A series on blogging would be incomplete without at least a nod in the direction of Monetizing. It’s something most bloggers ask about at some point, it’s something many bloggers are doing right now, and it’s something that some bloggers are doing very well at.

It really is possible to turn your blog into a paid income.

But make no mistake, it will take work. It will be, for all intents and purposes, a job. It’s not fast or easy.

So how do you get from your first post to your first dollar?

It seems when it comes to monetizing your blog, there is only one constant rule:

Traffic first.

You can’t have a successful online income if no one is coming to your blog. You won’t attract sponsors, either. And there are some things you won’t qualify for until your blog is big enough. So first you must build. Use those principles we’ve already talked about for becoming a better blogger, attracting more readers and growing your traffic. Work it diligently. Growth, as always, does not happen overnight. It happens over time, with intentional effort and work.

Let me be honest and say that this is the stage that I am in. Really, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise – it has only been two shorts months since I abandoned my previous blog home of 3 years to find a new home at Classic Housewife. The traffic – it’s growing! But by all accounts, my blog is still a baby. And so, dear readers, for this post I will act as your guide, as I lead you to the advice that I have found most helpful, most promising, from successful bloggers who already make a living by blogging.

When it comes to monetizing, not all roads lead to Rome.

While it is true that there are many ways to make an income by blogging, it is not true that all those ways will work for everyone. What works for you will vary depending on what kind of blog you have, for one thing.

But it is true that there are many roads leading to “Rome” and that at least one of them will *probably* get you there. (If you’ve got the endurance and stamina for the trip and if you stop for directions.)

It is also true that you’re most likely to succeed in earning an income from blogging if you try several options, and get several things going for you. It is the combined effort that will provide a substantial income.

Unless you live in Italy, Rome is really, really far away.

Did I mention that the journey to monetization is going to take a lot of time and effort? If you’re considering turning your blog into a living, you need to sit down and level with yourself. How much time are you willing and/or able to invest? How long are you willing to stick with it without giving up? You also need to set realistic expectations. Don’t set yourself up for failure by starting with high expectations and then quickly burning out.

Once you decide to turn your blog into a career, you’re most likely going to have to try a lot of things, and keep trying. You’ll try some new things, get rid of some old ones. You’ll find what works for you and what doesn’t work for you. Just keep at it, and one by one, you’ll lay those bricks on the road to success.

My husband has been learning about affiliate marketing (one option for online income) for a couple years now. One by one he has tried things that didn’t work, or didn’t work for very long. Each step of the way he has taken what he’s learned and kept moving. For the last six months or so his work has been paying off. His diligence and persistence now provides a steady and rapidly growing paycheck. So you see, dear reader, I may not be in *that happy place* yet, but I know that it does exist. Not only from my husband’s success, but from many other bloggers whom I socialize with online.

It. Can. Happen.

So “they” say you can make money online – who are “they” and what can I learn from them?

Yes my readers, this is the part where I relinquish the teaching to those that are really in the know. For further reading about monetization and online incomes, I suggest the following list of recommended MUST-READ articles. Each from successful bloggers.

• Blogging for Income: Affiliate Sites by Deal Seeking Mom
• Blog Money: The Income Outlook for 2009 at CopyBlogger
• Blogging for Profit, Part 1 by Money Saving Mom – See also: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 (Parts 1-4 are similar to the blogging series we’ve been going through here; parts 5-7 focus on making money with your blog.)
• How to Make Money From Your Blog – Direct Methods at Problogger

So what are your questions? Leave them here in the comments or email them to me at Amber{at}ClassicHousewife{dot}com. I’ll get my answers ready and if I don’t know the answer – I’ll go find it for you.