... Standpoint. You want to use it to promote your things, things you don't just get a commission on, and things that further your business.
Today, we will discuss making money on your website without advertising and creating a profitable website. And that's weird because many blogs use advertising to generate revenue. I know when I first started, I did. I was using AdSense like crazy. And Text Link Ads was another one. And then there were some weird little networks. But Text Link Ads and AdSense were my two bread and butter platforms before I started selling our products and affiliate marketing.
Not only that, but we're also going to talk about how to find profitable websites for sale! More on that in a minute, though...
How To Make A Profitable Website: 5 Ways To Generate Revenue
1. Product Reviews
Reviewing products is the first way to make a website profitable without ads. I did a lot of this back in my SEO days. We would do product reviews, and rather than get paid for the product reviews, we would get paid as an affiliate.
I would review three or four digital products daily or have writers check these products. Then we got paid whenever somebody read the review and then clicked through and bought the products; we would get paid commission. It worked out well for me. Some of the largest affiliate revenue sites were generating... We were using this model, marketing hacks, net hacks, and some old ones. But we had websites making $20,000 a month just reviewing products for the most part.
The difference is, rather than take a hundred dollars to review the product, we would embed our affiliate link in there, and then somebody would click it and ultimately go through and buy. One of the most significant affiliate opportunities we played with was that Amazon had a wireless carrier. It was like wireless.amazon.com. And they paid a $60 bounty for a while for every new person that you sent signing up for a cell phone. And we were sending four, five, six people a day. This is where I first got my feet wet on product reviews, affiliate marketing, etc. And it was all free traffic. So, that worked out well.
2. Offer Services
The second way to make a website profitable without ads is through services. If you have a business that offers services, it can be freelance writing, video editing, or anything else you can do with a computer. If you can do that service, you can offer it on your website. We encourage our clients to make services to bill for more expensive services. We're looking for a thousand dollars a month that gives you five hours worth of time, that gives our clients, customers five hours a month for a thousand dollars, whatever.
So whenever we're coaching or helping people in that direction, something that is a higher ticket. Because it's just as hard to sell somebody at a thousand dollars a month as it is to sell somebody at a hundred dollars one time. What would you rather have? Would you rather have to sell 30 people your service every month to pay your mortgage? Or would you rather sell three people every couple of months because it's a monthly recurring?
Just think about services in that light. Do something that links up to your business or what you do and links that up with the person, with a buyer, because your blog and website should be where that transaction happens. Your potential, your prospect should come to your website, read a blog post, and then say, "Oh shit, he's got this service. Well, I'll just fill out the contact form or call him on the phone or watch his webinar or download his lead magnet," and you're off and running. Now, you'll need to make sure that the service you're doing is worthwhile.
3. Writing Ebooks or Provide Other Resources
The next thing to make a website profitable is writing eBooks or providing other resources. I already touched on this, but you can create a course if you know something. You can register an ebook. You can write a report. Typically, it works when you offer a product for sale on your website, like a report or six to eight-page information you will give away for free in exchange for somebody's email address. That's typical. If it is a 30, 40, 60, or 100-page ebook, you will charge between $27 and $37 if you sell it on your website.
If you're selling it as a Kindle book, you're going to charge nine bucks or ten bucks or four bucks or whatever because the Amazon marketplace drives everything down. Also, you're splitting some of the money with Amazon, which is one of the reasons why whenever our clients want to sell eBooks, we always try to make sure they're selling it on their website, too.
4. Video Course
Your video course, if you have a video course, and that can be just literally made up of videos like this to make a website profitable, you can put those all in a video course or a screencast where you're recording with ScreenFlow, or you're recording with Camtasia. Those videos can be put together in a video product and sold for anywhere between $97, and we have clients selling their video courses for $2,500 each. Selling these products on your website is a great way to monetize the space. I need to find out the last client or website we built for which we ran ads because all our clients have their stuff to sell.
We have our stuff to sell. So your screen real estate, your website, the banner, the sidebars, the headers, the footers, everywhere in that website is so damned important from a real estate standpoint, you want to use it to promote your things, things that you don't just get a commission on and things that they further your business. So, if you did all the hard work of getting a prospect there, you also want to sell them something. That's the idea.
5. Affiliate Marketing
On the flip side, give affiliate marketing a try. Try affiliate marketing if you don't want to create your products, videos, audio, and other stuff. You can sell all kinds of affiliate products you can get paid a commission on. You don't have to sign up for some weird MLM downline or anything. You can visit a site like ClickBank or Commission Junction cj.com and find a product or multiple products with banner ads.
So, if somebody buys, then you get a commission. For a digital product, you might get a 50% commission or 75% commission; for a physical or more traditional product, you might make a 10% commission.
Amazon has an affiliate program. Amazon also, when somebody clicks your link, you get paid on everything they buy for the next 24 hours, which is also super cool. So, affiliate marketing might work well for your pages to make a website profitable. If you want to avoid selling your products, if you're going to put the time in to write your eBooks to create video courses or coaching programs, or whatever, affiliate marketing might work well. And if you liked this video, make sure to like it, subscribe, and comment wherever you are. If you're on the website, that's awesome.
How To Find Profitable Websites For Sale
After exploring ways to make a website profitable, a logical next step is to consider purchasing already good websites. This can be an efficient strategy for digital marketers and entrepreneurs looking to expand their online presence without starting from scratch. Here’s how to find profitable websites for sale:
Understand Your Niche and Goals
Before you dive into the search, could you define your niche and goals? Are you looking for an e-commerce site, a content-driven blog, or an affiliate marketing platform? I think it's important to understand your target market and the type of website that will cater to your strengths and business model.
Utilize Online Marketplaces
Websites like Flippa, Empire Flippers, and FE International specialize in selling online businesses and websites. These platforms provide a wealth of information, including revenue, traffic details, and the business model of the listed websites. It’s essential to do due diligence on these platforms to ensure the authenticity and profitability of the websites.
Check for Consistent Revenue Streams
Please be sure to look for websites with consistent and diverse revenue streams. A site that relies solely on one income source, like ads or a single affiliate program, might be riskier than one with multiple income channels. Consistent revenue over a period indicates stability and potential for growth.
Analyze Traffic and SEO Metrics
Examine the website’s traffic sources and SEO metrics. Use tools like Google Analytics, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to understand where the traffic comes from and how well the site ranks for its key terms. A website with a solid organic traffic base is typically more sustainable.
Evaluate the Website’s History
Research the history of the website. Look at how long it has been operational, its growth trajectory, and any significant fluctuations in traffic or revenue. This can give insights into the site's stability and potential future performance.
Assess the Level of Maintenance Required
Consider the amount of work needed to maintain or grow the website. Some sites might require ongoing content creation, SEO, or technical upkeep. Ensure that this aligns with your skills and the time you’re willing to invest.
Network with Other Entrepreneurs
Networking with other digital marketers and entrepreneurs can lead to private sales not listed on public marketplaces. Engaging in online community forums and attending industry conferences can open opportunities for finding hidden gems.
Seek Professional Advice
Consulting with a professional broker or a digital marketing expert can be beneficial if you're new to buying websites. They can help you navigate the complexities of evaluating and purchasing a profitable website.
Negotiate and Close the Deal
Once you find a suitable website, negotiate the terms of the sale. Consider hiring a legal professional to ensure that all aspects of the transaction are covered, including the transfer of assets and intellectual property.
By following these steps, you can identify and purchase a profitable website that aligns with your digital marketing goals, potentially accelerating your path to online success.
