Discord Bots have been around for quite some time and have become an essential part of the Discord community. We all know that they can help managing our servers. But did you know – you can also make money with a discord bot? Yes you heard that right, discord bot can also be monetized to generate income.
With the right approach and monetization strategy, you can turn your Discord bot into a profitable venture.
So, whether you’re a developer looking to monetize your bot or a business owner seeking to leverage the power of Discord bots, keep reading to learn how to make money with a Discord bot.
How To Create A Discord Bot?
Now that you’re interested in making some money with a Discord bot, let’s get started with the basics – creating a Discord Bot.
Think of your Discord bot as a digital assistant that performs tasks on your behalf, such as moderating your server or providing information to your users.
To create a Discord bot, you need to have a basic understanding of programming. There are several programming languages you can use to create a bot, including JavaScript, Python, and C#. Once you’ve chosen your preferred programming language, it’s time to create a Discord bot application.
The programming language you choose to create your bot will depend on your level of experience and the functionality you want your bot to have. For example, if you want to create a bot that can interact with your users, you might choose JavaScript. If you’re interested in data analysis or machine learning, Python might be a better option.
For this article, I’m going to use JavaScript to create a simple discord bot. But remember, you may choose any programming language you are comfortable with.
1. Setting up a discord bot
In order to set up a discord bot, the first thing you’ll need is a Discord account and a server to test your bot. If you don’t have one, creating them is free.
Next, head to the Discord Developer Portal and log in with your Discord account.
Now, click on “Applications” in the sidebar and then “New Application.” Give your bot a name and create it.
In your newly created application, navigate to the “Bot” tab on the left. Click “Add Bot” and confirm. This generates a token, which is essential for running the bot. Keep this token secure, don’t share it publicly.
That’s all you need to do for setting up a simple discord bot.
2. Coding your discord bot
There are various libraries you can use to code your bot. Here’s an example using JavaScript and the eris library.
First, use a package manager like npm to install eris: npm install eris
Next, create a JavaScript file (e.g., bot.js) and include the following code:
In the provided code, the messageCreate event listens for messages. You can define commands within the if statement based on a prefix (e.g., !). For example:
This makes the bot respond with “Pong!” when someone types “!ping”.
You can run your bot file (e.g., node bot.js) using Node.js. This will start the bot and connect it to Discord.
3. Inviting the Bot
Navigate to the “OAuth2” tab in your Discord application. Under “Scopes,” select “bot” and choose the permissions you want your bot to have (e.g., “Send Messages”). Use the URL generator to create an invite link and invite your bot to your server.
It’s unlikely to directly make money with a simple Discord bot like the one we discussed earlier. However, there are indirect ways that a simple bot can create value that could potentially lead to revenue streams.
Remember, even a simple bot can be a stepping stone to learning more advanced bot development or showcasing your programming abilities. As you gain experience and build a portfolio of bots, you can explore opportunities to monetize your skills.
Discord Bot Ideas To Make Money
Here are some ideas for Discord bots that have the potential to generate income:
- Tiered Feature Access: Offer a base bot with core functionalities for free. Create premium tiers with additional features like advanced moderation tools, custom roles, analytics dashboards, or priority support. Integrate a payment system like Stripe or PayPal to manage subscriptions.
- Exclusive Content Delivery: Design a bot that delivers exclusive content to subscribed users on a Discord server. This could be early access news, premium guides, downloadable resources, or access to private channels for discussions and networking.
- In-game Currency & Marketplace: Develop a bot for a gaming community and create an in-game currency system. Users can purchase this currency to buy virtual items, access premium features within a game-related server, or participate in exclusive events.
- Tip Jar Integration: Integrate services like Streakit or Ko-fi that allow users to tip the bot developer in appreciation for its services or entertainment value. This is a good option for bots that provide fun or informative features.
- Community Management & Tools: Tailor a bot to the needs of a specific niche, like artists, investors, or programmers. The bot could offer features like portfolio management tools, investment tracking tools, code review tools, or access to industry resources. Offer these functionalities through a subscription model or one-time purchase.
- Educational Resources: Create a bot that provides educational content or practice exercises relevant to a particular field. This could involve daily quizzes, interactive lessons, access to exclusive study materials, or connections with mentors/tutors. Offer subscriptions or one-time purchases for access.
- Event Management & Ticketing: Develop a bot that helps communities manage events, sell tickets (through an external service), and send reminders to attendees. This could be useful for esports tournaments, workshops, or online meetups.
