How to Make Money on WordPress: 32 Money Making Tips

Did you know that WordPress, the popular website platform, has the potential to help you make money? With over 40% of the web powered by WordPress, it’s not just a blogging tool anymore – it’s a chance to find success. The digital world is booming, and many entrepreneurs are finding ways to turn their online presence into profit. If you’ve ever wondered how to make money on WordPress, I’ve got some great ideas for you. In this guide, I’ll share 32 proven strategies that have worked for big names like Etsy, TechCrunch, and MasterClass.

Getting to Know WordPress

So, what’s the deal with WordPress, you ask? Well, let me break it down for you. WordPress may sound like some fancy term, but for a lot of folks, it’s the backbone of their online world. It started off in 2003 as a tool for creating blogs, but it’s grown into so much more than that. Now, it’s a super versatile system for managing all kinds of content.

What Sets WordPress Apart

When I launch a WordPress blog, it’s not just about putting my thoughts out there for everyone to see. It’s about more than that – it’s about connecting with others, influencing them, and even making money. That’s the beauty of a blog – it has so much potential. With all the plugins and themes available, I’m not just setting up a simple website. I’m creating a unique brand that can have a huge impact.

What’s great about WordPress is its massive user base. There are so many people using it, which means my blog has the chance to reach a massive audience. As my readership grows, I have more opportunities to make money. I can do things like write sponsored posts, participate in affiliate marketing, and earn ad revenue. With every post I write, I’m one step closer to turning my passion into a profitable business.

Your WordPress Website – The Foundation of Your Online Business

Imagine a WordPress website as your very own online store or virtual office. No matter if you’re selling your own handmade items or providing expert advice, this platform allows you to display your products and services, communicate with customers, and make sales. Don’t just focus on appearances, though. With countless plugins available, you can easily add useful features like online shopping, appointment booking, and customer contact forms. With the right plan, your WordPress website has the potential to generate income for you.

The Many Uses of a WordPress Site

When people mention WordPress, it’s not just about blogs or basic websites. It’s so much more versatile than that. You can use WordPress to create all sorts of online spaces, like forums, membership sites, e-learning platforms, and e-commerce hubs. And the best part is, you can make money from these ventures in different ways. You can charge for memberships, sell digital products, or even provide online courses. The beauty of WordPress lies in its ability to adapt and cater to your unique vision.

How Many Views on WordPress Do I Need to Make Money?

So here’s the million-dollar question (sometimes literally): How many views do you need to start making money from your WordPress site? It’s not as simple as it may seem. The relationship between traffic and revenue is more complicated than a straight line. There are several factors at play that determine how much money your site can bring in.

The Connection between Traffic and Revenue

At first glance, it might seem like the math is straightforward: more views equals more clicks on ads and more income. But it’s not just about the quantity of traffic; the quality of that traffic matters too. For example, having 1,000 engaged readers who are interested in your niche is far more valuable than having 10,000 random visitors who quickly leave your site.

Quality Matters Beyond Numbers

Did you know that companies that prioritize blogging efforts are 13 times more likely to see positive ROI? It’s true! But it’s not just about creating content and getting lots of views. It’s about building a connection with your readers. When you have high engagement rates, people spending more time on your site, and repeat visitors, it shows that they genuinely are interested in what you have to say. And that can lead to more opportunities to make money.

32 Awesome Ways to Make Money on WordPress

Whether you’re running an online store or offering expert advice, there are so many great strategies to make money with WordPress. Let’s dive in and explore 32 of them.

Before we get started, here’s a quick summary:

1. Sell Physical Products in Your Own Online Store

When I use WordPress along with WooCommerce, it’s like having a powerful tool to help me become an e-commerce entrepreneur. Just look at how Etsy started with a simple idea and grew into a platform with millions of shops.

2. Creating a Dropshipping E-commerce store

Instead of dealing with physical inventory, you can connect your WordPress store with suppliers’ products using plugins like AliDropship. This is similar to how Oberlo works, bringing products directly from suppliers into a store.

