In our quest to educate millennials on blogging, we often turn to YouTube. And it’s generally because of the platform’s massive and growing audience. However, you may be overlooking a valuable source of revenue that’s right at your fingertips.
We’re not suggesting you moonlight as a copywriter or that blogging is a bad idea for investment. Far from it. But, the ability to earn while writing online can be fairly attractive.
Keep reading for some ideas on how to earn as a content creator while writing from the heart.
Take Advantage of Marketplaces
Blogs are valuable, but they’re hardly the only place you can create content. Marketplaces like Medium can be used to find an audience and provide you with the financial backing to pursue your creative writing goals. In other words, the ability to earn while writing online can exist outside of the blog sphere.
If you’ve been thinking about pursuing a career in creative writing, consider exploring freelance writing as a way to earn. Not only can you create content when you feel inspired, but you can also take advantage of the many marketplace opportunities that exist online.
The Gig Economy
No one said the gig economy was going to be fair. But, a lot of people are making money online despite the gig economy’s less-than-desirable reputation. Use the right tools and know how to market yourself and you can carve out a sustainable living as a content creator.
The gig economy is here to stay. But, it’s important to understand how to navigate it responsibly. Create value for customers and use your skills to your advantage.
Monetization
If you can convince a large enough audience to follow your lead, you can make a living from your writing. Simply follow the advice below to set up ads or other monetization mechanisms on your blog.
If you use a tool like Monetize.cc to put up advertisements on your site, you can take advantage of the fact that you have an engaged audience. And, the more you can monetize, the more you can make. This especially applies if you’ve got a sizable audience. Never thought you’d be able to make money off your blog? Think again. With a little bit of savvy, you can put up ads and earn a decent living. At the very least, you can cover your monthly expenses. And that’s something to be happy about.
Choosing a topic for your blog is important. You want to find something that you feel passionate about and that will engage your audience. When it comes to monetizing a blog, the two biggest challenges are: 1) finding the money to pay for the ads. And 2) finding the time to write content that’s worth money. If you’re struggling with either of these issues, consider exploring other options that don’t require as much effort. Like affiliate marketing or selling and displaying ads inside your blog’s content.
Attracting an Audience
If you want to earn while writing, you’ve got to have an audience. And, the good news is that your YouTube channel can serve as a springboard to attract some interested readers to your blog. Create compelling content that teaches people something new and you’ll be able to connect with influencers and bloggers who want to work with you.
Consider using tools like Buffer to schedule tweets and other social media posts at opportune times to maximise impact and drive traffic to your blog. For example, if you notice your videos are getting a lot of views, consider doing a quick blog post to expand on that idea. You can also create a Twitter list of influential people in your industry and engage with them regularly. Building up a community of engaged readers around your blog will strengthen your platform and make you more valuable to future publishers.
Final Takeaway
Blogging is a great way to build an audience and attract potential customers to your business. However, it’s not always the best fit for everyone. If you’re looking for a way to earn money online without sacrificing too much of your creative freedom, consider pursuing freelance writing. Not only does it allow you to generate revenue when you want it, but it allows you to grow your platform and become more valuable to future employers. Ultimately, everyone’s needs change over time and what was once an attractive opportunity may not be so appealing in the future. But, until then, you can continue to generate revenue and build your platform as a freelance writer.