I am wondering how people make money from their blogs.
Mine breaks down as:
What are your methods?
Debt-free Scholar - A growing college finances blog
This is one of the must crucial questions for me, personally, so I glad you asked, Nate.
I am new to blogging (since around Dec 2008) and even newer to monetizing. I've tried out Adsense, Widgetbucks and a few others, but really disliked them all. I haven't made much money thus far (I haven't really pushed the monetizing yet) - probably, like, 15 bucks. I use the following:
- CJ, this is new for me, but I am glad to have some companies I actually REALLY like (such as Illy, Equifax, Tobi) that I can advertise on my blog. There's also a TON of banners to choose from, which I enjoy. I am curious to see how this pans out.
- Amazon Associates. Right now I just have a button linking to my store, but I have driven some revenue when I blog about certain items. I just don't do it often. I hope that around the holidays I can push this further.
That's it for now. The book review idea has really piqued my interest and I think I might be pursuing that more. Along with your question, I would like to know how you all balance respecting your readers (i.e. not slamming them with obvious attempts at monetziing) and making money.
Penny
I don't make any money. I just receive the leftovers from Google AdSense. Let's say a check every other month.
I'm having some dificulty wiht affiliates as it looks like my niche is not the "internet savvy" audience, but I'm willing to push my visitors count a little bit up to go get a sponsor.
I use Adsense and participate in the Amazon affeliate program. I can`t really call any of those money makers - but hope that for a year they will make up at least for the basic costs associated with my blog - hosting and the domain name.
Have had adsense for a couple of years and make peanuts - seriously considering removing it to clean up my blogs look.
Have a couple of small ads that I get product rather than dollars.
Amazon store - zero
Have written an eBook that has been selling OK (more than I expected) We are in the process of writing a second one with a broader appeal.
Next step is to approach direct advertisers - just waiting until my brain can get around to focusing on writing a good pitch.
Good topic
Our Hiking Blog - enjoying the outdoors -trips, gear, food, clothing and fun.
jadecraven
Member
Frank,
I live in Geelong and have been a fan of your blog for some time. I have some monetization ideas if you'd be interested. Feel free to contact me on jade_craven@hotmail.com . I'm desperate to get into multi day hiking but have no idea where to start :)
- Jade
I live in Geelong and have been a fan of your blog for some time. I have some monetization ideas if you'd be interested. Feel free to contact me on xxxx. I'm desperate to get into multi day hiking but have no idea where to start :)
AAAAArgh!! One of our fans lives in the same city and we meet via this Forum........ Will send you an email soon and would love to hear your ideas. I have some ideas to get you multiday hiking so a contra deal sounds the go! p.s. maybe posting your email address here might invite some spam - I have it now, deletion might be a good idea..... Frank
I had AdSense on a personal blog I ran for a year. The blog got about 1000 hits the entire time, mostly because I ran it like a diary and didn't bother advertising it. I made a whole dollar. I'll never get the dollar because they won't pay you unless you make $100+
I tried PayPerPost on the blog too. I'm still using it just to take advantage of my dying site's PR 2. I recommend you stay far, far away from PPP though. It's not good unless the site is kinda random and dying anyway.
Right now, I'm making no money on my Blog, but I've got a plan to make money when and if the blog takes off. I'm charging for Advertising space on the blog, or I will be when anyone wants some. I'm pricing the ad's by formula though. Right now even the premium ads are only $2. It will only take me two months to get food at McDonald's at that rate.
Seriously though, I think private advertising space is going to be what I end up doing in the long run on that site.
Ah - the dream of most bloggers - to make money from their own opinions and rants! I make NO money from my blogs as of today but do intend to start monetizing through eBooks and ads by May.
Our philosophy is a simple formula:
Traffic First (at least 500 uniques a day) - just getting that after 3 months of building
Direct contact with potential advertisers. Started this week 1/1 - got a positive reply on the first and only one.
Start with inexpensive ad spots (currently $10.00 month)
Once all spots are filled replace sponsors that leave with higher paying sponsors until market dictates that we've reached the peak.
There's our strategy.
There is another approach to monetization that involves a more balanced approach combining services (consulting) teaching (training) and products (leverage). It's what I call the Holy Trinity of Blog Religions.
Basically, it boils down to this: Monetization is either active or passive. Most bloggers (no stats to back this up, just my gut) focus initially on the passive route. It's the "build it, write good content and they will come and click on your ads' approach to income generation.
Active monetization requires more effort. Frank mentions writing and selling an eBook. That's leverage and it's a good idea. Many very successful blogs combine the three elements and here's the kicker: You need less readers & less traffic (although who doesn't want more) to accomplish your income goals using the active approach than you do the passive.
BlogAsReligion.com - Blogging sucess without a gazillion readers
Adsense and CJ Implemented Links on blog, Banner Sale, Reviews...
