how to make money blogging. no, really!

How to make money blogging. No, Really!

By Eleanor Evans

Bellesouthblogs.com

Brands + Bloggers

Steps to monetizing your blog

1. Ad networks

2. Sponsored content

3. Affiliate marketing

4. Product reviews and giveaways

5. Revenue sources outside of blogging

Important! This is only for self-hosted wordpress. It is a violation of the Wordpress TOS to monetize blogs hosted on wordpress.com, including all the above revenue sources – with the exception of WP’s WordAds service.

Ad networks

• Easy signup• Can implement on self-hosted wordpress• Start making revenue on impressions and clicks• Bad news: High payment thresholds; can take a

long time to make payout on low-traffic sites• Still, you want to sign up for ‘em!

Popular ad networks and tips

• Google Adsense – http://google.com/adsense - Most popular ad network, $100 payment threshold, relies mostly on clicks

• Lijit – http://lijit.com – Focuses more on impressions than clicks

• IZEA Media (requires membership to Socialspark) - http://izea.in/r4nT - also focuses on impressions, pays out monthly

• TIP: Use multiple ad networks – they’ll compete with each other so you get the most revenue!

• NEVER ask anyone to click on your ads.

Placement is everything!

Sponsored Content

• Connects real voices and consumers with brands• YOU promote the brand with YOUR opinions, not

their opinions (It’s the law!)• Brands are recognizing the power of consumers

and social media to promote improve their products and image

• Compensation in payment and products!

Sponsored content networks

• SocialSpark - http://izea.in/r4nT - great if you have good content and an established following. Reputable company; all-paid opportunities

• Clever Girls Collective – http://clevergirlscollective.com – (Not just for girls!) – Great paid opportunities and sponsored campaigns

• Global Influence – http://globalinfluencenetwork.com – Leads for sponsored post opportunities and campaigns

Affiliate marketing

• Become a conduit between readers and online retailers

• Earn commission from generating sales• Takes a LOT of work and organization to keep up

with the sales• Great for seasonal promotions or to talk about

products for your niche• Take advantage of new products, discounts and

high-demand products

Affiliate networks

• Commission Junction – http://cj.com – one of the largest affiliate networks. Stores include Walgreens, Sears, Restaurant.com - $50 threshold

• Linkshare – http://linkshare.com – $1 threshold, pays weekly. Stores include Walmart, drugstore.com, Sephora

• Google Affiliate Network – http://google.com/ads/affiliatenetwork – Can combine revenue with Adsense revenue to meet $100 threshold. Stores include Target, Kohl’s, Sam’s Club

Reviews and Giveaways

• Get free items in exchange for reviews and/or giveaways

• Make sure the product you’re reviewing is worth it to you

• Giveaways boost your pageviews and site stats and give you more chances at higher-paying gigs

• Like a company or a brand? Contact them or their PR directly and pitch them for a review. You might be surprised!

Get social!

• Create accounts for your blog/brand on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, G+, etc.

• Take photos or update your status about products you like

• Join Klout! Great way to get obligation-free products just for your influence on social networks. Blogging about the products could open the door for more opportunities.

• Share, share, share – don’t make the Internet a playground, make every social action affect your bottom line!

Disclose: It’s the law

• FTC requires bloggers to disclose if they are being compensated for products they’re blogging/sharing

• Disclose on every sponsored post – and even on posts with affiliate links

• Create a sitewide discloure policy at http://disclosurepolicy.org

• Google Webmaster Guidelines require no-follow links (See google’s guidelines at http://goo.gl/y4zNc)

Return on investment

• Custom domains: get a dot-com to be taken seriously by advertisers

• Invest in someone who can design your blog, install premium plugins and optimize your ad placement

• Seek out other bloggers who are doing what you want to do. You can find them in Facebook groups or even just by commenting on other blogs!

• Turn to great resources from blog coaches and other experts

Resources

• ProBlogger – http://problogger.com• Blog Like A Star - http://onlineincomestar.com/• WebProNews – http://webpronews.com• Sunshine & Sippy Cups –

http://sunshineandsippycups.com• Straight Talk - http://www.tedrubin.com/

Questions?

• Email: bellesouthblogs@gmail.com• Facebook: http://facebook.com/bellesouthblogs• Twitter: http://twitter.com/bellesouth• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bellesouth