How to Monetize an Automotive Blog: Shifting Gears into Profit!

So, you've got the hang of blogging about cars, now it's time to make some money from it.

Whether you're just starting out or already a big deal in the automotive world, these tips will help you turn your blog into a money-making machine.

Let's dive into how to monetize your automotive blog and make it your full-time gig.

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for automotive 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 Automotive Bloggers

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

• Car accessories: You can recommend products like seat covers, floor mats, steering wheel covers, and car organizers that are both practical and visually appealing.
• Car care products: This can include items such as car wax, car wash soap, tire shine, and interior cleaning products to keep vehicles looking their best.
• Performance upgrades: Recommend products like high-performance air filters, exhaust systems, and engine tuners for car enthusiasts looking to enhance their vehicle's performance.
• Electronics and gadgets: Suggest items like dash cams, GPS navigation systems, and Bluetooth car kits to enhance the driving experience and safety.
• Automotive tools: You can recommend products like socket sets, wrenches, and jacks for DIY car maintenance and repair.

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 automotive 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 automotive bloggers:

1. Travelpayouts

   

   Commission Rate: 50% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 30 Days

   Travelpayouts helps publishers earn on all types of travel services, including flight tickets, accommodation, cruises, tours, car rentals, insurance, and much more.

2. AutoZone

   

   Commission Rate: 1.6% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 30 Days

   AutoZone is the largest retailer of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the US. They even offer free next day delivery on parts.

3. Avis

   

   Commission Rate: 4% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 1 Day

   Avis is recognized as one of the best rental car brands and they maintain it by ensuring a stress-free car rental experience.

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

Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Automotive Bloggers

Affiliate marketing can be a great way for automotive bloggers to monetize their content. By partnering with relevant brands and promoting their products, bloggers have the potential to earn a commission for each sale made through their referral links.

One of the main pros of affiliate marketing for automotive bloggers is the opportunity to earn passive income. With the right strategy and high-quality content, bloggers can continue to earn money from affiliate links long after the initial post is published.

However, it's important to note that affiliate marketing also has its drawbacks. For instance, some readers may view affiliate links as biased or promotional, which can impact the blogger's credibility. Bloggers also need to carefully research and choose the right affiliate partnerships to ensure they are promoting products that align with their brand and audience.

Overall, affiliate marketing can be a valuable revenue stream for automotive bloggers, but it's essential to approach it with transparency and authenticity to maintain trust with your audience.

2. Display Ads

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

How to Monetize a Automotive Blog With Display Ads

Monetizing a automotive 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 Automotive Bloggers

Display ads can be a great way for automotive bloggers to generate revenue from their websites. These ads are visually appealing and can be targeted to specific audiences, making them more effective at capturing the attention of potential customers. Additionally, display ads can help bloggers promote relevant products and services to their audience, creating additional opportunities for monetization.

However, there are also some drawbacks to consider. Display ads can be intrusive and may detract from the user experience on a website, potentially leading to lower engagement and repeat visitors. Additionally, ad blockers are becoming increasingly popular, which can limit the effectiveness of display ads. Bloggers should carefully consider the placement and frequency of display ads to ensure they are not overwhelming or off-putting to their audience.

Overall, display ads can be a valuable revenue stream for automotive bloggers, but it's important to weigh the pros and cons carefully to determine if they are the right fit for your website and audience.

3. Digital Products

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

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

Here are some digital products to sell on an automotive blog:

• Car maintenance guides: Offer downloadable e-books or PDF guides on how to properly maintain different car models.
• DIY repair video tutorials: Create and sell access to video tutorials for car repairs that car owners can do themselves.
• Custom car tuning software: Develop and sell software that allows car enthusiasts to customize and tune their car's performance.
• Car parts 3D models: Offer digital 3D models of car parts for 3D printing enthusiasts to customize and print 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 Automotive Bloggers

Selling digital products as an automotive blogger has its own set of pros and cons. One of the main advantages is the potential for passive income. Once the digital product is created, it can be sold multiple times without the need for physical inventory. This can be a great way to monetize your expertise and knowledge in the automotive industry. On the flip side, creating and selling digital products requires a significant amount of time and effort. From product development to marketing, it can be a challenging process. Additionally, the market for digital products in the automotive industry can be competitive, making it important to stand out with unique and high-quality offerings. Overall, selling digital products can be a lucrative opportunity for automotive bloggers, but it requires careful consideration and strategic planning to be successful.

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

How to Monetize a Automotive Blog with an Email Newsletter

If you have an automotive blog, one great way to monetize it is through an email newsletter. You can offer exclusive content, product reviews, and special deals to your subscribers, and even sell advertising space in your newsletter.

First, you'll need to build a strong email list by offering valuable content and incentives for people to sign up. Then, you can start sending out regular newsletters with engaging content and promotional offers. Just make sure to keep the balance between content and promotions, so you don't overwhelm your subscribers with sales pitches.

Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Automotive Bloggers

• Pros: Email newsletters allow you to build a direct and personal relationship with your audience, making it easier to promote products and services related to the automotive industry.
• Cons: It takes time and effort to build a quality email list and create engaging newsletters, and there's always the risk of your emails ending up in the spam folder.

Email newsletters are a great way for automotive bloggers to stay connected with their audience and offer valuable content and promotions related to cars, motorcycles, and other automotive topics. They provide a direct line of communication with your readers, allowing you to promote affiliate products, sponsored content, and your own products or services.

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 automotive 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 Automotive Blog With Consulting Services

Monetizing a automotive 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 Automotive Bloggers

One of the main pros of selling consulting services for automotive bloggers is the opportunity to share your expertise and knowledge with a targeted audience. By providing valuable insights and advice, you can establish yourself as an authority in the automotive industry and build a strong reputation.

Another advantage is the potential for a steady stream of income. Consulting services can provide a reliable source of revenue, especially if you are able to secure long-term clients or retainer agreements.

On the flip side, one of the cons of selling consulting services is the time and effort required to build a client base and establish yourself as a trusted consultant. It may take some time before you see a steady flow of clients and income.

Additionally, selling consulting services may require ongoing marketing and networking efforts to attract new clients and maintain a consistent workload.

Automotive Blog Monetization FAQs

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

If you want to build a successful automotive 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 Automotive Blogging?

Absolutely! Some automotive blogs, like Motor Trend and Autoblog 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 Automotive Blog?

Learning how to start a automotive 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 Automotive Bloggers Get Paid?

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

Is Automotive Blogging Easy?

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

As a automotive 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 Automotive Blog?

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

Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Automotive Blog

So now you know all the different ways to make money from your automotive blog. But here's one more tip for you: Use multiple methods to make money!

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 doesn't work out.

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 Automotive Blogging Content

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

Quite a lot, actually.

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

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