Many of this website’s readers are bloggers themselves, while some of you may not have a blog yet but have expressed interest in possibly starting one. I frequently get questions from readers asking me how to grow and monetize a blog, so when I saw an opportunity posted on GigCoin to write an article about what I’ve done to monetize in 2011 and what my plans are for the New Year, I thought it would be a good chance to share some of my tips with you. This post is not a collection of every conceivable way to monetize – these are just the things that I am actually doing and have made me money. There are many other ways to bring in income with a website, and different methods and ad networks will work for different sites and audiences. Also, this just covers what I earn with the blog itself, and does not factor in income made through other social media outlets.
Top 3 Earners For 2011
1. Bulk Ad Buys
In my sidebar you will notice a section for advertisements. Companies will buy advertising space on the site in bulk, purchasing slots upfront that last anywhere from one month to one year. They will either get in touch with me directly or I will contact them if I hear of an ad campaign seeking bloggers – I often find these leads via the MomDot VIP Forums, which connects companies to bloggers.
2. CPM Banner Ads
This is a fairly new one for me as I haven’t had much success previously with ad networks that pay via impression or click. However, I recently joined IZEAMedia and I am a fan so far. They offer a set minimum rate per impression, which means that you are guaranteed to make that rate each month; and that rate can go up depending on the advertisers and their budget. And unlike other networks, there aren’t a ton of hoops to jump through, so you can reasonably earn money off it – instead of racking up all of ten cents on an ad network with a $100 payout minimum. 😉
3. Sponsored Posts
Sponsored posts – just like this one that I am writing for GigCoin! – are another great way to bring in revenue. I’ve been a freelance journalist since 1997, and it’s been really fascinating to see the market evolve from me writing for various publications to now essentially owning my own “Magazine” with my blogs. These days, all the content I produce is for my own outlets, which is very exciting. Sponsored posts can take a variety of forms – sometimes, an advertiser will contact me directly and hire me to write an article about their product or service and/or host a giveaway for them. Other times, I will find sponsored post opportunities advertised through a specialized network that connects bloggers to advertisers for the purposes of writing sponsored posts – a sort of job board, if you will. These are the networks which I have used this year:
Additionally, there are many other networks that work to connect bloggers with companies for a wide variety of review, giveaway, and other promotional campaigns, and I have gotten sponsored posts and ad buys from several of those as well. They are as follows:
Some of the above are my referral links for the sites in question. I didn’t get into referral/affiliate marketing in this article as this is the first time I’ve used these links so I can’t vouch for whether or not they will bring in any income. 😉
Business Plan For 2012
In a field as rapidly-evolving as this one, you have to be ready to constantly update your business model and be prepared to embrace new mediums and ditch those that are no longer effective. I can’t speak as to what will become defunct and what new opportunities will arise, other than to say that it’s important to keep your finger on the pulse by continually reading, networking, and paying attention to market trends. For the immediate future, I will continue pursuing the outlets that are currently earning me money and keep my eyes peeled for other worthwhile opportunities.
Readers: How do you monetize your blog, if you have one? What are your plans for 2012?
I haven’t really tried to market my blog but I am interested in learning more! Thanks for sharing.
these are some great tips and starting points! I just started with SocialSpark and am really excited about that one 🙂
I participate in most of those companies you’ve referenced, but I haven’t tried Gigcoin yet, I need to check them out!
Thanks for the tips…I know about most of what you mentioned…my problem is actually getting them to work for me,….That is my goal this year…to take advantage of what is actually out there!
These tips are great!! Thanks!
I need to do more of these things in 2012. Thanks for the great list of ideas and locations
Great tips! Thank you, I’m not familiar with any of these resources! I’m excited to start pursuing them.
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