How much time have you spent researching the best ways to monetize your blog?
I can’t tell you the exact number of hours, but there are many that I will never get back and I have some ideas, but I want more. I reached out through HARO to find out how others are monetizing their blog and want to share what I learned…
You can always charge advertising space…
One of the ways bloggers can make money is by selling ad space to other bloggers and small businesses. You can charge other bloggers $10-$20 a month to have a small ad of their blog featured at the top of your website for all of your readers to see.
How much a month you can charge for ad space depends on how large your monthly viewership is. The more readers you have, the higher you can charge. you can even offer to give them exposure on your twitter or Facebook in order to charge for a higher price.
For example when my blog was brand new I charged other bloggers and businesses (24 Hour Locksmith Potomac MD, 24 Hour Locksmith Silver Spring MD and 24 Hour Locksmith Rockville MD) just $20 a month for ad space. With just 3 ads on my blog I made an easy $60.
The amount you can make with selling ad space is endless. All you have to do is to be straight forward about your websites stats and what your terms are for the ads you will host on your website.
~ From Janiera, Local Locksmiths Tips Blog
Affiliate Links
I am an affiliate for numerous online stores like Amazon, Shutterfly, Restaurant.com, PlumDistrict, Groupon, LivingSocial. BigCrumbs and more. So I get paid anytime someone follows my banner ads and makes a purchase. I’m also sure to include my affiliate links in any blog posts that I write that are relevant to those merchants.
~ From Melanie Heywood, Smarty Saver
As author of several books on galley cooking (boats, RV’s, camping) I founded a blog in which I link to products on which commission is paid. Products are hand-chosen by me and I give pro and con reports on them, not just a whitewash. I promote the blog to campers, boaters and to people who are looking for gifts for this specialized audience.
~ From Janet Groene, GalleyShop
Did you know iTunes has an affiliate program?
Bloggers can set up as an affiliate publisher with affiliate programs like Commission Junction or Linkshare. They can then apply to host “pay per order” ads so when their readers click on a link, & then make a purchase, they are paid either a flat fee or a percentage of the order. If bloggers can match their content to suitable ads, they can potentially make unlimited income. i.e a music blog with iTunes or MOG or a business blog with finance tools, loans, stationary etc.
An example is Apple iTunes pay a 5% commission on all sales that originate from your LinkShare affiliate adds. I’ve earned $15.00 this month from simple iTunes links & pasting this ad for Country Music Awards (CMA).
~ From Glenn Richards, Mighty Fleiss Radio
Become a paid, freelance writer
When I first started earning a regular income from my blogging, it was first and foremost as a paid writer on sites other than my own. It has been a lucrative strategy for me.
I’ve also used my blog to sell my writing services, land speaking gigs, sell info products and otherwise earn money. I’d be happy to go more into depth on any of these methods, if you need a source for your article.
~ From ThursdayBram
Have you heard of Skimlinks?
Skimlinks works well for me. Skimlinks adds quick product links that pay either by the click or when a reader makes a purchase. It’s a very passive way to monetize your blog seamlessly with your content. It might only earn a couple of cents for each visitor, but if you have a great readership, it can really pay off.
Another really great thing about the Skimlinks service is that it provides a quick disclosure after every post, so I don’t have to worry about writing it myself.
~ From Erin Callaway, Shop Happens
Look locally for opportunities
Pitch to small business owners for a text link or banner ad. I do this because I know they need the exposure in this economy and can not afford traditional advertising. So it’s a win-win situation. However, this can be hard as many small business owners are not well versed in traditional marketing much less internet marketing.
Share some basics–number of unique visitors, number of repeat visitors, your price vs. what ad costs in local paper or magazine and be ready to show screen shots. Don’t expect to “close the sale” but thank them for their time. Send a thank you email but also send a personalized note card. I’m a big believer in using traditional marketing. It shows I took the time to think of them, similar to a hand signed Christmas card. Who doesn’t smile to receive a personal card in the mailbox amidst bills and junk mail.
On my blog, My Fabulous Florida, the text link you see for Hotels, I charged $10 per month if they paid for entire year. Hence I received payment for $120. This was for the Ritz Carlton in South Beach. Now you might think they’re a big hotel chain. Yes but I was contacted by a marketing company and did not know who the client was. So I knew they did their homework. The graphic banner ads earns me $30 a month.
~ From Christine Michaels
Let me repeat that…look locally!
I think the traditional thought of adding banners or other advertising to your site fails more often than not because in order to make significant money you need to have significant traffic. However, creating a niche site, building traffic and charging advertisers to place their ad can make a nice income.
The best example of this would be to think local and create a site about your area. Maybe it’s a travel site about things to do and see in your city. Maybe it’s more niche than that and it’s the best restaurants in your city or the best hotels.
Blog about them honestly and you’ll build traffic from people interested in that niche. Then sell advertising to the offline businesses in your community for listing their ads. You can often download rate cards from your local newspaper or magazine’s website and use that to determine what you should charge for ads.
~ From Shelly Cone, Owner of Beach Betty Public Relations
A unique idea using video
I have a decade of experience in TV news and won an Emmy award so that gives me a lot of flexibility to use video on my blog. The top three ways I earn money on my blog is through video sponsors, video product reviews and sales of my e-book. Through sponsorships from Atlanta businesses I tape promotional videos on-location that are designed to peak the interest of moms who will want to shop, play or eat there. Location sponsorship rates begin at $400. I also do video product reviews of family-friendly products and charge approximately $150 for the time it takes to shoot, upload and promote the video. The businesses are welcome to use the video for promotional purposes.
~ From Joyce Brewer, MommyTalkShow