How To Make Money Blogging In Singapore (in 2023)

Thinking of becoming a full-time blogger in 2023? With the right strategies and tools, blogging could be your ticket to financial independence.

All you need to do is to set yourself up with the right resources, create valuable content and consistently work on marketing it — and voila! You’re on your way to becoming a successful blogger.

We’ve interviewed a few of them and have a few handy tips to help you get started.

Our guide takes you through a concrete action plan to get your blog off the ground and monetize it into a profitable business venture. 

How to Start a Blog

You have two options here:  to go with a free blogging platform or set up your own self-hosted blog.

Setting Up a Free Blogging Platform

Certainly not the best choice for serious bloggers, but if you’re just starting and are working on a tight budget, then it may be the way to go.

• Best For: Casual bloggers operating on zero budget and not interested in making money from blogging
• Pros: It’s quick, easy to set up, and has no hosting or domain name cost.
• Cons: You’ll have limited control, customization options, and restricted monetization opportunities. You can’t place ads, use affiliate links, or add a custom URL. Also, the platform retains the right to delete your blog without notice.

Platforms that allow you to create a free blog abound. Examples include WordPress.com, Blogger.com, Tumblr, Medium, and Wix.

Free blogs are also very limiting. You can only customize them to a limited extent. Some even don’t allow you to upload images and videos.

But the biggest drawback is the URL. It will always include the platform’s name, like yourblog.wordpress.com or yourblog.tumblr.com.

Setting Up a Self-Hosted Blog

• Best for: Serious bloggers who want to monetize their blog and brand themselves better by having complete control over their domain name and hosting.
• Pros: You can customize your blog however you like, add custom plugins, and monetize it with affiliate links or ads. Plus, your blog won’t be taken down without warning.
• Cons: It requires a little technical know-how and can cost you money for hosting.

You’ll need to register a domain name (your blog URL) and buy web hosting from companies such as Bluehost, SiteGround, or HostGator.

Then you can install WordPress and customize it with themes, plugins, and other options.

In 2019, we wrote an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide on how to create a self-hosted WordPress blog. Follow the article to set up your blog.

So, Why Choose a Self-hosted Blog?

You must have noticed this is the option we recommend. And here’s why.

• You have complete control over your blog domain name, hosting, and content. 
• You can customize your blog and give it your own unique branding with logos and custom colours.
• You can add plugins to extend your website’s functionalities, like adding forms, scheduling posts, etc.
• Plus, if you’re working with WordPress, you’ll have an insane amount of ready-made templates. In other words, you can import a ready-made website design with a few clicks and set it up quickly.

We suggest you go for something simple and less bloated.

• And last but not least, you can monetize your blog more easily with affiliate links, ads, and more.

How to Choose a Niche

A niche is essentially a topic or category your blog will focus on. Your blog must have a specific theme or topic to stand out from millions of other blogs out there.

So, how do you choose a niche? Here are some tips:

#1. Look at Other Blogs

Look at other successful blogs and see what topics they are covering. Find out what’s missing, the gaps to be filled, and the unique angle you can take. 

For example, if you see that all the other blogs in your niche are focused on tech reviews, you can focus on providing detailed tutorials or a complete buyer’s guide. 

#2. Identify Your Passions and Interests

What kind of topics do you love to discuss and write about? Find those topics, research them thoroughly and make sure that there is an audience for the topic.

#3. Identify Your Knowledge and Expertise

Do you have any special knowledge or expertise that can help others learn? Think about the topics you’re already an expert in and how that expertise can help others. You can blog to share your knowledge and expertise with the rest of the world.

#4. Use Google

What are Google users searching for? Use suggested searches, autocomplete, and People Also Ask boxes to discover new topic ideas. If people are searching for it, it means the topic has an audience.

#5. Search Forums and Q&A Platforms

Another great way to find and validate topic ideas is by searching Q&A platforms like Reddit, Quora, and Yahoo Answers.

Look for the questions people are asking and find answers to them. Then create content that provides a more in-depth answer than already available.

#6. Think about The Different Types of Content Out There

You could write tutorials, how-to guides, Interviews, Reviews, Lists, and more. The options are endless.

And yes, it’s not about what you’re about, but how you’re writing it.

For example, you can write about the same topic as everyone else but from a different angle or perspective.

How to Get People to Read Your Blog

Once you’ve chosen a topic and created some content, it’s time to get people to read your blog. While SEO, social media, and email marketing are great ways to promote your blog, you should also consider:

• Guest posting on other blogs in your niche
• Creating content for other websites and publications 
• Interviewing industry experts
• Networking with other bloggers
• Creating viral content

How to Make Money Blogging

Now that you have a blog that people are reading, it’s time to think about monetizing it. 

How do you make money blogging? Here are some ideas:

#1. Use Affiliate Marketing to Make Money with Your Blog

You’d be surprised at how much you can make with affiliate marketing. You can find products and services related to your niche and link to them in your blog posts.

You’ll earn a commission each time someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase.

