Former President Trump has said he will testify at his upcoming hush money trial in New York City.
“I’m testifying. I tell the truth. I mean, all I can do is tell the truth,” Trump told reporters at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. “And the truth is, that there’s no case.”
He’s set to appear at the trial, which stemmed from accusations that he falsified business records to cover up a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election, on Monday.
The ex-president and current 2024 White House candidate made the announcement alongside Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Fla., who was in Palm Beach to roll out a legislative package aimed at bolstering election integrity.
Millions of people work a side hustle these days. There are tons of options. Companies like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and more have blown the market wide open and helped create a gig economy of temp workers. However, many still choose to work on their own to make money on the side.
The Hustle and Bustle of a Side Hustle
People choose to make money on the side in all kinds of ways. Some examples include:
House cleaning
Washing and detailing automobiles
Making jewelry
T-shirt making
Baking
And more
The thing is, running a hustle on the side isn’t free. Even though often the overhead is relatively low, there are going to be costs. Selling online requires fees. Shipping costs are an issue if you sell a physical product. Even services oriented hustles like cleaning will require supplies.
How Do You Fund a Side Hustle?
There are a number of options when it comes to funding for this type of work.
In the beginning, bootstrapping is the obvious choice. Basically, this is when you do it yourself. By definition, a side hustle is something you do in addition to your regular job. So, it can make sense to invest an initial amount to get started from funds already available to you. Then, continue to use most of your proceeds to purchase more of what you need for the hustle. Hopefully, eventually you break even and then produce a profit.
If you want to expand with newer or better equipment, say a new embroidery machine, baking molds, or a new vinyl cutting machine, consider asking friends and family. They can make great birthday or holiday gifts. You could also ask them to borrow the money, or even sell them equity so they become angel investors if it grows into more than just something you do on the side.
Personal Credit
If you have good personal credit, you may be able to find good terms on a credit card to fund what you need short-term. Still, financing a business with personal credit means using a high percentage of your credit limits. This is called high credit utilization, and it can lower your personal credit scores.
What if You Decide to Turn Your Side Hustle Into More?
If you decide your hustle is strong enough to take on a life of its own, consider setting it up as a separate business. Even if you keep your day job, doing this opens up many more funding opportunities.
How to Set Up Your Side Hustle to Be Eligible for Business Accounts
Once you see your side hustle taking off, go ahead and name it. Your state may require for every business name to be unique, so check with the Secretary of State’s office. Get a business phone number and list it in the 411 directory. Then, get an EIN using the business name, phone number, and a physical business address where you can receive mail. You can do this for free at IRS.gov. Note: Do not use a P.O. Box or an UPS box as your business address. You can use a virtual address, but some lenders will not accept those.
You also need a separate, dedicated business bank account. Even if you aren’t bringing in a lot yet, this is still a good idea. You will need to report the income to the IRS, and this will help you keep track. Beyond that, if you want to apply for vendor accounts and other forms of business credit, this is often a requirement.
Also, if you want to be able to take credit card payments, you will need a merchant account. You cannot get a merchant account, without a business bank account.
As you do this, don’t neglect the details. Small inconsistencies can cause big problems. For example, if you use an ampersand in your business name when you get your EIN, be sure to use the ampersand and not the word “and” when you open your business bank account.
This type of seemingly small detail can cause big problems when you apply for business funding later on.
Funding With the Big Dogs
Taking these simple steps in the beginning will ensure you are ready to roll when the time comes to expand and grow your hustle. It takes funding to do that, and these steps will help you qualify for funding in the name of the business.
One of the easiest ways to start is to apply for business vendor credit. But first, use the business information you set up to apply for a D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet. You can apply and get one for free on their website.
Then, you can apply for credit from vendors in the name of your business. This will allow you to buy items needed to fill orders before you get paid. Items like jewelry-making supplies or tools and materials for handyman work can be bought ahead of time using vendor credit. You won’t have to wait to take orders. It can also make it possible to pay for advertising materials, like ad designs and banners, or even print ads.
You can’t just start applying for business accounts with any vendor you want right away and expect approval, however. If there are vendors that offer personal accounts and sell what you need, that is fine. However, it’s wise to work with some vendors that will extend net accounts in your business’s name, and report them to the business credit reporting agencies like Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax.
Then you build business credit for your hustle. Business credit opens up many more funding opportunities for the future.
Business Vendor Accounts
There are a few vendors that will do this even if your business credit score isn’t great, or is currently non-existent. They use other factors to determine creditworthiness. This includes whether your business is set up the way described above, as well as time in business, and more.
