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Creating a website is more accessible now than ever. User-friendly website builders make it possible to get a site up and running in a flash - but can that website make you money?
Monetizing a website can provide you with a flexible, scalable and even passive income stream. But for many people, figuring out how to earn money from their site feels like an elusive goal. The good news is that monetization is achievable with patience, strong website promotion and the right tools.
In this blog, we'll guide you through how to make money from a website using 16 proven strategies. We'll also break down best practices on how to implement each strategy effectively.
Getting started with your online journey? Take a look at our website launch checklist, as well as Wix’s what is a website guide.
What is website monetization?
Website monetization is a blanket term for various strategies of turning your website traffic, content or services into revenue. There are several ways to monetize a webpage. The best methods of monetization for your website will depend on your specific niche, audience and goals.
If you’re building a website from scratch keep in mind that some methods of website monetization rely on built-in features (like banner ads and blogs), that will impact your website design. This means you’ll want to keep future monetization strategies in mind as you consider which website builder to use and which website templates include the features that you want.
Interested in learning more about how to plan a website? Check out these comprehensive guides on the Wix blog: How long does it take to build a website and how much does a website cost.
How to make money from a website: 16 best practices
01. Develop marketing strategies
Making money from a website is a business. And whether you’re starting a business from scratch, or working to improve an existing brand you’ll need to identify the marketing strategies that will offer you the highest ROI and best help you reach your goals.
Get started by identifying your niche, target audience and unique value proposition. Analytics tools like Wix Analytics can help understand your current baseline. Including important metrics like how many site visitors you are getting, where they are coming from and what parts of your website visitors are interacting with the most. With this information, you can set specific goals for growth and then decide which monetization methods you want to include as a part of your overall marketing strategy.
02. Create sponsored posts
Sponsored posts can be a lucrative way to make money from your website. To create sponsored posts, you partner with a brand or business to promote their products or services. Sponsored posts on a website can take the form of product reviews, sales announcements, product launches or special offers. Sponsored posts can be a win for everyone involved: you get paid to promote brands you’re passionate about, your audience gets insider tips from you—a trusted source and your sponsor gets an inroad to your website's targeted audience. If sponsored posts are not done with tact and transparency however, you risk losing credibility. Be selective in partnering with brands whose values closely align with your own. You’ll also want to make sure and strike a balance between sponsored and organic content so you don’t oversaturate your audience.
03. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing can enable you to generate passive income from your website. Once affiliate links are set on your site there is little upkeep required, and you earn a commission for each sale or lead generated through your unique link. Affiliate marketing can be direct, where you actively promote a product through a product review, blog or post. It can also be indirect, where you more subtly integrate your affiliate link into your content or on banners on your site. The key to successful affiliate marketing is partnering with the right companies and choosing products to promote that are attractive to your audience.
04. PPC advertising and promotion
PPC (Pay-Per-Click) ads and paid promotions can help you make money from your website by leveraging the power of targeted advertising. Platforms like Google AdSense make it easy to get started with PPC ads, automatically placing ads on your site that match your site's content and audience. PPC ads offer you a commission per a certain number of clicks. By strategically incorporating PPC ads and paid promotions into your website monetization plan, you can generate a reliable stream of passive income that provides value to your audience and advertisers alike.
05. Build email lists
Email marketing remains one of the most cost-efficient forms of online marketing, and can help you make money from your site in many ways. With a strong email list you can directly engage customers and boost sales. Further, you can use email to send coupons, affiliate links and sponsored content. Setting up email automations, such as abandoned cart and back-in-stock notifications can also help you generate revenue by saving sales that might otherwise have been lost. Once you have a robust email list, third party companies may pay you for access to the list. So—start early. You can collect emails through newsletter sign-ups, membership forms, your blog and via link through any kind of messaging you send to your site visitors.
06. Sell products or services
Selling products or services can be a great way to make money from your site—and may be simpler than you think. Even if eCommerce isn’t your primary focus, incorporating an online store to your site can create a revenue stream, increase your brand presence and even help with SEO. If you’re interested in selling physical products, print-on-demand and dropshipping (which we’ll dive into later in the blog) can eliminate the hassle and costs behind inventory and shipping. Selling digital products like instructional videos, PDF’s, online courses or consulting services are also a strong strategy for website monetization. Website builders like Wix offer a suite of comprehensive eCommerce features s that can help sell online with a low-cost investment upfront.
07. Implement banner ads
By strategically placing banner ads on your site, you can capture your audience's attention and encourage them to click through to the advertiser's website. To maximize your earning potential, consider partnering with ad networks or directly with advertisers who offer products or services that align with your website's audience. Experiment with different banner ad sizes, formats and placements to find the combination that drives the highest click-through rates without compromising your user experience.
