MONETIZING CHRISTIAN CONTENT ONLINE
Ask, Seek, Knock
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7, NIV)
The title above suggests this article is primarily about monetizing Christian content for online marketing. However, it is about so much more–
The core message in this article is about maintaining the sanctity and integrity of our spiritual messages while exploring revenue opportunities.
Affiliate Marketing, web building, blogging, video, AI tools, and all kinds of online opportunities are opening up to the Christian community. The doors are swinging wide open– and it’s time for us to step in, enriching ourselves as we enrich the Kingdom of God on earth.
Did that word enrich catch you off guard? It did me. So, I did a little Word study.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11, NIV)
The above scripture expressed my intentions exactly. No, this is not a prosperity message; nor is it ever going to be about a get rich scheme. TheOnlineChristian is for and about Christians in business, primarily online. Soon, you will understand.
Onward and Upward
I’ve noticed a remarkable shift in the way by which people (notably myself) engage with spiritual content. Not long ago, my sole resource for Bible study and devotional time was entirely physical, i.e. I used the Bible, books, paper, and pen. I rarely watched videos. When I did, a DVD had arrived in my physical mailbox, not on YouTube. Occasionally, I searched Google for scriptural references.
The digital realm, including AI, adds fun new layers to content marketing of all kinds, and certainly no less to spiritual online endeavors. I have done considerable AI testing for future articles, which I will share with you soon, but first I must bring clarity to the larger questions, for myself and for you. You see, I am finding myself in, more or less, uncharted territory.
How shall we as a Christian community, or as a Christian individual, react to the rapidly changing and expanding technological panorama?
It is difficult to keep up, isn’t it? We have access to all types of religious and spiritual guidance all hours of the day from any corner of the globe.
Some would disagree with me, but with physical churches emptying across the globe, we must consider that these new outlets are God sent– and we need to take advantage of them now, sooner than later. Because later could be too late.
The Great Commission of Jesus Christ will reach every corner of the globe, no matter who or what tries to stop it, and now, like every thing else in the digital dimension, with exponential speed.
I’m particularly excited by how quickly this shift is opening doors and reaching new audiences. An online platform can transcend the geographic limitations of traditional congregations and touch lives in far-reaching corners of the Earth. And newer technologies recently brought by AI have made the difficulties of crossing language barriers nearly non-existent.
(The case to be made for, or against, AI is the subject of many upcoming articles. So, stay tuned. )
How Can You Stand Up and Be Counted?
CHRISTIANS ONLINE:
NON-PROFIT, FOR-PROFIT, FREE?
Please allow me to dissect varying ways to monetize, or not, Christian content or other types of online endeavors with Christian intent.
As a Christian, how would you describe your own online goals? Let me know at the bottom of this article.
I find three ways to describe a Christian online business or website with the intent to honor Christ. Lines are quite indistinct and often overlap. For me, they certainly do overlap.
Evangelistic Networks
As I began to research, of course, I found many great, long-standing, and well-known non-profit ministries, some with their own TV networks or online video platforms. We support them with donations. Sometimes they offer books and other products. Most of us have our favorites. You know what I mean.
But this is not my goal. Not yet. YouTube, maybe. Non-profit, no. This is, perhaps, the only space I do not see myself. This means scaling ministry on a grand scale. It will take years. And I am not young. But this is not about me. It’s about you. And if I can help you in even a small way to achieve that goal, it will be my extreme pleasure.
Online Christian Products and Services
I discovered several for-profit websites, who speak about business, who mix ministry with products or services, but apparently, few of these websites exist. And for me, since my life, so far, has always come from a marketing angle (see My Story page), that means there is an unsaturated and overlooked niche out there.
(Aside: In my work here, from time to time, you will see links leading to companies, products, or services whom I represent. If you should ever choose to purchase through my referral links, all costs are the same to you as if you had gone directly to their website. See Policies.)
Christians Working Online in a Secular Industry
Perhaps overlooked are most Christians working within secular business, online (or offline), who are not able to associate with like-thinkers within his/her environment in the work-a-day life. There is church on Sunday, maybe on Tuesday or Wednesday night, but I am speaking about a Christian outlet, like a chat or forum, or at the least, an ethical community (more on this later), focusing on work and the workplace.
