How to Monetize a Finance Blog and Build an Investment

Starting a finance blog can be overwhelming. You’ve got to figure out domain registration, set up WordPress, and learn how to create and publish great content. Once you've nailed the basics, it’s time to dive into how to monetize your finance blog.

This part is where the fun really begins!

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been blogging for a while, these monetization strategies will help transform your hobby into a full-time gig. Let's break down the options so you can start making money from your blog.

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for finance 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 Finance Bloggers

When it comes to finance blogging, the right affiliate products can make all the difference. Here are some key types to consider:

• Personal Finance Courses: Online courses teaching budgeting, investing, or debt management are popular. They offer valuable content that can attract readers eager to improve their financial situation.
• Investment Platforms: Recommend platforms like Robinhood or E*TRADE. These allow your audience to start investing with ease, often featuring alluring sign-up bonuses.
• Credit Cards: Credit card promotions are always in demand. Highlight cards with great rewards or low-interest rates to help your readers find the best deals.
• Budgeting Apps: Apps like You Need a Budget or Mint can help readers manage their finances better. By promoting these, you offer tools they can directly use to improve their financial lives.
• Insurance Services: Help your readers find the right insurance. Whether it's health, auto, or home insurance, connecting them to trustworthy services can be beneficial.
• Retirement Planning Tools: Tools like Betterment or Wealthfront help users plan for retirement. They’re appealing because they provide long-term financial security.

Each of these categories can significantly resonate with your audience. Here are some reasons to promote them:

• High demand: Many people are actively seeking financial advice and tools.
• Recurring commissions: Certain services offer ongoing commissions, providing you with continuous income.
• Trust factor: Finance-related products can establish you as an authority in your niche when recommended wisely.
• Accessible content: These products and services often have user-friendly interfaces, making them easy to recommend.
• Quality of life improvements: Many readers are genuinely looking to enhance their financial well-being with reliable recommendations.

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 finance 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 finance bloggers:

1. Olavivo

   

   Commission Rate: $250+

   Cookie Duration: 30 - 90 Days

   Olavivo is a boutique affiliate network with a focus on Ecommerce, Health & Beauty, Sweepstakes, Gaming, Dating, Finance and Cryptocurrency.

2. Vantage

   

   Commission Rate: Up to $1,200 CPA

   Cookie Duration: 30 Days

   Vantage is a global, multi-asset broker offering a robust and efficient service for trading CFDs on Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, and Cryptocurrencies. Vantage has a reputation for delivering high standards of trading to clients by providing a trusted trading ecosystem.

3. 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!

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

Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Finance Bloggers

Affiliate marketing can be a game-changer for finance bloggers. On the plus side, it’s a relatively easy way to monetize your content. If you recommend financial products, you can earn commissions every time someone makes a purchase through your link. It's a win-win; you help your audience while getting paid for it.

However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. One major downside is the trust factor. If you promote products that aren't genuinely helpful or relevant to your audience, you risk losing their trust. Readers can quickly sniff out insincerity. Plus, competition can be fierce—especially in the finance niche where well-established players may overshadow new bloggers.

Another thing to consider is the dependency on affiliate programs. Relying solely on commissions can be risky. If a program changes its terms or shuts down, your income could take a hit. Building diversified revenue streams alongside affiliate marketing is crucial to safeguard your income.

2. Display Ads

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

How to Monetize a Finance Blog With Display Ads

Monetizing a finance 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 Finance Bloggers

Display ads can be a double-edged sword for finance bloggers. On the one hand, they provide a straightforward way to monetize your site. You can earn revenue simply by displaying ads, and with programs like Google AdSense, setting up is usually a breeze. This passive income can be quite appealing, especially for those focusing on content creation.

However, there are downsides. Display ads may clutter your page and disrupt the user experience. Visitors often find them intrusive, which can lead to higher bounce rates and lower engagement. If your audience feels bombarded, they might not stick around to read your valuable financial insights.

Another con is the potential for lower CPM (cost per thousand impressions) rates in the finance niche despite its lucrative nature. Brands may prefer more tailored or targeted advertising to optimize their ROI, leaving bloggers with generic ads that may not align with their content. This mismatch can dilute your brand's authority and overshadow the niche focus you’ve worked hard to establish.

Still, for many finance bloggers, balancing display ads with high-quality content can lead to a profitable strategy. The key is managing user experience while maximizing ad revenue. It's all about finding that sweet spot.

3. Digital Products

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

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

Here are some great digital products you can sell on your finance blog:

• Personal Finance Ebooks: Write easy-to-follow guides on budgeting, saving, or investing.
• Budgeting Templates: Create simple spreadsheets or printable templates to help people manage their finances.
• Online Courses: Offer step-by-step videos or workshops on money management and financial literacy.
• Investment Calculators: Develop digital tools to help users analyze stocks, mutual funds, or retirement savings.
• Financial Coaching Services: Provide personalized advice through video calls or email consultations.

