5 ways to earn money by blogging

— -- Many people dream of getting paid to blog. This is fueled by stories of bloggers earning big bucks. You can earn money by blogging — if you're dedicated.

According to Technorati, the average American blogger earns $6,000 yearly. The top 1% earn $200,000 or more.

Blogging is hard work and requires long hours. So, pick a subject about which you're passionate.

Avoid topics like photography, politics, gadgets and celebrity gossip. Competition will be stiff. Instead, choose a niche topic. For example, write about coin collecting, if it's your passion.

To earn money from a blog, it must be well-written. Grammatical and spelling errors are a no-no. Find a proofreader, if necessary.

Here are some of the best ways to earn money from your blog. Find links to sites mentioned at www.komando.com/news.

Advertising

The most obvious way to make money blogging is with advertising. Advertisers pay a few cents when an ad is clicked. Or, they may pay a certain rate for each 1,000 page views.

Google's AdSense is perhaps the most popular advertising program. It places contextual ads on your site. Anyone can register for AdSense, regardless of traffic.

AdBrite, AdGenta and BidVertiser also help you display ads on your blog. Additionally, you can contact advertisers directly. Skip this unless you have a large readership or are well-known.

It's easy to get ads on your site, but difficult to earn from them. You'll need thousands of visitors each month.

Affiliate programs

Affiliate programs are similar to advertising. You place a banner ad or a text ad on your site. Or, put affiliate links inside blog posts.

You may get paid when a visitor clicks an affiliate link. But usually, visitors must make a purchase from the affiliate. Earning money from affiliate programs is more difficult. However, the rewards are greater. You could earn 10% or more per sale. Amazon pioneered the affiliate program. Check to see if your favorite retailers have programs. Or, find programs through Commission Junction, LinkShare or ClickBank.