Blogger Website Course - Part 3: Monetization, Custom Domains, and Advanced Features
In this part of the course, we’ll explore how to monetize your Blogger website, set up a custom domain, and implement advanced features like custom templates, plugins, and performance optimization to take your blog to the next level.
3.1 Monetizing Your Blogger Website
Monetizing your blog allows you to earn revenue through ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and more. Below are several ways to start earning from your Blogger website:
Step 1: Apply for Google AdSense
- Google AdSense is one of the easiest and most effective ways to display ads on your Blogger site. Here’s how to get started:
- Go to Earnings in the left sidebar of Blogger and click Sign up for AdSense.
- Follow the steps to create an AdSense account.
- Once approved, ads will automatically appear on your blog in the available ad spaces.
Step 2: Affiliate Marketing
- Affiliate marketing involves promoting products from other companies and earning a commission on sales made through your unique affiliate links.
- Sign up for affiliate programs (like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or EarnKaro) and promote relevant products in your blog posts.
- Be sure to disclose affiliate links according to your country’s regulations to maintain transparency with your audience.
Step 3: Sponsored Posts
- Brands may approach you to create sponsored posts or reviews of their products in exchange for payment.
- You can also reach out to brands directly or join influencer networks like FameBit or TapInfluence to connect with potential sponsors.
Step 4: Sell Digital Products
- If you have expertise in a particular area, consider creating and selling digital products such as eBooks, courses, or templates through your blog.
- You can integrate payment gateways like PayPal or Gumroad to handle transactions.
3.2 Setting Up a Custom Domain
Using a custom domain for your Blogger site makes it look more professional and easier to remember (e.g., from yourblog.blogspot.com to yourblog.com).
Step 1: Purchase a Domain Name
- First, you’ll need to purchase a domain name from a domain registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains.
- Choose a domain name that reflects your blog’s brand and is easy to type and remember.
Step 2: Connect the Domain to Blogger
- Once you have a domain, follow these steps to connect it to your Blogger site:
- Go to Settings in Blogger and click on Custom Domain.
- Enter your domain name and save.
- Blogger will provide DNS settings that you’ll need to configure with your domain registrar (these include CNAME and A records).
- Log in to your domain registrar account, locate the DNS settings, and enter the details provided by Blogger.
- Wait a few hours for the DNS settings to propagate, and your custom domain should be live.
3.3 Customizing Templates and Layouts
Customizing your blog’s template and layout helps to give it a unique look and feel. Blogger provides a wide range of free and premium templates that you can modify to suit your needs.
Step 1: Using Built-In Blogger Templates
- To change your template, go to Theme in the left sidebar and browse the available themes.
- Once you find a theme you like, click Apply. You can further customize it by adjusting colors, fonts, and layout.
Step 2: Installing Custom Templates
- If you want a more unique design, you can purchase or download a custom Blogger template from sites like ThemeForest, Gooyaabi Templates, or BTemplates.
- Download the template file (usually in .xml format), go to Theme > Backup/Restore, and upload the new template.
- Once uploaded, you can customize the template further using the Theme Designer or by editing the HTML code directly.
3.4 Adding Advanced Features
To further enhance your Blogger site, consider adding the following advanced features:
Step 1: Use Custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- If you have coding knowledge, you can directly edit your blog’s HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to add custom functionality and design elements.
- Go to Theme > Edit HTML to access the code editor, where you can make changes or add custom scripts.
Step 2: Add Comment Plugins
- Blogger’s default commenting system is basic, but you can install more advanced comment plugins like Disqus or Facebook Comments.
- To add a comment plugin, sign up for a service, generate the plugin code, and embed it in your blog by going to Layout and adding an HTML widget.
Step 3: Enable HTTPS
- For security and SEO benefits, enable HTTPS on your Blogger site. HTTPS provides encryption for users accessing your blog.
- Go to Settings > HTTPS Redirect and turn it on to ensure all visitors use the secure version of your site.
3.5 Optimizing Your Blogger Site for Performance
Website performance plays a major role in user experience and SEO. Here’s how to optimize your Blogger website for speed:
Step 1: Compress Images
- Use tools like TinyPNG or CompressJPEG to reduce the size of your images without sacrificing quality. This will improve your page load times.
Step 2: Minify CSS and JavaScript
- Minifying CSS and JavaScript files removes unnecessary spaces, comments, and formatting, reducing the file size and improving load times.
- You can use online tools like Minifier.org to minify your code and then replace the existing CSS/JS files in your blog’s template.
Step 3: Enable Lazy Loading
- Lazy loading delays the loading of images and other media until the user scrolls to them, improving initial page load speed.
- To enable lazy loading, add the
loading="lazy"attribute to your image tags in your blog’s HTML.
Step 4: Monitor Your Site’s Speed
- Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to analyze your site’s performance and get recommendations for improvement.
Conclusion
In Part 3, you’ve learned how to monetize your blog, set up a custom domain, customize templates, add advanced features, and optimize your site for performance. By implementing these strategies, you’ll be able to grow your blog into a professional and revenue-generating website.
