How to Monetize a Business Blog and Cash in on Corporate Tips

Starting a business blog is exciting, but there’s a lot to figure out. You need to register a domain, set up WordPress, and start creating awesome content. But once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to focus on how to monetize your blog.

Trust me, this part is going to be the most enjoyable part of your blogging journey!

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been in the game a while, these monetization strategies will help you turn that blog into a money-making machine. Let’s dive into each method!

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for business bloggers because it hits the sweet spot between time investment and earning potential.

Affiliate marketing is a form of advertising where a publisher (the site owner) links to a product in their content and earns a commission from the advertiser (the affiliate program) if readers click on that link and make a purchase.

Also, since you can add links to your existing content, it’s the perfect method for beginners. You’ve already written content, so you’ve already done the hard part.

How to Start Affiliate Marketing for Business Bloggers

When diving into the business blogging niche, it’s important to consider various types of affiliate products you can recommend. Here’s a list of some effective options:

• Online Course Platforms: Recommend platforms like Teachable or Thinkific. They offer entrepreneurs a place to create and sell online courses, which is huge in business blogging.
• Email Marketing Services: Promote tools like ConvertKit or Mailchimp. These services are essential for building an email list and nurturing leads.
• Website Hosting Services: Link to reliable hosting providers such as Bluehost or SiteGround. Great hosting is the backbone of any successful blog.
• SEO Tools: Suggest tools like SEMrush or Moz. Good SEO tools help bloggers optimize their content for search engines.
• Webinars and Video Conferencing Software: Promote platforms like Zoom or GoToWebinar. They’re perfect for hosting virtual events or meetings.
• Social Media Management Tools: Recommend tools like Hootsuite or Buffer. These make managing multiple social media accounts much easier.

Here are a few reasons why these products are great:

• High Demand: Many bloggers need these tools to enhance their business strategies.
• Recurring Income: Some affiliate programs offer recurring commissions, which means more passive income for you.
• Quality Content: Promoting quality products builds trust with your audience and can improve your blog's credibility.
• Diverse Niches: These products cater to various aspects of business, attracting a wider audience.
• No Inventory Needed: You don’t have to handle any products. Simply refer people to the service, and get paid for sales or leads.

Once you’ve identified which products will solve problems for your readers, you need to sign up for their affiliate programs.

You should start by joining the Amazon Associates affiliate program.

Most physical products in the business niche will be available on Amazon, and the conversion rate on Amazon is insane.

Yes, Amazon’s commission rates are rough, and they only offer a 24-hour cookie duration, but the conversion rate makes up for it. Plus, you’re nearly guaranteed to get accepted into their program.

For products that aren’t available on Amazon, just Google “[Product] affiliate program,” and you’ll find their program’s signup page.

To save you some time, here are a few of the best affiliate networks for business bloggers:

1. Lasso

   

   Commission Rate: 20%

   Cookie Duration: 30 Days

   Lasso is a WordPress plugin that allows you to quickly create affiliate link displays that earn more money. Manage all your affiliate links in one place.

2. QuickBooks

   

   Commission Rate: 10% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 45 Days

   QuickBooks is an accounting software package developed and marketed by the company Intuit. Earn a referral fee by selling QuickBooks software!

3. FreshBooks

   

   Commission Rate: $88.00 Per Sale and $8.00 Per Lead

   Cookie Duration: 120 Days

   FreshBooks is an online accounting solution designed for small business owners. Get $100 per sale with a 45-day cookie window.

Once you’ve been approved for the product’s affiliate program, the program will give you your affiliate link, and you can start inserting it into your content.

How To Monetize A Business Blog With Affiliate Marketing

To add your link to your content, go to your post editor, highlight the relevant text, and insert the link.

Here are a few best practices for adding affiliate links to your WordPress blog:

• Add links where it’s helpful. Adding too many links to your blog posts is just like adding too many ads; it’s annoying. Add links to product titles, images, CTA buttons, and the first time you mention a product. That’s plenty.
• Disclose your links. Every blog post with affiliate links should have a disclaimer at the beginning, and every CTA or product image should also.
• Use direct sales language. When you are writing your call to action, be direct. It’s not rude to say, “Check the price” or “Buy this product today.” Being too passive makes you look unconfident.

Or, take it a step further by creating product displays.