These are not revolving accounts. Rather, they are net accounts, meaning you will have to pay off the total balance at the end of the net term period. However, this can be a way to get the materials you need to run your business before your customer pays you. You can expand and grow your side hustle without depleting cash reserves, or even if you have no cash reserves.
Building Business Credit
The fun part about doing it this way, instead of just funding your business with your personal credit, is that you can build on those initial vendor credit accounts and eventually have even stronger business credit. All you need is 3 to 5 initial accounts reporting to be able to apply for more advanced accounts.
After you are bringing in money regularly, and your income is somewhat predictable, you may also be able to finance your new business with purchase order financing or a merchant cash advance.
For both of these kinds of financing, you get slightly less than the full value of any outstanding invoices, but you get it a lot faster!
If you have a business account with PayPal or Square, you may qualify for a loan from them that does not take credit score into account.
Another great option when it comes to funding a side hustle as it grows is the Credit Line Hybrid.
Credit Line Hybrid
A credit line hybrid is a form of unsecured funding. Our credit line hybrid has an even better interest rate than a secured loan. You can get 0% business credit cards with stated income, and many of these report to business CRAs. That means you can build business credit at the same time. You get access to even more cash, and with no personal guarantee. You need a good credit score or a guarantor with good credit to get an approval. In this case, that is a FICO score of at least 680. There are no financials required.
The Sky’s The Limit
Your side hustle can be as large or as small as you want to make it. You can keep your day job, or you can grow it into a full time gig and be your own boss. Regardless, you’ll need funding to make it happen.
Millions of people work a side hustle these days. There are tons of options. Companies like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and more have blown the market wide open and helped create a gig economy of temp workers. However, many still choose to work on their own to make money on the side.
The Hustle and Bustle of a Side Hustle
People choose to make money on the side in all kinds of ways. Some examples include:
House cleaning
Washing and detailing automobiles
Making jewelry
T-shirt making
Baking
And more
The thing is, running a hustle on the side isn’t free. Even though often the overhead is relatively low, there are going to be costs. Selling online requires fees. Shipping costs are an issue if you sell a physical product. Even services oriented hustles like cleaning will require supplies.
How Do You Fund a Side Hustle?
There are a number of options when it comes to funding for this type of work.
In the beginning, bootstrapping is the obvious choice. Basically, this is when you do it yourself. By definition, a side hustle is something you do in addition to your regular job. So, it can make sense to invest an initial amount to get started from funds already available to you. Then, continue to use most of your proceeds to purchase more of what you need for the hustle. Hopefully, eventually you break even and then produce a profit.
If you want to expand with newer or better equipment, say a new embroidery machine, baking molds, or a new vinyl cutting machine, consider asking friends and family. They can make great birthday or holiday gifts. You could also ask them to borrow the money, or even sell them equity so they become angel investors if it grows into more than just something you do on the side.
Personal Credit
If you have good personal credit, you may be able to find good terms on a credit card to fund what you need short-term. Still, financing a business with personal credit means using a high percentage of your credit limits. This is called high credit utilization, and it can lower your personal credit scores.
What if You Decide to Turn Your Side Hustle Into More?
If you decide your hustle is strong enough to take on a life of its own, consider setting it up as a separate business. Even if you keep your day job, doing this opens up many more funding opportunities.
How to Set Up Your Side Hustle to Be Eligible for Business Accounts
Once you see your side hustle taking off, go ahead and name it. Your state may require for every business name to be unique, so check with the Secretary of State’s office. Get a business phone number and list it in the 411 directory. Then, get an EIN using the business name, phone number, and a physical business address where you can receive mail. You can do this for free at IRS.gov. Note: Do not use a P.O. Box or an UPS box as your business address. You can use a virtual address, but some lenders will not accept those.
You also need a separate, dedicated business bank account. Even if you aren’t bringing in a lot yet, this is still a good idea. You will need to report the income to the IRS, and this will help you keep track. Beyond that, if you want to apply for vendor accounts and other forms of business credit, this is often a requirement.
Also, if you want to be able to take credit card payments, you will need a merchant account. You cannot get a merchant account, without a business bank account.
As you do this, don’t neglect the details. Small inconsistencies can cause big problems. For example, if you use an ampersand in your business name when you get your EIN, be sure to use the ampersand and not the word “and” when you open your business bank account.
This type of seemingly small detail can cause big problems when you apply for business funding later on.
Funding With the Big Dogs
Taking these simple steps in the beginning will ensure you are ready to roll when the time comes to expand and grow your hustle. It takes funding to do that, and these steps will help you qualify for funding in the name of the business.
One of the easiest ways to start is to apply for business vendor credit. But first, use the business information you set up to apply for a D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet. You can apply and get one for free on their website.
