Monetizing A Blog Part 1

There are primarily four different ways to make money blogging. This is known as monetizing, so let's get started.

Coaching

This industry is booming right now and one can be a coach on just about any topic. The key to being a good coach is many, but first one needs to be extremely knowledgeable on whatever they are coaching on. One can not just coach individuals, but businesses as well that are not geared to business specifically. Some coaching genres to consider.

• 
  
• Business - This is broad as it incorporates various aspects of business.  
• Lifestyle -  Another broad genre.
• Motivational - Let's face a lot of individuals are looking to get motivated in life, work and relationships.
• Health - Various aspects of health include fitness, diet and complete lifestyle changes

We all are very knowledgeable about something. Why not turn that into a coaching business? Even if it's not online, put yourself out there and let others know what you are capable of.

People Need You

There are so many people out there struggling in various aspects of their lives and you can be their savior. 

Freelancing

Freelancing is a great way to monetize your blog. You can also land a regular job working with one company. When I was a freelance writer, my niche was natural living. I created healthy recipes, wrote content for websites, wrote blog posts for various businesses through Elance. Upwork has taken over Elance, but for the 14 months I was there I loved it. Here are a few areas businesses  and individuals hire freelancers for.

• Editing
• Blogging
• Articles
• Images
• Web design
• Copywritting (spelled right)
• Virtual Assistance
• SEO
• Research
• E- Books 
• Ghost Writer
• Videos
• Voice Overs 

There are so many businesses looking for freelancers in just about any category you can think of. Just because it is not on the list above do not cancel out a talent or service you might have to offer. 

Writer Beware

Personally I would never do an e-book or be a ghost writer as the client will make more money then us. When looking for freelance opportunities one must know what to look for. For instance many clients will put up a job for an article on say snowboarding equipment, but have another job up for best places to snowboard. This person is looking to take all these things together for a book. A lot of the time they are not willing to pay a lot. 

Blogging for a Company

When a freelancer blogs for a company most of the time they will not receive credit for the post. I had at least one job writing blog posts for a company and did not mind not having my name on the posts. It was an ongoing job and the pay was decent. As a freelancer you have to pick and choose what you will and won't do. 

Do What you Know and What you Love

Stick with what you know and are passionate about. Doing this makes it easier and more enjoyable. There are other websites one can find freelance work like Fivver. Craigslist also has some freelancing jobs listed, but they are few. 

Create a Bio

When creating your bio include as much about yourself and what you offer as possible. One of the things I included in mine was the fact that I love to do research which allows me to get more accurate facts and original content. Use third party when creating such as Joyce has been a natural living researcher since 2012.

Work With Me Page

Create a work with me page on your blog. If you are all set up as a freelancer on a website be sure to include links to your bio. I know Upwork and Fivver clients can rate your work and leave comments. You might also be able to include a link to this page on your freelancing accounts. It is nice for potential clients to be able to take a closer look at you.

Would you like to be a freelancer, if so doing what?

Have you ever done any freelancing? Please share your experience.

 

Writing a Guest Blog Post

When writing a guest blog there are a few things to do before you start. The first is find out if there are any specific guidelines to be followed. Find out if there is a specific number of words, is there a specific topic?

Creating a Guest Blog Post

When we create a guest blog post it should be done in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Somewhere where it can be shared easily with the host. This is because we don't post it directly to the blog that is the job of the host. Where ever we create the guest blog post the guest needs to be able to access it easily. If the host can not easily apply the guest post to their blog they might just forget it. Let's face it we are a busy society no one wants to sit longer then they have to trying to figure something out. 

Including Images

Include your own images. This can be within the document or can be sent via an attachment through email. Be sure to resize images, so the guest does not have to do this. If the images are not included within the text one can include a note suggesting where the images should appear. This could be something like paragraph 5 or for a subheader. Avoid to much detail less is more.

Create a Bio

Create a short bio to be used at the end of the guest blog post. Make it short and to the point. Some hosts will allow us to include our social media, so this something else we want to check on. Below is a sample bio.

