How to Monetize a Craft Blog and Create Financial Success

Starting a craft blog is just the beginning. After setting it up and posting content, the next step is making money from it. Trust me, it's the most exciting part of the journey!

Whether you're new to blogging or already a craft pro, there are many ways to turn your passion into profit. Let's explore these methods in detail.

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for craft 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 Craft Bloggers

Hey there! If you're diving into the craft blogging niche, recommending the right affiliate products can really boost your blog. Here’s a curated list of items that tend to resonate well with crafty audiences:

• Craft Kits: Ideal for beginners and seasoned crafters alike. They come complete with all the necessary materials, making it easy for your readers to start a project right away.
• Scrapbooking Supplies: Always a hit. Think patterned papers, stamps, stickers, and cutting tools. Scrapbookers are always on the lookout for new and exciting products.
• Sewing Machines and Accessories: From basic machines for newbies to advanced models for the pros, along with various sewing patterns and fabrics.
• Knitting and Crochet Tools: Include yarns, needles, and pattern books. These items are staples for anyone into these crafts.
• Art Supplies: Cater to the painters and sketchers. Offer everything from high-quality brushes and canvases to a variety of paints and drawing pencils.
• Jewelry Making Kits: These kits are great for DIY jewelry enthusiasts. They typically include beads, tools, and findings.

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 craft 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 craft bloggers:

1. Etsy

   

   Commission Rate: 3.2% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 30 Days

   Etsy is a marketplace of handtrafted pieces and vintage treasures from sellers around the world. Get 5% commission per sale with 30-day cookies.

2. The Knot

   

   Commission Rate: 10% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 30 Days

   The Knot is the leading global family of brands that inspire, inform and celebrate communities as they move through life’s biggest milestones.

3. DMC

   

   Commission Rate: 5% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 30 Days

   DMC is the global brand leader in the manufacturing of hand needlework threads with the highest quality, reliability, and consistency.

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 Craft 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 craft blog. If you’re ready to start making a serious affiliate income from your craft site, sign up for Lasso today.

Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Craft Bloggers

Affiliate marketing can be a lucrative endeavor for bloggers, allowing you to earn money by promoting products that resonate with your audience. For instance, if your blog focuses on knitting or crafting, you can partner with companies selling yarn or craft tools. This not only helps monetize your blog but also adds value to your readers who trust your recommendations.

However, managing affiliate links and maintaining transparency with your audience can be challenging. It's important to disclose affiliate relationships to maintain trust. Moreover, reliance on affiliate marketing can sometimes influence the content of your blog, potentially limiting your creative freedom and possibly skewing your genuine recommendations.

The success of affiliate marketing largely depends on your blog's traffic and audience engagement. High traffic and a loyal audience can lead to more clicks and, consequently, higher earnings. This means you need to continuously engage your audience with high-quality content and effective marketing strategies.

On the flip side, affiliate marketing requires minimal investment compared to creating and selling your own products. It's a great way to start monetizing without the overhead of product development and customer service. Just choose the right affiliates that align with your blog’s theme and ethos, and you're set to start earning.

2. Display Ads

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

How to Monetize a Craft Blog With Display Ads

Monetizing a craft 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 Craft Bloggers

Display ads can be a powerful tool for craft bloggers looking to monetize their site. By placing visually appealing ads related to crafting or DIY projects, you can catch the eye of your readers and potentially increase your earnings. These ads are usually paid per click or per impression, so the more traffic your blog generates, the more you earn.

However, there are some downsides to consider. Display ads can sometimes detract from the aesthetic of your blog, making it look cluttered. This can be particularly jarring on a craft blog where visuals are key. Furthermore, if the ads are not well-targeted, they might not resonate with your audience, leading to lower engagement and possibly even a drop in regular visitors.

Another point to consider is ad blockers, which are widely used and can significantly reduce the number of ads seen by visitors, thus affecting your potential earnings. It's crucial to strike a balance between ad placement and maintaining the clean, inspiring look that craft readers love.

Finally, using display ads requires managing relationships with advertisers or networks, which can be time-consuming. You'll need to ensure that the ads displayed are relevant and that the advertisers are reputable to maintain trust with your audience.

3. Digital Products

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

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

Here's a cool list of digital products you can start selling on your craft blog:

• Printable Art: Unique designs that customers can download and print at home. Great for wall decor!
• Sewing Patterns: Offer downloadable patterns for clothing, bags, or quilts.
• Knitting Patterns: Easy-to-follow patterns for sweaters, scarves, and more, perfect for fellow knitters.
• Craft Tutorials: Step-by-step guides on making popular crafts. Include photos or videos!
• Planner Templates: Customizable daily, weekly, or monthly planners. Busy bees will love these!
• Scrapbooking Templates: Digital templates for beautiful scrapbook layouts.

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 Craft Bloggers

One of the biggest pros of selling digital products for craft bloggers is the low overhead cost. Unlike physical goods, digital products like patterns, tutorials, or e-books don't require physical materials or storage space. This allows for higher profit margins as you're mainly investing time and creativity. Additionally, digital products can be sold and delivered instantly around the world, providing a potentially global customer base without the hassle of shipping.

