How You Can Still Make Money on a WordPress.com Website
When it comes to blogging, there’s no shortage of advice recommending WordPress.org as the go-to platform. In fact it can border on the downright rude and smug sometimes can’t it?
It’s true that WordPress.org offers greater flexibility, control, and monetization options. But what if you’ve already set up shop on WordPress.com?
Maybe you didn’t realize there was a difference between the two, or perhaps you just wanted the simplicity of a hosted solution. Whatever the reason, you’re now tied to WordPress.com for the foreseeable future.
It’s not all doom and gloom! You can still make money with a WordPress.com website. While it may not offer the same level of freedom as WordPress.org, there are plenty of ways to monetize your blog and turn it into a profitable venture even if your goal is to move off the platform eventually.
Understanding WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org
Let’s dig straight into the key differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org:
WordPress.org:
This is the self-hosted version of WordPress. You download the software for free, but you need to pay for hosting, domain registration, and other related costs. With WordPress.org, you have complete control over your website, including the ability to install custom themes, plugins, and monetization options like Google AdSense or affiliate marketing links.
WordPress.com:
This is the hosted version of WordPress. It’s a managed platform where your website is hosted on WordPress’s servers. WordPress.com offers various plans, ranging from free to premium, but it comes with limitations. For example, on the free and lower-tier plans, you can’t install third-party plugins or themes, and your monetization options are more restricted.
Despite these limitations, WordPress.com is still a viable option for making money, especially if you’re just starting out or prefer a hassle-free experience. Let’s explore how you can turn your WordPress.com site into a money-making machine.
1. Upgrade to a Paid Plan
If you’re on a free WordPress.com plan, the first step to unlocking monetization opportunities is to upgrade to a paid plan. WordPress.com offers several plans, including Personal, Premium, and Business. Each tier offers different features, but to start monetizing effectively, you’ll want to consider at least the Premium plan.
Benefits of Upgrading:
- Custom Domain Name: A custom domain (e.g., www.yoursite.com instead of yoursite.wordpress.com) makes your site look more professional and trustworthy, which is essential for attracting readers and potential advertisers.
- Ad Monetization: With the Premium plan or higher, you can use WordAds, WordPress.com’s advertising program, to display ads on your site and earn revenue.
- Additional Design Customization: Higher-tier plans offer more design options, helping you create a more visually appealing and user-friendly site.
While upgrading to a paid plan requires an investment, it’s a necessary step if you’re serious about monetizing your WordPress.com site.
2. Use WordAds for Ad Revenue
WordAds is the official advertising program for WordPress.com users. It’s available to users on the Premium plan or higher and allows you to earn money by displaying ads on your site. The revenue you earn depends on factors like your site’s traffic, audience demographics, and the number of ad impressions.
How WordAds Works:
- Automatic Ad Placement: WordAds handles all the technical aspects of ad placement, so you don’t have to worry about managing ads yourself.
- Revenue Sharing: The revenue generated from ads is shared between you and WordPress.com. The exact percentage varies, but typically, you can expect to keep a portion of the earnings.
- Ad Control: While WordAds doesn’t offer as much control as third-party ad networks like Google AdSense (which is not available on WordPress.com), you can still manage some aspects, such as ad frequency and placement.
Tips for Maximizing Ad Revenue:
- Increase Traffic: The more visitors your site attracts, the more ad impressions you’ll generate, leading to higher earnings.
- Focus on High-Quality Content: High-quality, engaging content is more likely to keep visitors on your site longer, increasing the chances of ad clicks.
- Target Your Niche: Ads are often tailored to your site’s audience. By focusing on a specific niche, you can attract advertisers willing to pay more for targeted ad placements.
3. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a popular way to earn money online, and it’s possible to implement it on a WordPress.com site, even with its restrictions. While you can’t install third-party plugins (which many affiliate marketers use to manage links), you can still manually add affiliate links to your posts.
How to Get Started with Affiliate Marketing:
- Join Affiliate Programs: Sign up for affiliate programs related to your blog’s niche. Popular options include Amazon Associates, ShareASale, and Commission Junction.
- Insert Affiliate Links: You can manually insert affiliate links into your blog posts, product reviews, and recommendations. Whenever a reader clicks on one of these links and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.
- Disclosure: It’s important to disclose your affiliate relationships to your readers. This not only builds trust but also complies with legal requirements in many regions.
Maximizing Affiliate Earnings:
- Write In-Depth Reviews: Detailed product reviews and comparisons tend to perform well in affiliate marketing. Be honest and thorough to build trust with your audience.