3. Providing Online Courses

Your knowledge is incredibly valuable. Tools like LearnDash can transform your WordPress website into a complete e-learning platform. Just look at MasterClass—a prime example of the incredible potential of online courses. They’ve partnered with numerous famous experts to offer their knowledge and wisdom.

4. Start Your Very Own WordPress Blog

Whether it’s about travel, fashion, or technology, the world is always eager to hear fresh and unique voices. Just take a look at TechCrunch—they started as simple blogs and grew into influential authorities in their respective fields.

5. Blog Posts with Sponsorships

When you have a lot of people regularly reading your work, companies may reach out to you to promote their products. BuzzFeed is a good example of a site that does this while still sounding like themselves.

6. Make Money as an Affiliate Marketer

If you talk about certain products in your writing, you can earn money by promoting those products and getting a percentage of the sales. Amazon Associates is a popular program that has helped many websites make money.

7. Asking for Donations

If you offer something valuable to your audience, they might be willing to support you. Take Wikipedia, for example. It has a wealth of information and relies heavily on donations to keep running.

8. Creating and Selling WordPress Plugins

Plugins such as Yoast SEO were created to solve practical problems and have grown in popularity, now being used by millions of people.

9. Providing Consultancy Services

Did you know that platforms like WP Booking can turn your website into a happening spot for appointments? It’s pretty cool, right? And speaking of awesome resources, have you heard of Gary Vaynerchuk? He’s a famous entrepreneur who offers expert advice through his website. He’s all about helping businesses grow and succeed.

10. Let’s Talk Webinars

Now, here’s something really neat. You can share your knowledge and expertise in real-time using platforms like Zoom, which can be integrated with WordPress. This means you can have live interactions with your audience, whether it’s for sales or educating customers. Lots of SaaS companies are using webinars to make their mark in the industry.

11. Making Money with Exclusive Content

Did you know that with cool plugins like MemberPress, you can make readers pay to access awesome exclusive content? It’s true! Take The New York Times, for example. They have all sorts of subscription plans, including one that gives you access to their premium articles. How cool is that?

12. Let’s Start a Membership Site!

Imagine creating your very own community or forum where people have to pay a regular fee to be part of it. Just like platforms such as Patreon, where creators offer super cool exclusive content to their subscribers. Awesome, right?

13. Time to Get into Freelance Writing!

You can use your Website to showcase your writing and attract freelance opportunities. Websites like Medium work with writers and pay them based on the number of claps they receive. If you want to know more about making money on Medium, click here.

14. Email Marketing

You can integrate platforms like Mailchimp with WordPress to run targeted campaigns. Companies like HubSpot have used this strategy to the max by offering a variety of inbound marketing services.

15. Renting Ad Space Directly

Did you know that you can skip the middlemen and offer advertising spaces directly on your website? It’s just like how Forbes works with advertisers without any intermediaries. Pretty cool, right?

16. Selling Digital Products

Let me tell you something awesome! With WordPress, you can sell all sorts of digital products, like e-books and digital art. It’s like having your very own online store. Oh, and have you heard of Gumroad? It’s a fantastic platform that allows creators to sell their digital goods. How cool is that?

17. WordPress Theme Development

Are you ready to unleash your creativity and create some awesome website themes for others? Just take a look at companies like Elegant Themes, who have soared to success with their popular Divi theme.

18. Time to Teach

Ever thought about hosting virtual workshops on your own website? With video conferencing tools, you can connect with people all over the world and share your expertise. Take a cue from MasterClass, who brings famous celebrities to teach their classes online.

19. Get Your Voice Out There

Have you heard about the latest trend in online entertainment? Podcasts are becoming incredibly popular, and now you can easily integrate and make money from them on your website with platforms like Podbean and Anchor.

20. Keep Your Website Running Smoothly

Guess what? If you’re a WordPress expert, you can take advantage of your skills by offering website maintenance services. There’s a company called WP Buffs that specializes in giving websites the care they need to stay up and running.

21. Create an Awesome Online Magazine

Did you know that platforms like Issuu can transform your Website into a hub for digital magazines? It’s true! Just like popular magazines such as Vogue and Wired, you can have a thriving online version.

