Pick and choose. There are plenty of ways of monetizing your blog. Consider carefully before picking text link, contextual, image, or product-specific advertising to add to your mix. Take a look at other blogs like yours. Consider what has worked for them and which went one ad too far. The right advertising strategy delivers at worst inoffensive and at best useful ads to your blog’s readers. Take your time and consider all alternatives.
Align ads with content, not the reverse. Your readers will smell a rat a mile away if your blog’s content begins to come across like an “advertorial.” They’ve had plenty of practice sniffing this out as mainstream media consumers. Don’t go there.
Build readership, then monetize. This has been the process for every monetarily successful blogger I’ve interviewed or know. Focus first on building your audience, then when you inevitably redesign your blog’s layout, gradually monetize if you are going to run ads.
Keep an eye on your return on investment. Monetizing your blog takes time, and time is money. If you’re spending more time than you’re making money, and the prospects are for more of the same, it’s time to readjust your blogging strategy.
Join Performancing. Regularly reading and participating in the forums at http://performancing.com will give you a continuing education in how to make money with your blog.
Invest in layout. Once you start including more than one simple ad, strongly consider investing some time and money in improving your blog’s layout. Whether you do it yourself, work with a web designer, or contract someone to make the pain go away, the goal is the same: an easy-to-read format that reflects what your blog is about and, at the same time, appropriately monetizes your blog.
Focus on content. This point is worth repeating. People read your blog because of your blog’s content, not its advertising. Keep writing a great blog front and center, and your readership will keep growing.
0 comments:
Post a Comment