They paid me $74.70 This Morning Because Someone Clicked My Article Link.
The ways to make money as a writer are surprising.
Pursuing a career in writing can be a tough road. It’s filled with rejections, revisions, and plenty of self-doubts. But when you finally receive that email notification informing you that someone has clicked on your article link, and you get a commission, it feels like all of the efforts were worth it, especially when they pay you for your hard work.
In my case, I received $74.70 from a brand for someone clicking on my article link and subscribing to software I use and write about. And trust me, the feeling is priceless.
How I Did It, Exactly
I share my strategies for making money to inspire others and myself to continue working hard. I enjoy testing processes, finding what works, and sharing them with others.
I consider myself a guide. I want to help people find their path to success.
I feel that if I can help enough people, it’ll make a difference.
And this is how I make money as a writer.
By sharing my strategies and tactics with others, I can make a commission off of what could potentially be life-changing advice.
I’ve seen it change lives.
I remember when I first started my blog. I was so excited to write about all of the things I was passionate about. But I quickly realized that no one was reading my articles.
I didn’t know how to get people to my website or what I could do to make sure they stayed once they were there.
Once I realized that understanding who my audience was on each platform and how tailoring my writing to them would help, things started to improve.
On Youtube, my audience likes visual tutorials and inspiring stories of success. on my SEO Blogs, my audience wants direct answers to questions and specific problems solved. On Medium, writers want to know how to make more money doing what they love, writing.
My audience on Medium also enjoys topics related to money, freelancing, creativity, mindfulness, and productivity.
Good thing, since that’s what I’m all about. We attract who we are.
Success follows when you know your audience and tailor the message to suit them.
So, back to how I made $74.70 this morning.
I wrote about an AI writing tool. I demonstrated how I use it. They clicked the link and took the trial, and in turn, I earned a $74.70 commission when they signed up.
The best part? It’s recurring. I get paid every time their subscription renews.
Steps:
- Identify your audience on the platform you are creating content on.
- Identify a problem
- Find the software that provides that solution
- Sign up for their affiliate program (the best ones offer recurring commissions)
- Include your unique affiliate link in your article
The Medium Partner Program is an Affiliate Model
On Medium, many writers work hard to get a sign-up. When someone sign-ups on Medium as a monthly subscriber, the referring writer receives a commission, this commission renews with each subscriber renewal.
It’s the same as what I did referring this subscriber to an AI writing assistant.
If you can get Medium referrals, you can possibly make much more with your writing, including affiliate links.
In most cases, my affiliate income is generated from my WordPress blogs rather than medium, but you can incorporate it on Medium with caution.
Always include a disclaimer that lets the reader know you are interested in them clicking a link. The FTC has strict guidelines on influencers, and you don’t want to run into any trouble.
When in doubt, add a disclosure statement like this at the top of your post:
“I am an affiliate for products that I recommend. If you purchase those items through my links, I will earn a commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link.”
I did not have to include a link in this article because I linked out to another blog, not directly to an affiliate link. The blog I linked out to displays the affiliate disclaimer. This is a best practice on Medium.
So, if you want to make money as a writer with affiliate links, consider writing about products and services that fit within your niche. Research to see what’s popular and what gets people clicking on links. It may not be easy at first, but you can hone your skills and become quite good with time and practice.
For me, it was a side-hustle that turned into a 6-figure income surpassing my other revenue streams.
Making Money as a Writer
There are many ways to make money as a writer. One way is to sell your writing directly to clients. Another way is to work as a freelance writer for publications. You can also make money by selling e-books or other digital products. You can monetize your writing with display ads and publishing.
And my personal favorite, you can also make money through affiliate commissions. As a writer, you can reach a large audience of potential buyers. You can earn a commission on every sale you generate by promoting products relevant to your niche.
In today’s digital world, there are endless opportunities for writers who are willing to think outside the box and explore new ways to make money. With a bit of creativity and hard work, you can find success as a writer in many different ways.
But it requires a paradigm shift.
Think Like an Entrepreneur
You have to think like an entrepreneur and pursue opportunities that can effectively monetize your writing. If you get stuck in the traditional publishing model of relying on pay-per-word or ads, you could be missing out on a lot of money.
By thinking creatively and focusing on monetization strategies relevant to your niche, you can unlock new opportunities for making money as a writer. And with an entrepreneurial mindset, the possibilities are truly endless.
Getting Paid While You Sleep
If you get paid per word and write the words yourself, not through hired help, you are trading time for money.
This is a traditional way of working that has been around for centuries. However, as a writer, you should take steps to monetize your writing in ways that can make you money even when you are not actively writing.
One way to do this is through affiliate marketing. You can earn commissions on products and services that you promote through affiliate marketing. When someone clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.
This is a great way to make money while you sleep because you can continue to earn commissions on sales that occur long after you have written the original article or blog post.
I woke up this morning to several “You have earned” e-mails, which is an excellent way to wake up.
Yes, I’ll have $490 with my coffee, please. :)
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