22. Get Interactive with Quizzes and Surveys

Want to engage your audience and earn some money at the same time? You can do both by creating sponsored quizzes and surveys. Look at BuzzFeed, they’ve had incredible success with quizzes!

23. Spread the Word about Your Event

Do you want to advertise and sell tickets for your events, both offline and online, directly from your website? Look no further than Eventbrite’s seamless integration with WordPress. It’s a perfect example of how you can make it happen.

24. Organizing Exciting Contests

Capture the interest of your readers by hosting sponsored product giveaways. With the help of companies like Rafflecopter, you can easily set up and manage these contests right on your WordPress site.

25. Beautiful Stock Photos

If you love taking photos, you can make money by selling them as stock photos. It’s similar to websites like Shutterstock and Getty Images, where people can buy and use your photos for various purposes.

Another way to make money is by creating a directory listing on your website. You can charge businesses to be featured on your site, just like how Yelp or TripAdvisor show local businesses.

You can also create a job board on your site. Businesses can pay to post job listings, and people looking for work can find and apply for jobs through your platform. It’s a win-win for both employers and job seekers.

I’ve got a cool idea for you. How about creating a job board specifically tailored to a particular industry? You can use WP Job Manager to make this happen, just like popular platforms such as Glassdoor.

28. Website Flipping

Here’s a fun and profitable venture you might want to try: design, develop, and sell WordPress websites. Platforms like Flippa have actually turned this into a full-fledged business model.

29. Providing SEO Services

I’ve got an awesome idea for you. What if I told you that you can boost your website’s visibility and attract more visitors? It’s all about SEO, my friend!

30. Let’s Make Booking a Breeze

In case you run a business where appointments are important, we’ve got a brilliant solution for you! Why not integrate a booking system? Just imagine how much easier it will be for your clients to schedule their visits. Spas and consultancies, in particular, can benefit greatly from this.

31. Get Influential Allies

Let’s talk about how you can make money from your WordPress website. One awesome way is by partnering with influencers to promote your content or products. Platforms like AspireIQ make it easy to connect with influencers and collaborate with them.

32. Subscription Boxes

Another cool money-making idea is to offer subscription boxes filled with curated items. Birchbox is a company that has done this really well and found success.

How to Make Money from Ads on WordPress

Advertising is a classic and effective way to monetize your website. With WordPress, you have various ad networks to choose from, but one that stands out is Google AdSense.

1. Apply for AdSense: To get started, go to the AdSense website and sign up using your Gmail account. Once you’re signed up, you’ll need to provide details about your website and wait for approval.
2. Add Ad Codes: When your website is approved, you will receive codes for ads that you can insert into your WordPress website. You can do this manually, or you can use plugins like Ad Inserter to make it easier.
3. Choose Ad Types and Placements: Google AdSense provides different types of ads, such as display ads and in-article ads. It’s important to choose the right ad formats and place them in visible areas without disrupting the user experience.
4. Make Money: Every time a visitor clicks on one of the ads, you can earn money. The amount you earn depends on how competitive the ad is and how relevant your content is. Even though the earnings per click may seem small, if you have a lot of traffic, they can quickly add up.

I wanted to let you know that besides AdSense, there are other ad networks you can try out for your website, such as Media.net or Infolinks. By exploring different options, you might find the perfect fit for you and your blog. Speaking of monetizing your WordPress blog, Rued Riis has some awesome ideas that you should definitely check out. He shares interesting insights on how to make money with your WordPress site. Don’t miss his video!

Using WordPress Themes to Earn Money

The way your WordPress site looks and how easy it is to use are super important factors for its success. Imagine your website’s theme as the foundation—it sets the vibe, affects user experience, and can even impact your website’s traffic and potential earnings.

• User Experience: A well-designed and appealing theme can make visitors stay on your site for a longer time. And the longer they stay, the higher the chances of them clicking on ads or making a purchase.

I know you want to make the most out of your WordPress website. So, let’s talk about some important things you should keep in mind when choosing a theme.

First, we have Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO helps your website appear higher in search engine results, which means more visitors. Luckily, many premium themes are already SEO-ready. So, when choosing a theme, make sure it’s optimized for SEO. It can really make a difference.