Almost all online ecommerce websites have an affiliate program, from Amazon, Apple, and Best Buy to smaller companies like Squarespace, etc.

With every product you recommend, mention, or review, check to see if there’s an affiliate program for it — and if there is, sign up for it. 

You can find a massive list of products to promote from sites like:

• Amazon
• Commission Junction
• ShareASale
• Impact Radius
• Affiliate Window

Once you’ve selected the products to promote, you want to use a plugin such as PrettyLinks to manage the affiliate links.

The plugin allows you to insert links, auto-replace keywords, track link clicks, and more—all in one place.

#2. Make Money with Google AdSense

Google’s AdSense program is another excellent way to make money with your blog. 

All you need to do is sign up for an AdSense account, insert the code into your blog, and start earning.

AdSense works by displaying relevant ads on your blog. 

When people click on the ads, you get paid. You can customize the ads and adjust your settings to target specific readers.

How Google AdSense Works

Google AdSense displays ads related to the topics covered on your blog. 

The more relevant the ad is, the higher it will pay.

Google also considers the visitor’s location and device type to determine which ads to display. 

You get paid every time a reader clicks on your ad. These are called cost-per-click (CPC) ads.

So, What’s CPC?

Cost Per Click (CPC) is an advertising model in which advertisers pay for each click on their ads. 

The advertiser usually sets the CPC amount, and it varies based on the keyword, competition, industry, and other factors.

The more competitive the keyword is, the higher the cost per click.

Google AdSense alternatives, like Media.net and Adsterra, offer higher CPC rates. 

You can also use a combination of different advertising networks to maximize your revenue. 

#3. Use WordPress Advertising Plugin to Sell Ads Directly

Google AdSense isn’t the only way to make money with your blog. You can also sell ad space directly to businesses and individuals. 

WordPress plugins like OIOPublisher and AdSanity make it easy to manage your ad inventory, track performance, and more. 

These plugins also allow you to set up different ad units, such as banners, skyscrapers, and text links.

You can also use the plugin to determine how much you want to charge for each ad unit. Pricing will depend on page views, visitor demographics, and more. 

#4. Make Money by Selling Sponsored Blog Posts

Sponsored blog posts are another great way to monetize your blog. 

By sponsored posts, I mean you get paid to write about someone else’s products or services and publish them on your blog.

You can use platforms like IZEA or TapInfluence to find sponsored blogging opportunities. 

These sites will connect you with brands looking to promote their products and services. 

When you land a deal, all you need to do is write the post and get paid.

Not the best money-maker, but it’s easy to make extra cash.

Before you get started, you want to create a one-page media kit that details your blog metrics, traffic statistics, audience demographic, social media following, engagement, and any other data that you think may be useful to potential sponsors. 

You can even approach companies with this info and negotiate with them for a sponsored deal.

That’s it! These are just some ways you can make money with your blog. 

When publishing sponsored posts, you also want to look at the laws in your region to ensure you’re complying with the disclosure rules. 

For example, in the US, you must clearly state that the post is sponsored, according to the FTC regulations.

#5. Get Paid to Write Reviews

Like sponsored posts, you can also get paid to write reviews. 

Many companies are looking for bloggers and influencers who can write genuine reviews about their products and services. 

You can find these opportunities through content writing sites like Upwork, Fiverr, Textbroker, and other similar websites.

You can also pitch directly to companies you’d like to work with or sign up to influencer networks to get paid for product reviews. 

You can make anywhere from $50 to $500 per review, depending on the company’s budget and the length of your post.

Use websites like PayPerPost to connect with brands and businesses looking for people to write reviews.

#6. Make Money Flipping Websites

You’ve probably heard of Flippa, the website-flipping marketplace. 

It’s a great way to make money with your blog, especially if you have some coding skills.

Not every entrepreneur likes starting from scratch, and many people are willing to pay for a ready-made website.

That is where you come in. Make a few tweaks to your blog and flip it for a profit. 

You can create a series of blogs, populate them with content, then sell them for a reasonable price. 

You’d be surprised how much money people are willing to pay for a ready-made website. 

You can make anywhere from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the quality of your blog.

#7. Make Money Selling Digital Products on Your Blog

You can also make money by selling digital products on your blog. 

These can be eBooks, courses, audio files, videos, software, or anything else. 

You can create the product yourself or outsource someone to do it for you. 

You can then use platforms such as Gumroad, SendOwl, or Selz to sell the products on your blog. 

You keep all the profits, less any fees charged by the e-platform.

Granted, it’s not going to be easy to convince people to buy your stuff, given the tendency for people to assume everything online should be free. But there’s no harm in trying. 

#8. Sell Newsletter Space

Do you have a newsletter that goes out to all your subscribers? 

If yes, consider selling newsletter space to businesses looking to promote their products or services. 

You can sell display ads, sponsored posts in newsletters, and even consulting services.

This monetization strategy works best if you already have a large and engaged subscriber base. 

You can charge businesses for the number of subscribers that will receive their message or based on the number of clicks that the ad will generate. 

You can also offer a newsletter sponsorship package to businesses, which includes several emails and an in-newsletter ad.

