How a Blog Can Make You Money

For those of you who have never blogged before, a blog is pretty much like an online diary. It is an online diary that defines who you are. You can have a personal blog where you just blog about random things such as how your attempt to make grandma’s apple pie turned out or how your new kitten is adjusting. You can have a blog about a cause that is near and dear to your heart such as cancer awareness or stopping animal cruelty. Or you can have a business blog that showcases your skills as a freelancer writer, virtual assistant or web designer.

The first thing to do is promote your blog so you can get traffic to it. You can do this through a wide number of websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Ning, Friendster, Digg, Newsvine and Stumble Upon. If you know of other sites, you can use those as well. The idea is to get the word out about your blog to as many places as you can. The more people that know about your blog, the more traffic you will receive.

Now when it comes to making money, placing ads is one way to achieve this. You can place ads on your blog and get paid through sites including Google AdSense, AdBrite or Kontera. Also, by joining affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, Commission Junction or eBay Affiliates, you can earn some cash that way as well. You can also set up merchandise to sell on your site and make some cash when people buy from that company through your site. These places include CafePress and Zazzle.