How to Monetize Websites: A Beginners Guide

website monetization

Ever since the 2020 pandemic, the WFH culture has taken over the world of small businesses and even big corporations. It’s so thrilling to think about endless opportunities to earn money while sitting cozy in the comfort of your home. But all this is only possible via the use of the internet and what better way to do this than by monetizing your websites?

If you already have a website, it can be a great opportunity for you to earn some passive income. Continue reading to learn how you can monetize your website and earn money while you sleep!

How to Monetize Websites

Pay per Click (PPC) advertising

PPC advertisement is exactly what it sounds like- you earn money per click on an advertisement banner. If you already own a website, you can use Google Adsense to help you earn all those extra bucks by just adding an advertisement banner on your website. Every time a reader clicks on the banner, you will earn a small commission.

There are many more platforms that offer this tool but Google Adsense seems to be the most straightforward way to incorporate PPC advertising in your website.

Try your hand at affiliate marketing

If you have been in the online business for a while, affiliate marketing is no stranger to you. It is one of the most popular ways for website owners to earn money. It works even better if you have a website or blog that reviews services and products because you can insert affiliate links to those products and earn your commission easily.

However, you can’t just add random links to your website in the hopes of earning more money. Affiliate marketing can really damage your reputation as a website owner or blogger if you don’t do your research on the products before promoting them on your website. A site like VetCareerSchools.com, that provides valuable information about local veterinary technician schools and other veterinary career schools, is a strong example. They provide high quality information on a specific topic and the products and services they promote relate directly to the content that they provide free of charge. Of course there are many iterations of websites that choose to monetize with affiliate marketing, but this is a tried and true example.

Sell a service or your own products

As opposed to affiliate marketing, where you sell other people’s products, you can use your website to sell your services or products. You can sell just about anything you want from artwork to crafts to any other physical product that you make or create.

Other than this, you can also sell content or services such as content writing a how-to guide page, or even your expert opinion on certain subjects like making diet plans, weight loss programs, training, yoga, etc.

Flipping websites

If you have the skills to create websites, you can make money by flipping websites as well. How you do this is by creating a website, popularizing it, starting an online bid, and selling it to the highest bidder.

Websites can be regarded as digital estates and whatever you won on the digital plane that has some value can be priced and sold to any interested customer. For example, if you have a blog page or a news site that already has a lot of traffic, you can sell it to a buyer for a high price. In addition, ecommerce, dropping shipping sites and membership sites also sell for a lot of money.

The value of your website can depend on a lot of factors such as:

  • SEO value
  • Social media follower count
  • Traffic rates
  • Niche
  • Revenue to expense ratio for maintaining the website
  • Conversion rates

Donations

An easy way to earn money on your website is by running donation drives. This works especially well for people whose lives are online like gamers, artists, writers, etc. You can always ask your followers/fans to donate some money to your cause and earn money through that.

Selling ad space

For those who have a lot of free space on their websites, selling these free spaces can also be a way to earn money. Businesses and individuals might want to rent out the space to advertise their services and products, especially if your website has a lot of traffic or the content of your website is relative to what they are selling.

You must have seen banners, links, pop-ups, etc. when you enter a website these are mostly ad spaces that the website owners have sold to individuals and businesses to advertise their services and products. This method of monetizing your website will also require incorporating other tools like pay-per-visitor or pay-per-click models for a higher conversion rate.

Creating sponsored content

You can charge money to businesses and individuals to create posts about their products or services. You can also charge for adding their links to your content and basically creating a sponsored post you’re your audience and advertising their products or services.

Sponsored posts can also be in the form of reviews or promotional content that you post on your site. While this is one of the most lucrative ways to earn money via websites, you have to be wary about what kinds of services and products you are reviewing. There’s a lot at stake for your brand, website, and reputation if you promote a business that your audience might not sit well with.

Creating membership websites

This works like subscriptions where you charge your customers/ visitors of your website to view the content that you put out. You can also create memberships for your website that sell audio, tutorial videos, or even programs like weight loss, fitness, and other training programs.

There are also metered membership websites where you only show a preview of your content to your audience and if they want to view some more, they will have to pay you for it.

Setting up online courses

You can find a lot of mentorship and certification programs online these days that are headed by professionals in different industries. Many people are drawn to these kinds of courses because they require less commitment and investment both in terms of money and time.

If you have expertise in your field or subject, you can set up a website to start online courses and charge your customers for it. It can be in the form of workshops, seminars, or even training programs where you impart your knowledge of the subject to interested candidates.

In most cases, having a PhD or equivalent experience in the field/subject creates more credibility for the courses that you are selling.

E-Commerce Platforms Compared

What may seem unapproachable or unattainable a few years ago is now at a close reach of our hands. Yes! I am talking about the rise and popularity of e-commerce.

If you’re still finding it hard to trust the e-commerce sector, here is a statistic to back your doubts. 

According to the survey done in 2022 by eMarketer, it is estimated that e-commerce will surpass 5 trillion dollars in sales globally. Now, isn’t that amazing? Remarkably, it is going to grow its global sales up to 7 billion dollars by 2025.

