In a time when the digital sphere is saturated with content, it might seem challenging to get paid for anything you publish online. But just because there’s a lot of information available doesn’t mean there isn’t room for more high-quality additions.
Are you the type of person who feels you have a lot to say about a particular topic? Maybe you were close to becoming a professional baseball player and sports are your domain. Are you interested in sharing your tips with aspiring athletes? Or maybe you’re a health nut who happens to love baking. Why not offer your latest healthy, yet indulgent recipes to the public?
Here are a few ideas for bringing in some cash by communicating what you know and love:
Lights, Camera, Action
Text is great, but some people respond better to seeing something live online. If you’re knowledgeable about something of a visual nature, consider creating a YouTube channel. It’s fairly easy to set up, and you can either shoot your videos with a top-of-the-line camera or simply use your webcam. Spend some time dialing in your channel’s page to reflect your branding and your mission clearly, so anyone who stumbles across it will know exactly what you’re about. If your page is eligible, you can monetize the channel directly through YouTube. If not, think about directing viewers to a separate website where you can charge for access to additional content.
Monetize Your Words
When you’re familiar with one topic in particular and think your musings about it can add value to others, you might be a prime candidate for starting a blog. There are numerous platforms you can use like WordPress and Blogger, or you could build your own site through a free service like Wix or Strikingly. The most important thing to realize with a blog is that you’ll have to produce a significant volume of content initially in order to draw in regular visitors. A good way to plan for this is to create your own editorial calendar, where you map out the themes you want to focus on for the coming year, and then break it down into specific topics per month or week.
In order to monetize your blog, you can use a service like Google AdSense, which places targeted ads next to your online content. Another option, if you’d like to keep your page ad-free, is to give visitors options for subscribing to your content. Maybe a level one subscriber gets access to everything, while a level two subscriber only gets one post per week and your monthly newsletter. You can structure this however you want, and then use a service like Chargify to set up recurring billing for your visitors.
Embrace the Package Deal
Beyond a video channel and a blog, there are still more options for generating income online. One of the most potentially lucrative possibilities is selling some sort of a package to customers. Let’s say your area of expertise is painting. Your blog may give weekly insight into current art trends and your YouTube channel might give step-by-step demonstrations for painting in a certain style. That’s great. Now consider pulling together an e-book that includes the best material from your blog posts, and is augmented by more in-depth information on types of paints and canvases to use. You can offer this e-book, along with a subscription to your e-course as a package. This is a seamless way to share your knowledge through a variety of mediums, and be compensated for it.
If you feel compelled to tell the world about your favorite subject, don’t sit quietly any longer. Whether you choose to embrace video, blogging, or a combination of content forms, all that matters is that you consistently deliver value. Don’t forget all the various methods of monetizing your content, and don’t be shy about asking for payment. Your knowledge is worth it.
