How to Monetize a Pet Blog and Paw Up Some Profits

Starting a pet blog involves a bit more than just setting up your site and posting cute pet photos. Once you've got the basics down, it's time to dive into the exciting world of monetizing your blog.

Trust me, figuring out how to make money from your pet blog can be really fun!

Whether you're just starting out or you're already a pro in the pet blogging scene, there are plenty of ways to turn your passion into profit. Let's explore some effective methods to do just that.

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for pet 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 Pet Bloggers

Hey, diving into the pet blogging world? Smart move! Recommending affiliate products there can really boost your earnings. Here’s a quick rundown of some top types to consider:

• Pet Food and Treats: Everyone wants the best for their furry friends. From organic kibbles to gourmet treats, these are always in demand.
• Pet Health Supplements: Joint health, skin care, or digestive aids – supplements are huge for maintaining pet wellness.
• Pet Toys: Toys keep pets entertained and active. Think of things like chew toys for dogs, catnip toys for cats, or even interactive tech gadgets.
• Training Equipment: This includes leashes, harnesses, clickers, and training books. Essential for new pet owners!
• Pet Safety Products: Items like GPS collars, pet cameras, or personalized ID tags help keep pets safe.
• Grooming Products: Shampoos, brushes, nail clippers, and grooming gloves are necessities for pet care.
• Custom Pet Merchandise: Personalized bowls, beds, or even pet clothing can be very appealing to pet owners looking to spoil their pets.

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 pet 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 pet bloggers:

1. Innovet Pet

   

   Commission Rate: 20% - 40% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 30 Days

   Innovet Pet is a pet supplement marketplace full of specialized products designed to fit the unique needs of different pets.

2. Chewy

   

   Commission Rate: $15 Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 15 Days

   Chewy has everything you need for your pet at amazing prices, every day. Explore more than 1,000 favorite brands, all from the comfort of home.

3. Petco

   

   Commission Rate: 2% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 7 Days

   Petco is a big, general pet supplies retailer. Join their affiliate program with a 2% commission and 7-day cookie duration.

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

Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Pet Bloggers

Affiliate marketing offers a unique opportunity for pet bloggers to monetize their content by promoting products that resonate with their audience. By partnering with pet-related companies, bloggers can earn commissions on sales generated through their affiliate links. This approach is particularly effective in the pet niche, where readers often look for trusted product recommendations for their beloved animals.

However, managing affiliate marketing requires careful consideration. It's crucial to maintain authenticity and trust with your audience. Promoting products that you haven't personally used or that don't align with your readers' interests can damage your credibility. Moreover, reliance on affiliate marketing as the sole income source can be risky due to fluctuating commission rates and changes in partner companies’ policies.

Another advantage is the ease of integration. Affiliate links can be seamlessly incorporated into blog posts, emails, and social media platforms, allowing pet bloggers to earn passive income. This can be especially lucrative during high shopping seasons like holidays when pet owners are on the lookout for gifts and new products for their pets.

On the downside, affiliate marketing in the pet blogging niche can be highly competitive. With many bloggers vying for the same audience, standing out requires creative strategies and high-quality content. Additionally, tracking the performance of affiliate links and optimizing strategies for better results can be time-consuming and requires a good understanding of analytics.

2. Display Ads

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

How to Monetize a Pet Blog With Display Ads

Monetizing a pet 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 Pet Bloggers

Display ads can be a great tool for pet bloggers looking to monetize their websites. By placing visually appealing banners or sidebars, you can catch the attention of pet owners and enthusiasts. These ads often work on a cost-per-click (CPC) or cost-per-impression (CPM) basis, providing a steady revenue stream if your blog attracts a lot of traffic.

However, it's important to consider the downside. Display ads can sometimes distract from your content if not well integrated. If the ads are too intrusive or irrelevant, it might lead to a poor user experience, causing visitors to leave your site prematurely. This could potentially decrease your site's engagement and negatively impact your SEO rankings.

Another point to consider is the source of the ads. Aligning with pet-related businesses and products can enhance your blog's credibility and relevance. On the flip side, displaying ads from unrelated industries or low-quality products may harm your blog's reputation among your followers.

Lastly, managing display ads requires a bit of technical know-how. Platforms like Google AdSense automate much of the process, but you'll still need to optimize ad placement and monitor performance to maximize revenue. This might require a learning curve or even professional help, adding to your overhead costs.

3. Digital Products

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

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

Here's a list of digital products that could really jazz up your pet blog:

• E-books: Comprehensive guides on pet care, breed-specific info, or training tips.
• Online Courses: Step-by-step video tutorials on training, grooming, or pet nutrition.
• Custom Pet Diet Plans: Tailored meal plans created by certified pet nutritionists.
• Printable Checklists: Handy checklists for pet travel, new pet setups, or daily care routines.
• Webinars: Live sessions with pet experts on various topics like behavior or health.