You Can Double Your Affiliate Sales With Lasso Displays

You can create displays manually using the post editor to add links to images and buttons.

However, it can be time-consuming to create these displays and keep them updated if you’re doing it all by hand.

Luckily, monetizing your blog with affiliate links is simplified when you’re using a tool like Lasso.

Lasso makes it super easy to add links and product displays to your posts. You can add product displays to posts right from the post editor; no coding is required. It’s as simple as clicking your mouse three times.

You can also automatically import product info from retailers like Amazon. Just paste the link into the Lasso dashboard, and Lasso will populate the display with the product title, image, and price.

With all of this, remember to follow the guidelines in the affiliate program’s terms and conditions. Amazon, in particular, is pretty stringent.

But everything Lasso does is compliant with Amazon Associates’ TOS, so you never have to worry about being booted from the program.

That’s just scratching the surface of what Lasso can do to help you monetize your business blog. If you’re ready to start making a serious affiliate income from your business site, sign up for Lasso today.

Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Business Bloggers

Affiliate marketing can be a mixed bag for bloggers. On the plus side, it offers a way to monetize content without creating products. You simply promote someone else's stuff and earn a commission on sales. This can be pretty lucrative, especially if your audience trusts your recommendations.

However, there are downsides. It can take time to see significant earnings. Not every product will resonate with your audience, and promoting irrelevant items can damage your credibility. If followers feel they're being sold to, they might disengage.

Another point to consider is competition. The internet is flooded with affiliate links, making it hard to stand out. You need to find the right niche products that align with your brand. Additionally, affiliate programs can change their terms or commission rates, which might catch you off guard.

In summary, while affiliate marketing can boost your income, it requires a careful approach. Balance the potential profits with the responsibility of promoting genuinely useful products to maintain your audience's trust.

2. Display Ads

The second best way to monetize your business blog is with display ads. Ads are the internet's favorite monetization method, but they have severe drawbacks.

How to Monetize a Business Blog With Display Ads

Monetizing a business blog with display ads couldn’t be easier.

First, choose an ad network to join. Networks have traffic requirements, so here are the best ad networks to join based on your site’s page views:

• 100,000+ Visitors per month - Raptive
• 50,000+ Sessions per month - Mediavine
• < 50,000+ Visitors per month - Ezoic

Once you’re accepted to an ad network, follow their instructions to integrate their ads into your site. They will have documentation for every type of content management service (WordPress, Joomla, Ghost, etc.).

If your chosen ad network has a dedicated accounts manager, they will guide you through getting their ads on your site.

And… that’s it. Let the ads run and wait for your deposits to hit your account.

Display Ad Pros And Cons For Business Bloggers

Display ads can be a mixed bag for business bloggers. On the plus side, they tend to grab attention. A bright, attractive banner can draw in visitors more effectively than a plain text link. Plus, they can help with brand visibility. When people see your logo or message repeatedly, it builds recognition.

However, there are downsides. Many users find display ads annoying. If they’re too intrusive or irrelevant, they might bounce off your site. Ad blockers also put a dent in potential revenue. Even if your ad is top-notch, it may not reach as many eyes as you'd hoped if visitors use blockers.

Another factor to consider is ROI. The click-through rates for display ads can be lower than expected. You might spend a good chunk of your budget only to see minimal engagement. It’s crucial to keep track of metrics to ensure your ads are worthwhile.

Lastly, relevant targeting matters. Display ads work best when they're aimed at the right audience. If you’re selling gardening tools but your ads are shown to tech enthusiasts, you’re wasting your resources. Proper targeting can bridge the gap between ads and interested readers.

3. Digital Products

Selling your own digital products is a great way to increase your earnings per visitor in the business niche.

A digital product is anything you can sell on your business blog that the customer will receive via download.

Here’s a quick list of digital products you can sell on your business blog:

• E-books: Share your expertise in a formatted guide. Easy to create and a great way to engage your audience.
• Online Courses: Create video lessons or downloadable materials. Help others learn while generating passive income.
• Webinars: Host live sessions. Offer valuable insights and interact with viewers for real-time engagement.
• Printable Templates: Design useful planners, checklists, or business templates. Customers love ready-to-use resources.
• Stock Photos: If you're a photographer, sell high-quality images. They’re always in demand for blog posts and social media.

A lot of people search for simple checklists and guides related to different topics. They’d happily pay you for them.

Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Products for Business Bloggers

Selling digital products can be a game-changer for business bloggers. One big pro is the high profit margin. Once you've created your product, like an ebook or an online course, you can sell it repeatedly without much ongoing cost. Your only expense generally involves marketing and maintaining your website.

Another advantage is the potential for passive income. With the right strategies, you can earn money while you sleep. Once your product is out there and attracting customers, it’ll keep generating revenue with little effort from your end.

However, there are some downsides. The digital market is crowded, making it tough to stand out. You’ll need to invest time and effort into marketing and building an audience. Additionally, customers expect high quality and value, so you have to be sure to deliver on that, or you could risk damaging your reputation.

Lastly, managing customer support can be tricky. Unlike physical products, buyers might need help accessing or using digital goods. If you don't provide good support, it can lead to frustration and refunds. Balancing these pros and cons is key for a successful digital product strategy.

How To Monetize a Business Blog By Selling Digital Products

The first thing to do is create your digital product.

Look at which content your audience interacts with the most, and brainstorm digital products to help serve their search intent.

That’s what I did when I created our Ultimate Blogging Guide:

Then, create the product using whatever tools are at your disposal. For example, use Microsoft Word to create an ebook PDF, or Google Sheets to create interactive spreadsheets and checklists.

Next, you have to figure out how to distribute your product. The easiest way to distribute PDFs is by uploading them to your WordPress media library. Then you can give customers the link, and they can download the PDF from there.

Lastly, you’ll have to set up payment processing and order fulfillment. A plugin like Woocommerce can automate most of this, but you’ll have to tie it to a processor like Stripe or PayPal.

Woocommerce can even connect to an email tool like ConvertKit, so as soon as your customer finishes their checkout, they’ll get an email with a link to their download.

Barring any issues, you won’t have to do anything but watch your bank account grow.

4. Email Newsletter

One effective way to monetize a business blog is by creating an email newsletter. This method allows you to build a loyal audience and engage with your readers on a more personal level. Let's explore how to monetize a business blog with an email newsletter and the pros and cons of email marketing for business bloggers.

How to Monetize a Business Blog with an Email Newsletter

Email newsletters are an incredible way for business bloggers to connect with their audience, build relationships, and ultimately, make money. By offering valuable content directly to subscribers' inboxes, you can effectively guide customers through the sales funnel. A well-crafted email newsletter not only keeps your audience engaged but can also introduce them to your products and services, turning casual readers into paying customers.

To start monetizing your business blog with an email newsletter, first, create a valuable lead magnet. This could be an eBook, a checklist, or exclusive content that resonates with your target audience. Once you have your lead magnet ready, promote it on your blog and social media platforms to collect email addresses. The more subscribers you have, the larger your potential audience for monetization.

Once you've built your email list, consistency is key. Send out regular newsletters where you share not only blog updates but also exclusive offers, discounts, or deals on your products and services. This not only encourages repeat purchases but establishes a stronger brand connection, as your subscribers see you providing ongoing value to them.

Finally, consider incorporating affiliate marketing into your emails. Share products or services that are relevant to your audience and earn a commission on sales made through your unique links. This gives your readers useful recommendations while generating another stream of income. Just make sure any products you promote align with your brand and genuinely provide value to your subscribers.

Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Business Bloggers

• Pros:
  • Direct Communication: Email allows you to reach your audience directly in their inboxes, increasing the likelihood of engagement.
  • Higher Conversion Rates: Compared to social media, emails tend to have higher conversion rates, making sales more likely.
  • Builds Loyalty: Regular emails contribute to a stronger relationship with your audience, promoting customer loyalty.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Email marketing platforms offer analytics that can help you understand your audience better and fine-tune your strategies.
• Cons:
  • Managing a List: It can be challenging to grow and maintain an engaged email list.
  • Spam Filters: Emails may end up in spam folders, limiting your potential reach.
  • Content Creation: Regularly producing valuable content can be time-consuming and requires effort.
  • Unsubscribes: People may unsubscribe from your list if they don't find value, impacting your overall effectiveness.

5. Consulting and Coaching Services

Consulting or coaching is exchanging your expertise and time for a fee. Your customers need an expert, and you’ve proven yourself to be that expert.

As you become an authority in the industry, people will reach out to you with questions about topics they consider you an expert in.

