Do You Make Money Online?
The “making money online” topic is something I have personally shied away from here simply because this isn’t the type of blog that talks about making money.
However, I know some of you out there who do make money online, whether it’s from blogging or some other online venture.
A question I’ve been pondering, but am unable to answer, is how does one make money online and keep the readers in mind?
The linked article does an excellent job of detailing how not to alienate readers, but I’d like to hear it from you if you have a moment.
By the way, the new (and about to be released) Ajax Edit Comments is live here, so feel free to comment and test it out. Please note that any test comments will be later removed.
Lee says...
I make money online, maybe not the big money of some bloggers but I have found that the best way is to promote products or services that I actually use. This way I can personally endorse them. I am not sending readers off to some scam that promises to pay me if they infect my readers computer or if they sign up for some Adsense program that bills them a ridiculous amount every month. Google ads are the exception because it is hard to police all of the advertisements that might come from them. It is in Google’s best interest to keep the bad advertisers off their network.
Sue @ TameBay says...
1) Promote stuff that you personally use. Keep it real.
2) Personally test out your advertisers (e.g. I recently had a very expensive design company both buy advertising on our blog and re-do my eBay Shop for me. I blogged honestly about what that did for my traffic and sales. I think both readers and advertiser were happy. Long-tail, it’s a big traffic draw too.)
3) If you write for a niche, pick niche advertising. Don’t advertise credit cards because they pay will, or whatever Commission Junction says this week’s hot affiliate scheme is. Pick advertisers with relevence to your audience, and preferably those who will produce good adverts and landing pages which actually add to your copy rather than distract from it.
4) Place adverts carefully. Don’t put them in to be disruptive or distracting, instead choose places where readers will naturally pause and wonder what to click on next. End-of-posts and end-of-comments have worked well for us, not just in terms of clickage, but conversion from the clickage too.
Ronald Huereca says...
@Lee,
I’ve contemplated putting Google ads here, but I’ve struggled with where. The only decent place would be above the content, God-forbid.
@Sue,
I really like you’re #1. Believe it or not, the Mimbo Pro affiliate ad we have shown here is already making this site a bit of money (not much, but some). I think it pays dividends that we are promoting a theme we are using.
I also struggle with #4, as I’ve mentioned to Lee. If I were to ad any more advertising to this site, for example, where would I put it? (kind of rhetorical) I like your idea to put it at the end of the post, and may end up doing just that.
Garry Conn says...
These are tricky questions that have actually taken me over a year to figure out myself. There is no real easy way to monetize a blog that caters to regular readers. For one, regular reader traffic tend to acquire what I call, “Ad Blindness” very quickly in reading a particular blog on a regular basis. Displaying things such as Google AdSense or various other forms of advertisements such as product banners and promotions all tend to not do very well as most readers have grown accustom to them and tend to ignore them.
What I have learned in the past is that you basically either create blogs that cater to “one hit wonder” traffic, which can be monetized and do quite well, or you create blogs that cater to “regular reader traffic” that typically do terrible if monetized.
The newest solution that I have been working on is in personal product or service recommendations made on blogs that cater to regular readers. If done properly on a blog where the readership follows and trusts the author, much money can be made. However, you have to be very careful as you don’t want to break the trust you have established among your readership.
Lately, I have been very focused on emailing list building. This allows me a new edge of making money online. By having both a blog and a opt in mailing list, I am able recommend various products and services both in my email letters and then provide a full story or full review on my blog.
All in all, when or if you choose to make money online using your blog, you need to maintain a very high level of trust among your readers and not pitch products for the sake of doing so. Folks that follow your blog trust that you’ll provide them with excellent content, advice, tips and even at times recommended products and services which can make you money.
Simonne says...
Showing AdSense to regular readers is neither good for them, nor for your earnings, because regular readers don’t click on ads. But telling them about products you use and you like can be a successful way of getting paid for your work, while helping regular readers to meet their goals.
CBR Books says...
I run Christian Books Reviewer and the Official Word Project- (OfficialWords.com, and I make virtually nothing from them. But I am a designer too so i guess you could say I do make money online! One thing I have found is that readers don;t want bombarded with ads (although more people clicking on adsense is nice), they just want to interact, enjoy their visit, and leave with a good impression. I think once you can marry quality content and a pleasurable (or successful!) experience, then you have the right to monetise it in some way…Any thoughts anyone?
CBR Books says...
dunno if you got my last post. I have 2 content sites - not really monetised - and people rarely even click on the adsense. Better with quality content, build up trust, and then get referral work, or sell a product once that trust is at a decent level…
Ronald Huereca says...
@CBR,
Looks like you got caught in our spam filter. Sorry about that. Thanks for the feedback.
Acne says...
How do you define money at the first place?I think most of bloggers earn money online but just a matter of little or many.
Chris says...
As I have made my way into the blogging internet business I have asked myself the same question. The research that I have done reveals that if you concentrate on having regular content and you make your postings worthwhile to read, then you will get traffic. What comes with traffic is the potential for your visitors to click on your ads or sign up for whatever your selling. So always blog for the people and the people will make you money. Don’t over do it with ads either. Keep it simple and your readers will appreciate it. Good question.
Ronald Huereca says...
@Chris,
I think I get what you’re saying. Most bloggers I know who make money blogging make it as an indirect means, either via affiliates, consulting, writing gigs, e-books, freelance… rarely through direct ads, although a few have been lucky enough to do so.
dEFTHOMAS says...
Sorry i just wanted to test your “edit” plugin. It rocks
Thx