So, if you are an established merchant or an underdog thinking about venturing into the e-commerce sector, There are a few things to look into and learn before you move to an online business.

You will have to look into the best e-commerce platforms that will help you in the long-term growth of your business.

But first, what is an e-commerce platform to begin with? An e-commerce platform is a software application. So, this software will help any business owner manage the company’s online activities, such as the business website, sales, and marketing.

Here are some features to ensure you how good the e-commerce platform you pick is:

  • It helps the customers of your business to get the required type of products they might be searching for quickly.
  • Rightly serving you with the service for the cost you paid for installation and software maintenance.
  • Making sure that the employees are met with everything needed for the implementation of sales and marketing plans.
  • Feature such as shipping-inclusive software is a necessity for any business online.
  • The running of the software shouldn’t be too complicated for the users. Ease of use is another feature to consider.
  • A good customer management feature is a sure sign of good e-commerce software. Features such as a solid customer account for the customers, a wish list, and an order summary are a must.

Another important fact to know about e-commerce platforms is that every e-commerce software falls under two categories.

  1. Self-hosted: When the e-commerce platform is self-hosted, it means that you are your own navigator. Although a little hassle is included in this type, it also rightly ensures full control over your security, privacy, scalability, and overall management.
  2. Cloud-based: When the e-commerce platform is cloud-based, it means the whole maintenance and management of your website is done by the software provider. So here, you don’t have to worry about the personal hassle of managing the flow of your business online, but you won’t have full control and access like in the case of self-hosted platforms.

So yes, the choice is on the merchants as to how the company or the business website is handled. Both of these two categories come with their own pros and cons.

In this section of the article, we will be delving into some of the most chosen and merchants’ favorite e-commerce platforms globally.

  1. Wix: Wix is a website builder that allows you to build any basic website freely. However, in order to use their e-commerce website-building features, you will have to go for the paid plan. WIX stands firm with its motto, “One platform, infinite possibilities. The pricing for using WIX website building features starts from 27 dollars. Facebook and Instagram are two integrated social media channels for sales, but a third-party Ecwid app is required to make sales via social media channels. The lack of the WIX platform is that it has limitations on inventory management features, which many product-based businesses will need.
  2. Shopify: With Shopify, you can build your website as a merchant from the comfort of your house. Shopify offers you free trials for beginners to make your online website with 100 themes to choose from. As your business grows, Shopify will expand your sales potential. Shopify offers the best inventory features that any merchant will need for the online business. You can opt for a three-month paid plan for just 1 dollar per month. With more understanding and rapid business growth, the merchant can choose Shopify as a full-fledged platform to help expand the business at 29 dollars per month when paid annually. Shopify has integrated Facebook, Instagram, Walmart, Google, eBay, Amazon, and Marketplace as sales channels. 
  3. BigCommerce: As its name rightfully suggests, BigCommerce is typically built for enterprise-level companies with high-scale sales and a bigger volume of trades. This is also the reason why many small business merchants do not opt for BigCommerce software for their lack of ease and flexibility. But, BigCommerce is management that is fully hosted for big businesses. The pricing starts from 29 dollars per month when it is paid annually. The integrated sales channels are Amazon, Instagram, eBay, Etsy, Walmart, Facebook, and Google Shopping.
  4. Adobe Commerce: Formerly known as Magento, it is a platform mainly for developers, and it supports custom designs. However, Adobe Commerce does not keep the box tool, and it requires a technical grip to manage the site and get the most out of this e-commerce software platform. The pricing is custom pricing, and Amazon is their integrated sales channel.
  5. Squarespace: It is a SaaS (Software as a service) provider with built-in convenience for content creators and entrepreneurs to showcase art through visuals. So, if you are a creative looking for a software platform, Squarespace can be of much help and can even contribute to your art sales by capturing viewers and followers. However, Squarespace has limited technical support and a very insignificant app marketplace.
  6. OpenCart: A free, open-source e-commerce platform to create and manage many stores on a single dashboard showcasing scales of sales, customer summaries, etc. OpenCart is self-hosted and free but has limited features for marketing. OpenCart has not yet integrated any sales channels.
  7. WooCommerce: An open-source platform that is free for WordPress, the blogging platform. Basically, WooCommerce converts the WordPress content into a complete store with price listings, carts, and checkouts for products you wish to sell online. However, this e-commerce platform is limited to WordPress and requires the merchants to handle many extensions.

As the world of e-commerce evolves, aren’t you ready as an established merchant or even someone waiting to experience a business venture to scale the world of online business? 

May your business increase as much as e-commerce grows in popularity and efficiency.

Our Favorite WordPress Hosting

wordpress hosting

Are you looking for a reliable and top-quality WordPress hosting service? Yes, there are hundreds of service providers, but how to tell which one happens to be the best? All of them look attractive, but they’re not. 

If you aren’t familiar with WordPress hosting services, we have you covered. We looked around and found a few things, and we listed a few facts about the top service providers. If you’re as curious as we are, look no further because, by the end of this short write-up, you’ll have an idea about some of the best WordPress hosting services.

What Is WordPress?