Then, you can apply for credit from vendors in the name of your business. This will allow you to buy items needed to fill orders before you get paid. Items like jewelry-making supplies or tools and materials for handyman work can be bought ahead of time using vendor credit. You won’t have to wait to take orders. It can also make it possible to pay for advertising materials, like ad designs and banners, or even print ads.
You can’t just start applying for business accounts with any vendor you want right away and expect approval, however. If there are vendors that offer personal accounts and sell what you need, that is fine. However, it’s wise to work with some vendors that will extend net accounts in your business’s name, and report them to the business credit reporting agencies like Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax.
Then you build business credit for your hustle. Business credit opens up many more funding opportunities for the future.
Business Vendor Accounts
There are a few vendors that will do this even if your business credit score isn’t great, or is currently non-existent. They use other factors to determine creditworthiness. This includes whether your business is set up the way described above, as well as time in business, and more.
These are not revolving accounts. Rather, they are net accounts, meaning you will have to pay off the total balance at the end of the net term period. However, this can be a way to get the materials you need to run your business before your customer pays you. You can expand and grow your side hustle without depleting cash reserves, or even if you have no cash reserves.
Building Business Credit
The fun part about doing it this way, instead of just funding your business with your personal credit, is that you can build on those initial vendor credit accounts and eventually have even stronger business credit. All you need is 3 to 5 initial accounts reporting to be able to apply for more advanced accounts.
After you are bringing in money regularly, and your income is somewhat predictable, you may also be able to finance your new business with purchase order financing or a merchant cash advance.
For both of these kinds of financing, you get slightly less than the full value of any outstanding invoices, but you get it a lot faster!
If you have a business account with PayPal or Square, you may qualify for a loan from them that does not take credit score into account.
Another great option when it comes to funding a side hustle as it grows is the Credit Line Hybrid.
Credit Line Hybrid
A credit line hybrid is a form of unsecured funding. Our credit line hybrid has an even better interest rate than a secured loan. You can get 0% business credit cards with stated income, and many of these report to business CRAs. That means you can build business credit at the same time. You get access to even more cash, and with no personal guarantee. You need a good credit score or a guarantor with good credit to get an approval. In this case, that is a FICO score of at least 680. There are no financials required.
The Sky’s The Limit
Your side hustle can be as large or as small as you want to make it. You can keep your day job, or you can grow it into a full time gig and be your own boss. Regardless, you’ll need funding to make it happen.
Brex is a money management tool for businesses. They offer many services, but the big draw for startups and small businesses is the option for a business credit card that reports to Experian and Dun & Bradstreet, thus helping them build a strong business credit score.
Who Is Brex Really For?
They offer a number of services that can help many businesses manage their finances in a more streamlined, efficient manner. But, what types of business do they work best for? Will they work for your business?
What Brex is Meant to Do
This is a business money management system that integrates with your accounting software. It allows you to track expenses and, depending on the level of service you choose, can also help with paying bills and controlling spending. This is the purpose.
Start by opening a Brex cash account. This is not a bank, but they do have a partnership with the FDIC to ensure your funds are secure.
Everyone that opens a cash account gets a corporate card. It works similar to how a debit card does, drawing from your cash balance daily. However, unlike a debit card, they report these draws as payments on your account to Dun & Bradstreet. In turn, your business credit score grows. This is, assuming your business is set up properly to have an established business credit profile.
Since this card is secured by the balance in your cash account, and limited to that balance, you do not have to worry about underwriting. However, since the balance in the cash account is money you already have, it cannot really be an option for funding your business. Rather, it’s a way to manage the funds you already have and use them to build business credit.
Brex for Funding
There is also another option if you qualify. They do offer a more traditional card. This option offers limits that will go up to 20x higher than that of a typical corporate card. Instead of checking your personal credit score, they base approval and credit limits on business financial information, including available cash, spending patterns, and more. This means it may be more accessible to those that do not have a great credit score.
If you qualify for this card, you will have to pay your entire balance monthly. This is a step up from paying daily as you go, like with the cash card. It’s more like net financing. You cannot carry a balance from month to month, but it is more flexible than the cash card because you are not limited to the balance in your cash account.
Both cards offer nice rewards in terms of points that you can redeem for a number of things like:
Also, you can get cards for your team members and set individual spending limits. This is a major plus for managing spending. There are even virtual card options for online spending. Brex integrates with common accounting programs including Quickbooks, Xero, NetSuite, and Gust, among others.
Since you pay the card off from month to month, there is no interest. There is also no fee for standard service, but you can upgrade to premium service at a cost. Currently premium accounts start at $49.99 and offer more expense management options. You can use rewards points, if you have them, to pay for premium service.
