When I first started working with WordPress 5 years ago the opportunities to monetize a business around WordPress seemed to be limited to a few areas. You could customize themes, create/code themes and create/code plugins. There were a few people out there teaching how to use WordPress, but many of those tutorials were limited to the installation process (the famous 1-Click install with Fantastico) and getting started. Anything beyond that was kind of up to you. Fast forward 5 years and the possibilities for monetizing WordPress and creating a lasting sustainable business with WordPress have grown exponentially. In a way it feels like the possibilities are limitless (yea, yea, I know. I can be a bit of a Pollyanna..). It really comes down to making a choice to step up your game, know what you're good at and connecting with people who need what you have to offer. I know this sounds super simple- and it is. But it's not easy. There is a HUGE difference between simple and easy. The crazy thing is that many things in life are simple, but we just don't want to admit it. Example: If you want to lose weight you just need to eat right and exercise. Simple. Not easy. Or let's take quitting smoking. To quit smoking all you have to do is stop smoking right? It takes more effort to keep smoking than not (you have to buy cigarettes, keep a lighter or matches on you, find somewhere to smoke since most places are smoke free now, deal with everything smelling like smoke, carry gum, etc.). One step to quit smoking, multiple steps to continue smoking. Quitting is simple. Not easy. It took me a few years to figure out how I wanted to monetize my business and I can honestly say that going into year 5 I'm more clear than I have ever been. I chose to pay attention to what I enjoyed doing the most, where I got the best return (on both my time and investment) and where I felt most fulfilled. For me, it's the teaching and training. I'll get more into how I'm monetizing WordPress in a bit, but let's jump into some of the opportunities that are out there for all you WordPress entrepreneurs (or soon to be). 7 Ways you Can Create a Business Around WordPress (that actually make money) 1. Themes - Theme Development (premium themes, free themes) - Theme shop - Theme reviews 2. Plugins - Plugin Development - Plugin shop - Plugin reviews 3. Website Design - Customizing WordPress themes for Clients - Creating custom themes for WordPress Clients - Maintaining and supporting client sites 4. Writing - Paid writing for tutorials /posts - Kindle books 5. Teaching and Training (my favorite) - Create courses - Documentation - FREE guides (yes, these can lead to paid work) - Offline workshops and training - Niche Training (topic) - Audience specific training (ex: WordPress for VA's) 6. SEO - Optimizing Websites - Teaching / training SEO - Creating SEO Products - Done for you SEO 7. Affiliate Marketing / Advertising - Create a 'news' site that you use as an aggregate for WP News and monetize with Affiliate products - Sell ad space on this site - Do both of these on ANY WordPress site (not just a WP News site) [sws_divider_basic] How I'm Monetizing WordPress I wish I could say I did this sooner than I did, but it is what it is. Within the first 6 months of deciding to focus on WordPress I started taking client projects (new WordPress sites). It wasn't too much later that I discovered StudioPress (pre-Genesis themes) and decided to only use those themes for client work. I've always taken client work (and will continue to), but it was when I taught my first Diving Into Genesis class that I knew I'd found my 'sweet spot'. Not only did I enjoy the teaching (it really never feels like work), but I was able to connect with people on a different level. I'm not teaching classes as often as I'd like to, but I'm working on that.  My goal is to teach one paid class a month and continue with free tutorials...