- Choose Relevant Products: Only promote products or services that are genuinely useful and relevant to your audience. Irrelevant or low-quality recommendations can damage your credibility.
- Leverage SEO: Optimize your content for search engines to attract organic traffic. High-ranking posts are more likely to attract clicks and conversions.
4. Sponsored Posts and Reviews
If you’ve built a decent following on your WordPress.com blog, you may be able to earn money by writing sponsored posts or reviews. Companies often pay bloggers to write about their products or services, providing exposure to a targeted audience.
How to Secure Sponsored Opportunities:
- Build Your Audience: Brands are more likely to approach you for sponsored content if you have a sizable and engaged audience. Focus on growing your blog and social media following.
- Reach Out to Brands: Don’t wait for brands to come to you. Reach out to companies that align with your blog’s niche and offer to write a sponsored post or review.
- Be Transparent: Always disclose sponsored content to your readers. Transparency is key to maintaining trust and credibility.
Tips for Success:
- Keep It Authentic: Sponsored content should feel natural and align with your blog’s voice and style. Avoid being overly promotional, as this can turn off readers.
- Negotiate Fairly: Ensure that you’re compensated fairly for your time and effort. Rates for sponsored posts can vary widely, so it’s important to negotiate based on your blog’s traffic, audience demographics, and the scope of the project.
5. Offer Online Courses or Ebooks
If you have expertise in a particular area, consider creating and selling online courses or ebooks. This can be a lucrative way to monetize your knowledge, and it’s entirely possible on a WordPress.com site.
Steps to Create and Sell Digital Products:
- Identify a Niche: Choose a topic that you’re knowledgeable about and that resonates with your audience. For example, if you run a travel blog, you could create a course on budget travel tips or an ebook on top travel destinations.
- Create the Content: Use tools like Google Docs or Microsoft Word to write your ebook, or record your course using screen capture software. Make sure your content is high-quality and provides value to your audience.
- Sell Your Products: While WordPress.com doesn’t allow full eCommerce functionality, you can use services like Gumroad or SendOwl to sell digital products. Simply link to these platforms from your blog posts or a dedicated “Shop” page.
Marketing Your Digital Products:
- Leverage Your Blog: Promote your courses or ebooks in your blog posts, sidebars, and email newsletters.
- Use Social Media: Share your products on your social media channels to reach a wider audience.
- Offer Discounts: Consider offering limited-time discounts or free chapters to entice readers to purchase your products.
6. Use Patreon for Memberships and Donations
Patreon is a platform that allows creators to earn recurring revenue from their audience by offering exclusive content, early access, or other perks in exchange for a monthly subscription. If you have a loyal following, Patreon can be a great way to generate steady income.
How to Set Up a Patreon Account:
- Create Tiers: Offer different membership tiers with varying levels of perks. For example, you could offer early access to blog posts, behind-the-scenes content, or exclusive Q&A sessions.
- Promote Your Patreon: Mention your Patreon page in your blog posts, social media channels, and email newsletters. Explain the benefits of becoming a patron and how it supports your work.
- Engage with Patrons: Provide regular updates and exclusive content to your patrons to keep them engaged and motivated to continue their support.
Maximizing Patreon Revenue:
- Offer Valuable Perks: Make sure the perks you offer are worth the subscription price. Tailor them to your audience’s interests and preferences.
- Build a Community: Use Patreon to foster a sense of community among your supporters. This can increase loyalty and encourage long-term support.
- Be Consistent: Regularly update your Patreon page with new content and perks to keep your patrons engaged and feeling like they’re getting value for their money. Consistency is key to maintaining and growing your supporter base on Patreon.
7. Sell Physical Products Through Print-on-Demand
While WordPress.com doesn’t support full-fledged eCommerce like WordPress.org, you can still sell physical products through print-on-demand services like Printful or Redbubble. These platforms allow you to create custom merchandise (like T-shirts, mugs, or tote bags) and sell them to your audience without worrying about inventory or shipping.
How Print-on-Demand Works:
- Create Designs: Design your merchandise using a tool like Canva or Adobe Illustrator. The design can feature your blog’s logo, quotes, or any artwork that resonates with your audience.
- Set Up a Store: Use a print-on-demand service like Printful or Redbubble to create an online store. You can link to this store directly from your WordPress.com site.
- Promote Your Products: Promote your merchandise in your blog posts, on social media, and in your email newsletter. You can also create a dedicated “Shop” page on your blog to showcase your products.
