Passive Income
Ideas for Writers Tips and Strategies for
Monetizing Your Words

Why Pursue Passive Income as a Writer?

Creating passive income is an entirely flexible process

You can build it as a side project in addition to client work…

Or you can jump in with both feet and create your own clientless writing business.

Either way, developing your own sources of passive revenue comes with a host of benefits.

• More control over your time: Passive income projects are often more flexible and can be managed on your own schedule, which frees you from the demands of strict client deadlines. As digital copywriter and entrepreneur Nick Usborne has stated, “With passive income, I can walk away from my desk for a day, a week, or even several weeks without it making any significant difference to how much money my website makes. This is passive And it’s wonderful.”
• Diversified income streams: By developing multiple sources of passive income, you can reduce financial risk and create a stable stream of revenue that isn't reliant on one source.
• Incredible training ground: Building a passive income business lets you practice writing, marketing, and a host of other skills you can apply to client work if you so choose.
• Creative freedom: Passive revenue projects give you the opportunity to explore your own ideas and passions without limitations or constraints from clients.
• No self-marketing: Once your passive income system is in place, you don't have to spend time and energy constantly promoting yourself to potential clients. Your products will sell themselves.
• Proof of expertise: Whatever passive income project you launch, it’s a living example of your skills and knowledge as a writer. You can use it as a writing sample and share it with potential clients.
• You're building an asset: With passive income, you're creating long-term assets such as a website, e-books, online courses, or other digital products — which will hold value and can generate revenue for years to come.

Step 1: Build Your Platform and Start Building Your Audience

Your passive income business will need to be built on some kind of platform, such as a website, blog, or social media channel, for example.

This doesn’t need to be difficult or overly technical. You’ll just need some kind of home base for your business.

You can choose from many different types of platforms, and this section will detail the most common ones and how you can get started with each one.

1. Money-Making Websites

A Money-Making Website is simply an informational website on a topic you’re interested in. It's designed to attract web visitors who are searching the internet for information on the same topic.

And once they arrive at your site, you provide them with the answers they’re looking for — and you can make money from their visits through things like ads and affiliate links. We'll discuss possible types of passive revenue streams like that in the next section, but if you choose to start a Money-Making Website, your first step will be to set up and launch your site.

This is actually a very straightforward process that doesn't require a lot of technical know-how.

You can launch your site on an all-in-one platform like Squarespace or Wix, who provide everything you'll need to easily host and build your site. Or if you have some background in website design, or get the help of a professional designer, you can use more customizable platforms like WordPress.

Either option will allow you to create an attractive and effective Money-Making Website. And once it's set up, all you'll need to do next is write!

Your new site will need an ongoing supply of useful, engaging content. But that's the easy part… as a writer, you have all the skills you'll need to create amazing content for your site — especially about a topic you’re passionate about. And AI tools can help speed up the process considerably.

Over time, as you add more and more quality pages to your site, you’ll attract more visitors. And the more visitors you get, the more money you’ll have the opportunity to make.

Digital copywriting expert Nick Usborne discusses exactly how Money-Making Websites work in his free webinar The #1 Way to Bring in Passive Income as a Writer.

And if you're ready to learn all the steps to building, launching, and profiting from your own Money-Making Website directly from Nick Usborne himself, check out his program How to Build, Write, and Grow Your Own Money-Making Websites.

2. Blogs

Blogs are another popular platform for building a passive income.

They are a type of Money-Making Website, but Money-Making Websites in general can take a variety of forms and may or may not include a blog.

For example, Nick Usborne's Coffee Detective site does not actually have a blog. Instead, the site is primarily composed of informational web pages.

Whereas, a blog will naturally center around its blog posts, like The Work at Home Woman.

Your main focus when running a blog will be on writing and publishing regular blog posts on your chosen topic.

Now, you may be wondering… what topic should you choose?

That's one of the best parts of a blog or any Money-Making Website — it can be about anything you want!

Writers have built successful blogs about everything from gardening, to sharing financial advice, to parenting tips.

With some consistent, focused effort, you can build a profitable blog about whatever lights you up. And if you're excited about it, there's a good chance other people will be too.

Blogs are also an exceptional training ground to learn both writing and marketing skills.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)… social media strategy… user experience… lead generation… and many other elements may all play into your blog over time.

As you gain experience and competency in all these different areas, you can start offering them to your writing clients as additional services if you choose.

We explore all the different benefits of running a blog in our free webinar 3 Ways to Make Money Blogging as a Freelance Writer.

You might also want to have a look at How to Write Blogs for Yourself and for Clients: A Step-by-Step Guide to Blogging Success, where we’ve compiled everything you need to know to become a successful blogger and blog-writing expert.

3. Email-Based Businesses

Essentially, an email-based business involves writing and sending regular emails about a specific topic to people who have opted-in to your list.

Each email should contain helpful information, but you can also market your own products or other companies’ products through your emails.

If you don't like the idea of running a website, this is an excellent "low-tech" alternative.

We would recommend subscribing to an email marketing service that allows you to track email open rates and other basic metrics, such as Mailchimp or Constant Contact. But that's the only "tech" you'll need for an email-based business.

