To make money online, there are 3 articles you should have on your website.
Are you making the most of your writer website or your blog? Do you even have your own site?
For many writers and bloggers, setting up a website is crucial. It allows you to brand your business, display your portfolio, and gives you a place to write that is all your own.
However, unlike social media pages (which help with the above), websites incur costs. The natural thing to do is attempt to generate revenue through your website. After all, if you can break even or (preferably) turn a profit, your website truly becomes an asset rather than a liability.
However, to many, this can cause a conflict. After all, you want to offer genuine value to your audience, but you need revenue. So, how do you not only provide great content for your readers but also turn some revenue without losing credibility?
Today, I’ve invited Dave Chesson to share with you three types of posts which have been proven to generate revenue for writer websites while also providing genuine value to audiences. He will even include examples so you can put these to work on your own site.
Although I actually have multiple income streams, Dave says the three types of posts you should have on your site to make money online are:
1: Product Review Posts
2: Product Comparison Posts
3: Resource Master Lists
Take it away, Dave!
1: Product Reviews
One of the keys to successful revenue-generating blog posts is getting the right mixture of enthusiasm and likeability. One of the best ways to achieve this mix is by taking the time to review and share the products you truly use and care about.
When you review a product you genuinely use and love, your enthusiasm will be tangible. It will be clear from the level of knowledge you provide that you are a genuine fan of the product.
Product Review Posts – Best Practices
Some of the best practice tips to keep in mind when putting together a product review post include:
– Be sure to take pictures and even videos of you using the product. This not only shows that you genuinely own and use the product, but it also conveys your personality more than simply writing about it.
– Make sure that the products and services you review have an affiliate program available. Be sure to register for this in advance of putting your review together.
– Check out the other reviews that are ranking on Google for the same product you are looking at. Make sure your own review offers something extra.
– Be honest about the product. Highlight its flaws as well as its advantages. This adds credibility to your review and shows it’s a genuine analysis rather than a fluff piece.
Now that you know some of the best practice tips for putting together a review for your website, let’s consider some of the types of products you might wish to review.
– Software relevant to your audience. As a writer, this could include writing software, editing software, or anything else you think your audience might enjoy and find useful. Examples could include notebooks, pens, or anything else writers need to get by.
– Off-topic products. These might not relate directly to writing, but might be useful for writers, such as a special brand of coffee.
Basically, anything that you love, and that you think your audience might as well, is the perfect choice for a review post.
Product Review Posts – Examples & Lessons
Now that you know how to go about creating a review post, and the type of products you might review, let’s check out some examples from real websites for the final piece of the inspiration puzzle.
1: Wording Well’s Review of Meaning, Self, and the Human Potential
Wording Well posted a review of Meaning, Self, and the Human Potential. Some of the tips to take away from this review include:
– Provide context. The relationship between the reviewer and the product being reviewed is clearly discussed and talked about.
– Explain the implications of the product. Rather than just talking about what the book is, this review also explains why it matters.
– Clear suggestion of who the book is for. Rather than just saying what’s good or bad in your review, suggest the right type of person for it.
2: Kindlepreneur’s Review of Grammarly
In the above link, you can see my review of Grammarly. Some of the actionable tips you can take away from this when putting together your own review post include:
– Include video content. This will capture your readers’ attention, cause them to spend more time on your page, and boost your Google rankings as a result.
– Include graphic content. A large wall of text is unappealing and is likely to bore your audience. Mix things up with lists, bullet points, graphics, and tables.
– Give a ‘good fit’ recommendation. Rather than include an overall verdict, suggest who the product is and isn’t right for. This makes it more likely that you will convert suitable traffic.