However, the digital market also comes with challenges, notably market saturation. As more craft bloggers turn to digital products, distinguishing your offerings from others can be tough. This requires strong marketing strategies and perhaps a unique selling proposition to stand out. Moreover, because digital products are easily replicated, protecting your intellectual property can be another hurdle, necessitating knowledge in digital rights management and possibly legal safeguards.

Another advantage is the ability to automate sales. Once set up, your digital shop can operate around the clock with little to no intervention. This means you can generate income even when you're not actively working. It's a great model for passive income, which can be particularly appealing if you're looking to step back a bit from daily blogging duties.

Lastly, remember that customer expectations run high in the digital realm. Buyers expect immediate access to their purchases and flawless digital delivery. Any technical hitches can lead to customer dissatisfaction and negative reviews, which are public and can impact your brand's reputation. Therefore, investing in a reliable e-commerce platform and excellent customer service is crucial.

How To Monetize a Craft 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 craft 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 craft blog with an email newsletter and the pros and cons of email marketing for craft bloggers.

How to Monetize a Craft Blog with an Email Newsletter

Email newsletters are a powerful tool for craft bloggers looking to monetize their passion. By collecting the email addresses of your visitors, you create a direct line of communication to your audience. Start by offering a free, valuable incentive, like a downloadable crafting guide or a discount code for your online shop, in exchange for their email sign-up. This builds your list organically, focusing on people genuinely interested in crafts.

Once you have a robust list, monetize your newsletter by featuring sponsored content from brands relevant to your craft niche. These could be crafting tools, materials, or patterns. You can also promote your own products or services, such as crafting classes, eBooks, or exclusive videos that offer deeper dives into complex projects. A periodic newsletter with exclusive offers can generate sales directly from your most engaged readers.

Use segmentation tactics to send tailored content that matches the specific interests of different groups within your audience. For example, if some subscribers prefer knitting while others are into scrapbooking, customize your newsletters to cater to these preferences. This increases engagement and, by extension, the effectiveness of any ads or promotions featured in those emails.

Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Craft Bloggers

• Pros:
• Direct access to your audience: Craft bloggers can communicate directly with their followers, bypassing the noise of social media and increasing the chances of engagement with content and promotions.
• Increased personalization: Email marketing allows for personalized communication, which can be tailored based on the subscriber’s past behaviors and preferences, enhancing their engagement and loyalty.
• Cost-effective: Compared to other marketing channels, email marketing is relatively inexpensive, providing a higher return on investment which is ideal for bloggers with limited marketing budgets.
• Cons:
• Time-consuming: Building, maintaining, and engaging an email list can be time-consuming, requiring consistent effort and creativity in crafting compelling content and promotions.
• Over-reliance on email performance: If the main strategy is email marketing, any issues with email deliverability or open rates could significantly impact your overall monetization efforts.
• Spam filters: Craft bloggers need to carefully design emails to avoid being flagged by spam filters, which can prevent their newsletters from reaching subscribers' inboxes.

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 craft 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 Craft Blog With Consulting Services

Monetizing a craft 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 Craft Bloggers

One of the key advantages of selling consulting services as a craft blogger is the ability to leverage your existing audience. If you've already built a loyal following through your blog, offering personalized advice or workshops can be a natural extension. This can significantly boost your income without the need for massive additional effort, as you're capitalizing on an audience that already trusts and values your expertise.

However, selling consulting services also has its drawbacks. For one, it can be time-consuming. Unlike passive income streams like ads or affiliate marketing, consulting requires active engagement. This means dedicating specific hours for client interactions, which can eat into the time you have for content creation and other aspects of your craft blogging business.

Another pro is the high value and pricing flexibility of consulting services. You can often charge a premium for personalized advice, especially if you have a unique skill set or niche. This can make consulting a very lucrative component of your business model. But, it's important to remember that establishing a pricing structure that reflects your value without alienating your audience can be tricky.

Lastly, branching into consulting can enhance your credibility as an expert in your field. This can open doors to other opportunities like speaking engagements or book deals. However, it also puts a spotlight on you, meaning any advice or guidance you provide needs to be exceptionally well-founded and researched to maintain your reputation and trust with your audience.

Craft Blog Monetization FAQs

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

If you want to build a successful craft 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 Craft Blogging?

Absolutely! Some craft blogs, like DIY Candy and Ceramic School 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 Craft Blog?

Learning how to start a craft 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 Craft Bloggers Get Paid?

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

Is Craft Blogging Easy?

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

As a craft 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 Craft Blog?

It’s absolutely worth it to start a craft 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 craft-related industries will take you seriously.

Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Craft Blog

So, you've got the steps to make money from your craft blog. Here's a pro tip before you go: Mix it up with your income sources!

Why? It's safer. Combine affiliate marketing, ads, and selling your crafts. That way, if one method dips, your blog won't take a big hit.

With a bit of hustle and smart planning, your craft blog is set to earn well. Go get that money!

Why You Should Trust Our Craft Blogging Content

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

Quite a lot, actually.

Here's why you can trust our process for building a successful craft 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 Craft Bloggers Every Day

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