08. Coupons with affiliate links
Coupons with affiliate links allow you offer your audience exclusive discounts to brands that you’ve partnered with. Affiliate link discounts offer you two-fold value; you earn commission from any purchases made through your link, and you’re strengthening the stickiness of your brand by offering additional value to customers. Credit card companies often employ a similar strategy; by owning a specific credit card customers often gain access to special deals on travel, hotels and restaurants, which ultimately increases customer loyalty to the credit card. To maximize the effectiveness of this strategy, choose affiliate programs that align with your niche, and make sure your marketing content showcases the value of the discounts you’re offering. You can promote your affiliate coupons through blog posts, email newsletters and social media to help you drive sales and gain revenue for your site.
09. Launch a podcast
Tapping into the growing popularity of audio content can be an effective way to make money from your site. By creating engaging and informative episodes you can attract a dedicated audience. As your podcast gains traction, you can use it as a vehicle for various monetization strategies, such as sponsorships, affiliate marketing or as a part of premium content for subscribers. By consistently delivering high-quality content and building a loyal audience, your podcast can become a significant driver of traffic and revenue for your website.
10. Create premium content for members only
Offering members-only content can help you increase customer loyalty and can create a predictable, recurrent revenue stream for your site. Keeping premium content behind a paywall can increase its perceived value. Premium content can take many forms depending on what your website offers. For an eCommerce store, members might gain early access to product drops, promotions or exclusive offers. If you're running a blog - you may restrict your most in-demand or freshest content for members.
11. Generate courses and webinars
The internet has leveled the playing field for people who want to learn, and offering paid courses or webinars can be a flexible and scalable way to make money from your website . Offering webinars can help establish you as a credible authority and provide an engaging, interactive platform for you to share your expertise with a global audience. By creating content that addresses your audience's pain points and offers actionable solutions, you can attract customers who are willing to invest in their education. You can host live sessions that allow for real-time interaction and Q&A, or create pre-recorded webinars that can be accessed on-demand. Additionally, webinars can serve as a powerful lead generation tool, helping you to build an email list of engaged prospects.
12. Start a blog
Starting a blog can be a powerful way to make money from your website. By creating consistent, high-quality content that resonates with your target audience you can attract a following of readers who trust your opinions and recommendations. This trust is the foundation of successful blog monetization, as it allows you to promote products, services or affiliate offers that genuinely benefit your audience. A successful blog also opens the door to opportunities for sponsored content and partnerships.
13. Optimize for SEO
Investing in SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, can help you to improve your site's visibility, organic traffic and ultimately revenue potential. By optimizing your website and content for relevant keywords and phrases, you can attract targeted visitors who are actively searching for what you offer. This increased traffic leads to higher-quality leads, enhanced credibility and more opportunities for conversion. SEO is a cost-effective, long-term strategy that complements other monetization methods, such as affiliate marketing or sponsored content. To leverage SEO for monetization, focus on creating high-quality content that targets relevant keywords, optimize your site's structure and web indexing and build high-quality backlinks.
14. Dropshipping
Dropshipping can help you make money for your website by enabling you to sell products without the need for inventory. By partnering with a dropshipping supplier, you can sell products directly to your audience, while the supplier handles the storage, packaging and shipping of the items. When a customer makes a purchase through your website, you simply forward the order details to your supplier, who then ships the product directly to the customer. You earn a profit on the difference between the retail price you set and the wholesale price charged by the supplier. Dropshipping allows you to offer a wide range of products to your audience without the risk and overhead of traditional inventory management, making it an attractive option if you’re looking to get started with e-commerce or expand how you make money with your website.
15. Sell ad space on your website
Selling ad space on your website can be a lucrative way to make money from your online presence and generate a steady stream of income. By offering advertisers the opportunity to reach your targeted audience, you can create a mutually beneficial partnership that provides value for both parties. Start by identifying the ad formats that best suit your website's layout and user experience, such as banner ads, native ads, or sponsored content. Set competitive pricing for your ad space based on factors like your website's traffic and audience demographics. Reach out to potential advertisers who align with your brand values and whose products or services would be of interest to your audience. As you build relationships with advertisers and demonstrate the effectiveness of your ad placements, you can expand your inventory and increase your revenue potential.
16. Flip your website
A successful website is a valuable asset. Domain flipping is the practice of fixing up websites, then selling them off for a profit. Building a website from the ground up is one way to get your start domain flipping, but with practice you can also learn to strategically acquire underperforming websites and then use your skills to revamp and optimize them for success. This may include fixes to the website user interface, website layout and SEO. This might also include incorporating monetization methods we covered in this article, like adding a blog, premium content and ads. To maximize your earnings, focus on building a portfolio of successfully flipped websites that demonstrate your ability to create value. As you gain experience and refine your process, you can scale your website flipping business and establish yourself as a sought-after expert in the industry.