Tips for Success:
- Know Your Audience: Create designs that appeal to your audience’s interests. For example, if you run a fitness blog, you might sell workout apparel or motivational gear.
- Quality Over Quantity: Focus on creating a few high-quality, well-designed products rather than overwhelming your audience with too many options.
- Leverage Seasonal Trends: Take advantage of holidays or seasons to create limited-edition products. This can create urgency and drive sales.
8. Leverage Your Email List
An email list is one of the most valuable assets a blogger can have, and it’s a powerful tool for monetization. Even on WordPress.com, where you may have limited options for email marketing plugins, you can still build and leverage an email list using third-party services like MailChimp or ConvertKit.
How to Build and Monetize an Email List:
- Offer a Freebie: Encourage visitors to subscribe to your email list by offering a free resource, such as an ebook, checklist, or template. This not only grows your list but also establishes trust with your audience.
- Promote Your Products: Use your email list to promote your digital products, such as online courses or ebooks, as well as any affiliate products or services you recommend.
- Send Sponsored Emails: Once you’ve built a substantial list, you can monetize it by sending sponsored emails. Brands may pay you to include their products or services in your newsletters.
Maximizing Email Revenue:
- Segment Your List: Use segmentation to send targeted emails based on your subscribers’ interests and behaviors. This increases the relevance of your emails and improves conversion rates.
- Engage Consistently: Regularly send valuable content to your subscribers to keep them engaged. The more engaged your audience, the more likely they are to make purchases or click on affiliate links.
- Test and Optimize: Experiment with different email formats, subject lines, and calls-to-action to see what resonates best with your audience. Use the results to continually improve your email marketing efforts.
9. Join the WordPress.com Affiliate Program
WordPress.com offers an affiliate program that allows you to earn a commission for referring new customers to their platform. If you’re happy with your experience on WordPress.com, this can be a natural and easy way to earn some extra income.
How the Affiliate Program Works:
- Sign Up: Apply to join the WordPress.com Affiliate Program. Once approved, you’ll receive unique affiliate links that you can use to promote WordPress.com products and services.
- Promote WordPress.com: Include your affiliate links in relevant blog posts, tutorials, and social media updates. For example, if you write a post about starting a blog, you can include a link to WordPress.com as a recommended platform.
- Earn Commissions: You’ll earn a commission for every new customer who signs up for a WordPress.com plan through your affiliate link.
Tips for Success:
- Be Transparent: Clearly disclose your affiliate relationship with WordPress.com. Transparency builds trust with your audience and ensures you’re following legal requirements.
- Create Valuable Content: Write content that genuinely helps your readers, such as tutorials or guides. This increases the likelihood that they’ll click on your affiliate links and make a purchase.
- Optimize for SEO: Ensure your affiliate posts are optimized for search engines. High-ranking posts are more likely to drive traffic and conversions.
10. Explore Freelance Writing Opportunities
If you enjoy writing and have developed a strong portfolio through your blog, you might consider offering freelance writing services. Even with a WordPress.com site, you can leverage your blog as a portfolio to attract clients.
How to Get Started:
- Create a “Hire Me” Page: Set up a page on your blog that outlines your writing services, rates, and portfolio. Include testimonials from previous clients if you have them.
- Promote Your Services: Mention your freelance writing services in your blog posts, email newsletters, and social media profiles. You can also join freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find clients.
- Network: Build relationships with other bloggers, content creators, and businesses in your niche. Networking can lead to referrals and job opportunities.
Maximizing Freelance Income:
- Specialize in a Niche: Focus on a specific niche where you have expertise. Specialization can help you command higher rates and attract clients who are looking for in-depth knowledge.
- Upsell Your Services: Offer additional services, such as editing, content strategy, or social media management, to increase your income from each client.
- Build Long-Term Relationships: Aim to build long-term relationships with clients. Ongoing work provides a steady stream of income and reduces the time spent on finding new clients.
Making the Most of Your WordPress.com Site
While WordPress.org might be the preferred choice for many seasoned bloggers, WordPress.com is still a viable platform for those who are just starting out or who prefer a simpler, managed solution.
As you grow your blog and your income, you might eventually decide to move to WordPress.org for greater flexibility and control. But in the meantime, there’s no reason you can’t start earning money and building your online presence right where you are!
And, just perhaps, those of us on WordPress.org sites might learn to have a little more grace for our peers on other platforms?!
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As always I’d love to hear from you – let me know in the comments below if you know any other ways to monetize a WordPress.com websites so we can encourage other’s in the same situation!
