This is the last post in our series of tips for bloggers who have gone through their launch phase and want to grow their blog to the next level. In it we’re going to talk making money from your blog.
Making Money From a Blog – Moving Past AdSense
While it is possible to make some money with a blog of any size – your chances of earning income from a blog do generally increase as you increase your readership numbers.
Many bloggers start out monetizing their blogs using ad networks like AdSense. While ad networks like AdSense can still earn you a nice income as your blog grows (many large blogs use them) – an increased audience will also open new opportunities to you as a blogger.
1. Direct Ad Sales
One thing that becomes possible as your readership grows is that you can begin to attract your own direct advertisers. I’ve written on this topic numerous times before so rather than writing a long tutorial on the topic let me point you to some previous posts:
- Find a Sponsor for your Blog
- 10 Ways to make your Blog more attractive to advertisers
- How to Find Advertisers for Your Blog
- Finding Advertisers for Your Blog
- How much should I charge for my Advertising Space
- 5 Ways to Find Direct Advertisers for Your Blog
2. Ad Representation
Many bloggers struggle to sell advertising on their own blogs. Most bloggers are not experienced in the area of ad sales, don’t have contacts in the advertising industry, are unaware of how much to charge or even what technology to use to serve ads. Most of us also are passionate about writing content and building community – the admin of finding and interacting with advertisers can often be a distraction.
One alternative once you have a reasonable amount of traffic is to outsource your ad sales. Some blog networks and ad networks will handle this kind of thing for you once you have enough traffic. Generally you need a fair bit of traffic for them to look at you but in these tough economic times I suspect we’ll see more and more services to do this.
3. Start Your Own Ad Sales Network
One thing that I’ve been hearing more and more bloggers doing is joining together to sell advertising as a collective or network within a niche. You might not have enough traffic to attract a top tier advertiser alone – but what if you joined with 4-5 other medium sized blogs in your niche and approached advertisers together?
4. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing can work on blogs of all sizes but once a blog has an engaged and loyal readership it can really pay off. Readers that have tracked with you for a while are more likely to buy something that you recommend than a one off visitor – so this is a particularly useful strategy if you have built a ‘community’ rather than just a blog that has a lot of search traffic. The key is to find products to promote that are of a high quality that you can genuinely recommend and that have high relevance to your readership.
Further Reading: 5 Tips for Making Money with Affiliate Programs
5. Sell Your Own Product
Another monetization strategy to start thinking about once you start seeing growth in your readership is your own product to sell.
Whether that product be an e-book, a membership area, a real hard cover book, training (online or real life), consulting, merchandise…. once you’ve got a loyal readership who trusts you and sees you as an expert in your field you’ll find that they are increasingly likely to buy something that you sell.
You’ll also find it easier to get other blogs in your niche to promote your product once you’ve build a blog with profile. I’m seeing more and more bloggers doing this and suspect that as advertising budgets get smaller in the current economic climate that we’ll see more and more of this type of approach (I’ve previously called it ‘indirect income’) by smart bloggers.
Further Reading: Making Money BECAUSE of Your Blog – Indirect Methods.
This is just what I needed! I am planning to start looking for sponsors soon, but I wondered how to do it. Thanks for listing all the other posts about getting sponsors for your blog!
-Nate
I started putting my ads on my blog on day 1.
No, I didn’t have the traffic already, but I do now, and they aren’t leaving because I put up ads that weren’t there in the first place.
The ads also made me money when my traffic was still in the low single digit numbers, albeit not as much, but anything is better than nothing, and now I’m making at least $200-$300 a month from my blog, and it’s steadily rising.
Great advice! My advertising relies only on Google Adsense at the moment, and I’d love to expand out and with more advertisers and skipping the middle man!
Thank you!
Another way to earn money is to make yourself as a authority and provide consultancy services.
Darren, when you say “once you have a reasonable amount of traffic,” how much traffic is that? What would be considered a small blog, a good-sized amount of traffic and a large amount?
The big conflict is do you need to put ads or publish any kind of money making method on you site.
My opinion that it’s very depend on you niche and blog / website topic.
in some niches your visitor will left you website if the see commercial martial and on some that even matter.
The only way to know is some common sense and trial and error.
Argh! What on earth is a “reasonable amount of traffic”??? I’m getting about 100,000 uniques a month, but I only started a little less than 3 months ago. Is that reasonable? I’ve had a handful of 10,000 hit days – is it reasonable when that’s my average?
