Get All Access for $5/mo

How to Turn Your Personal Blog Into a Profitable Gig Repurposing social media musings into actual income is as doable as these following instructions are readable.

By Kristin Marquet

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Building a blog's loyal following and then turning that audience into revenue takes effort, time and patience. But you can do it with the right planning, marketing funnels and content development.

Here's how to ether make a few hundred dollars a month, turn your online brand into a full-time job, or run an established company that wants to diversify its revenue streams...

Sponsored content

One of the best ways to generate revenue on your blog is by offering sponsored content. But the key here is to ensure your advertising aligns with your audience. Sponsored content can be videos, podcasts, blog posts, roundup stories, reviews and interviews.

After your team creates the content and it's published, you will receive a payment within a few days. There's no waiting game to receive money as you would from affiliates. Additionally, the revenue isn't dependent on clicks or views, unlike other types of blog monetization strategies. It depends on how large your readership is and where their brand is placed on the blog.

Related: 3 Tips for Creating Sponsored Content That Engages Consumers

Package your skills into services

As your traffic and contacts grow, you'll be able to reach more targeted audiences and package your knowledge as service programs. While growing FemFounder, we received requests from potential clients for specific services, therefore; we created three service packages that still sell consistently.

To ensure a consistent stream of revenue, we created a sales funnel. For instance, we guide readers from social media, publicity, and Pinterest advertising (top of the funnel) to our blog posts or landing pages to our email list, funneling them to our sales pages (bottom of the funnel). While the process takes time and testing to improve conversions, it's worth it when the pieces align.

Related: 3 Insider Tips for Creating a 'Productized' Business (Even if You Offer Services)

Affiliates revenue

After you've built a following on social media, developing an affiliate marketing strategy can be a great way to make recurring income. You generate commissions from anyone who purchases from your affiliate links.

We embed relevant links in our blog's content to enhance the reader's experience. For example, if we have a post on how to use Pinterest to build an email list, we will have an affiliate link to the TailWindApp, a Pinterest automation tool. We then receive a commission every time a sale is made through our affiliate link.

If you're interested in adding these links to your blog, begin by Googling affiliate programs within your industry. It is also worth checking out larger network platforms such as Pepperjam.com and Amazon Affiliates for opportunities.

With well-thought-out long-term and short-term plans, it is indeed possible to turn your blog into a money-making machine.

Related: There's Never Been a Better Time to Start Your Affiliate Marketing Side Hustle

Kristin Marquet

Founder of Marquet Media, LLC

Kristin Marquet is the founder of Marquet Media, LLC and FemFounder.co.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Franchise 500 Annual Ranking

50 Franchise CMOs Who Are Changing the Game

Get to know the industry's most influential marketing power players.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Thought Leaders

6 Tips From a Clean Beauty Entrepreneur

Sarah Biggers went from a newbie in the natural beauty space to a pro in just a few years. Here are six things she wishes she'd known at the beginning.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.