Yes, you can make money with your blog, and for free. That’s right! You can set up a blog, sell products, and earn extra income without investing a dime. Here are some ways that even someone with very little web design experience can make extra money with a blog. Economic times are uncertain and many people are looking for ways to earn extra money from home, however most opportunities require a start up fee, or ask that you invest money into the product or company. By establishing a blog, you can use a number of different methods to make money blogging, without investing anything more than your time.

Now don’t get me wrong, time is precious and valuable, but when you invest your time and develop ways to make money with your blog, you’ll find that your investment pays off over a period of time. The time that you invest blogging, will reward you as long as your keep your blog online. So, here’s how to begin making money with your blog.

First, you will need to choose a topic to blog about. It is recommended that you add new content to your blog on a daily basis, so choose a topic that you are passionate about. Also, select a topic that you are very knowledgeable about. If you have a hobby or favorite craft, consider creating a blog on those topics.

There are several free blogging platforms that you can choose from. If you don’t feel comfortable with your level of blogging experience, then I recommend Blogger. By signing up for a blog on Blogger you can easily pick out a template and begin adding content to your blog. Think of a creative name for your blog and choose a distinctive URL or address where your blog will be located.

The Blogger platform makes it simple to run your own blog. One of the first money-making tools you can add to your blog is Google Adsense. Blogger has a Google gadget located within the layout section, and you can easily select the size and colors for your ad. If you don’t have a Google Adsense account, don’t worry. Google owns Blogger so simply follow the instructions on your blog and you will be directed to the Google site where you can establish an account. Blogger will import your settings for you and your ads will run immediately.

When you begin blogging, you’ll find that it won’t take long before you understand the format. By clicking on the layout tab, you’ll have the option of adding a number of different tools or gadgets to your blog. You can find videos from You Tube, add your own pictures, add text in certain areas, even add a poll if you like. One box in particular that you will want to take advantage of is the HTML or JavaScript box. In this box, you can copy and paste HTML code, save it, then place it where you want on the blog. This is where you can maximize the power of affiliate programs. Affiliate programs are free to join and will greatly increase the potential of your blog. Two popular affiliate programs that you should consider signing up with are Clickbooth and Link Share. I have posted their links below. Stay tuned, as I will explain how to make money with your blog for free, using affiliate programs next week. Until then, I highly recommend that you set up a blog on Blogger, open a Google Adsense account, and begin posting.