The following quote is for you (and me).
The Apostles complained rightly when they said it was not meet they should leave the word of God and serve tables; their vocation was to preach the word. But the person whose vocation it is to prepare the meals beautifully might with equal justice protest: It is not meet for us to leave the service of our tables to preach the word. (Dorothy L. Sayers)
Christians Online May Enfold Any or All Niches
1) You are a Christian who currently works in, or looks to work in, a secular online marketing space. You wish to explore opportunities outside the Christian niche, but you want to understand how to best do that in keeping with your faith and principles.
2) You are a Christian currently serving, or looking to serve, the Christian online community with information, products, or services. Your business is, or will be, in business for profit, as opposed to nonprofit.
3) You want a ministry with one (or more) platforms, reaching out to evangelize a population/s. You may be a non-profit, in some manner receive collections, or you may just want to write for the glory of God for free.
And God bless us, everyone!
You still need to clarify your personal and/or business mission! You need a website that carries your message. And you need training.
To clarify one more point: I am what one might consider a lay person. I have no formal biblical training. However, I study God’s Word with rare exception, every day. And with each reading of the Bible (approaching nine, front to back) I receive new and fresh revelation.
My number one goal is to be a called a friend by Jesus.
WEBSITES EXPRESSING
CHRISTIAN VALUES
Customers hope for honest dealings from all types of business, but from those who express Christian values, they demand it, and are heartbroken when a Christian company or ministry fails them.
Yes, we make mistakes. All the time. And yes, we forgive. Not often enough. But when we begin to monetize spiritual content online, we will come under double scrutiny– and well we should.
Remember: The core message here is to maintain the sanctity and integrity of our spiritual messages while exploring revenue opportunities.
We are certainly not left without help and training. Think about the Bible for a minute as a training manual for doing business, because, if you stick around here long enough, you will discover that, indeed, the Bible is a training manual for doing business.
I maintain Scripture offers more wisdom on the delicate balance between ethics and commerce than any other book, or library of books, written by man. But don’t take my word for it; read for yourself. A few words of advice from Proverbs is barely a start:
Scripture for success in business:
- Proverbs 13:11: “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”
- Proverbs 14:23: “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”
- Proverbs 15:16: “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.”
- Proverbs 16:3: “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”
It is possible to look at successful platforms for insights on respectful monetization, which we will look at in future articles, but for the moment, understand: Someone needs to pay the bills.
What Does the Apostle Paul Say?
Did you know the Apostle Paul was an entrepreneur in the tent making business and that he chose to support himself rather than to solicit donations during his ministry? Here are his words from 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9, NIV:
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
Diversifying Revenue Streams for
Spiritual Content Creators
Culturally, today’s Western society is much like the first-century Greco-Roman world in that the typical unchurched businessperson in the United States simply cannot relate to living off of donations. Because of this, Christian businesspeople are in a great position to minister to other businesspeople in a relevant way in the marketplace. Our needs are met by our own business ventures.
For those called to share faith-based messages, finding ways to financially sustain our work is crucial. And for many of us it’s not just about monetizing a sideline. As we grow, we must secure the necessary resources to expand our reach and impact. It does not take long before we appreciate a personal assistant. And who doesn’t need an accountant?
Ways to Make Money Online
Once you decide how you would like to approach your own personal path, i.e., according to the above discussion, and according to the Holy Spirit’s direction, you will have taken a huge step forward in determining how to proceed.
On any path, whether for profit or not, you will still need many tools to work online– and many, if not all, are free. Entry to online business is so much less costly than brick and mortar, it’s unbelievable (a discussion for another day).
And this is my job, to give you directions and ongoing help.
In upcoming posts, we will study the following in depth. Here is a brief list of online opportunities:
- Freelancing: Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer offer opportunities to do a variety of freelance jobs, such as writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry, and being a virtual assistant.
- Blogging: Starting a blog can be an exciting online venture. You can earn money through advertising, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing.
