Let’s face it, not everyone is cut out to be a journalist. You need to be fairly sociable, enjoy talking to people, and preferably be able to write. However, there are ways you can make money from your writing even if you don’t meet the traditional definition of a journalist. We’ll discuss a few ways you can monetize your online commentary and how you can become a full-time freelancer.
1. Start a Blog
If you’re looking to make extra cash, you might consider starting a blog. There are plenty of platforms where you can do this, such as WordPress and Blogger, which are free. Creating a blog is fairly easy. Once you’ve got your blog set up, you can start writing and making money off your content.
But you need to be strategic about how you use your blog. First off, make sure you build up a decent sized audience. A study from HubSpot reveals that 83% of people read blogs for informative purposes. To ensure that you’re creating content people value, make sure to include informative content in your posts. If you want to create content that is more engaging, consider using storytelling to share your experiences. Having a narrative arc is also a great way to keep your blog post interesting.
2. Start a Podcast
You can also create a podcast where you interview prominent people or share expert tips on a wide range of topics. Podcasts are fairly easy to get into, as long as you’ve got decent recording equipment, a microphone, and someone to interview. You can then distribute your podcast on a variety of platforms for free. A cool thing about podcasts is that you can engage with your audience via the platform itself, as people have different interests and follow different narratives, including yours.
Starting a podcast is great for freelancing, too. You can use it as a way to get your name out there and establish yourself as an authority in your field. Having a podcast doesn’t mean you’ll be able to sell your writing, but it certainly won’t hurt your odds.
3. Start An Online Store
If you’re looking to make some money off your talents, you might consider starting an online store. There are plenty of platforms where you can sell your products, such as Shopify, which is what Google Trends suggests 84% of people are searching for. You can use Shopify to create your store, then use your inventory to sell your own products or those from other brands.
You don’t necessarily have to have your own products to make money on Shopify. You can use affiliate marketing to promote other brands and earn a commission on each sale. To maximize your affiliate income, you can consider creating multiple stores on Shopify, each with a distinct name and theme to establish yourself as an independent merchant. Having more than one store allows you to gain more credibility with your audience and make more sales.
4. Start A YouTube Channel
YouTube creators can make a lot of money, especially as content creators, with live videos. 77% of people watch videos on YouTube to learn something new. If you can build a following on YouTube, you can monetize your channel by promoting affiliate products and getting paid per click or per view. You can also become a brand ambassador and earn a commission on each product sold.
Creating a YouTube channel takes a little bit of work, but is still fairly easy. You just need to have a decent microphone, a good camera, and something to talk about. Once you’ve got that, you can start making money. Just remember that content creators on YouTube can make a lot of money, so be sure you do your research before you get started. You can’t just go into it thinking you’re going to make money off YouTube.
These are just a few of the ways you can make money off your writing. When you’re looking for ways to monetize your writing, make sure to consider the options available to you. You don’t necessarily need to make a lot of money to live a comfortable life. As long as you’ve got enough to cover your basic costs, you can use the rest to invest in your future. Just remember – you’ll need to continue putting in the work to maintain your income. Once you’ve gotten to that point, you can sit back and enjoy your newly acquired wealth.