Now, you don’t have to charge for being helpful, but you should place a dollar value on your time.

As a business blogger, you extensive knowledge of the industry. If a reader reaches out to you asking for help, you should get paid for that effort.

How To Monetize A Business Blog With Consulting Services

Monetizing a business blog with consulting services is similar to selling sponsored posts.

Put a “Coaching” option in your nav bar that goes to a landing page outlining your consulting services and your hourly rate. This will help head off some of the people looking for free advice.

Then, wait for requests to come in, evaluate them, and propose your offer. If the customer accepts, send them an invoice using PayPal or another payment processor, and schedule the call.

Pros and Cons of Selling Consulting Services for Business Bloggers

Selling consulting services as a business blogger has its perks. For starters, you get to share your expertise and help others grow. This often builds your authority in your niche, leading to more opportunities. Plus, the income potential can be significant if you position yourself well and maintain a strong client base.

On the flip side, it can be tough to land clients at first. You need a solid marketing strategy to promote your services, and that takes time and effort. There's also pressure to deliver results quickly to keep clients happy, which can be stressful.

Moreover, managing consulting projects requires time and focus. Balancing consulting with blogging can get hectic. If you're not careful, one may start to suffer. But with proper planning, both can complement each other.

Lastly, you need to stay updated in your field. Trends evolve, and clients expect you to provide the latest insights. This ongoing learning can feel overwhelming but is essential to keep your services relevant.

Business Blog Monetization FAQs

What Is The Best Way To Make Money From Business Blogging?

If you want to build a successful business blog, then affiliate marketing is the best way to monetize it. It’s the least intrusive way to make a lot of money from your site without much extra effort.

Can I Make A Full-Time Income From Business Blogging?

Absolutely! Some business blogs, like Small Biz Survival and Small Business Bonfire get hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors. That’s enough for a full-time income for a small team of people.

How Do I Start a Business Blog?

Learning how to start a business blog is the first best way to use your expertise to start an online business.

You need to register a domain, install WordPress, and publish great content. It's a lot of work, but totally worth it!

How Do Business Bloggers Get Paid?

Most business bloggers make money through affiliate commissions and advertising fees. Both of these monetization methods pay out one or two months after the fees have been generated.

Some business bloggers also sell sponsored posts, consulting services, or their own products. In these cases, a payment processor like PayPal or Stripe is necessary.

Is Business Blogging Easy?

Nothing worth doing is truly easy, but that doesn’t mean business blogging isn’t fun.

As a business blogger, you’ll get to go places, try new things, and meet new people. And it will be part of your business! What could be cooler than that?

Is It Worth Starting A Business Blog?

It’s absolutely worth it to start a business blog. Not only can you make a living from it, but you can also build a community and control the conversation.

Once you’re an established authority, people in business-related industries will take you seriously.

Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Business Blog

Congratulations! You’ve learned various ways to monetize your business blog step-by-step. But here’s a crucial bonus tip for you:

Don't put all your eggs in one basket! Using multiple monetization methods is key.

If you mix affiliate offers, display ads, and your own products, you’ll cushion your business against sudden changes, like a drop in Amazon’s commission rates.

With this balanced approach, along with hard work and smart planning, success is just around the corner for your online business!

Why You Should Trust Our Business Blogging Content

You may be thinking, "that's all great, but what does Lasso know about business blogging?"

Quite a lot, actually.

Here's why you can trust our process for building a successful business blog:

We've Built Wildly Successful Blogs

Lasso is built for affiliate marketers, by affiliate marketers. We're not gurus; we've walked the walk.

Our team members have built multiple blogs from the ground up, some of them earning over seven figures in revenue.

We put that experience into every guide we write, so you can trust we're giving you a process that works.

We Talk To Business Bloggers Every Day

Lasso's WordPress plugin is installed on over 8,000 websites, including a lot of business blogs.

Our team supports those bloggers every day as they create awesome content and earn lots of money.

These communications give us a bird's-eye view of what's new in the business industry. We take that information and use it to keep these guides as up-to-date and accurate as possible.

We're Super Nerds

We've put a lot of company focus into learning everything we can about blogging, affiliate marketing, SEO, and anything to do with online entrepreneurship.

We attend conferences, collect high-level contacts, read tons of books, and distill all of that information into our content. We pass information onto you that was previously only available to industry insiders.