So, you've got the basics of political blogging down. Now it's time to make some money from it.
Whether you're just starting out or already have a following, these monetization methods can turn your blog into a full-time gig.
Let's dive into each method and see how you can start making some serious cash.
Why You Can Trust Our Political Blog Monetization Guide
Lasso is installed on over 8,000 websites, including many political blogs.
Our team has built multiple 7-figure blogs in a wide range of niches.
We have hands-on experience working with founders to grow and monetize their political blogs.
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.
TIP: With all monetization methods, the rule of thumb is the easier it is to accomplish, the less money you can make, and vice versa.
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
Here are some different kinds of affiliate products to recommend in the political blogging niche:
- Political books: Recommend books on political theory, current events, or biographies of political figures.
- Political merchandise: Promote products such as t-shirts, bumper stickers, and buttons related to political causes or candidates.
- Online courses: Partner with platforms offering courses on political science, public policy, or advocacy.
- Political software: Recommend tools for data analysis, campaign management, or social media monitoring.
- Political events: Promote tickets or registrations for political conferences, rallies, or fundraisers.
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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
TIP: We maintain a database of the best affiliate programs. Click here to see the best writing affiliate programs.
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.
A WordPress plugin that lets you add, manage, and display your affiliate links from any program, including Amazon. Increase conversions. Find new affiliate link opportunities. Earn more revenue! Less than 5 minutes to set up.
Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Political Bloggers
Political bloggers can benefit from affiliate marketing by promoting products or services related to their niche, earning a commission for each sale or lead generated through their unique affiliate link. This can provide an additional stream of income and help monetize their blog.
However, political bloggers should be cautious about the potential for conflicts of interest or compromising their credibility by promoting products or services solely for financial gain. It's important to maintain transparency and disclose any affiliate partnerships to their audience to maintain trust.
Another downside is the time and effort required to research, select, and promote relevant products or services. This can distract from creating quality political content and engaging with their audience, so bloggers should carefully consider the trade-offs.
In conclusion, affiliate marketing offers political bloggers the opportunity to earn passive income, but they should approach it with caution and transparency to avoid compromising their credibility and relationship with their audience.
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
NOTE: WordPress is an open-source software found on WordPress.org. WordPress.com is a premium blogging platform, but you never need to pay to install WordPress on your website, even if it’s self-hosted.
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.
TIP: Optimize your display ads for user experience by using your chosen network’s software settings or talking to your account manager. Keep the ads in the sidebar and footer whenever possible.
You’ll make a lot of money in the long run if you put your readers ahead of quick profit.
Display Ad Pros And Cons For Political Bloggers
Display ads can be a great way for political bloggers to monetize their content. They are easy to set up and can generate passive income as long as the blog receives a decent amount of traffic. However, display ads can also be visually distracting and may turn off some readers, especially if they are excessive or irrelevant to the content.
On the positive side, display ads can provide a steady stream of income for political bloggers, allowing them to focus on creating valuable content without worrying about financial stability. On the other hand, some readers may find them intrusive and distracting, which could potentially impact the blog's credibility and trustworthiness.
Ultimately, the decision to use display ads on a political blog should be carefully considered. It's important to weigh the potential financial benefits against the possible negative impact on user experience and reader perception. Political bloggers should also consider alternative monetization strategies, such as sponsored content or affiliate marketing, to diversify their income streams and minimize the drawbacks of display ads.
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.
Check out these digital products available for purchase on our political blog:
- E-books: In-depth analysis of current political issues and historical perspectives.
- Webinars: Live or recorded sessions with political experts discussing important topics.
- Infographics: Visual representations of data and statistics related to politics and government.
- Podcasts: Audio recordings of interviews, debates, and discussions with political figures.
- Online Courses: Structured learning programs on various political subjects and skills.
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 product is created and marketed, it can continue to generate revenue without much ongoing effort.
Additionally, digital products can be a great way for political bloggers to establish themselves as experts in their field. Ebooks, courses, and other digital offerings can help build credibility and authority within the political niche.
On the downside, creating and selling digital products can be time-consuming and may require a significant initial investment, especially if the blogger is not familiar with the process. There's also the risk of piracy and unauthorized distribution of the digital products, which can impact potential earnings.
Despite these potential challenges, selling digital products can be a lucrative opportunity for political bloggers looking to diversify their income streams and provide valuable resources to their audience.
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:
Get Your FREE 20-Page Guide To Making $1000/Day From Your Niche Blog
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.
TIP: You can still use Lasso to get more clicks to your digital products. Just create a Lasso display with the link pointing to your product’s sales page.
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.
How to Monetize a Political Blog with an Email Newsletter
An email newsletter is a great way for political bloggers to monetize their blogs. By offering exclusive content, updates, and insights to subscribers, you can create a loyal audience that is willing to pay for premium access to your political analysis and commentary.
To get started, you can use an email marketing platform like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to create and manage your newsletter. Then, promote it on your blog and social media channels to attract subscribers. Once you have a significant subscriber base, you can offer premium subscription packages with exclusive content and benefits.
Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Political Bloggers
- Pros: Email newsletters allow you to build a direct and personal connection with your audience, making it easier to convert subscribers into paying customers.
- Cons: It can be time-consuming to create and manage an email newsletter, and there is no guarantee that subscribers will convert into paying customers.
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.
TIP: Again, you can use Lasso to drive more clicks to your coaching pages. Just create a Display with a link to your sales page, and insert it into blog posts.
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 pros of selling consulting services for political bloggers is the potential for high demand. With the increasing importance of online presence in politics, bloggers are constantly seeking ways to enhance their impact and reach. This creates a lucrative market for consulting services.
Another advantage is the opportunity to work with influential individuals in the political sphere. By offering valuable consulting services, you can establish strong relationships with bloggers who have a significant following and influence, which can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations.
On the downside, selling consulting services to political bloggers can be challenging due to the sensitive nature of political content. It's important to navigate potential conflicts of interest and maintain a neutral and ethical approach in your consulting services to avoid any backlash or controversy.
Additionally, the political landscape is constantly evolving, which means the demand for consulting services may fluctuate based on the current political climate. This requires flexibility and adaptability in your approach to meeting the needs of political bloggers.
Supercharge your earnings with Lasso. Create no-code product Displays and Tables that convert, find and fix broken links, and gain valuable business insights with revenue analytics.
Learn MorePolitical 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, now you've got the lowdown on how to make money from your political blog. But here's a little bonus tip for you:
Try using multiple ways to make money!
Having different income sources is the best way to secure the future of your blog. If you're promoting affiliate offers, using display ads, and selling your own products, you won't be left high and dry if one of those income streams dries up.
So, with this multi-pronged approach, some hard work, and smart planning, you'll be well on your way to earning what your blog truly 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.