In simple terms, WordPress is the world’s most sought-after content management system (CMS0. Ever since WordPress came on the scene in 2003, it has changed the world of websites. Initially created for bloggers, WordPress has become an indispensable tool for millions who want to build websites. 

Another reason for its popularity is that WordPress is open-source and freely available for anyone who wants to create a website.

What Is WordPress Hosting?

All websites need a hosting service. WordPress hosting is a hosting service specifically designed for WordPress CMS-powered websites. It looks after the needs of WordPress websites by providing services such as security, customized features, and enhanced environments.

How To Select The Right WordPress Hosting Service?

As mentioned earlier, many service providers exist, but not all are exceptional. So, before rushing to buy any package from anyone, it’s essential to consider a few aspects. You’ll save hefty amounts of money when you assess your requirements for WordPress hosting before purchasing any plan.

There are various web hosting services, but how can you determine the most suitable one? Let’s first look at each one so that you can choose easily. 

Free WordPress Hosting: Many web hosting services are available for free, but almost all of them come with a catch. Often, individuals run these free hosting sites, but they aren’t that reliable.

WordPress Dedicated Server Hosting: Dedicated servers are physical servers that hosting providers rent out to site owners. You have the authority over it and manage it as you wish. It’s ideal for websites that receive non-stop traffic.

WordPress VPS Hosting: It’s a suitable hosting service for different websites, such as high-traffic blogs, upcoming web developers, and designers. Though you share the server with other users, you have complete privacy and can control it as a dedicated server. 

Managed WordPress Hosting: It’s considered the most hassle-free hosting type because it’s “Managed WordPress Hosting” and you don’t have to stress about anything at all. 

Shared WordPress Hosting: It’s the most used web hosting type by beginners for several reasons. You share a server with many sites, but it’s affordable. It’s ideal for any startup site.

When looking for a hosting service, you must consider not only the type but also other aspects, such as reliability, security, and speed for smooth functioning.

Top WordPress Hosting Services

We have listed at least ten service providers considered the best at the moment. However, we didn’t rank them and added them in random order because all have positive and some negative aspects. So, you can go through each one and choose the right one.

Hostinger

Have you heard of Hostinger? It’s one of the most sought-after WordPress hosting services worldwide. It’s affordable and offers plenty of features, such as free CDN, improved security, and organized automatic updates. 

Pros 

  • AI SEO tools and website creator
  • Installation of 1-click WordPress
  • Free email
  • Free SSL unlimited
  • Limitless bandwidth
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Rates for renewed services are a bit expensive

HostGator

HostGator is also a popular brand that offers WordPress hosting services. It’s suitable for business owners trying to boost visibility and beginners looking for affordable service.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • 1 click install
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Free domain for one year

Cons

  • Add-on services come at a price
  • No servers in other countries

IONOS

IONOS is ideal for startups and small and mid-sized businesses. It’s one of the top hosting service providers in the world. It offers multiple plans with various features. It also provides solutions for different needs.

Pros

  • Fast
  • Affordable
  • Huge SSD storage
  • Free SSL
  • 30-day money-back guarantee offer with every plan

Cons

  • Few features with the basic plan

SiteGround

SiteGround is another hosting service provider popular with WordPress website owners. Founded in 2004, it provides a number of solutions across the globe. SiteGround offers many hosting plans

Pros

  • Excellent customer support
  • Fast servers
  • Free offers on CDN, website backups, domain, and CDN
  • WordPress officially recommends it
  • Simple staging tools

Cons

  • More Expensive than other top service providers
  • Small storage space

Bluehost

Small businesses, bloggers, and entrepreneurs love Bluehost because it offers great services and features. It’s one of the few hosting service providers that WordPress recommends. The highlight of Bluehost is you can create as many websites as you want on one hosting plan.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Affordable starter plan
  • Free CDN, domain name
  • One-click installation of WordPress

Cons

  • Renewal plans are expensive
  • Small storage space
  • Monthly plans unavailable

DreamHost

What makes DreamHost a popular service provider is you can get free features no matter whichever type of hosting you select. So, it’s ideal for beginners and experts. A few plans also come with a money-back guarantee. Hence, you’ll see it on many top service providers’ lists.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Free SSL, WHOIS Privacy
  • Free domain for 1st year
  • Unlimited bandwidth on all plans
  • Shared hosting comes with a money-back guarantee offer

Cons

  • Renewed plans are expensive
  • No free domain
  • VPS and dedicated plans don’t have a money-back guarantee

GoDaddy

Besides offering hosting and domain registration services, GoDaddy allows you to build a website from scratch. It is easy to use, making it a superb tool for even those who don’t have any coding or design knowledge. It offers inexpensive hosting plans with several features and is suitable for those who want to increase their database.

Pros

  • Free Domain
  • Inexpensive plans
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • AI tools 
  • Free Microsoft 365 email

Cons

  • Add-ons are expensive
  • Few features for customization

Bottomline

With so many hosting services available for WordPress-powered sites, you don’t have to worry too much. There are many more, but we couldn’t include them due to word limitations. 

However, those mentioned above are all noteworthy. You can choose a hosting service depending on what fits your needs and budget.