This post has been submitted by Sharon Hurley Hall from Get Paid To Write Online.com.

By now, you know almost everything we know about getting started in blogging, but there’s one more step many bloggers want to take - to turn their hobby or passion into a money making business. Here are some of the steps you can take.

Build A Community

If you have followed the whole series you will have begun to build up an audience for your blog, and this is essential if you are going to make it a business. For your blog to be successful, you need a blog community that is interested in what you have to offer and pre-sold on its value. Look at Darren Rowse’s Problogger blog for an example. The minute he mentions anything, thousands of people go to check it out. That’s the kind of leverage you’re working towards. The tips we have given on guest blogging, commenting on other blogs and joining forums will help you to build your community, as will providing quality content that keeps readers coming back.

Offer Membership

Perhaps you have special expertise or industry links that mean you can offer premium content. Turn part of your blog into a membership site (it’s easy to set up different levels in Wordpress) and you can make this content available to members only. The more quality you offer, the more the word will spread and you will have a good source of recurring income.

Buy And Sell Ad Space

Businesses advertise and your blog should be no different. Use the blog ad companies we have recommended as a starting point for buying and selling ad space on your blog. Alternatively, broker your own deals with blogs in your niche.

Become An Affiliate

Select some affiliate products that will appeal to your target audience and promote them. It works best when you can recommend something you have used yourself, but that’s not always necessary as some products are an obvious fit. Promote these not only on your site, but through the other promotion methods we mentioned (forums, Squidoo lenses, hubs, article marketing). That will boost the revenue coming from your blog.

Create Your Own Products

Even better than becoming someone else’s affiliate is creating your own information products (ebooks, courses, videos, podcasts and so on) that other people can promote for you. Let others become affiliates for your products and they will do the selling for you.

All of these tips will help you get started with business blogging, but always remember that ultimately the more value you create with your blog, the more you will get back. Happy blogging!

Series Recap

1. Getting Started In Blogging: Hosting
2. Getting Started In Blogging: Platform Choices
3. Getting Started In Blogging: Free Themes
4. Getting Started In Blogging: Customization
5. Getting Started In Blogging: Getting Ideas
6. Getting Started In Blogging: Planning And Management
7. Getting Started In Blogging: Stats
8. Getting Started In Blogging: How To Improve Your Blog
9. Getting Started In Blogging: Linkbuilding
10. Getting Started In Blogging: Advertising And Promotion
11. Getting Started in Blogging: Monetization
12. Getting Started in Blogging: Blogging As A Business

Sharon Hurley Hall
Get Paid To Write Online.com

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