I think people need to start coming up with new ideas for ad placement, and ad sizes…
@Lipton of Starfeeder
Maybe you start thinking of those ideas! Atleast try, write about it, who knows – you may get some great results.
Also Darren – I think that these methods to apply to all bloggers with any levels of traffic, I say do it from the start. What if you didn’t have ads for 6 months, readers will never expect ads on your blog, and bam you add 2 or 8. Loyal readers may get aggravated and stop reading the blog.
Great tips.
Getting traffic is a huge task. Follow your passion, blog often and the traffic and money will come.
“now I’m making at least $200-$300 a month from my blog, and it’s steadily rising.” it looks good! I have write a blog almost on year! but now I have only make $100-$120 per month! It’s little.
Thanks for sharing these very important tips and techniques.. really hoping to come up with advertisers on my site..
Hi Darren,
What do you exactly mean about “reasonable amount of traffic”?
30,000 visits per month? 10,000 visits per month? top 100,000 in Alexa?
Thanks!
I guess once the traffic starts to flourish, everything will seemingly fall in appropriate places with good planning and commitment.
Great tips. Thanks. :)
I’m really considering putting Adsense on my blog, as I’m not to the point of private advertising yet. I’ve been wary about it because Adsense can easily look spammy if not used in the correct spot.
Thanks for the tips, I’ll keep them all in mind as my blog continues to grow in traffic.
As Chung Bey Luen stated, consultancy is a big money maker if you can establish authority on a subject. Not only will you receive these paid projects from people/companies, but they will seek you out which eliminates half the battle.
Important tips. Just got your book Darren. Don’t have too much time to read it yet but will surely begin next week.
I think having traffic is the first key, and the most overlooked. People monetize too early, which turns new readers off sometimes. Sometimes, a blog seems like it’s all about the money, and not about the blog.
You’ve really been posting a lot lately. A post/day, is it? Impressive. Perfect timing to publish another book or something else maybe? Anywho, thanks for following me on twitter mate. All the best!
@robby_g13
Nice article Darren I especially enjoyed the way you titled the article its much better like this so that people without much traffic dont think they can also use these techniques and see the same benefits.
Thanks, Darren. This is an opportune post. I’m … at a serious plateau and want to take things further. I’ve got ok traffic for the niche and a pretty faithful readership, but I want to do something a bit more. So this is good reading!
Best,
Mary
Great article Darren. More awesome tips on how to make money blogging. It seems more and more blogs are getting away from adsense.
Selling direct advertising or your own products looks like its the direction just everyone is headed.
Hi Darren,
No matter how many posts or articles I read on Ways to Make Money Blogging, I always find something new that I can learn and adapt and impliment which takes me one step closer to my goal. I’ve been visiting this site for quite sometime now and commeting regularly due to the satisfaction of information that is being provided. Good Job and thanks for sharing your ideas and thoughts with us.
Cheers,
Eddie Gear
Earning via blog is a part of blogging. I didn’t have much traffic and much readers but when i’ll have then i’ll try to use these tips. These days i am using adsense and some other ad network.
Thanks for the good tips these may help me in my future.
Thanks for these great tips. As someone getting ready to launch a blog, I’ve found this series really helpful.
Although my website is new, I am making money from Adsense every day since putting ads.
I have noticed that my earnings almost doubled when I put ads in the middle of my posts. People seem to click them more there.
Darren, I truly enjoy your problogger tips and I did want to tell you, can’t remember if I did, we bought your book in Barnes & Noble just last week and then before I even finished the book, I found you in Google’s ‘addstuff’ so I get reminded on my homepage to check you out daily. We really enjoy your tips, and so far, your book has been everything I needed. I’m a 64 year old grandma with her first laptop and I must say, you are a good read. Have a good day and enjoy!
Yep those are all definitely great ways to make money from your blog as long as you have traffic. Too many people try them before they have the traffic and end up getting discouraged and quit. You must get the traffic before you can make money!
Thanks for the advice. Direct ad sales as well as affiliate programs seem like the best choices since they don’t impose up the reader too much. Some of your other options seem pretty viable as well.
Thank you for what you do. I feel like I am flying by the seat of my pants. I started the blog November 4th and currently have close to 5,000 subscribers. I had no clue what I was doing I just spend countless hours searching for affiliates and ideas to make money. I never knew of blogs like yours and the help you could get if you were searching. I still am flying by the seat of my pants and luckily have made good money doing this but it is stressful learning and feeling along. It’s difficult not having a coworker to bounce ideas off of. Ok, that sounded like poor pitiful me but I didn’t mean it that way.