Using Brex to Build Business Credit
While Brex is a fabulous option for managing business finances, it doesn’t really work for business funding when it comes to startups. Here’s why. The corporate credit card that most startups qualify for only has a limit up to the amount of cash you have in your cash account.
Of course, that’s not a bad thing for managing financing or building business credit. There are no fees, and your positive payment history goes to two of the big three business credit reporting agencies. It’s a win-win.
However, you are only able to use funds you already have on hand. Payment is taken from your cash account daily, and you cannot carry a balance. This means that, while this card is a great tool for helping you build business credit and managing funds you already have, it doesn’t actually help you get additional funds for your business.
The corporate charge card isn’t a bad deal and can help with cash flow management and funding. However, it’s more of a starting point if you cannot qualify for a true business credit card. It’s a stepping stone to get another account reporting to business credit, so that you can qualify for more funding in the future.
Brex Online Reputation
The Better Business Bureau has Brex rated at an A+. They have 4 reviews, all which are bad, and 3 complaints over the course of 4 years they have been in business. That isn’t terrible, but it is concerning that all of the bad reviews are pretty recent. One is related to a bonus offer, and the other 3 are customer service related. You should definitely be aware, but this is a very small number of negative issues being reported for the 4 years they have been in business.
TrustPilot has many more reviews and gives them an excellent rating at 4.8 stars. The small percentage of negative reviews on TrustPilot tend to be from those who did not qualify for accounts. Those who have accounts and use the system seem to be happy.
The answer to this question really depends on what you are looking to accomplish. If you need a system that helps you manage funds in real time, this is a great option. It’s also an option if you are having trouble getting approval for business credit cards. It’s worth a shot to see if you qualify for the corporate charge card.
If your sole purpose is to build business credit, Brex can help, but you can’t do it with Brex alone. Your business has to be fundable, which can take time. Also, you need more accounts reporting than just one. Brex can be a part of this, but you need more.
Business credit building is a process. There are a number of steps, starting with how your business is set up and going all the way through applying for the right accounts at the right time. A system like the Business Credit Builder can walk you through the whole thing, saving you a lot of time and frustration.
Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.
I’ve had days where I made ten thousand dollars on my blog. It’s not even out of the ordinary.
Now it took a ton of hard work and dedication to reach millions of readers. You need serious traffic to make that kind of money. It’s not something you should expect to achieve overnight.
That said, all that stands between you and this kind of success is your time and effort.
Plus, there are way more ways to make money blogging today than when I first started. Making an extra few hundred dollars a month is not that far off, if you are willing to put in the work.
In this guide, I’ll show you the exact way to make money from blogging by avoiding the mistakes I’ve made in my 10-year journey.
Sound good? Let’s begin.
Your 2-Minute Cheat Sheet
The very first thing you need to start making money is to come up with an idea and the name for your blog. Think through the topics you’d want to write about often.
After that, sign up for the Basic plan with Bluehost. Even if you don’t have much of a budget, this is practically a steal at just $2.95 per month.
Set up your account, taking care to skip all the add-ons except for domain privacy and protection. A few extra dollars for better privacy and security is an investment.
And with this, you’ll have your own blog domain. Hurrah!
The next steps will have you installing WordPress (it’s a one-click install with Bluehost) and then finally writing and publishing your first blog post.
Once you’ve got a few posts up and have started to attract some traffic, you can work on monetizing your blog to make your first dollars.
For this, you’ll have to sign up for a Google AdSense and Amazon Associates account to make money through ads and affiliate marketing, respectively. You can also sell your own products and services after successfully driving high traffic to your site.
That was the basics. Let’s get into the details now.
Step 1: Figure Out Your Blog’s Niche
The first on the agenda is to decide what your blog is going to be about. Whether you want to talk about marketing, CBD, veganism, or just random life stories, figure it out.
Remember, your idea doesn’t have to be revolutionary, but you do need a unique voice.
Here are two tips for deciding on a blog niche:
Choose Something That You Enjoy
I know that this sounds like a cliche, but it makes no sense to blog about it if you don’t love the topic.
Never start blogging about something that you don’t love—it will show in your writing and your readers will know. Moreover, you won’t be able to consistently produce top-notch content to build your audience and later monetize from it.
Make a list of things that get you naturally curious and that you enjoy learning about. Or think about what your friends and family come to you when seeking advice.
Find Out Whether a Prospective Niche Has a Readership
The only way you can earn money through your blog is if you have enough site visitors.
Let’s assume you’ve already figured out your blog niche and want to write about arts and crafts.
