Let me say this first… Most of the people who are blogging and monetizing their blog are doing it wrong. All of your online social media activities should be geared towards driving traffic to your Blog (and if you don’t have one, you better do it NOW!). Why a blog and not a website? Well, simply because Google loves them.

Your blog should provide extremely valuable content that your readers and search engines will love. Your readers will bookmark your site, get your RSS feed, or both. And they will keep coming back again and again for more good content. Picture this for a moment: your blog is your home and your blog visitors are your guests.

let me explain…

Let’s say you were at a friend’s party on Friday night and met some interesting people (you hit it off with Dan) and invited him over to your house for a barbecue on Sunday. Now, let’s say you’re a car salesman… hitting people over the head with a sales pitch at your barbecue wouldn’t be cool. Proper manners in social gatherings dictate that you don’t do this for obvious reasons, like they’ll think you’re an idiot and won’t want anything to do with you.

So you make small talk. And what is usually the first question someone asks: “…so what do you do for a living?” or something like that. And you tell them what you do, where you work, etc. Then you continue in your conversations there are other topics of interest.

So a few weeks go by and Dan’s 12-year-old car blows a piston. Do you remember Dan? You two hit it off at his barbecue. They both like to play golf. He has even set a trial date to play a round together. Dan is in desperate need of a new car, and who do you think Dan will contact to help him get one… that’s right… you.

So how do you make money from your blog without trying to make money? Well, you create great content on topics that people care about; then directs them where to go for solutions via text links within the context of the content you’ve provided.

Naturally, you are an affiliate of the solution providers whose links you have included in your posts. People who read your blog post click on your links, buy something (hopefully), and get a commission. Another great way to make money without trying is to give away free stuff. Of course, the free stuff has an upgrade level as an additional sale. (The free stuff still needs to be of good quality.)

This works particularly well with membership sites. You give away a free basic membership. Everyone likes getting free stuff, and I don’t know of anyone who found it offensive. And the best thing about a free membership is that if your referral upgrades to a premium level, you get the initial commission for the initial upgrade and the residual commission from your monthly membership fee on the back end.

Studies have shown that the average subscriber maintains their membership for 3-5 months. So what is financially better for you? Wait… don’t answer; It was a stupid question.

Disguising your offers as content and discreetly mixing them on your blog to earn money is fine, as it is discreet and does not offend anyone. But the ultimate purpose of your blog should be to get your visitors to become your subscribers and grow your email list.

That’s where the real money is.

If you want people to join your email marketing list, you need to give them a reason to do so in the form of a valuable incentive (a gift). Once you have a list, there are all kinds of things you can do with it to make money and grow it more. (Topics for later discussion.)

Let’s recap this “make money without trying” business and wrap up…

The acquaintances you’ve made through your social media efforts (Twitter, Facebook, Squidoo, Hub Pages, etc.) have gotten to know you. You have directed them to your blog where they know and like you; now they are your friends. A level of trust has developed.

You’ve provided incentives for them to join your email marketing list, and they have. Now you can present your email offers in a more traditional way, but scattered within other content emails.

Nobody likes to be exhausted all the time; Provide valuable information and advice and your subscribers will buy from you enough times that you can make a living doing it. Remember, these people are your friends. They trust you. What a trustworthy guard. Give them only what they want or need, what interests them or what can benefit them.

How do you know what that is? Well, the best way to find out is to ask your subscribers what that “thing” is, and then do your best to provide it. You already know that money cannot buy you love, or true friends, or the keys to the gates of Heaven. But it certainly gives you financial freedom, and that’s not what you’re working for. Just don’t step on anyone in your way.