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

Starting a business blog is exciting, but it can feel overwhelming at first. You have to figure out how to register a domain, set up WordPress, and write engaging content. Once you’ve nailed those basics, it’s time to shift gears and focus on monetizing your blog.

I promise this part is the most fun you’ll have in your blogging journey!

No matter if you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the game for a while, these monetization methods will help you transform your blog into a profitable venture. Let’s dive into each option!

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 it comes to business blogging, there are plenty of affiliate products you can recommend. Here's a list that may help you get started:

• Web Hosting Services: Reliable hosting is crucial for any blog's performance. Look for providers with great uptime and customer support.
• Email Marketing Software: Tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit can boost engagement and allow bloggers to build a strong mailing list.
• SEO Tools: Recommend tools such as SEMrush or Ahrefs. Good SEO tools help bloggers optimize their content for search engines.
• Social Media Management Tools: Platforms like Buffer or Hootsuite can help bloggers schedule and analyze their social media posts efficiently.
• Online Courses and Ebooks: If there's an area of expertise, promoting courses or ebooks can greatly benefit your audience.
• Graphic Design Tools: Tools like Canva can help bloggers create eye-catching graphics without needing heavy design skills.

Here are some quick reasons why these products are a great fit for your audience:

• High Demand: Bloggers always need tools to improve their websites and marketing strategies.
• Recurring Income: Many affiliate programs offer recurring commissions, ideal for passive income.
• Builds Trust: Recommending quality products enhances your credibility as a blogger.
• Variety of Options: There's a wide range of products, so you can cater to different blogger needs.

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 lucrative option for bloggers. It allows you to earn a commission by promoting products or services that fit your niche. If done right, it can provide a steady revenue stream—and who doesn’t like extra income?

However, there are downsides. Trust is crucial for bloggers, and some readers might be skeptical of your motivations. If they feel that you're just out to make a quick buck, it could harm your credibility. Moreover, affiliate marketers often face stiff competition, so finding the right products to promote is key.

On the plus side, affiliate marketing requires minimal startup costs. You can begin with just your blog and a good content strategy. Plus, many affiliate programs offer excellent support and resources. It’s a flexible way to monetize as you can choose what to promote, aligning it with your audience’s interests.

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 double-edged sword for business bloggers. On the one hand, they can generate a solid stream of passive income. Once you've set them up, they can keep earning money without much ongoing effort. Plus, platforms like Google AdSense make it easy to get started.

On the flip side, display ads can detract from your blog’s aesthetic. Too many ads can annoy your readers, making them less likely to return. It’s a balancing act; you want to monetize your blog but also keep it looking professional and user-friendly.

Another consideration is the potential for lower click-through rates. Some users are “banner blind” and ignore ads altogether. If your audience doesn't engage with your ads, you might not see the financial results you're aiming for.

Finally, the type of content you produce matters. If your blog has a niche audience, targeted ads can work wonders. But if you're broad and diverse, you might struggle to find relevant ads that resonate. Knowing your audience is key to making display ads effective.

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 or tell a story in a concise format. E-books are easy to produce and can cover anything from business tips to niche hobbies.
• Online Courses: Create video lessons or tutorials. Use platforms like Teachable and Udemy to set up courses that teach skills relevant to your audience.
• Printables: Design planners, checklists, or calendars. These can be easily downloaded, providing value to your readers while generating passive income.
• Stock Photos: If you're a photographer, sell high-quality images. Brands and bloggers are always on the lookout for visually appealing content.
• Templates: Offer templates for business plans, budgets, or social media graphics. These save time and help your audience stay organized.

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

When it comes to selling digital products, there are some clear advantages. First, there's low overhead. You don't need to worry about manufacturing or shipping costs, which makes it easier to manage your budget. This allows you to price your products more competitively, drawing in more buyers.

Another major pro is scalability. Once you create a digital product, you can sell it over and over without additional effort. This means that a single piece of content could generate passive income for you indefinitely. The more you market it, the more potential revenue you unlock.

On the flip side, competition can be fierce. Many bloggers are trying their hand at selling digital products, making it tough to stand out. You'll need to invest time and energy into marketing strategies to cut through the noise.

Additionally, creating high-quality digital products demands a lot of upfront effort. You have to ensure your content is valuable and well-produced, which can take time. If you don't hit the mark, it might not yield the return on investment you hoped for, so it’s a balancing act.

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 a powerful tool for business bloggers looking to monetize their content. They allow you to build a direct relationship with your audience by delivering valuable information straight to their inbox. This personalized approach fosters loyalty and keeps your readers coming back for more, opening up several monetization avenues.

To start monetizing your blog with an email newsletter, build a strong subscriber list. Offer incentives like exclusive content, free resources, or discounts for signing up. The key is to ensure the content is compelling enough that visitors will willingly share their email addresses. Once you have a solid list, focus on consistent communication. Regular newsletters can keep your audience engaged and provide opportunities to share products, services, or affiliate links.

Once your email list is established, you can start promoting your own products or services directly through the newsletter. Create a section designed for this purpose, making it unobtrusive yet informative. Additionally, affiliate marketing works wonders in this format. Share products relevant to your audience and gain a commission for each sale made through your links. This method leverages the trust you've built with your subscribers, making them more likely to click through and purchase.

Don’t forget about segmenting your email list. This approach allows you to tailor content for different audience segments, leading to higher engagement rates. The more targeted your messaging, the likelier your readers will respond positively to monetization strategies. This means more opens, clicks, and possibly, sales.

Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Business Bloggers

• Pros:
• Direct Engagement: Email provides direct access to your audience, leading to more interaction with your content.
• Cost-Effective: Compared to other advertising methods, email marketing is generally less expensive.
• Segmentation: You can tailor your content by audience segment, increasing the relevance for each subscriber.
• Measurable Results: You can easily track open rates, click-through rates, and conversions, helping you optimize your strategy.
• Cons:
• Time-Consuming: Building and maintaining an email list takes significant time and effort.
• Spam Filters: Your emails may get caught in spam filters, limiting your reach unless your content is valuable and trusted.
• Subscriber Fatigue: Too many emails can overwhelm your subscribers, leading to higher unsubscribe rates.
• Compliance Issues: You must comply with regulations like GDPR, which can add complexity to your email marketing.

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

When it comes to selling consulting services as a business blogger, there are definitely some benefits. First off, bloggers leverage their expertise to establish credibility. This trust can convert readers into clients. Plus, it allows for a potentially scalable income. You’re not just earning ad revenue; you’re directly selling your knowledge.

However, there are drawbacks too. Offering consulting can be time-consuming. You’ll need to balance your blog, client inquiries, and service delivery. It can also be tough to price your services appropriately. If you’re new to consulting, you might hesitate to charge what you’re worth, which can lead to burnout.

Another challenge is client management. Unlike writing a blog post, consulting involves ongoing interactions. This means you’ll need to hone your interpersonal skills and be prepared for diverse client expectations. For some bloggers, this can be a significant shift from the solo work they’re used to.

Lastly, competition is fierce. Many bloggers pivot to consulting. Standing out requires not just niche expertise but also solid marketing strategies that showcase your unique value. As great as the opportunity can be, it requires careful planning to succeed.

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.

Here’s a bonus tip: Use multiple methods!

Diversifying your income is key to securing your blog’s future.

If you promote affiliate products, use display ads, and sell your own offerings, you won’t be as affected if something changes, like Amazon cutting its commission rates.

With a mix of strategies, hard work, and smart planning, you’ll be well on your way to earning what your blog truly deserves!

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.