5 Ways to Make Money Online:
It’s Not Just About Adverbs
Yep, this is a freelance
web writer blog, but all of us are in the business of business – earning money
to pay the bills, or at least trying to.
So, because we’re
freelance web writers, we focus on selling words. Sometimes a few words.
Sometimes a 250-page ebook on the dry cleaning industry. Writing is writing.
Work is work.
However, there’s more ways
to earn a few bucks than just selling words. These work for me.
Sign up for Adsense. Google places its little blue cube adverts on your
blog or website page, and every time a visitor clicks on a Google ad, you get a
few pennies.
You won’t get rich, but
you don’t have to do anything except sign up.
Why add Adsense?
- ads provided by Google; you control add
placement on site
- customized ads
- ads in text and/or motion formats
- ads are contextual based on the keywords entered
by the search engine user
- you control which ads appear on your site or
blog, i.e., no competing sites or sites with questionable subject matter
- you get paid each time click-throughs reach
$100
- it’s FREE
Take on a couple of affiliates. Affiliate marketing is a money maker. You display
ads for affiliates on your website or blog, and collect some cash each time a
visitor clicks on the INTEL ad shining in the right column.
Affiliate agreements are
different for each company so read the fine print. Choose affiliates related to
the services you offer. For example, your web writer website will see more
click-throughs for ads on web hosting, electronics, software and other products
related to creating a website.
Sell proprietary products. Stuff you write once and sell over and over again.
Some of our members sell
lists and reviews of bid-fer sites. Good idea. At least one member sells
mentoring services to noob freelances. Write it once, then sell it as a
download, a course, a webinar, or rent space at the local hotel and hold a
seminar on building a successful website.
You bet they’ll show up.
If you write it, you own
it, and if it generates revenues for years to come – BINGO! – you’re earning
money for something you wrote 10 years ago.
Provide consultation. Most new website owners don’t know a landing page
from a landing strip, but you can teach new site owners all kinds of useful
information – and you don’t have to charge a bundle because it’s usually a few
phone calls.
Do remember that you’re
paid, in this case, for what you know. It has value. Write up a short doc on
website design and ecommerce as an “ethical bribe” for signing up for a
consultation.
Create a referral system. You’re a writer, or maybe a coder who writes or a
writer who codes. In any case, chances are you don’t do it “all.”
Create a contacts file of
companies and individuals who can deliver the services you don’t, won’t or
can’t. Your Rolodex should be chock full of numbers for everyone from
voice-over talent to HTML coders who have the patience to hand-code a website.
Many clients need
additional services. Refer them to one of the professionals in your contacts
file and get a little “finder’s fee” when your associate lands the job.
Only refer clients to
people and companies you’ve worked with, or know personally. Don’t charge the
client a fee. It comes from the provider who designs a brochure for your
client, using the content you wrote. Win-win-win.
Hey, drop me a line to learn more about ecommerce, web design and how to market products or services online. It ain't rocket science.
Webwordslinger
editor@webwordslinger.com
