The topic of how to make money with a blog gets beat to death.

You’ve read it. I’ve read it. We’ve all read it.

Truth be told, not all that many bloggers are making money WITH their blogs.

What’s happening instead is people are making money BECAUSE they have a blog.

Today’s Lesson

Placing ads on a blog may generate a small income, however, those who claim to have become “six figure bloggers” by doing this, appear to be the exception, not the norm. Their success comes from having HUGH amounts of traffic landing on their blog(s) and clicking on their ads (plus other factors).

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have that kind of traffic and the wait to get it might be a long one.

What’s happening in the meantime is many bloggers are using their blogs to generate income in other ways; in ways where their blog is a stepping stone to greater gains as well as financial increase.

Below is a list of twenty five innovative ways bloggers can and are making a difference and/or are making money BECAUSE they have a blog.

1. Sell your photographs

   Caroline Manrique is a perfect example of this. She used her photography skills and published a beautiful picture book which highlights some of her best work. She also sells individual prints on her blog. Caroline’s book is featured at the top of this post.

2. Write and sell books (ebooks or other).

   This is what Lori Hoeck did. She wrote an ebook titled “Think Like A Black Belt” using her years of experience in martial arts to create a book chock full of life saving self defense techniques

3. Build a new business.

   Tom Volkar, true life calling coach, used his blog and coaching business to launch his new business, “Big Link Rally”*. In the future he hopes to take the new business on the road.

4. Freelance Writing.

   MomGrind’s author Vered used her blog as a stepping stone to become a freelance writer . She continues to blog, but most of the time she can be found creating content for her clients.

5. Specialize in tweaking blogging themes

   Kim Woodbridge of Anti Social Development quit her day job to perform blog upgrades and template tweaks for her customers on a full time basis. Although she still blogs, her clientele comes first.

6. Sell your music

   Jannie Funster, singer and songwriter, uses her blog to make us laugh plus bring more attention to her latest CD. Not only does she advertise the CD on her blog, but you can buy it there, as well.

7. Speaking engagements.

   Some bloggers are being paid to speak about the topic in their niche. A blog is a great place to advertise your services as well as to showcase your knowledge.

8. Fee based work shops.

   Use the information you share on your blog and offer work shops to local businesses in your area. The work shops will also give you an opportunity to promote your blog.

9. Sell crafts on a blog

   If you have an artistic talent and aren’t having luck getting your creations sold locally, use your blog in conjunction with a site like eBay to market your wares. Twitter would compliment these efforts nicely, as well.

10. Create t-shirts or other items and sell them on sites like Zazzle or Cafe Press.

    On both Zazzle and Cafe Press you can create custom products like t-shirts, cups, stationery plus a whole lot more and make a small commission while Zazzle or Cafe Press takes care of the rest. This works well for bloggers Betsy and Pete of Passing Thru who sell custom stamps. For detailed information on what works for them, see the series of posts Betsy and Dot of Deeper Issues published with regard to making money online.

11. Write paid posts.

    Although some discourage using a blog for this activity, many are making money doing it. Setting up a separate blog for this purpose may help to avoid your main blog from becoming overly commercialized.

12. Webinars.

    Instead of arranging a meeting of like minded people in the real world, some are setting up “pay to attend” webinars. Using this method of reaching others not only reduces costs, but can result in a larger number of attendees.

13. Offer specialty blogging products or services for a fee

    John Hoff not only blogs, but offers premium web hosting, security and WordPress management on his website.

14. Product reviews.

    Some bloggers love to write product reviews. Although they may not get paid to write a post, samples are often sent to them which they can keep. I’m still waiting for someone to send me a Mercedes and to review and keep.

15. Site re/design and/or premium themes

    Eric Hamm of Motivate Thyself started a blog and then began to hire out his technological skills to do site re/design for others (including for this blog). He has since gone on to develop a premium WordPress theme*.

16. Become a corporate blogger.

    The time you spend blogging becomes your online resume. Use it to your benefit and apply for jobs in the real world.

17. Be a ghost writer

Ghost Writer Dad dipped his toes into this arena. The last time I checked he’s doing quite well, plus has added other services to his list.

18. Teleconferences

    Karl at Work Happy Now offers teleconferences to help improve the work culture in companies. He advertises this along with several other services on his blog.

19. Show off your funny side.

    Cartoonists like Todd of Asciville are showing off their funny side as well as their artistic talents by using their blog to showcase their creations and to get their name out.

