How to monetize your content and blogging expertise
Content is widely regarded as one of the most valuable digital assets a company can have.
The more valuable content a business produces for their website, the more likely they are to attract engaged visitors and customers that may turn into life-long brand advocates.
If you have the skill for creating content or you know how to produce fantastic blogs, then you could develop a career either as a blogger or someone who helps other businesses to promote their brand online, often in a freelance capacity.
The great news is that anyone can start developing their potential in this space. It can be done even with minimal experience.
Today, we’re going to consider a handful of ways you can monetize your blogging and content expertise long-term. These solutions should appeal to all kinds of content creators, no matter where your skills lie.
Become a web copywriter
Perhaps the most obvious way to make an income through your blogging or writing skills is to use them for other brands.
There’s a difference between becoming a web copywriter or a blogger, but you can also do both things at once, depending on your skills. A web copywriter is a professional capable of writing copy for a company’s website.
You might be the person who designs the sales content on a customer’s landing page, or the professional responsible for creating “About” pages and subscription pages.
The key to success in web copywriting is knowing how to adapt your voice to suit a specific audience. You may also need some basic knowledge on how to use common content management systems like WordPress if your client wants you to upload content directly to their site.
Fortunately, most of the CMS solutions available today are very easy to use.
Make money through blogging
If you’d prefer to use your creative skills for yourself rather than for another business, why not try your hand at writing your own blog?
Blogging is more than just a great way to let your creative side shine through. It is also a way to make money – for instance, by linking to affiliate sites where you earn a commission whenever someone makes a purchase.
Alternatively, if you earn enough followers with your amazing content, then you can sell advertising space to companies relevant to your website.
Another way to turn those skills into a profitable business is to advertise products of your own making. If you have the time to run an eCommerce site alongside your blog, you can draw attention to your pages with your content and boost sales that way.
The key to success through blogging is making sure that you have a specific niche in mind and that you understand your audience’s interests.
Creating content connected to a specific niche will also make it easier to make extra cash with relevant affiliate links.
Become a marketing professional
The skills you use to create web copy or connect with your customers through a blog are also excellent for marketing purposes.
If you’re interested in helping brands from various backgrounds attract new customers and leads, then life as a marketing professional could be ideal for you.
Marketing specialists in the copywriting and blogging world can produce a wide range of content with their skills. You might be responsible for writing emails for automated campaigns that nurture leads. Alternatively, you may write things like blogs, press releases, and eBooks.
Depending on your skills as a marketing professional, you could even bypass the writing part and sell your skills as a consultant instead. This means that you guide companies through the steps they can take to build a marketing campaign.
Consultants can often charge higher fees depending on their background and reputation. If you have a solid network of people who can vouch for you, you may be able to earn more for your insights.
Offer search engine optimization services
Search engine optimization (or SEO) is one of the most valuable ways to enhance content performance in the digital world.
With SEO, you attract more customers to a specific site by mentioning certain keywords and phrases that your audience might be looking for. You’ll also need to take steps to optimize each page with things like backlinks, fast loading speed, and more.
Offering SEO services can be an excellent way to make an income as a content specialist. Many companies don’t have enough time to stay one step ahead of the changes that are constantly happening to SEO algorithms.
If you can guide your customers through the various aspects of search engine optimization, from keyword research to auditing existing pages, and so on, then you can build a consistent income. Just make sure you’re prepared to keep learning as the SEO rules change.
Freelance as a content editor
Finally, if you’ve ever read an article online and noticed one mistake after another, you’ll know how important it is for companies to invest in editing and proofreading skills.
Content editors don’t create the content for a site themselves, but they do check anything on the website to ensure that it’s accurate and grammatically correct.
Excellent editors are highly sought after in virtually every industry, so you should have no problem finding clients. If you have additional skills, you can also offer to optimize the site for SEO and implement various other strategies while you’re editing.
The key to success is knowing how to develop your skills and showcase your knowledge through a portfolio or a list of companies you’ve worked with in the past. Positive reviews from previous clients are often worth their weight in gold for editors.
Can you monetize your content and blogging skills?
As the online world grows increasingly competitive, business leaders know that they need a solid content portfolio if they want to connect with their target audience. As a result, blogging and content creation skills are in high demand these days.
Whether you’re keen to start your own blog and eCommerce business enhanced by your content skills, or you want to share your talents with clients and other companies, there are plenty of ways to monetize your expertise.
Jill Phillips is a freelance writer from Buffalo, NY. She is an aspiring entrepreneur and tech enthusiast, who loves to share her insight on various topics. When she is not writing, Jill enjoys taking photos and hiking with her dog. Connect with Jill via Twitter @jillphlps
Photo by Ava Sol