Next, let’s talk about load times. People don’t like waiting, especially when it comes to websites. If your theme is too bulky and slow to load, you’ll lose visitors. And when you lose visitors, you lose potential earnings. So, choose a theme that loads quickly to keep your traffic flowing.

Now, let’s not forget about mobile devices. These days, most people browse the web on their phones. In fact, more than half of global web traffic comes from mobile phones. That’s why it’s crucial to have a mobile-responsive theme. Not only does it provide a better user experience, but it also affects your search engine ranking. Google considers mobile-friendliness when deciding where to place your website in search results. So, choose a theme that looks and works great on mobile devices to increase your visibility.

I hope these tips help you make the most out of your WordPress website. Now, let’s move on to some FAQs about making money on WordPress.

Why is WordPress a Popular Choice for Websites?

I’m sure you’ve heard about WordPress, right? It’s really popular for a bunch of good reasons. First of all, it’s super easy to use, so even if you’re not a tech whiz, you can still create a fantastic website. Plus, there’s this huge collection of plugins and themes you can use to make your site even cooler and more functional. And here’s another cool thing – you can customize your website exactly the way you want it. That’s right, you have all the power to make it uniquely yours. Oh, and did I mention that WordPress is really good when it comes to search engine optimization? That means your site will be easier to find and attract more visitors. And finally, there’s this awesome community of WordPress users who are ready to help you out whenever you have questions or need some advice. It’s like being part of a big family. Pretty cool, huh? Oh, and one more thing – as your online business or blog grows, WordPress can grow with you. It’s totally scalable!

How Can Beginners Make Money with WordPress?

If you’re just starting out with WordPress and want to make some money, there are a couple of really easy ways. One way is through affiliate marketing, where you promote products or services and earn a commission for each sale you generate. It’s a simple way to start making money without needing a lot of technical skills. Another option is placing ads on your site using Google AdSense. You just sign up, put their ads on your website, and whenever someone clicks on those ads, cha-ching! Money in your pocket. As you get more comfortable and get to know your audience better, you can try out other ways to make money, like selling digital products, offering memberships, or creating online courses. The possibilities are endless, my friend! So start exploring and see what works best for you.

How much money can I make from Google AdSense if I have a Self Hosted WordPress site?

The amount of money you can earn from Google AdSense on your Self Hosted WordPress site can vary significantly. Several factors affect your earnings, including the amount of traffic your website gets, the niche of your content, where you place the ads, and the location of your audience. While some websites may only earn a few dollars each month, others that have a lot of traffic and are in a profitable niche can earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars monthly. If you consistently update your content, optimize your ad placements, and drive quality traffic to your site, you can increase your AdSense earnings.

How does having multiple WordPress websites affect my potential to make money online?

When you have multiple WordPress sites, you have more opportunities to make money and explore different topics that interest you. But, it also means more work and the need for careful planning. You have to make sure each site has good content and provides a great experience for users. Tools like ManageWP can simplify the management process.

How can you go from being a blogger for fun to making money with WordPress?

So, you’re thinking about turning your hobby blog into something more? Well, I’ve got some tips to help you make that transition smoothly.

First things first, it’s important to know your audience. Understanding what they want and like will be the foundation of your success. Once you have a clear picture of who they are, you can start thinking about how to make some money from your blog.

There are a few different ways you can do this. You could have ads on your site, where companies pay you to display their stuff. Or you could try affiliate marketing, which means promoting other people’s products and earning a commission for each sale made through your links. Another option is sponsored posts, where companies pay you to write about their products or services. And finally, you could even sell your own products or services directly from your blog.

Consistency is key in this whole process. You need to keep creating great content that your audience loves, and you’ll also want to market your blog to bring in new readers. Social media platforms and other websites can be really useful for this. They can introduce you to new income opportunities and help you reach a wider audience.

Here’s an interesting thing: you don’t have to rely on just WordPress to make money online. There are so many other ways you can do it, including on your phone. For example, you could explore how to make money on Instagram, how to make money on PayPal, or how to make money on Pinterest. There are plenty of options out there, so don’t limit yourself!