How to Monetize a Pet Blog and Paw Up Some Profits

So, you've mastered the basics of pet blogging - now it's time to make some money!

Whether you're just starting out or already a pet influencer, these monetization methods can turn your pet blog into a full-time business.

Let's dive into each method and see how you can start making some serious cash from your furry friends.

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

Some different kinds of affiliate products to recommend in the pet blogging niche include:

• Pet food and treats: Recommend high-quality pet food and treats that are beneficial for pets' health and well-being.
• Pet accessories: Suggest pet accessories such as leashes, collars, beds, and toys that are both functional and stylish.
• Pet grooming products: Promote grooming products like shampoos, brushes, and nail clippers to help pet owners keep their pets clean and well-groomed.
• Pet healthcare products: Recommend products like supplements, flea and tick treatments, and dental care items to help maintain pets' overall health.
• Pet insurance: Advocate for pet insurance plans that can help pet owners cover unexpected veterinary costs.

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

One of the main advantages of affiliate marketing for pet bloggers is the potential to earn passive income. By promoting products or services that align with your blog's content, you can earn a commission for every sale or lead generated through your affiliate links.

On the flip side, a potential drawback of affiliate marketing is the need to constantly create high-quality content that incorporates affiliate links without coming across as too salesy or promotional. It can be a delicate balance to maintain the trust of your audience while still driving affiliate sales.

Another benefit of affiliate marketing for pet bloggers is the opportunity to collaborate with brands and companies within the pet industry. This can lead to exciting partnerships, exclusive discounts for your audience, and access to new products to review and share with your readers.

However, a challenge of affiliate marketing is the need to stay updated on the latest trends, products, and promotions within the pet industry. This requires ongoing research and networking to ensure you are promoting relevant and valuable products to your audience.

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 way for pet bloggers to monetize their content. They offer a passive income stream and can be relatively easy to set up and manage. However, they can also be visually distracting and may take away from the overall user experience on your blog.

On the positive side, display ads can generate revenue without requiring much effort on your part once they are set up. They can also be targeted to your specific audience, making them more relevant and effective. However, they can also slow down your website and make it look cluttered if not managed properly.

Ultimately, the decision to use display ads on your pet blog will depend on your specific goals and priorities. It's important to weigh the potential benefits against the potential drawbacks and consider whether they align with your overall content strategy and user experience goals.

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 are some digital products to sell on a pet blog:

• Pet training e-books: Offer downloadable guides on obedience training, housebreaking, and other pet behavior topics.
• Printable pet care checklists: Create checklists for grooming, daily care, and emergency preparedness that pet owners can print and use.
• Online training courses: Develop video courses on topics like puppy socialization, teaching tricks, or managing pet anxiety.
• Custom pet portrait digital downloads: Offer personalized digital portraits that customers can print and frame at home.

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 of the biggest pros of selling digital products for pet bloggers is the potential for passive income. Once the products are created and set up for sale, bloggers can continue to earn money from them without putting in additional time or effort.

Another advantage is the ability to reach a larger audience. Digital products can be sold to pet owners all over the world, expanding the blogger's reach beyond their local area.

On the flip side, creating and selling digital products can be time-consuming and require a significant initial investment of time and resources. Additionally, there is the risk of digital piracy, as these products can be easily shared and distributed without the blogger's permission.

Despite these challenges, selling digital products can be a lucrative opportunity for pet bloggers who are willing to put in the work to create high-quality, valuable products for their audience.

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.

As a Pet blogger, one effective way to monetize your blog is through an email newsletter. By building a list of engaged subscribers, you can promote affiliate products, sponsored content, and even your own products or services.

How to Monetize a Pet Blog with an Email Newsletter

To start monetizing your Pet blog with an email newsletter, begin by creating valuable and relevant content that pet owners will find helpful. Offer a lead magnet, such as a free pet care guide or training tips, to encourage visitors to subscribe. Once you have a list of subscribers, you can promote affiliate products like pet food, toys, and grooming supplies. Additionally, you can offer sponsored content opportunities to pet-related companies or promote your own products, such as pet training courses or merchandise, directly to your subscribers.

Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Pet Bloggers

• Pros: Building a loyal and engaged audience, opportunity to promote affiliate products, ability to sell sponsored content, and promote your own products or services.
• Cons: Requires consistent effort to create valuable content, potential for subscribers to unsubscribe, and finding the right balance between promotional and informative content.

An email newsletter is a great way for Pet bloggers to stay connected with their audience and offer valuable content, promotions, and product recommendations. It allows you to build a loyal following and monetize your blog through various opportunities.

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 pros of selling consulting services to pet bloggers is the potential for a large and growing market. As more and more people turn to the internet for pet care advice, the demand for consulting services is on the rise. This means there is ample opportunity to grow and scale your consulting business.

Another advantage is the ability to make a real impact on pet owners and their furry friends. By providing valuable advice and guidance, you can help pet bloggers improve the care and well-being of their pets, creating a sense of fulfillment and purpose in your work.

On the downside, selling consulting services to pet bloggers may require a significant investment in time and effort to build a strong reputation and client base. Additionally, the pet industry can be highly competitive, so standing out from the crowd may pose a challenge.

Lastly, it's important to consider that working with pet bloggers may involve dealing with a diverse range of personalities and preferences, which can sometimes be demanding and require strong interpersonal skills to navigate effectively.

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 now you know all the different ways to make money from your pet blog. But here's one more tip for you:

Try using multiple methods to make money!

Diversifying your income streams is the best way to protect your blog's future. If you use affiliate offers, display ads, and sell your own products, you won't be in trouble if one method stops working. With hard work and careful planning, you'll be on the fast track to earning what your pet 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.