- AI-powered Assistant: Create a bot with AI capabilities that can answer user questions, provide summaries of relevant topics, or offer personalized recommendations based on user preferences. This could be particularly valuable in large and active servers.
- Art Generation or Design Tools: If you have programming expertise, consider a bot that allows users to generate creative content using AI or pre-designed templates. This could be for creating memes, social media graphics, or simple illustrations. Offer premium features like additional templates or higher-resolution outputs.
4 Ways To Make Money With A Discord Bot
Now that you know how to create a Discord Bot, let’s dive into the fun part – making money with it! There are several ways you can monetize your bot and generate income.
1. Running Advertisements On The Bot
If you’re looking to monetize your Discord Bot, running advertisements is a popular method.
Discord is a platform that offers a variety of communities and groups, which provides an ideal opportunity for businesses and advertisers to reach their target audience. With the increasing popularity of Discord, there has been a growing interest in advertising on the platform.
Discord allows you to display ads in the form of messages, images, or embeds. You can display ads in your server, or you can partner with other servers to display ads to their users.
When running ads on Discord, it’s important to keep a few best practices in mind. Firstly, you should ensure that the ads are relevant to your users and aligned with your bot’s theme.
Additionally, you should ensure that the ads don’t interfere with the user experience and aren’t too intrusive. You can use a bot that can manage the frequency and placement of ads, so they are not too disruptive.
2. Charging Users For Premium Features
Another way to make money with your Discord Bot is by offering premium features to users for a fee. Premium features are those that offer additional value to users, such as access to exclusive content or advanced functionalities.
To identify premium features, you should first consider what your bot offers and what additional functionalities users may find valuable.
For example, if your bot offers a music streaming service, you can consider offering premium features such as ad-free listening or higher-quality audio. Additionally, you can offer exclusive content such as custom emojis or badges for premium users.
Pricing your premium features appropriately is crucial to attract users while also generating revenue. When determining the price, consider the value you’re offering and how much users are willing to pay.
To monetize premium features, you can use platforms like Patreon or Ko-fi, which allow users to subscribe to access premium features and offer recurring payments. You can also use a payment processing system like PayPal or Stripe to accept one-time payments.
3. Accepting Donations
Another way to monetize your Discord Bot is by accepting donations from users who appreciate the value your bot provides.
Donations are a voluntary form of payment from users who appreciate the value your bot provides. Donations are not mandatory, and you should never pressure your users into donating. Instead, focus on providing value through your bot, and if users appreciate it, they may choose to donate.
When accepting donations, there are some best practices you should follow to ensure you’re providing a positive experience for your users. Firstly, be transparent about how you plan to use the donations.
Let users know what their donations will be used for, whether it’s to support the development of the bot or to cover hosting costs. Also, thank users who donate, and consider offering them exclusive perks or recognition for their contribution.
There are several tools available to help you accept donations for your bot. One option is to use platforms like Patreon or Ko-fi, which allow users to support creators they appreciate through monthly subscriptions or one-time payments. You can also consider adding a donation button on your bot’s website or in its command list.
4. Selling Merchandise
Selling Merchandise on Discord can be a great way to make some extra money with your bot. In this section, we’ll go over the basics of how to sell merchandise on Discord, including what types of products work best and some best practices to keep in mind.
When it comes to selling merchandise on Discord, the key is to offer products that your audience will actually want to buy. This can include things like t-shirts, hats, stickers, and other branded items that feature your bot’s logo or other design elements.
One great way to get started with selling merchandise on Discord is to use a platform like Teespring or Redbubble. These platforms allow you to design your products, set your prices, and handle all the shipping and fulfillment, making it easy to get started even if you don’t have any experience with ecommerce.
In addition to these platforms, you can also use Discord bots to help facilitate the selling process. For example, you can create a bot that allows users to browse and purchase your merchandise directly within Discord, or that sends automated messages to users who express interest in your products.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, creating and running a Discord bot can be a fun and lucrative endeavor if done right. By incorporating the strategies outlined in this post, such as running advertisements, offering premium features, accepting donations, and selling merchandise, you can start making money with your Discord bot.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that building a successful bot takes time, effort, and dedication. With patience and persistence, you can create a bot that not only earns you money but also provides value to its users.
So don’t be afraid to dive in and start exploring the possibilities of making money with a Discord bot today.