You may also want to have a website or social media pages to help build your email list. However, they aren’t necessary.

A variety of other methods can also be used to build your email list, such as networking, guest posting on other people's websites, appearing on podcasts, or paid advertising.

Other than growing your email list over time, your main task will be to write daily emails to that list.

By consistently sharing valuable content, you can build and maintain a loyal audience eager to engage with your emails.

And as your email list grows, so do your opportunities for monetization — making email-based businesses a highly flexible and scalable model for generating passive income.

For more details, email marketing expert Ben Settle walks you through exactly how to launch and build a successful email-based business in his self-study program The 10-Minute Workday.

4. Social Media Channels

Social media is another great platform for building a passive income. Similar to email-based businesses, you can use various methods to grow your following and then monetize that audience through a variety of ways.

Please note that AWAI would not recommend relying exclusively on social media for your passive income business. Here’s why: Social platforms are essentially out of your control because they're owned by private companies — which makes them unreliable in the long-term. At any time, and even without warning, a social media network can change their algorithm or rules and have a negative impact on your efforts.

For this reason, we strongly recommend building either a website or email list as well as a social media presence because these are assets you own and control. However, social media is still an excellent way to promote your website or grow your email list.

You may choose to focus on one specific social media platform, or diversify across multiple platforms depending on your target audience and niche.

And don't rule out video-based platforms like YouTube or TikTok. As a writer, you can easily learn how to write video scripts to create engaging social posts. If you don't want to produce the videos yourself, you can hire a professional to do this or use an AI-based video software.

To learn more about how to use social media to build a passive income, check out our free webinar Making Money Writing for Social Media.

Or you can explore our in-depth program How to Make Money as a Social Media Marketing Expert.

Step 2: Develop Products to Monetize

Once you’ve built your platform and established an initial audience, you’re ready to start monetizing your clientless writing business.

To generate passive income, you’ll need to decide what your first product is going to be and then what additional products you’ll add to your offerings in the future.

This may shift and change as you get to know your audience and their needs better over time. But the most common products marketers use for making passive income include online courses, newsletters, membership programs, and e-books.

1. Online Courses

Online courses are educational programs delivered via the internet. Their core content usually consists of self-study materials that learners can go through at their own pace. However, some online courses may include live sessions, social media groups, or other elements.

A course typically relates to the topic of your passive income business. It might help solve a problem your audience is facing, teach them how to do something, or provide other useful and actionable information.

Online courses are a great source of passive revenue because, once created, they require minimal upkeep. And even if you include live sessions or other elements, these will typically be done within the time frame of the course, without any ongoing commitments.

We break down the exact steps to develop a successful online course in The Course Creator’s Playbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building and Selling Courses People Want.

2. Newsletters

A newsletter is a short publication on your niche topic that’s sent regularly to subscribers. A common model is to send a monthly newsletter, but it could also be weekly, every other week, or any other period you feel would work best for your audience.

You may choose to charge a subscription fee for your newsletter. But you can also offer a free newsletter and then monetize it through other means, such as sponsorships, advertising, or promoting affiliate products.

Newsletters can be either print or online, and each type comes with unique advantages.

a) Print Newsletters

Creating and distributing print newsletters provides a tangible and more personalized experience for your readers. It gives your business a physical presence, which can build a stronger connection and sense of credibility with your audience.

Print newsletters also tend to have a higher perceived value, so you can more easily justify charging premium subscription prices.

b) Online Newsletters

On the other hand, online newsletters are more cost-effective and have a broader reach. They can be delivered instantly to subscribers around the world and allow for multimedia content, such as links, videos, and other interactive elements to enhance user experience and engagement.

Online newsletters are also typically delivered through an email marketing platform. This will allow you to track open rates, click-through rates, and other metrics so you can refine and improve your content strategy over time.

The choice between print and online largely depends on your target audience and business goals.

Whichever format you choose, publishing a high-quality, regular newsletter will help you build a loyal subscriber base and generate a reliable stream of passive income.

For more detailed information on how to write attention-grabbing newsletters and create a thriving newsletter business, check out How to Write Engaging E-newsletters: Earn Ongoing Income by Turning Casual Prospects into Devoted Customers.

3. Membership Programs

Membership programs offer exclusive content, resources, and other perks to members for a recurring fee. These programs come in various forms and can be tailored to fit nearly any niche or business model.

Some popular types of membership programs include:

• Content Memberships: Provide access to premium content that isn't available to non-members. This could include articles, videos, tutorials, courses, and other educational materials.
• Community Memberships: Focus on creating a tight-knit, supportive community where members can interact and network with like-minded people. This could be through forums, social media groups, or even live events and webinars.
• Service-Based Memberships: Offer ongoing services to members, such as coaching, consulting, or other professional services. By subscribing, members gain regular access to these services, which might be delivered monthly, bi-monthly, or at another appropriate interval.
• Resource Libraries: A resource library membership grants access to a curated collection of resources, such as templates, tools, software, or other valuable assets. Members can download or use these resources as long as they maintain their subscription.