Joyce Wheeler

Joyce is a natural living blogger, researcher, podcaster, speaker, writer and coach. She has been living this lifestyle since 2012 and loves to share her knowledge with others. On Saturdays you will find her at the local farmer's market selling her home brewed Kombucha, natural skin care products and various items she designs using crystals. Her passion is to aid others with living a better quality of life naturally.

You can find her at her skin care products at Heavenly Bodies and her blog So You Want to Blog

Facebook link
                                         Pintrest link
                                         Linkedin link

With your social media do not include the name of the page just which social media it is. I include the bio at the bottom of the guest post and put bio in bold. Again you can include the image within the text or send it as an attachment.

Posting Guest Blog Post Blurb

Once you know the guest post is live create a teaser on your blog. I put up the first paragraph or two and a read more link for them to click on. 

Has this blog been helpful? If so share and pin.

Fear

Fear, what is it and why do we have it? There are various reasons for fear. Some fears come from within ourselves, lack of confidence. Other fears stem from past programming from family, friends, teachers, peers and other areas. Fear is located within us and most of the time for no good reason. I want to change the word fear into uncertainty. Because in truth that is what most of us are experiencing.

Reasonable Fear

Some fears can be validated due to past experiences. My mom was in a bad car accident and never drove again due to the fear of it happening again. When we lose a loved one we might have fear about losing another one. There are all types of scenarios which one might find themselves in which is not a pleasant experience. In these cases fear is valid and very real however, it needs to be dealt with, so we can move on with our lives.

Dealing with Reasonable Fear 

My mom could have gotten back in a car again to drive, but didn't. Now my Southern Man was in a head on collision and able to get back in and drive. However, every time a car veered over the line he had fear of it happening again. For some the fear is so bad they need to get professional help. I lost my first husband when my children were 5, 7 and 12. My daughter and the 7 year old would get up at night to make sure I was still breathing. When I found this out I knew I needed to get them some professional help to deal with this event in their young lives. As time passed they got over that fear that something would happen to me as well.

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Fear of Failing

We have fear of failing, but let me ask this, why do we fear failure? Failing is a part of gaining knowledge of what to do and what not to do. There are many people who have failed the first time around, but kept going. Thomas Edison failed to get the light bulb right the first time and even the second time. If he let that stop him we would still be in the dark. The author of "Chicken Soup for the Soul" approached over one hundred publishers before he found one that would publish the book. Now they are all over and in other languages as well.

I Feared Failing

When I was in grammar school I never did well on tests. After dropping out of high school I decided, years later, that I wanted to go to college. I decided to get my GED, but told no one because if I failed I didn't want anyone to know. I'm sure they knew considering every night after work I would sit at the table with a big book labeled GED however, no one ever said anything or questioned me. Now mind you back in the day this was a 5 hour test. If I failed I would have to take it all over again. Needless to say I did pass and earned my GED.

The fear of failing tests stayed with me and I avoided doing things I really wanted to do, like becoming a personal trainer. At the same time I had later earned a scholarship to attend an online program to formulate natural skin care products using organic ingredients. Oh was I nervous, to pass the course I needed to complete a two part test. Really???? Not one, but two parts!!! This was something I wanted to do really bad and while I was afraid of failing I didn't let it stop me. I passed both parts of the test the first time around.   

Do it Afraid or Fake it til you Make it

If I would have let the fear of failure rule me I would never have earned my GED or have gone on to earn my associates in business. I would never have been able to formulate safe skin care products or even create custom products for individuals. Sometimes we just need to do it afraid or fake it til we make it. 

Photo credit

Sounds Easy

I am not trying to say facing a fear or the fear of failure is easy. I am saying that if you don't try you will never know and maybe miss out on a great opportunity for your life. You can use my don't tell any body if it makes you feel safer and allows you to step out of your comfort zone. Take baby steps if need be, but don't let fear hold you back from having the life you want or doing the things you so badly want to. It's like getting into a pool. start with a toe, then a foot before you know it you'll be fully submerged in what it is you want.

This post is dedicated to all the members of the Facebook group "So You Want to Blog" who have expressed their fear of starting their blog. 

Fear on Biteable.

How do you deal with your fear?