It’s no secret that blogging has made the world very small. With Internet access and a computer, not to mention the technical ease of doing so, you can blog about anything that people would have an interest in, and share that message with billions of people.  If you have been thinking about starting a blog, it is likely you have read success stories of bloggers that make 7 figures a year.

And you are probably wondering how you too, can make money from your blog – the big question for you may be when its okay to start adding monetization to your blogging efforts.  The first question to ask yourself is: Do you wait until you have built a following of loyal readers or monetize your blog from the very beginning?   There are a couple of ways to look at that question.

Monetizing Your Blog From the Beginning

The simplicity of affiliate marketing as an Internet revenue source means you can start making money from your blog the very first day it is published. You can also sell your own products or services, sell advertising or find companies that will pay you to write a sponsored blog post. So why not get started making money from your blog on day one?

If you attempt to monetize your blog from the beginning, your audience knows what to expect. From your very first post they understand there are going to be products and services offered. On the other hand, some web surfers are turned off by advertisements and other efforts for you to get paid in return for your time.

Those types of Netizens prefer to establish a relationship with you first, before they see any monetization attempts. In many niches, developing a loyal following is even more important than trying to make money immediately. In some niches or markets, monetization efforts are rewarded immediately.

Just remember that if you monetize your blog from the beginning, you may be viewed as a business rather than an individual. That may or may not matter to you, depending on your blogging goals.

Building Your Audience First

People who share information to build a platform are the perfect example. Darran Rouse, former teacher and the publisher of Problogger wrote about how to blog with his readers. He shared as he learned and soon became known as an authority on blogging. By building a fan base of people who valued his content before he ever tried to monetize his blog, made it that much easier to convert those fans into customers when he finally decided to offer services and followers. Eventually he created a blog that replaced his income as a teacher (and even surpassed it) allowing him to become a full-time blogger and have more time with his family and freedom to do whatever he wanted.

His audience came to know, like and trust him before he ever asked them to spend a single penny. Making it easier to monetize that blog.

There is a lot to be said for building your audience before you begin monetizing your blog. Knowing your short and long-term goals will help you make that decision and the choice is yours alone to make.  If you do monetize your blog immediately, remember that you need to temper your financial expectations with a brand-new blog or website.