You make a smart decision to niche down further and develop a blog exclusively dedicated to either paper art or scrapbooking. While you enjoy writing about both topics, you prefer to focus on one primarily.
But how do you choose between the two options?
Answer: Do a quick Google search.
As you can see, there are far more results related to paper art as opposed to scrapbooking. Therefore, it makes more sense to write about paper art, which is what audiences are searching for.
I would also like to add that it’s better to avoid broad or generic topics. Don’t be afraid to get specific as long as you have takers for it.
For instance, if you want to create a food blog, don’t use words like “food.” Instead, use “barbecue” or “vegan.”
Get my point?
Step 2: Name Your Blog
Once an idea is in place, you need to work on naming your blog.
Does the name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ring a bell? Thought so.
But I bet Lady Gaga does.
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta is Lady Gaga’s real name. She decided to go with a catchier and easier-to-remember alternative that aligns better with her music.
That’s the power of the right name.
Choosing a blog name is equal parts exciting and daunting. After all, this will be your brand name and dictate how people will remember you.
Don’t overthink it, and don’t name your blog something random or offensive.
Keep in mind the following questions when deciding on a name:
Does it reflect what your blog is going to be about?
Would your target audience like it?
Is the name easy to say and spell?
Is it short and concise?
I chose my own name as my domain (NeilPatel.com) simply because Neil Patel is who I am, and it’s also my brand. You could do what I did or come up with something entirely different.
Whatever name you come up with, make sure it’s available as website domains.
You can use Bluehost’s domain name checker for this purpose. Type in each potential name in the search bar, and click Check Availability to know.
I’d recommend opting for a .com whenever possible. But they can get expensive, I know.
If all the good .coms are taken, don’t stress. think about your main URL keywords.
If you were aiming for talkCBDtome.com but somebody else got there first, try talkCBDto.me for something cheaper and every bit as easy to remember.
Don’t buy an available domain at this point. I have something up my sleeve to help you get it for free.
You need to sign up for a web hosting service to get your blog live, along with a registered domain name that will serve as your blog’s address.
I recommend Bluehost as its hands down one of the best web hosting companies—not to mention affordable—that assures excellent service and a free domain.
And did I mention that as a NeilPatel.com reader, you get an additional discount?
You’re welcome.
Head over to Bluehost.com, and click on the green Get Started Now button.
Next, sign up for the Basic plan. You can always upgrade later, but since you’re just starting a blog, it’s better to stick to the Basic plan.
Register the domain name you came up with without having to pay anything extra. Just make sure the drop-down is set to .com before you click Next.
Following this, you need to sign in using your Google account. You can also manually enter your personal credentials.
Scroll down to choose your registration term, which can either be a 36-month, a 24-month, or a 12-month agreement. To get the best deal ($2.95 per month), you’ll have to sign up for a three-year contract.
It still isn’t over yet.
You’ll find package options like Domain Privacy + Protection, Codeguard Basic, Bluehost SEO Tools, Microsoft 365 Mailbox Trial, and SiteLock Security Essentials.
In my opinion, you only need Domain Privacy + Protection to protect your contact information against scam callers and unsolicited emails. Ignore the others.
Finally, enter your payment information, read the terms and conditions, and hit submit.
This is the point where you’ll have your blog!
Complete all the remaining instructions to set up your account, and then move onto the next step.
Step 4: Install WordPress CMS
You have your web host, next you need blogging software.
I trust WordPress to run all my blogs as it is user-friendly, feature-rich, and free. Plus, you can install thousands of free plugins to make your blog more functional and customize it however you want.
After signing up for Bluehost, you will have a free domain and hosting account. Log in by filling in your credentials and then click on Install WordPress.
Next, select Do it yourself (FREE) and hit Install, followed by Check Domain. Lastly, acknowledge WordPress’s terms of service and finalize your install.
Ta-Da! You now have a fully functional WordPress blog ready to roll.
Step 5: Design Your WordPress Blog
To design a blog, you need to select an attractive and affordable WordPress theme.
Why do you need this? Well, after signing up for WordPress, your blog will look something like this:
Not exactly what you’d call sleek and welcoming, right? The way your website looks can help drive more website traffic, which, in turn, will enable you to make more money.
Luckily, WordPress has thousands and thousands of themes for you to choose from. I’ve even done a roundup of some of the best ones. Here’s how you can select a WordPress theme:
Log into your WordPress account.
Click on Appearance in the sidebar menu on your dashboard.
From the drop-down options, select Themes.
Go to Add New, located at the very top of the screen, to gain access to thousands of fancy WordPress themes. You can also click on Feature Filter to filter your search to see options more suited to your tastes.