Majorly though it is affiliate marketing from CJ
Blogging Tips - Balkhis
13 ways I promoted my Blog to Success
Smub, I'd be curious to hear more about your experiences with CJ as I have just kicked off with them...
@BruceH Kind of an unrelated question, but how did you get to the 500/day level? I suspect that your subject matter had something to do with it since hockey (and sport in general) is full of fans. But you do need to get people to find out about and share your site. That is the area I'm struggling with right now.
I've got 3 blogs, one is golf related, one is humourous and the 3rd is a "junk drawer". I've got some AdSense, Amazon and CJ ads on the first 2. I've put one Amazon link on the 3rd one where I reviewed a book -- obvious place for a link.
However, I'm not getting enough traffic to make anything happen so far and this is my current focus.
I read @BlogAsReligion's post about the trinity yesterday and I agree that this is the way to go in the long run in many niches, but others need to rely on either paid subscriptions, donations or ad/affiliate revenues. Of my blogs, the first 2 fall into this category. The 3rd is not focused although I've done a lot of Social Media posts lately that I may spin off into a new blog.
Thanks for sharing in this thread, fellow bloggers. The more information we have the better we can do with our blogs whether they're monetized or not.
LW, how much are you networking around the web? I can tell you that when I kicked off my blog I was already established as a "commenter" on Jezebel, which is a women-focused blog owned by Gawker Inc. I only had to drop that I had started a blog once or twice, and I had a flood of traffic. Even participating actively in this forum, which I wasn't even expecting I would do, has pushed up my numbers in the past few days.
It helps to be chatty.
Between that and working on really focusing your content and keywords, it just takes patience/
Question for Nate: How would one go about asking for books to review? How did you get started doing this?
thanx
Hmm gosh this is a hard one. When Google AdSense first started & studiowhiz.com was a community site (not a blog like it is now) I used to make about $120 US a month - now, I'm just blogging, most of my traffic is StumbleUpon - adsense has made me a few bucks lately ($3 or $4).
If your site is niche eg: www.italkmagazine.com which I used to run (it's up for sale btw) I built up some great relationships with iPhone related suppliers and I had cases, goodies, books, etc to review and give away.
One thing I learned very early on is this: Just Ask - the worst they can say is No. If you want something then ask for it. If they don't say NO then you are wining. If they do say NO, well you've lost nothing.
You will need to have decent traffic levels - but if you do then hit up sites for contact details. Eg: most book publishers have a PR or MEDIA contact who you can talk to. They will want to know your target, niche, size, demographics etc. You have to think like "What's in it for them"
You'll find that companies (esp at the moment) are more willing to part with GOODS than CASH. So, leverage that, start a reviews section and review different types of Dog Food, Cat Food, Car Repairs, Supermarkets - what ever is in your niche. start with the things you have at home already, then go after some companies. They'll look at your site, your writing style etc
Don't get hung up on cash - look for other opportunities. Eg: your host, do they do an affiliate program? If you can get 2 or 3 people to sign up to your host, that might cover your years hosting cost. What about other "trade" type senarios?
(hmm maybe I should write some more indepth blog posts like this ey?)
Crazy web nut who blogs on studiowhiz.com and tweets at oo00_Mr_K_00oo
I'll jump into this discussion because I, too, receive many free books to review... I started my lit blog 18 months ago and have found a number of ways to receive free books for review. Eventually, the publishers will find YOU :) I tend to get 1-3 requests a day for free books at this point. You can also put a note on your blog that you are interested in receiving books for review, by the way. Every Wednesday I give away whatever I review, too -- kind of an easy way to attract traffic (and keep the clutter down in my home!). Here are a few sources: http://onlinepublicist.net/ http://harpercollins.com/Members/FirstLook/index.aspx http://www.librarything.com/er/list Also, Barnes and Noble will send you a free book if you agree to discuss it in their forums -- which can be a great way to get traffic to your blog, too! Regarding the original question about monetization... I, too, use AdSense, have Amazon affliate links, and have one advertiser, too. What I've noticed is that patience is the key to making money through links. I was disappointed initially, but am now seeing an increase each month in my revenue.
Kristen
BookClubClassics.com
I'm going to add a cavet to this free book/free software/free ??? for reviews.
I live in New Zealand - it might as well be the end of the frickin' world as far as some publishers are concerned. Sending a book down here from the USA can cost a fortune. I noticed with the latest books I got from one publisher they can from Australia - heaps cheaper.
However, if you are planning on giving these away .. watch your frieght costs, they can quickly destroy any income you do make.
I've always struggled running a blog away from my key audience - USA. It just makes it harder and more expensive to interact in the physical with your audience (through giveaways etc)
Another thing I'm experimenting with on studiowhiz.com is PREMIUM content for $0.99c a fortnight you can get access to bonus content, quick downloads (for my font collections) and PREMIUM only competitions - I'll see how that goes
@ karmazen
I learned how to get review copies by reading a ProBlogger article, http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/02/14/how-to-get-free-books-to-review-on-your-blog/. It is a guest post, and the guy who wrote it has some well-written book reviews on his own blog that I use for examples. Oh, he also has example review copy requests in the article.