Thanks again,
Kim
Direct ad sales are what new bloggers aspire to. Its easy to ad adsense to your site and get a trickle of money.
But when you have private ad sales you can be pleased that people are willing to pay money to advertise on your blog directly.
Great post but I think that selling your own product is the most important. It is not really good for beginners because they don’t have traffic and no one will buy their product but for a high traffic blog this works.
Great post
Thanks
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Mohammad Afaq
Free Website Traffic
I was unfairly banned from AdSense by Google, so I have no choice but to pursue alternatives now.
That’s a good topic for you to discuss. If you do a search for “google disabled my adsense account”, you’ll see *LOTS* of disgruntled ex-AdSense users.
This seems like an unfolding PR disaster for Google. There probably is a legitimate AdSense abuse problem. If non-abusers are affected, that’s going to be a nightmare for Google.
The way Google works now, any small publisher can get banned from AdSense if an over-zealous or hostile reader goes around clicking on your ads.
If I were one of AdSense’s competitors, I’d go around finding small AdSense publishers, clicking on their ads, and get them banned from Google.
@FSK it’s a recession mate, Google can’t afford to lose even chump change on bloggers anymore. They’ve got other focuses, like taking over the world.
I’m aware it’s a recession.
“Google alienated FSK as a loyal customer.” probably cost Google a lot more than $100.
There are a *LOT* of disgruntled ex-AdSense publishers out there.
I declare war on Google! I’m going to click on every Google ad, whether I’m interested in it or not, just to corrupt their advertising network!
FSK: The key is to diversify your online income. The above list shouldnt be a 1 or 2 or 3… it should be a 1 and 2 and 3…. implementing as many logical monetization strategies as possible helps to minimize your risk when something goes wrong, legitimately or not.
Good tips. However, before you can get some serious money, I guess we still have to think of ways to get the loyal readership first.
I like the idea of joining an ad sales network. I have several friends who have small blogs like mine. Individually we don’t have enough traffic to attract advertisers but put us together and we just might! Thanks for this idea!!
Also, like what Webkinz Videos said about diversifying. My grandpa would have said “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Always a good recommendation when talking about money!
Thanks Darren, chalk full of advise as always. This is my first time replying to one of your posts but I’ve been reading on your site for a few months.
I just recently started my own blog relating to my field of expertise – animation. I’m a professional animator for television production. It’s a baby blog, there’s only two posts up there but I’ll be posting every week.
Do you think it’s a good idea to wait till you have a good amount of traffic to start incorporating adds to your blog? I’ve read that this is best but was wondering what your take is on it.
cheers!
Well this post have enough food for me for this weekend. I am sure with this my weekend will teach me more good stuff.
I want to know more about affiliates and would love to read that post from you.
I have had particular success with direct sales / marketing (http://www.CarbonCopy-Pro.info) in particular, especially due to the excellent compensation plan that it involves. Of course, the only way to succeed is to offer your team excellent training, support and make sure you offer people something above everyone else out there trying to sell the ‘next best’ business opportunity.
Well i have a few blogs with not only the intension to earn money. but yes if it gives me money then there is nothing like that. i have read your article and would give it a try.
thanks
Web Designer Mumbai
Thanks for sharing this very awesome tips and techniques.. really hoping to come up with advertisers on my blog.
Regards
very nice article, whre can l find the last series of this post?
Where do we find these sponsors
I’ve been interested in the idea of hosting a very niche job board on my blog. Are there any programs out there that share a fraction of job post revenue with bloggers? I have a very niche professional audience and with the opportunity to promote specific jobs I think I could help create some conversations for the advertiser.
Best,
Laura
I’m use this in my blog!
Great tips. I personally work well with the Private ads sales in my blog, it’s just normal but I’m happy to see it. Another tips, if you’re too lazy to look for advertiser, just register in a 3rd party banner ads company, they will find advertisers for you. I just joined a banner ads company about 4days ago, I get an advertiser in 2 days and I just get paid after 2days which is today. Very efficiency. :)
Good luck to all of you!
Great post as usual, I think it depends on the blog traffic which money making strategies would work, often times, readers do not buy much, but SE traffic that’s a whole other story.
I am not agree with this one of the point. It’s depends on how to tackle the visitors and what they want from your blog. Of course not all the visitors want to buy the product from the blog.