You should choose a theme that fits your personal style, but at the same time, it should also be in sync with your blog niche.
Preview the theme to see what it will look like.
If you like the sneak peek of a specific theme, click on Install and then Activate.
With a nice new theme, your website will get a much-needed upgrade that makes it look appealing to visitors.
Step 6: Come Up With Interesting Blog Topics
If you want to be successful blogging, you need to keep doing what you can to attract more website traffic or encourage more email signups. The best way to do that is through what you’re already doing on your blog posts: offering your readers interesting content.
But what if you’ve exhausted your best ideas already on previous blog posts?
My tip is to make a list of questions you get often.
Trust me, within just 30 minutes, you’ll be able to come up with a bunch of new potential blog topics. Your priority should be to look at things from your reader’s viewpoint.
You can also focus on higher-level questions. The five below are ones I suggest you ask yourself to get in your readers’ minds.
Suppose you want to start a parenting blog for stay-at-home moms. Let’s go through those five questions with that example in mind:
Q1) What could be an intriguing or exciting talking point for your readers?
For stay-at-home moms, topics related to sleep training, family activities, and budget-friendly meal ideas could be a great place to start.
Q2) What are your reader’s pain points and challenges?
Common household challenges for stay-at-home moms could be meal planning, understanding developmental milestones, and so on.
Q3) What are your readers’ character traits?
Moms are typically patient and caring and appreciate a sense of humor about the hard work of raising children.
Q4) What niche topics would appeal the most to your readers?
A child’s mental, physical, and emotional development could be effective talking points for stay-at-home moms.
Q5) What topics would your readers hate about the niche?
Stay-at-home moms don’t like to be looked down on by others. So, you could write blogs about how society views them and their impact.
Similarly, you can use the above questions to come up with ideas according to your niche. While you’re at it, don’t forget to work out a catchy headline that will make the reader instantly click on your blog.
Step 7: Optimize Your Blogs for SEO
Search engine optimization or SEO is a crucial step to earn money via blogging. Here, you will optimize your website to rank higher in search engines for specific keywords and phrases.
If you’ve been following me for a long time, you may already know how SEO is my trump card.
By incorporating particular keywords and phrases, I’ve successfully driven more than 30 million visitors to my website. Shocked?
That’s the power of SEO.
On WordPress, you can optimize your content and blog by downloading a plugin called Yoast SEO.
Go to the Plugins menu, and click on Add New. Search for Yoast SEO in the search bar, and then install the plugin.
Don’t forget to activate it to complete the installation process.
You’ll find that this plugin will give you all kinds of improvement tips and suggestions based on the keyword you select to help you optimize your content. I’d recommend incorporating as many suggestions as you can to improve SEO and content readability.
Step 8: Sign up for Google AdSense
Setting up ads is the best way to monetize your blog. But you need to be smart about it.
The biggest mistake people make is to bombard their sites with blinking ads. Avoid this at all costs.
Instead, focus on using targeted ads that appeal to your customers without annoying them.
To start earning money through ads, you need a Google AdSense account. Head over to the AdSense page, and click on Sign Up Now. If you don’t have an existing Google account, you have to set up a new one. If you already have a Google account, simply sign in.
Fill out all the relevant information before submitting your application. The AdSense team reviews every application, and if everything goes well, you’ll be in!
Next, follow the below steps to set up your account:
Go to your AdSense dashboard and click on My Ads > New ad unit.
Select the size of your ad and the type of ad. Once you’re done, select Save and get code.
You’ll get a bit of code that you’ll then have to copy and paste between your page’s <body> tags. Here’s how it’ll look.
Once you’ve pasted the code, your ad will be live. Your AdSense dashboard will have all information about your earnings, so check it regularly.
While you can use ads on as many as you want, I would recommend starting with just one–maybe two max–to get an idea of how your audience responds to them.
If you see a higher bounce rate on your dashboard, you should consider repositioning your current ads for better results.
Step 9: Create an Amazon Associates Account
You might have already heard of affiliate marketing. If your goal is to earn passive income, leveraging the power of affiliates is your best bet.
You can start by signing up for Amazon Associates, which allows you to start earning right away through referral links, display ads, or Amazon-based shopping carts.
If your visitors decide to use your referral link or click on the display ads, you’ll get a small commission.
To sign up for Amazon Associates, all you need to do is visit the website and click on Join Now for Free.
This can be pretty effective. Just check out these earnings of Brendan Mace for definitive proof.
Amazon Associates isn’t the only affiliate program.
You’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of companies with their own affiliate programs, some of which pay higher commissions than Amazon. Just make sure to research before signing up to be an affiliate for a brand.