You can use Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and others to create newsletters and manage your subscribers. 

And once you have a few clients, you can use services such as BuySellAds to make your job easier.

#9. Get Paid to Write for Blogs

If you have some spare time and don’t mind writing for other blogs, you can use that to make some money on the side.

There are hundreds of blogs out there that hire freelance writers to create content for them. 

You can look for writing jobs on ProBlogger, Freelancer, and Upwork. 

You can also use services such as Textbroker, Hirewriters, Writersaccess, Writersdomain, Zerys, Iwriters, and draft.io to find writing jobs. 

You can make anywhere from $50 to a few hundred dollars for a single blog post, depending on the length and difficulty of the assignment. 

Remember, you need to be a good writer and have excellent research skills to make it as a freelance writer.

#10. Get Employers’ Attention with Your Blog

You can use a blog to promote your business or even land a job. 

You can use your blog to showcase your portfolio and attract new customers if you are self-employed. 

Likewise, if you are job hunting, you can use your blog to demonstrate your expertise and get employers’ attention.

#11. Get Employers’ Attention with Your Blog

You can use a blog to promote your business or even land a job. 

You can use your blog to showcase your portfolio and attract new customers if you are self-employed. 

Likewise, if you are job hunting, you can use your blog to demonstrate your expertise and get employers’ attention. 

You can use your blog as an online portfolio, showcasing your best work and projects.

You can also use it to demonstrate your knowledge in a particular field or showcase your writing skills. 

Regardless of your field, having a blog is a great way to get noticed by potential employers.

#12. Make Money by Upgrading Some of Your Readers to Paid Membership

If you have a blog that is getting lots of traffic, you can make some additional income by offering a paid membership option. 

You can offer exclusive content, access to premium services or products, personalized coaching sessions, and more. 

You can create different membership levels for different prices and even offer discounts for longer-term memberships. 

You can use services like MemberPress or Memberful to create your membership levels and manage payments. 

You can also use services such as Patreon, Substack, and BuyMeACoffee to offer a subscription-based service.  

The paid membership model works best when you have already built an engaged community around your blog. 

And it’s also important to ensure that the content you are offering to your paid members is worth the money they are paying. 

For example, you could charge a monthly fee for exclusive access to podcasts, webinars, or video tutorials.

#13. Create a Private Forum for Your Readers

Having a private forum that only your most loyal readers can join is another excellent way to monetize your blog. 

You can charge a fee for access to the forum or offer it as part of a membership package. 

You can also use the forum to reward your most loyal readers with special privileges, such as discounts on products or services. 

You can use Discourse and Vanilla Forums services to create and manage your private forum. 

These services also make it easy to add features such as threaded conversations, image uploads, and more.

#14. Create a Paid Directory Website

If you have a blog about a particular niche, you can use that to create a paid directory website. 

You can list the best companies, products, and services related to that niche. 

Companies will pay to be listed in the directory, and you can charge a fee for featured listings. 

Examples of popular directories include Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Angie’s List. 

You can use WordPress plugins such as Directory Pro and Business Directory Plugins to create your directory website. 

Generic directories are no longer as popular as they once were, so you should focus on creating a directory that serves a specific niche. 

For example, if your blog is about pet care, you can create a directory of the best pet groomers in your area.

#15. Create an Even Calendar with Paid Submissions

You can use your blog to create an event calendar for your industry or niche. 

This monetization option works even better if you have an entertainment-focused blog. 

You can allow people to submit events for free, but you can also offer a paid submission option with extra features such as featured listings and more visibility. 

You can use services such as Calendy, Planyo, AllEvents, or Eventbrite to manage your event calendar. 

These services make it easy to manage payments and keep track of submissions.

#16. Sell Ebooks and Online Courses

Ebooks are still a popular way to make money, and it’s relatively easy to create one if you have an engaged blog audience. 

You can research and write an ebook about your niche or create a course with video lessons. 

You can use services such as Podia, Teachable, and Thinkific to create and manage your online course. 

You can also use services such as Gumroad, Selz, or SendOwl to sell your ebooks. 

The key is to create content your audience will find valuable and price it in a way that makes it a good deal for them.

#17. Start Your Own Consulting Business

Do you have extensive knowledge about a particular topic? 

If so, you can use your blog as a platform to launch your own consulting business. 

You can use services such as Clarity and Upwork to set up a profile, offer your services, and manage payments. 

It’s simple, just create a page with a form that users can fill out to request more information. 

You can also offer special discounts to your blog readers and use your blog to showcase your services. 

That is a great way to make money while also building your expertise in a particular area.

#18. Accept Donations

Finally, you can consistently accept donations from your readers. 

You’d be surprised how many people are willing to support your content. 

You can use services such as PayPal, Patreon, or Buy Me a Coffee to receive donations and manage payments. 

That is a great way to make money if you don’t want to (or can’t) monetize your blog in any other way.

Some Final Words

You’re not going to make money overnight, but with a bit of hard work and dedication, you can easily turn your blog into a lucrative business.