@ kgalles
Thanks for all the links. I will check them out.
I noticed that a lot of people were talking about why they removed/disliked Adsense. I entirely agree! I have never used Adsense for a number of reasons.
Hope this helps,
Nate
@ kgalles
Also, Barnes and Noble will send you a free book if you agree to discuss it in their forums -- which can be a great way to get traffic to your blog, too!
Sounds great! How do I sign up?
Hi,
The best way my blog helps me make money is by making it easy for potential customers to sign up for my Publici-Tea™ workshops, Winning Bio Writing Workshops, my line of do-it-yourself information products, and my Rent Nancy's PR Brain by the Hour programs. My blog is set up with an online shopping cart, so folks can browse and buy at their 24/7 convenience. For 2008, these purchases were in the high five figures. Since the blog launched on September 1, 2007, I am encouraged by the progress.
Because there is a category called "new audio files to empower your DIY publicity success" on the blog, I have been invited on a number of occasions to be featured on the radio, interviewed for teleseminars, or invited to give paid speaking engagements. By making it easy for people to listen to my message, they get to know my engaging style and quality of my content at their convenience. This often gets people faster to a "yes" buying decision, while bringing my message to much wider audiences of potential clients I can serve.
I launched Google Adsense a couple of months ago, and that is starting to deliver some rewards, though very modest at this point. I've been reading "The Adsense Code" by Joel Comm to see how to benefit more abundantly from Adsense. He sure does, based on what I read in his best selling book.
I am also giving consideration to posting my affiliate partner links on the home page as a means of driving affiliate income from products I think are just great. The blog already has a section at the top of the horizontal navigation that offers "The N List" -- which is a compilation of products I use and proudly endorse so others can benefit as I have. These advocacy relationships deliver a few dollars each month, but not much to write home about yet. Placing those links on the home page just might make it easier for my readers to find what they need.
So, that is how I make money with my blog so far.
I am always open to new opportunities and suggestions to make my blog better, and I know we'll all learn plenty from Darren by staying with this 31 Day Challenge.
Nate, while I agree on the whole, I think Adsense can really work for a super focused niche blog. It really just depends.
@pennyplastic I've been working at the chatty part of things but I find it difficult at times. I've got a really slow dialup connection which is VERY annoying. Now that spring has arrived I may soon be able to get access to WiFi broadband by putting up an antenna tower on the ridge behind my house. I really hope that this happens soon as I find it seems to get slower every day.
I also have to battle against my tendency as an introvert. I have been making connections through Twitter and by commenting on blogs. Forums are another story. I've been off and on with forums for 2 decades and I find that it is hard to keep up without spending a lot of time. I go in binges on them (kind of like this one 8=)
@Nate -- can you elaborate on your points 1 and 3 about AdSense? I understand points 2 and 4 (especially 4) but it would be interesting to see more background on the reputation issue. Also, is AdSense the only ad service that you would put into this category or would it be all of them in general?
Adsense and affiliates sales...
@LoneWolf
Here is some more explaination:
1. It damages a blog's reputation.
2. It turns away sponsors/direct advertisers.
Hope this helps!
Nate
@Nate - nothing wrong with adsense as long as it's not blasted all over the place. It's a great starting place until moving on to getting some real sponsors.
@LoneWolf - part of our strategy of having 34 writers on one blog meant that I'd immediately have 34 guys linking to our site from their blogs, many of them comment in forums, use facebook/Twitter and talk to their friends about their new Gig. The great part is that they all seem to love being part of the community and any money that we make would just be a bonus.
I also comment a lot, getting linnks on the Yahoo sports blog and a few major newspapers certainly didn't hurt - and I comment on a lot of blogs, participate in a few forums and just keep at it, keep reading and learning (actually bought Darren's book a few months ago).
Thanks @Nate and Bruce for your answers. I'm not sure if AdSense would make me think less of a blog than any other advertising, but it would be interesting to see what others think of that. Would the same thing apply to CJ or Amazon ads that are targetted to the blog's niche?
I've checked out the link you posted (a quick glance so far -- need to read in more depth). It does point out that it could hurt to have AdSense when trying to sell ads, but until I get PR and traffic to make the ads worth looking at, should I keep AdSense around and then phase it out?
I feel like I'm learning so much in this one section of the forum right now. The Challenge itself has been a great learning experience but this forum more than doubles the value for me. Thanks to Darren for setting this up and for all the bloggers out there willing to help.
One thing I just noticed that is a little ironic in the article @Nate referred to above is that of the 10 125x125's that are on the site, 1 is an ad to show us how to make "$108,212 Every Month" using AdSense and the last one is actually an AdSense ad 8=)
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