That said, I’d also like to emphasize the importance of advertising only those products or services that you’ve used yourself or genuinely believe can help your audience.
Step 10: Offer a Product or Service for Sale (Optional)
Many people think that advertisements are the only source of income for bloggers. This might be true for a few, but you’ll also find many bloggers make quite a bit of money by selling a product or service.
Of course, this will only work when you already have a loyal readership with steady website traffic like Nomadic Matt. Once you’re at this stage, you shouldn’t be afraid to take the leap.
Here are a few things that you can consider selling:
Training courses
Books
Video courses/webinars
Coaching services
Consulting services
Next, you have to figure out how you want to sell your product. Services like Shopify or WooCommerce plugins on WordPress, Amazon, or Etsy are great options for digital products. If you’re selling a physical product (like phone cases or clothes), you’ll have to set up a more comprehensive ecommerce store.
Finally, let your audience know about your product or service by sending them emails. You can also consider developing lead magnets like pre-recorded webinars, PDFs, and whitepapers to build your email list.
How to Make Money Blogging Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make money blogging?
Yes, there are a variety of ways to make money blogging; such as running ads, doing paid partnership posts, including affiliate links, etc.
What's the first step to creating a successful blog?
The first step in creating a successful blog is picking a niche topic for your blog. Do market research and see what other blogs are already out there; you don’t want your blog to cover an area that is already dense with similar blogs. Also, try to pick a topic that has natural ties to money-making blog techniques, like a partnership or sponsored posts, or affiliate links.
How much do successful bloggers make?
As of 2020, successful bloggers can make up to 7 figures per year. But that’s only the very top bloggers in successful and popular industries, like marketing or parenting.
How long can I expect it to take for my blog to start making money?
Your blog may be able to earn money in as little as six months from when you start it.
Yes, there are a variety of ways to make money blogging; such as running ads, doing paid partnership posts, including affiliate links, etc.
”
}
}
, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What's the first step to creating a successful blog?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: ”
The first step in creating a successful blog is picking a niche topic for your blog. Do market research and see what other blogs are already out there; you don’t want your blog to cover an area that is already dense with similar blogs. Also, try to pick a topic that has natural ties to money-making blog techniques, like a partnership or sponsored posts, or affiliate links.
”
}
}
, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How much do successful bloggers make?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: ”
As of 2020, successful bloggers can make up to 7 figures per year. But that’s only the very top bloggers in successful and popular industries, like marketing or parenting.
”
}
}
, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How long can I expect it to take for my blog to start making money?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: ”
Your blog may be able to earn money in as little as six months from when you start it.
”
}
}
]
}
How to Make Money Blogging Conclusion
There’s a difference between simply having a blog and monetizing a blog. To make this transition successful, you’ll need to adopt a more proactive and focused approach.
You’ve got this!
Just remain focused and work consistently to keep improving your blog and build trust between you and your audience. And follow my steps above to get things started on the right track.
Remember to stick with what works, and you’ll have a successful formula.
Have you tried blogging yet? Let me know about your experience.
Are you looking for startup money for business? Starting a business can be an exhilarating experience. That is, except for the part about needing money. But your startup won’t survive for long without cash. If you’re not independently wealthy and can bootstrap your dream, what do you do?
The answer: think like a lender.
It may seem simplistic, but lenders just want two things: to make money off the loans they offer and be paid back by their borrowers. The first one is a result of their choices of loans to offer and terms. The second is in your hands.
The 3 Cs Capital Acquisition Formula
This is why lenders look at one of three things for loan approval: cashflow, collateral, or credit. The more of these “Cs” you have, the more funding options are available. For all the funding we cover in today’s post, we show you exactly what you need to have for approval.
But keep in mind, startups have it rough.
With very little time in business, they can’t prove that they’re getting steady cashflow. They just plain don’t have a big enough sample size. A short time in business is also seen as less stable, because about 1/5 of all new businesses fail in the first two years. So the first “C” is out.
But that’s okay. Because you’ve got access to two more.
Collateral is a great way to assure a lender that you’ll pay them back. And while your business might not have too much collateral yet, you probably have something you can pledge. It’s time to think outside the box.
401(k) Financing
This is not a loan. And you will not have to pay an early withdrawal fee or a tax penalty. You put the money back by contributing, like with any 401(k) program. This means you won’t lose your retirement funds. This is a 401(k) Rollover for Working Capital program. The IRS calls it a Rollover for Business Startups (ROBS).
According to the IRS, a ROBS qualified plan is a separate entity with its own set of requirements. The plan, through its company stock investments, owns the trade or business. That is, not the individual. Hence, some filing exceptions for individuals may not apply to such a plan. This type of financing isn’t a loan against, your 401(k), so there’s no interest to pay. It does not use the 401(k) or stocks as collateral. Instead, this is no more than a movement or change of custodian.