One of the key advantages of membership programs is the continuity they offer for passive income.

Once a member signs up, they provide a recurring revenue stream for your business that continues as long as that person remains a subscriber. This predictability allows you to plan and invest in your business with greater confidence, knowing you have a reliable income.

Additionally, because members are paying for long-term value, they're more likely to stay subscribed as long as they continue to find your content or services beneficial — which can significantly enhance customer lifetime value.

4. E-books

Most of us are familiar with e-books — they're simply books in digital format that can be read on electronic devices such as computers, tablets, and e-readers.

And e-books are big business…

According to Statista, e-book revenue in the United States alone has reached over $1 billion per year for the past decade.

So there's good reason to jump into e-book publishing as a writer.

E-books can cover any topic imaginable… and once you've written and published an e-book, it can be sold indefinitely to provide a consistent revenue stream.

They can support your business in other ways as well, like establishing your expertise, growing your audience, and promoting other products.

You can publish and sell e-books through a Money-Making Website or blog. Or you can choose to sell your e-books through online stores such as Amazon Kindle, Apple's iBooks, or other digital book platforms.

Whichever marketing platform you choose, selling e-books allows you to reach a global audience without the need for physical inventory or the shipping logistics inherent in selling print books.

For a closer look at how to successfully write and market an e-book, be sure to check out Bob Bly’s Ultimate Guide to E-Book Writing Success. This resource provides valuable insights and practical tips to help you create a compelling e-book your audience will love, and use it to generate a healthy ongoing income.

Step 3: Explore Other Ways to Monetize

When it comes to monetizing your business, you don’t have to limit yourself to just selling your own products.

Instead, you have many different options available to expand your offerings to your audience… and your income potential.

1. Affiliate Programs

Affiliate programs allow you to earn commissions by promoting products or services from other companies that align with your audience's interests and needs.

When you join an affiliate program, you receive a unique tracking link you can share with your audience through your website, blog, emails, or social media channels.

If someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a percentage of the sale — often without any further involvement in the transaction. You don’t need to worry about inventory, shipping, product returns, customer service, or any other logistical details. You’re making money — without being tied to your desk!

You can create content around these products, such as reviews or tutorials, and then let that content attract traffic and generate sales. And once this system is established, your affiliate links can continue to earn money over time as long as they’re kept up-to-date.

Additionally, many affiliate programs offer recurring commissions for subscription-based products, which allows you to earn money each time a subscribed customer renews their membership.

2. Ad Networks and Sponsorships

Ad networks and sponsorships are both excellent ways to generate passive income through your written content.

Ad networks act as intermediaries that connect advertisers with publishers like you. Once you join an ad network, you can display ads on your website, blog, or newsletter, and you’ll earn revenue each time users interact with those ads through impressions, clicks, or conversions.

Google AdSense is a popular example that allows you to place relevant ads on your site, then it will automatically optimize for maximum earnings based on your audience’s interests.

Sponsorships, on the other hand, involve partnering with specific brands or companies that pay you to promote their products or services. This could include sponsored posts, social media mentions, or product reviews.

The key to successful sponsorships is to align with brands that resonate with your audience so you can maintain authenticity and engagement.

Both ad networks and sponsorships can create a steady stream of passive revenue. Once the ads are placed, or the sponsorship agreement is established, you can focus primarily on content creation while income continues to roll in.

3. Joint Ventures and Partnerships

Joint ventures and partnerships involve collaborating with other businesses or individuals on a shared project.

This allows both parties to combine their expertise, audience, and assets to develop products, services, or content that may not be possible independently. By pooling resources, everyone involved can reduce their costs while reaching a broader audience.

Joint ventures typically work on a profit-sharing model, where earnings from your combined efforts are distributed between the partners based on pre-agreed terms.

Partnerships may also include ongoing revenue streams, such as shared subscription services or bundled products that draw from both partners’ customer bases.

Collaborations like these can take many forms, but the power of combining efforts has immense potential to create something truly unique, and profitable.

Ready to Get Started?

Yes, you can do this! As a writer, you already have all the skills you'll need to launch whichever passive income project you choose.

To get started, try writing a list of some of your favorite hobbies and interests, and what you love writing about.

Ask yourself a few key questions to identify the topics that inspire you:

• What do you enjoy doing on the weekends or at the end of the day?
• What do you post about most on social media?
• What do you like to talk about enthusiastically when you get together with friends or family?
• What do you get passionate about every time the subject comes up?

Then maybe consider which of the platforms we've discussed you would most enjoy working with.

Next, you can write some sample blog posts, articles, or emails to learn the process and prepare content to publish on your future platform.

And when you're ready, you can decide on your platform and follow the steps we've outlined in this guide to launch and build your passive income business.

It's really that easy. Don't overthink the process because as a writer, you can do this!

Remember, establishing a passive income may require initial time and effort to set up, but it can completely transform your writing career and your financial future in the best ways possible. You can reap the benefits of your efforts for years to come.

We hope this guide has inspired you to create your own passive income — get started today!