20. Create a membership site and sell your knowledge

    Darren Rowse of Problogger has a fee based membership site as does Barbara Ling

21. Hire yourself out as an expert in (____fill in the blank___)

    Davina is having great success with her proofreading and editing business and uses her blog to advertise, as well as to showcase her writing talents and her life coaching business.

22. Become a social media expert.

    Use what you’ve learned from being on Twitter, Facebook and/or MySpace and contract to others and help them build an online presence

23. Build the clientele for an existing business.

    If you currently operate a business, add a blog to your website to increase your reach and build your reputation. Write targeted posts in which you share tips and ideas with your current and future clients. The comment section is the perfect place to provide answers to questions. Kevin Sandridge’s site is a perfect example of this.

24. Teaching assignments

    In a recent comment Dominique shared how because of her blog, she was offered a gig to teach a class at a writers conference.

25. Help a favorite charity

    Although helping a charity won’t put money in your pocket, a blog can help to draw attention and raise money for a good cause.

    Lance (Jungle of Life) and Joanna (Fitness and Spice) teamed up and published an ebook (Blog 4 Cause) with all proceeds going to fight breast cancer at the Susan G. Koman Foundation.

So, there you have it, twenty five ways in which a blog can be used to catapult you and your talents into the mainstream toward financial freedom and/or meeting your personal goals.

Today’s Assignment

How are you using your blog to advance your career, generate additional income and/or reach your personal goals?

If you’re not, do you foresee that happening in the future?

Raise your hand and share your thoughts. I’m all ears.

.

*Affiliate links

Many people start blogs as a way to make money. For some it’s a little extra cash which they hope will cover the cost to maintain a blog, whereas others are going all out and are making blogging a full time job.

And, as the popularity of blogs increases, so does the exposure they are getting.

In some cases, the exposure comes in the form of higher traffic numbers, increased comments, better earnings, and offers from advertisers to review and/or promote a product.

Unfortunately, as of December 1, 2009*, with those free offers comes a new ruling from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (a US based government agency whose duty is to protect consumers from fraud).

Today’s Lesson

The hot topic in the last few days has been the release of the FTC announcement stating bloggers will have more responsibility when it comes to endorsing a product.

To quote a section of the article, it reads,

…The revised Guides specify that while decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis, the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement. Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service….

Needless to say confusion has arisen from this announcement, so Edward, of Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits went to the source and then posted an excellent Interview with the FTC’s Richard Cleland

In part, the interview states,

In the case of books, Cleland saw no problem with a blogger receiving a book, provided there wasn’t a linked advertisement to buy the book and that the blogger did not keep the book after he had finished reviewing it. Keeping the book would, from Cleland’s standpoint, count as “compensation” and require a disclosure.

After reading the interview, it’s obvious there are still lots of scenarios that need to be considered, but in the meantime, bloggers who do product reviews need to be aware of the upcoming changes in the law.

Now that the FTC has its sights set on the activities of bloggers, the next watch dog could possibly be the IRS (Internal Revenue Service).

What’s a blogger to do?

1. Don’t seek to make money with our blogs and stay away from product and/or book reviews
2. Become vigilant with our record keeping via disclaimers, disclosures and documentation

After all, we never know when “big brother” will come a knocking.

Today’s Assignment

If we’re showcasing books or writing reviews on products, do you think we should start looking at our blog as a business and documenting it as such?

Knowing you may have to disclose your affiliation with an advertiser and/or book author, will you continue to do reviews on your blog?

If you were audited by the IRS, could you show documentation for the income and expenses of your blog?

Let’s talk about this. Together we should be able to come up with great solutions.

.

The internet and Twitter is all abuzz with regard to the FTC Guidelines and Announcements. Here’s a small sampling of what’s currently out there:

1. *FTC Guidelines for Endorsements An 81 page PDF
2. Bloggers to be Fined Up to $11000 for Not Disclosing Payments by Vered at Momgrind
3. More FTC news on Techmeme
4. FTC says bloggers must disclose payments and freebies by Mark Ghosh on Weblog Tools Collection
5. FTC to Fine Bloggers up to $11,000 for Not Disclosing Payments at Mashable
6. FTC says bloggers must disclose payments and freebies when reviewing products or risk being fined $16,000 by Etan Horowitz on Etan on Tech