Blogging for Fun and Profit: Make Money on Your Blog

I started my freelance writing career in the early 1990's. At that time, I wrote personal essays - a lot of them. I won a few prizes for them (no prize money), got a handful published, and quickly realized that the market at that time was limited.

Now flash forward about 20 years. I published a personal essay this week that got outstanding website traffic and lots of attention. It was a personal essay, a character sketch drawn from memory of a Haitian lady I knew 30 years ago. Where did I publish "Remembering Miss Nita?" On my blog, of course. From that essay, I gained more 'fans' and followers, all of whom now know my writing...and hopefully, will come back for more.

Blogging began as a hobby for many people, but now some successful bloggers have parlayed their hobby into a nice monthly check. If you love to blog and are looking for more ways to earn money by blogging, here's how.

Develop Your Voice

People enjoy the personal touch on a blog. They want to get to know you. Develop your own signature style and voice whether you're writing a personal blog or a business blog. Don't be afraid to add photos of yourself or personal grace notes that help readers feel connected with you. The more your own unique personality shines through the blog pages, the more people will return, and that leads to...

Develop Your Community

Notice that I didn't say "get more followers". Developing a community on your blog is different from getting more people to follow it. A community are people engaged in a topic, people who interact, talk, befriend, support and share. People begin as followers but through your way of interacting with your blog comments, you will develop community. Answer blog comments, welcome newcomers, thank anyone who contacts you. This will lead to....

Higher Traffic Numbers = More Money Making Opportunities

You need the website traffic to make money. The more you engage with your followers, the more followers you will attract.

Other ways to increase traffic to your blog include:

• Post each blog entry to Twitter, Facebook, Plurk and other social networking sites
• Join a blog network. My gardening blog, for example, is in the Blotanical network, so new posts go into the network and fans can find me easily.
• Research and use keywords!
• Post on other people's blogs (only if your comments are RELEVANT...don't spam anyone, please).

Once you have higher traffic numbers, that can help you...

Make Money from Affiliate Programs

There's Amazon affiliates of course, the granddaddy of them all. But there are also individual affiliate programs, affiliate programs for courses and E books, and much more. Explore Commission Junction, Amazon and the many affiliate programs out there.

Once your traffic numbers are up you can also...

Accept Paid Advertising

It's the Holy Grail of blogging, and it happens infrequently, but it does happen. You get a paid sponsor! Small banner ads are a great way to make some extra money.

But when all's said and done, what's the most important blogging tip EVER? It's this: write well, write often, and write with your reader in mind.

Writing well is an art - writing a great blog, a very special art. Focus your topics, include keywords, keep the items short and above all, keep them interesting. Let your personal voice shine. Don't be afraid to take writing risks. But write well.

Write often. Post 3x a week at least. If you don't write often or you write sporadically, followers will drift away, thinking you've neglected your blog. 

Write with your reader in mind. All good writers write not for themselves, but for that special Dear Reader they have in mind.

What tips do you have for others about making money off of your blog? Share in the comments section, below!