: 4 Ways to Make Money with Your Website”
Comments are closed.