401(k) Financing: Terms and Qualifying
Low rates, often less than 5%. Your 401(k) must have more than $35,000 in it. You can usually get up to 100% of what’s “rollable” within your 401(k). The lender will want to see a copy of your two most recent 401(k) statements.
You can get 401(k) financing even with severely challenged personal credit. The 401(k) you use cannot be from a business where you are currently working. So it must be from older employment. You cannot be currently contributing to it.
IRA Financing
Don’t have a 401(k) that would work? Then try IRA financing. It’s a lot like 401(k) financing. In as little as 3 weeks you can invest a part of your retirement funds into your business. This gives you more control over the performance of your retirement plan assets. And it gives you the working capital you need for business growth.
IRA Financing: Terms and Qualifying
In general, you will work with a CPA. They will help you roll over a non-contributing and qualifying account. This allows for cash out of half, or $50,000, whichever is lower. If applicable, a CPA you work with will structure a self-directing IRA for the remaining funds.
Stocks Financing
Do you own stocks? Some lenders will make loans using securities as collateral. Securities-based lending provides ready access to capital. You can use this capital for almost any purpose, such as buying real estate or investing in a business. The only restrictions to this kind of lending are other securities-based transactions. For example, like buying shares or repaying a margin loan..
Stocks Financing: Terms and Qualifying
You continue to earn interest on stocks you pledge as collateral. Closing and funding takes less than 3 weeks. Rates can be as low as 1.6%. But you will have challenged personal credit.
Bonds will work just as well as stocks. Securities-based lending for bonds comes from large financial institutions and private banks. People tend to seek out these kinds of loans, if they want to make a large business acquisition. Another reason is if they want to execute large transactions like real estate purchases.
Lenders determine the value of the loan from an assessment of the borrower’s investment portfolio. In some cases, the issuer of the loan may determine eligibility based on the underlying asset. It can end up approving a loan based on a portfolio of US Treasury notes rather than stocks.
Bonds Financing: Terms and Qualifying
Most investment-grade corporate, treasury, municipal, and government agency bonds are good to use. You keep all the interest and appreciation from your securities. To qualify all the lender will want is a copy of your two most recent securities statements. If your stocks or bonds have a value over $25,000, you can get approval, even with severely challenged personal credit.
No Collateral to Get Startup Money for Business? Not to Worry
If you’ve got good personal credit, we can tie a direct line from it to good business credit. The good FICO score doesn’t have to be yours; it can be a credit partner’s.
Credit Line Hybrid
A credit line hybrid is a form of unsecured funding. Our credit line hybrid has an even better interest rate than a secured loan. Get some of the highest loan amounts and credit lines for businesses. You can get 0% business credit cards with stated income. Many of these report to business CRAs. You can build business credit at the same time. This will get you access to even more cash!
Credit Line Hybrid: Terms and Qualifying
You need a good credit score or a guarantor with good credit to get an approval (a FICO score of at least 680). No financials are necessary. You can often get a loan of up to $150,000. Some cards may report on your personal credit.
Get Startup Money for Business by Building Business Credit
And keep in mind: our Credit Line Hybrid isn’t the only way to build business credit. Business credit is an asset, and lenders like to see that yours is good. But you’ve got to work at it.
Start with vendor accounts. Starting with vendor credit accounts is a proven way to start building business credit. But we don’t include vendors just because they report to the business credit reporting agencies. We include them and we talk about them because they have quality products that you can use, and fantastic customer service. They are more than a means to an end!
Vendor Credit
Starter vendors are open to working with most businesses, even startup ventures like yours! Make sure vendors report to the CRAs – not all do. Vendors report to the business CRAs within 60 days. They help you build your business credit profile and score.
Vendor Credit: Terms and Qualifying
Terms will vary depending on the vendor, but they tend to be Net 30. Some will not accept virtual offices. You will often need a D-U-N-S and an EIN at the very least. But you will not need collateral, good personal credit, or cash flow.
And continuing to grow your business credit portfolio means credit cards. Add payment experiences from at least three vendors. Once they report to business CRAs like Dun & Bradstreet, you start qualifying for store credit, and fleet credit, too. While your startup grows, so will your business credit.
Get Startup Money for Business: Takeaways
Startups have a few strikes against them when it comes to getting business financing. But you may have collateral right now, and can use it to get money. Good personal credit is another thing you can leverage. And it doesn’t even have to be your own good personal credit! And build business credit for the best chances for the most money. Contact us today for the details.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
