Should Monetizing My Blog Scare The Crap Out Of Me

Last updated on July 20th, 2018 at 07:59 am

Perhaps you’re at a point where you hate your job and you’re looking for a way to earn some extra income on the side. The main reason you started your blog is to create a better life for your family. However, you’ve let the fear take control and now you’re wondering should I be “monetizing my blog?”

You’ve been waking up early writing amazing content that is getting shared like crazy. Now you just want to find out if you should start monetizing it, but whenever you think about it, it scares the crap out of you.

If so then you’re in the right place, we’re going to discuss the main reasons that new bloggers are scared to monetize. You’re NOT the only one to struggle with these thoughts. I still find myself struggling with these negative self-beliefs, I’ve just learned how to overcome and just do it.

I want to share some of the common beliefs that new bloggers have. Then I am going to provide you with one of the easiest way to start monetizing your blog so you can get started.

You Rarely Ask For Or Accept Help

Maybe you were brought up in a generation where it was not nice to ask for money. Maybe you were taught that “money is the root of all evil?”

Regardless of what your thoughts are about monetizing your blog, you need to let those go. If you’re providing valuable information to the people who read your blog, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t monetize it.

You’re not going to be pushing your monetization methods down their throat. If your readers want to purchase something from your affiliate links then they will. If not then they’ll purchase from somewhere else.

However, you’re trying to help them make a better life for themselves by providing them with your knowledge and expertise. It’s unfair to them if you don’t give them the option to buy whatever it is you’re selling or offering.

I’m Not An Expert In My Niche

One of the biggest reasons people don’t even attempt to monetize their blog, is they don’t think they know enough. While you may not know everything in your niche, no one does.

Sure you may not know everything about your niche. However, you know enough to help others. Not to mention, you’re willing to do research or and keep investing in your knowledge so you can continue learning in your niche.

You don’t have to know everything. I provide WordPress tutorials for beginners who want to start, grow and monetize their blogs. However, I don’t know anything about PHP or web design for WordPress. If someone asks me a question about that, I would have to point them to someone else.

If you’re looking for some design tips, I’ve found this blog to be extremely helpful.

Don’t be ashamed just because you don’t know your niche inside out. If you can become an expert in a small sub-niche of the overall niche, imagine how profitable your blog can be.

If you’re in the health niche, try carving out a name for yourself in a small sub-niche in the health category. Here’s a great tool that will help you narrow down your niche. If you don’t know what sub-niches are, read this.

I Am Not Good Enough

It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-doubt and start to believe that you’re not good enough. Stop that negative self-talk right now. You are good enough and you can get paid for your words.

However…

Don’t believe for a second that everyone who visits your blog is going to pay you for your amazing content and information. I don’t care how good it is.

I offer my limited WordPress services on my blog and many people would rather visit the WordPress tutorials section to try to figure out how to do things themselves. That’s cool, I understand that most new bloggers need to learn how to do things on their own.

However, when the right person comes along that you can help, they will whip out their wallet and buy from your blog. So it’s up to you to be ready to earn some cash.

It doesn’t matter how great your content is. You can’t help everyone. As long as you know who your target audience is, you’ll feel more at ease knowing that you’re not supposed to help everyone.

You Have A Fear Of Letting Down Others

You tend to go above and beyond to help others. You never write an ebook or create a product because you don’t want to let others down by giving them something they could get online for free.

While it’s true that you want to earn money with your blog, you’re just scared. The purpose of your blog is to help others learn how to do something and help them solve a problem. If you start monetizing does that means that you’re no longer helping your readers.

Absolutely not, you’re still providing great content. Nothing has changed, the only difference is that you’ve created a passive income stream that will pay you whenever someone purchases something from your blog.

I Don’t Know How

Unfortunately, everyone is different and earns money from their blog many different ways. Some people offer services, sell products, implement affiliate marketing and etc…There’s no right or wrong way to make money with a WordPress blog.

What works for one person’s blog may not work for your blog. You’re going to have to start testing different methods to see what your readers resonate with.

Do some research and find out what the best way to learn is. It may take some time, but no one is going to do it for you.

You’re A People Pleaser

You don’t want to upset any of your readers if you start monetizing your blog. You’re afraid as soon as you open your doors and offer services or open up your product shop people are going to stop visiting your blog.

While it is true that you may lose some readers. You can’t let that stop you from trying to make money with your blog.

If you lose your readers because you’re trying to make money from the value you provide, so be it. They’re not loyal followers and they don’t deserve your valuable content.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to please everyone. It won’t ever happen, no matter what you do.

Don’t ever be afraid to monetize for fear of loss. If you’re readership unsubscribes from your email list or your RSS feed, that’s fine. They weren’t the right people for you to help.

You’re Embarrassed

It’s easy to feel some sort of embarrassment when you’re first starting to monetize your blog. People will know that you’re “one of those bloggers who want to make money.”

Maybe they won’t take your advice seriously anymore because you’re just trying to earn a buck. We’ve seen those product reviews where people scream buy this or buy that because they want a huge affiliate payout.

Unfortunately, there will always be those types of people who are just trying to make a quick buck from their blog. This doesn’t mean you have to promote everything you see or jump on the bandwagon with everyone else.

You won’t have to feel embarrassed if you only promote products you use and would recommend. I’ve made it a point to only promote products to my readers that I use or have used in the past and would use again. In fact, take a look at my bloggers resource page to see what products I use to run my blog.

Here’s What To Do

Get over your fear, if you need a little inspiration read this. Just go for it, start small. Start by adding some affiliate links to your blog. Sprinkle them in sparsely throughout your content.

Don’t know which affiliate programs to join. Here’s a great program that you can join today. Go ahead and join right now before that negative self-talk stops you from moving forward.

Start monetizing your content, but don’t overdo it. You don’t want to shove your links down people’s throat. Most of all remember, your knowledgable information deserves to be monetized.

When you do it once, you’ll realize how easy it is. Then you’ll wonder why you ever let your fear stop you from monetizing your blog.

Final Take Away

Don’t ever let your fear stop you from doing anything. You owe it to yourself to monetize your blog. If you’re blogging on a self-hosted blog, then you know it’s NOT free.

There are costs to running a blog and trying to build a business. You can’t build your business for free. So why should you continue providing awesome content that changes people’s lives for free, without trying to monetize it?

Don’t you deserve to make some money from your blog? Others do it what makes you different?

Whenever that self-doubt creeps in and you start thinking “should monetizing my blog scare the crap out of me,” stop and take a couple of deep breaths.

Know that you’re good enough to monetize your blog. Other people have figured out how to make money from their blog, there’s no reason you can’t do it as well.

Hand Picked Articles for You

• Starting A Blog
• How to Grow A Blog
• 11 Myths About Making Money With A blog

Have you put off monetizing your blog because you’re scared? If so let me know know what’s been holding you back. Your comments can help my readers know that they’re not the only ones who are fearful to take their blog to the next level and start monetizing.