- Affiliate Marketing: This involves promoting a product or service on your blog or social media platforms and earning a commission when someone buys from your affiliate link.
- Online Tutoring: Websites like Chegg Tutors, Tutor.com, or Skooli can connect you with students who need help in a subject. You can do this job part-time or full-time.
- Selling Products Online: You can start an online shop for products like handmade crafts, vintage items, or even digital products like templates or courses. Websites like Etsy, eBay, or Amazon are great places to start.
- Write your own courses and market them in a variety of ways.
- Stock Photography: If you’re good at photography, you can sell your photos online. Websites like Shutterstock, Getty Images, and Adobe Stock are popular places to sell photos.
- Online Surveys and Reviews: Some websites pay for online surveys or product reviews. Websites like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, or Vindale Research are among them.
- YouTube: If you’re good at creating videos, you can earn money through YouTube advertising and sponsored videos.
- Podcasting: Similar to blogging or YouTube, you can earn money through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and memberships.
- Online Gaming: Instead of just being good at video games, you can earn money by competing in online tournaments, streaming, or testing games. If you’re really good at playing video games and you’re really good at programming, program and sell your own video game. Now there’s a goal! LOL.
This is a short list, but you get the idea. And never forget, while these methods can earn you money online, they require dedication, quality work, and time investment. A quick study of Proverbs will tell you, there is no free lunch.
Building Up One Another the Faith
When I ponder how best to share a message, the advice of Matthew 5:15 comes to mind:
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (Matthew 5:15, NIV)
Like a lamp meant to be seen, our spiritual content should be made visible to those searching for it.
We all have a story. I can’t wait to hear yours and I hope you can relate. We can take an aha moment together. For sure, let me know in the comments below.
I felt a call on my life from a young age– But I never felt called to be a preacher, evangelist, or missionary. It’s only recently that I could even figure out a path; and that is this one, more, or less, as I have spelled out here.
Before I put all the pieces together, for many reasons, I chose online marketing, specifically affiliate marketing. I joined an online marketing community in 2016, which I have come to admire and appreciate. They express and practice a marketing philosophy that exemplifies Luke 6:31: Do to others as you would have them do to you. They call this, pay it forward.
Join the Mission: Build Your Spiritual
Business Hub with Wealthy Affiliate
I believe that your calling to share spiritual insights shouldn’t be restricted by technical hurdles or the lack of a virtual home. WA, our fond acronym for Wealthy Affiliate, offers solutions that harmonize with the essence of spreading faith-based messages to a global audience.
WA stands as a beacon for passionate content creators who want to illuminate the world with hope and wisdom. Its ease of use, community support, and dedication to your growth are unwavering.
The hub feature exemplifies this, allowing you to customize your online presence to reflect the unique virtues and teachings of your faith. You will be awestruck when you see just how much knowledge ChatGPT can extract from the Bible and more amazing, can at times wisely interpret it.
Beyond a simple website, WA’s hub becomes a cornerstone for building an interconnected ministry, through which your digital sermons, articles, and courses can shine forth. It supports the integration of e-commerce, enabling the sales of meaningful merchandise without detracting from the sanctity of your content.
In scripture, we’re encouraged to utilize our gifts for the good of all.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10, NIV)
Building your business hub with WA empowers you to do just that, offering your insights and spiritual guidance while establishing a sustainable model for your online ministry. Take advantage of the constructive interaction between science, technology, and divine inspiration to expand your reach.
With low barriers to entry, business online is at the forefront of the next industrial revolution. I invite you to join me. . .
And WA invites you to start creating today, using a FREE starter account (no credit card required) There really is a lot you can do with this account. And it may be exactly the open door you’ve been praying for. It’s an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others while supporting the mission entrusted to you.
I encourage you to take this step and join the countless creators who have found a home for their passion on WA.
What is the Christian understanding of work?… [It] is that work is not, primarily, a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do. It is, or it should be, the full expression of the worker’s faculties… the medium in which he offers himself to God. (Dorothy L. Sayers, author of Why Work?)