The digital revolution has been a mixed blessing for the writers among us.
For some, it has been a treasure trove of outlets for self-expression and creative innovation that has levelled the playing field of the journalistic soapbox. It has allowed for new and diverse voices to have their say and grow a dedicated audience. It has completely upheaved the hierarchy of influence and placed the power in the hands of the masses to weave words that have the chance to be seen by millions of eyes each day.
For others, it’s why they’re not getting a paycheck anymore.
Monetisation is a tricky business in the online world. With physical media continuing to be crushed under the weight of this new order, writers have fewer and fewer ways to earn a living wage. However, that doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom for those of us with a penchant for the pen. As a matter of fact, many writers have found ways to thrive both creatively and monetarily in this new paradigm.
Whilst writers are likely not going to earn their fortune through blogging, it’s entirely possible to utilise that skill set and receive a hearty sum in the process. So, without further ado, let’s get into some ways in which bloggers can earn a living.
Content Marketing
Alas, whilst it may not be the sexiest of potential payment avenues, content marketing is an incredible way for writers and bloggers to use their services to get paid, with several different avenues for doing so. With that said, the two main revenue sources can be broken down into two categories:
Link Building
For those that have grown a site organically and put a lot of effort into curating a high-quality offering for both Google and your audience, content marketing agencies are often willing to pay a surprising amount of money to post links in your articles. By simply allowing guest submissions for a fee on your site, and promoting yourself to businesses through portals like LinkedIn, you can earn a very decent wage with little to no actual effort on your part.
This can also be a way to get paid whilst still populating your site with fresh content written for you by the company itself. Businesses are often willing to provide the content that they wish to post on your site, and you have the power to accept or reject that content as per your specifications and guidelines. For example, you may be willing to add the link to a client’s website, but only if you’re the one that writes the content. The choice really is up to you.
SEO Copywriting For Agencies and Businesses
If you haven’t necessarily developed that high-metric site quite yet, or you feel that link building isn’t right for your blog, why not become a professional marketing copywriter? As high-quality content becomes more and more of a ranking factor for businesses online, agencies and companies are starting to understand the unquestionable need for professional copywriting experts. This, in turn, has opened a lot more opportunities for those looking to get paid for their writing on a freelance or in-house basis.
Copywriters will often be given a subject to write on, as well as a sizeable brief of information to craft and make their own. It’s not necessarily the right fit for everyone, but if you’re a passionate writer looking to get some experience and funding under your belt, then this is a fantastic way to do just that.
Affiliate Marketing, CPM and PPC Advertising
If the options above require you to interact with other people a little too much, I can respect that, and luckily there are alternatives. Affiliate marketing and PPC advertising are two options that allow you to earn money based on the behaviour of your audience.
Affiliate Marketing – This method involves links being placed within your articles which allow you to get paid, either for each click-through or for each purchase made through them depending on the agreement.
CPM Advertising – A slightly-confusing initialism (CPM stands for Cost-Per-Mille, meaning Cost-Per-1,000 Impressions), this is an ad placed on your site which pays you per-1,000 times it is seen by a reader.
PPC Advertising – PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising encapsulates a large portion of the ads you see on websites. In short, they are ads that pay you every time one of your readers clicks them.
Whilst each comes with their drawbacks, namely the potential for annoying your readers if used too egregiously, each is a valuable tool if utilised well. If you do go down this route, it’s important to experiment, as some audiences will be more responsive to one form over another. Whatever you decide, PPC, CPM and affiliate marketing are all viable forms of income for those that have a high amount of traffic going to their website and don’t want to work directly with marketing agencies to create sponsored content.
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Being a writer on the internet isn’t the most luxurious of jobs, but it’s also an important one. The internet runs on content, and with more and more people globally going online as their first source for news, information and entertainment, it has never been more vital for good writers to have their voices heard. In other words, your work is appreciated, even if people aren’t paying for it most of the time. Good luck!
