How to make money from your blog:

Many people who write blogs today
simply want to share their opinion on
something. But then there are the
business-minded folks, who have found a
way to use blogs, or Web logs, to bring in
a little extra cash too.
If you're interested in taking it further —
blogging for bucks, if you will — here are
five strategies that could turn your blog
into a moneymaker.
1. Sell advertising.
This is likely the most common means of
leveraging a blog to generate income. If
yours happens to become a well-known
blog, or one that is well-received in a
particular niche, it's always possible to
sell ad space on your own. For Bing Blogs
and services such as Google's AdSense or
BlogAds, bloggers can establish ad
programs. AdSense's — which lets you
select several ads that are consistent with
the content of your blog — pays you
based on how many readers click on the
ads for further information. Even better,
it's free. BlogAds, on the other hand,
hooks bloggers up with would-be
advertisers and levies a commission in
return for any ad placements that result.
"The nice thing, too, is that the ads are
relatively unobtrusive," says Scott Allen,
co-author of The Virtual Handshake:
Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online.
2. Help sell others' products.
Here is another click-through opportunity.
Affiliate programs enable your blog to
serve as a conduit between readers and
online sites offering various goods and
services. One popular choice is
Amazon.com. If, for instance, you offer
book reviews or even just mention a book
in passing in your blog, an affiliate
program provides a means for your
readers to click directly from your blog to
Amazon to obtain further information
about the book. If they break out the
checkbook or charge card, you get paid as
well.
3. Solicit contributions.
Not every blog-related income
opportunity involves hawking goods or
services. As Blanche DuBois said in A
Streetcar Named Desire, consider relying
on the kindness of strangers. Ask for
contributions. If, for instance, your small-
business blog supports a cause or issue in
some fashion — say you repeatedly
mention tax reform, health care or some
other topic — you can always ask for
reader support. Even if you've attracted a
group of regular followers who simply
enjoy reading what you have to say, they
may be willing to underwrite their loyalty
with a little financial help. Programs such
as PayPal make it easy to establish a
simple on-site contribution collection
button. "There are lots of worthy 'cause'
blogs that would qualify for donations
from grateful members of the blog
community," says Las Vegas
communications consultant Ned Barnett.
4. Market your services in your blog.
Many people associate blogs exclusively
with a cyberspace-based soapbox — a
place to shout your opinions and little
more than that. Granted, blogs are an
ideal venue to share your thoughts with
others, but don't overlook their capacity
to generate new business as well. When
appropriate, work in references to what
you do and, in turn, what you may be able
to offer any would-be client or customer
who may be reading your blog. That can
spread your opinion and your business
moxie at the same time."Instead of short
commentaries that begin a dialogue with
readers, as many blogs do, I write the
equivalent of journal articles that
demonstrate my abilities, strategies and
perspectives on specific issues," Barnett
says. "When it resonates, it means
money. Since starting this approach, I
have generated three new paying clients
and brought in about $10,000 on revenue
— directly attributable to specific blogs."
5. Use a blog to deepen your existing
customer relations.
Nor does any marketing material inserted
in blog content have to be limited to
bringing in completely new business. By
using a blog to regularly communicate
with existing clients as well as other
readers, you can take advantage of the
opportunity to fully inform them about
everything your business does. That may
expand your readers' understanding of
the full scope of your products or
services."My blog has helped existing
clients determine the range of my skills
and services," says Ted Demopoulos of
Demopoulos Associates, a Durham, N.H.
consulting and training concern. "One
client who had only used me for training
in the past was surprised at my range of
expertise and is now using me for a
consulting project. Another who only
used me on technical projects is now
considering me for a more business-
oriented project."