How Can I Earn Money From Blogging? Part 1

If I had a dollar for every time I have been asked the question - how can I earn money from blogging? - then I could probably buy that Maserati I don't have! I understand the question and I am not diminishing it's relevance or importance, but most times I feel like it is the wrong question, or at least, that people are coming from the wrong place when asking that question. The truth is that you will only make money if you are selling something people will pay for. Consequently, you will make money from your blog if your blog is offering something that people want, and they trust your judgment when you recommend a product or service, or whatever it is that you are promoting.

I am going to split this article into two separate pieces - the first will go into the background of the blog and it's purpose, and the second one will talk about specific strategies to monetize your blog. So, let's go!

The question that has to be at the top of your mind is - why will anyone read my blog, and make a decision to come back to it again, and again! If you cannot answer that question, then you can forget about monetizing your blog because you are not getting off first base!

So, why will readers come back time and time again to your blog? There are a number of reasons and the following are the key ones:

1. The content is brilliant. It is informative, helpful, timely and well written.

2. You are a problem solver. You present the problems that your readers can identify with and then you provide the solutions. You give them advice, ideas, resources and tips that will help them through the bottleneck of their challenges

3. You give them quality material for FREE! They can rely upon you to provide them with free stuff that is of real value to them in their lives

4. The products or services you promote are real quality and your recommendations are based on your own experience, and what they can deliver to your readers

You must remember that the No 1 priority of your blog is to deepen the relationship between you and your readers. This you do by positioning yourself as a person of quality and integrity, who always has the interests of your readers at heart.

So, how can I earn money from blogging? If you can answer" Yes" to all key reasons above why your readers will return time and time again, you are well on your way. Part 2 will deal with specific strategies to monetize, but those strategies will be a waste of time if you have not built this relationship.