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 Finance Bloggers

Selling digital products can be a game-changer for finance bloggers. One major pro is the potential for passive income. Once you've created a product, like an eBook or online course, you can sell it repeatedly without much additional effort. This means you can earn money even while you sleep.

Another advantage is the flexibility in pricing and marketing. You can experiment with different price points and sales strategies to see what works best for your audience. Plus, digital products can be updated quickly. If regulations change or you think of a new tip, you can revise your material and keep your content fresh.

On the flip side, there are some cons. It can be time-consuming to create high-quality digital products. You need strong content and attractive design that resonate with your audience. Additionally, breaking into a saturated market can be tough. With many finance bloggers selling products, you'll need to find a unique angle to stand out.

Finally, you might face challenges in marketing your product. Even with a loyal audience, convincing them to buy can be difficult. You'll have to invest time into building promotions and creating effective sales funnels. Patience and persistence are essential to see success in selling digital products.

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

How to Monetize a Finance Blog with an Email Newsletter

Email newsletters are a powerful way for finance bloggers to connect with their audience. They allow you to deliver value directly to your readers' inboxes, making it easier to build relationships and trust. By providing exclusive insights, tips, and resources, you can encourage subscribers to take action, whether that’s purchasing a product, signing up for a course, or engaging with advertisers. Email newsletters also have a higher engagement rate compared to social media, making them a goldmine for monetization.

Start by offering a free lead magnet, such as an e-book or a toolkit, in exchange for your readers' email addresses. This can be something like "Top 10 Investment Tips for Beginners." Once you have a strong subscriber base, you can monetize by promoting affiliate products relevant to finance, like budgeting apps or investment platforms. Each time someone purchases through your link, you earn a commission. This method does not only boost your income but also enhances your credibility as you recommend valuable resources.

Another effective way to monetize through email is by offering premium content. Create a subscription-based model where subscribers pay a monthly fee for exclusive access to in-depth analyses, financial projections, or personalized budgeting plans. Since finance revolves around trust and authority, having a paid newsletter can position you as an expert in the field, which is attractive to dedicated followers eager to learn more.

Lastly, consider partnering with financial brands to feature sponsored content within your newsletter. Many finance companies are keen on reaching specific demographics and are willing to pay for newsletter space. Just ensure the products align with your blog's ethos and your audience's interests. This strategy not only makes you money but also creates a win-win scenario for your readers who get offers tailored to their needs.

Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Finance Bloggers

• Pros:
  • Direct Engagement: Emails go straight to your audience, unlike social media posts that are often buried.
  • Higher Conversion Rates: Subscribers who receive emails are usually more interested, leading to better sales opportunities.
  • Control Over Content: You choose what to send and when, allowing you to tailor your messages better than on social platforms.
• Cons:
  • Requires Regular Commitment: Maintaining an email list needs consistent content creation and communication.
  • Potential Spam Filters: Your emails might get caught in spam filters, reducing your reach if not handled properly.
  • Subscriber Tuning Out: If your content isn’t valuable, readers might unsubscribe, impacting your overall engagement.

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 finance 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 Finance Blog With Consulting Services

Monetizing a finance 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 Finance Bloggers

When it comes to selling consulting services, finance bloggers have some interesting pros and cons to consider. On the plus side, you've already built credibility in your niche. Readers trust your insights, which can make them more likely to seek your services. Plus, consulting can be a lucrative source of income, especially if you niche down and offer specialized advice.

However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Firstly, turning a blog reader into a client can be challenging. Many people view blogs as free resources and may hesitate to pay for your expertise. Additionally, marketing your services takes time. You need a strategy to convert your audience into paying clients, which can distract from content creation.

Then there's the pressure that comes with offering consulting. Clients may have high expectations, and if results don’t materialize, your reputation could take a hit. Balancing client needs with your own content schedule can be tricky, leading to potential burnout.

Ultimately, selling consulting services has its highs and lows. Your skills and audience can work in your favor, but it's important to manage client expectations while maintaining your blogging momentum.

Finance Blog Monetization FAQs

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

If you want to build a successful finance 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 Finance Blogging?

Absolutely! Some finance blogs, like Money Crashers and Get Rich Slowly 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 Finance Blog?

Learning how to start a finance 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 Finance Bloggers Get Paid?

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

Is Finance Blogging Easy?

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

As a finance 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 Finance Blog?

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

Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Finance Blog

So there you have it! You've learned all sorts of ways to make money from your finance blog.

But here’s a quick bonus tip: Use a mix of monetization methods!

Diversifying your income is smart. It helps keep your blog safe and thriving.

If you do affiliate links, run ads, and sell your own products, you won't be totally reliant on one source.

When those commission rates change, your blog can still stand strong.

With this multi-channel strategy, plus some hard work and planning, you'll be on your way to maximizing your earnings.

Why You Should Trust Our Finance Blogging Content

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

Quite a lot, actually.

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

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