Bridge is evolving to keep up with a changing world.
One of the biggest changes is seeing bridge move online.
While most players and clubs have taken to the change well, there are many others who are still struggling to adapt.
There’s no reason bridge clubs should lose their income stream when they shift online. There are plenty of ways in which clubs can ensure they’re as strong as ever when it comes to both their membership and their finances.
Here’s how to monetize your online bridge club.
Membership Fees – As Always
Lockdowns related to COVID-19 might have caused a few delays and cancellations, but it hasn’t brought the game of bridge to a standstill.
Games and tournaments are still continuing, and clubs still have the same opportunities to build their membership – and charge the same membership fees – with the benefit of a larger potential membership scope thanks to the wonder of the internet.
Move Lessons Online
Playing isn’t the only element that’s moved online.
Thanks to Bridge Base Online, screen-capturing software and additions like Skype, bridge teachers can take their teaching programs online instead.
Amazon is one of the world’s largest e-commerce giants.
Anyone who isn’t taking advantage of their advertising programs while referencing Amazon-sold products in their newsletters or posts, is almost certainly losing out on potential revenue.
It’s not particularly difficult to sign up for Amazon affiliate advertising programs.
It’s also one of the easiest way to monetize your club’s website.
A great deal of bridge websites are built or hosted by WordPress.
Again, advertising opportunities exist for sites that already have a fair amount of traffic going their way. If you’re not as acquainted with tech, ask your site’s webmaster for more information.
Get paid when someone clicks on a sponsored ad: Eventually, it can add up to a decent side-income for your club.
Google is huge.
They also have their own form of advertising program in the form of Google AdSense.
Signing up for Google AdSense involves accepting their Terms and Conditions and filling in some basic information about your site, but it’s not a complex process.
It’s a revenue stream where it’s virtually impossible to lose money: If nobody clicks the ads for a week, nobody loses cash as a result.
Most clubs out there could agree that they could use additional support that goes beyond what their membership fees can cover right now.
Thanks to the internet, there are many donation-based apps and initiatives that allow visitors (and members) to lend a helping hand.
Buy Me A Coffee is just one of these: Setting up an account is free, and users can donate a small amount just by clicking on a button to buy a metaphorical coffee for the account or user.
For anyone who doesn’t want to use the Buy Me A Coffee option, there’s also a direct PayPal Donate button that allows users to donate to your PayPal account.
Introduce E-Books: Lulu
Nearly every bridge club out there has something to say.
Short, user-friendly e-books about bridge are one way to get your message across.
Proper formatting and grammar are a given: For this, there are many freelancers who can do the job, even when you’re working on a budget.
Print-on-demand (or POD) websites such as Lulu.com makes monetizing these e-books possible from there.