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 Pet Bloggers

One major advantage of selling digital products as a pet blogger is the relatively low overhead costs. Unlike physical products, digital items such as e-books, courses, or personalized pet diet plans don't require storage or shipping. This means you can keep more of your profits and focus on creating quality content. Additionally, digital products are accessible worldwide, allowing you to reach a global audience without the complexities of international shipping.

However, the digital market also comes with challenges. The competition can be fierce, as many pet bloggers may offer similar products. Standing out requires not only unique and valuable content but also strong marketing skills to promote your products effectively. Additionally, digital products can be easily copied or shared, which poses a risk of piracy that can potentially reduce your earnings.

Another consideration is the technical aspect of selling digital products. You'll need a reliable platform to handle sales and ensure secure transactions. This often means investing in a professional website and possibly subscription services for payment processing and product delivery. While these are generally cost-effective, they do require an initial setup and ongoing maintenance.

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

How to Monetize a Pet Blog with an Email Newsletter

Email newsletters are a powerful tool for pet bloggers looking to monetize their content. By collecting the email addresses of your readers, you can create a direct line of communication to share updates, promotions, and exclusive content. To start, integrate a sign-up form on your blog and incentivize readers to subscribe by offering something valuable, like a free ebook on pet care tips or discount codes for pet products.

Once you have a list of subscribers, you can begin to monetize your newsletter by featuring sponsored content from pet-related businesses or including affiliate links to pet products that you recommend. Make sure to clearly disclose any affiliations to maintain trust with your audience. Additionally, you can create a premium newsletter subscription that includes more in-depth articles, video content, or personalized pet advice for a small fee.

Remember to keep your newsletters engaging and relevant to your audience’s interests in pets. Use appealing subject lines and visually appealing templates to increase open rates and engagement. Tailoring content that resonates with pet owners, such as the latest pet care innovations or heartwarming pet stories, can also help improve the performance of your email campaigns.

Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Pet Bloggers

• Pros:
• Direct engagement: Email allows personal and direct communication with your audience, which builds stronger relationships.
• Targeted content: You can segment your audience and send them tailored content that they are more likely to engage with, such as specialized dog training tips or cat nutrition advice.
• Cost-effective: Compared to other marketing forms, email marketing is relatively inexpensive, offering a high return on investment, especially important when just starting to monetize.
• Cons:
• Over-saturation: Many users receive numerous emails daily, making it challenging to stand out in crowded inboxes.
• Time-consuming: Developing engaging and well-designed email content can be time-consuming.
• Risk of unsubscriptions: If not done correctly, frequent or irrelevant emails may lead to higher unsubscribe rates, which could affect your blog’s reader base.

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 pet 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 Pet Blog With Consulting Services

Monetizing a pet 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 Pet Bloggers

One of the major advantages of selling consulting services as a pet blogger is the potential for increased revenue. By leveraging your expertise in pet care, training, or nutrition, you can offer personalized advice that goes beyond general blog posts. This not only helps build deeper relationships with your audience but also allows you to charge a premium for your specialized knowledge.

However, there are some downsides to consider. Consulting requires a significant time commitment, which can detract from content creation for your blog. This can potentially alienate your regular readers if your blog updates become less frequent or less detailed. Additionally, the need to stay updated with the latest pet care trends and research can be quite demanding.

Another positive aspect is the establishment of credibility. By offering consulting services, you position yourself as an expert in the field. This can enhance your reputation, attract more visitors to your blog, and open doors to other opportunities like speaking engagements or partnerships with pet care brands.

On the flip side, the initial setup for offering consulting can be complex. You'll need to think about setting up booking systems, payment processing, and possibly even legal considerations like contracts and liability waivers. This setup can be daunting and may require upfront investment, which might be a hurdle for some bloggers.

Pet Blog Monetization FAQs

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

If you want to build a successful pet 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 Pet Blogging?

Absolutely! Some pet blogs, like Blog Paws and Pawsitively Pets 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 Pet Blog?

Learning how to start a pet 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 Pet Bloggers Get Paid?

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

Is Pet Blogging Easy?

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

As a pet 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 Pet Blog?

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

Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Pet Blog

So, you've learned about various ways to make money from your pet blog. Here's an extra tip: mix it up! Using several monetization strategies helps safeguard your blog's future revenue.

Whether it's affiliate marketing, ads, or selling your own products, diversifying means you won't be left high and dry if one income stream falters. With dedication and smart planning, you're setting yourself up for success. Go get that income your blog deserves!

Why You Should Trust Our Pet Blogging Content

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

Quite a lot, actually.

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

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