How to Monetize a Political Blog and Campaign for Cash

So, you’ve got the hang of blogging, now it’s time to make some money with your political blog.

Trust me, this part is going to be a blast!

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned political pro, these monetization methods will help you turn your blog into a full-fledged business. Let’s dive in and check out each one.

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for political 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 Political Bloggers

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

• Political books: Recommend books written by political analysts, historians, or politicians that align with your blog's content.
• Online courses: Promote courses on political science, public policy, or international relations that your audience may find valuable.
• Political merchandise: Affiliate with websites selling political t-shirts, hats, or accessories related to specific political movements or causes.
• Subscription services: Partner with platforms offering access to political news, analysis, or opinion pieces for a monthly fee.
• Political event tickets: Recommend events such as political rallies, debates, or conferences that your audience may be interested in attending.

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 political 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 political bloggers:

1. Udemy

   

   Commission Rate: 8% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 7 Days

   Udemy is the biggest hub of paid and free online courses on the web. With so many coureses, it has training and content in every niche possible.

2. Grammarly

   

   Commission Rate: $0.20 - $20 Per Lead

   Cookie Duration: 90 Days

   Grammarly is a software suite that assists in English spelling, grammar, and more. Get up to $20 per sale as well as $0.20 per lead.

3. Coursera

   

   Commission Rate: Up to 45% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 30 Days

   Coursera offers over 1,000 courses and specializations. Each course consists of pre-recorded videos, puzzles, and assignments.

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

Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Political Bloggers

Affiliate marketing can be a profitable endeavor for political bloggers, providing an opportunity to earn passive income by promoting products or services relevant to their niche. By partnering with brands and companies, bloggers can monetize their content and potentially increase their earning potential.

However, it's important for political bloggers to consider the potential drawbacks of affiliate marketing. This includes the need to maintain transparency and integrity in their recommendations, as well as the risk of alienating their audience if they promote products or services that conflict with their political stance.

On the flip side, affiliate marketing allows political bloggers to diversify their income streams and potentially earn a steady revenue stream alongside their content creation efforts. It also provides an opportunity to support causes or products that align with their political beliefs, contributing to a sense of purpose and impact beyond their writing.

Ultimately, political bloggers should weigh the pros and cons of affiliate marketing carefully, considering how it aligns with their values and goals as content creators.

2. Display Ads

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

How to Monetize a Political Blog With Display Ads

Monetizing a political 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 Political Bloggers

Display ads can be a great way for political bloggers to generate revenue from their content. They are easy to implement and can provide a steady stream of income. However, they can also be intrusive to the reader's experience and may not always align with the blogger's values or messaging.

One of the main pros of display ads is that they require minimal effort to set up and maintain. Once they are in place, bloggers can earn passive income without much ongoing work. On the other hand, the main con is that display ads can be visually distracting and may turn off some readers.

Another advantage of display ads is that they can be highly targeted, allowing bloggers to reach specific audiences and maximize their ad revenue. However, a potential downside is that they can slow down page load times and contribute to a cluttered website layout.

Ultimately, political bloggers should carefully consider the pros and cons of display ads before deciding whether to incorporate them into their monetization strategy. It's important to weigh the potential financial benefits against the potential impact on user experience and brand image.

3. Digital Products

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

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

Here are some digital products to sell on a political blog:

• E-books: Write and sell e-books on political topics, offering in-depth analysis and insights.
• Online courses: Develop and sell online courses on political campaigning, public policy, or political communication strategies.
• Printable infographics: Create and sell downloadable infographics on hot political topics, providing visual data and information.
• Podcasts: Offer exclusive access to political podcast episodes, interviews, and discussions for a subscription fee.
• Political merchandise: Design and sell digital political merchandise such as posters, stickers, and digital campaign materials.

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 Political Bloggers

One of the main advantages of selling digital products for political bloggers is the potential for passive income. Once the digital product is created and set up for sale, bloggers can continue to earn money from it without much ongoing effort.

Another pro is the ability to reach a wider audience. Digital products can be easily distributed to people all over the world, allowing political bloggers to extend their reach beyond their immediate geographic location.

On the flip side, a potential con of selling digital products is the need for marketing and promotion. Bloggers will have to invest time and effort into promoting their digital products in order to generate sales.

Additionally, there may be a learning curve for bloggers who are new to creating and selling digital products, as they will need to familiarize themselves with the technology and processes involved.

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

So you've got a political blog and you're looking for ways to monetize it. One great method for political bloggers to make money is through an email newsletter. By building a list of engaged subscribers, you can provide exclusive content, promote affiliate products, and even sell your own digital products or services.

How to Monetize a Political Blog with an Email Newsletter

To monetize a political blog with an email newsletter, start by creating valuable content that your readers can't get anywhere else. This could include in-depth analysis, exclusive interviews, or behind-the-scenes insights. Then, offer this exclusive content to subscribers who sign up for your email list. You can also promote affiliate products related to your political niche and earn a commission for any sales made through your email promotions. Finally, consider creating and selling your own digital products or services, such as ebooks, online courses, or consulting services, to your email subscribers.

Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Political Bloggers

• Pros: Email newsletters allow you to build a loyal and engaged audience, promote affiliate products, and sell your own products or services directly to your subscribers.
• Cons: Building an email list takes time and effort, and there's no guarantee that your subscribers will open or act on your emails.

Email newsletters are a great way for political bloggers to monetize their blogs because they provide a direct line of communication with their audience. Subscribers are typically more engaged than social media followers, and email allows for more personalized and targeted content. This makes it easier to promote political products or services that are relevant to your specific audience.

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 political 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 Political Blog With Consulting Services

Monetizing a political 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 Political Bloggers

One of the main pros of selling consulting services to political bloggers is the potential for high demand. Political bloggers often require guidance on content creation, social media strategy, and audience engagement, making them prime candidates for consulting services.

Another advantage is the opportunity to work with influencers in the political space. By offering consulting services to political bloggers, you can establish yourself as an expert in the field and build valuable connections within the industry.

On the flip side, a major con of selling consulting services to political bloggers is the potential for controversy. Political content can be polarizing, and offering services to bloggers with differing viewpoints may lead to backlash or negative associations.

Additionally, the fast-paced and ever-changing nature of politics can make consulting for political bloggers challenging. Staying informed on current events and adapting strategies accordingly is crucial for success in this niche.

Political Blog Monetization FAQs

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

If you want to build a successful political 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 Political Blogging?

Absolutely! Some political blogs, like The Political Insider and Daily Kos 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 Political Blog?

Learning how to start a political 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 Political Bloggers Get Paid?

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

Is Political Blogging Easy?

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

As a political 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 Political Blog?

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

Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Political Blog

So there you have it, all the different ways to make money from your political blog.

But here's a bonus tip for you: use multiple monetization methods!

Diversifying your income streams is the best way to protect your business's future.

If you promote affiliate offers, use display ads, and sell your own products, it won't hurt your business if one method takes a hit.

With this multi-tiered approach, hard work, and careful planning, you'll be on the fast track to earning what your online business deserves.

Why You Should Trust Our Political Blogging Content

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

Quite a lot, actually.

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

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