Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

ellewoodmusic — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:35:29 -0000

Clickers unite!! Great post thank you!

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

wholesale korean clothing — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:28:23 -0000

Thank you, great post！

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Rick — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:25:06 -0000

Ok, I have a question, I have an employment site that I am attempting to market. The site is http://www.freegovtjobs.com. Would creating a blog assist me in increasing my site's internet presence? And if so, how? Thanks.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

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Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Flat Panel Televisions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:17:20 -0000

For instance, myspace, these guys bring in a lot of traffic just like blogs do. Someone can drive a lot of targeted customers to a blog/website, and sell it that blog/website for whatever it's worth...just like the big guys do. It takes time , but well worth it!

Jay
mortgage estate
mysapce

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Ferris Ferguson — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:06:43 -0000

I like money.
Anyone can give it to me.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

techeek — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:46:14 -0000

Stumbles! Thanks.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Rick — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:15:36 -0000

Their Alexa ranking is 1256 average.
Page views per user are 18.

So it seems to work for them.

Wouldn't you call Microsofts home page an intro page?

Good blog btw - click, click, click lol

Thanks Mark.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

cheapsuits — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:06:40 -0000

I posted this over at centernetworks: The post is spot on in talking about the need to be compensated for content. However, clicking on an ad just to help the author of the site is ultimately disingenuous to the advertiser. Maybe it's time we realize that internet ads are passive advertising more like billboards,magazine ads or televison commercials requiring no action from the reader. As an advertiser I like page views and RSS subscribers not clicks. Its the only real gauge to the blogs popularity. (RSS ads a twist I know).I see a theme of sponsorship in some of the comments. I ultimately think the answer is sponsorship. I do not see why blogs and or bloggers can't become like NASCAR drivers. I personally think the ad model was broken from the beginning on the internet and needs a sea change to a new paradigm.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

How to earn money from the Int — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:16:58 -0000

Quality content attract traffic and traffic drive sponsors.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Lucas Brill — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:28:47 -0000

Moving back to the model where consumers pay for content is not in the best interest of anyone.

Publishers being forced to charge consumers will result in far less readers. With so much content on the internet, even if some is a fan, when a blog or website starts charging then users disappear. In response to a few of the comments above, I'll believe you when you cough up the dough. It's easy to say that you'll way today and when they start charging tomorrow, you're no where to be found.

Advertising on-line offer unprecedented targeting, ease, and conversion - unlike other forms of traditional advertising. Are we forgetting about that?

Personally, I don't love ads but I often click on them - especially on niche sites that I enjoy. Ads oftentimes reflect new products, companies, events, or promotions, that are relevant to me as a reader and consumer. It's not like Mashable, CN, or Techcrunch, are plastered with "What year did you graduate" or "Shoot the monkey" ads. Get real people.

Mike, I enjoyed your post and your insights as a blogger. Consider me a new reader over at CN and I won't be bashful when it comes to clicking on ads that appeal to me with products and services that I'll enjoy, need, or want. Peace.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Kent — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:26:59 -0000

I do agree on the sponsorship part..

The magic word is still traffic.

The solution to traffic is content and networking.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:13:09 -0000

Don't underestimate the power of the guilt business model.

Al Gore may not have created the Internet, but he did usher into existence a whole industry that preys on eco-guilt.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:11:43 -0000

You're right on the short term benefit, and your right about the model needing to evolve.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:10:18 -0000

Are you really offended by my off-handed snark?

It isn't really a great accomplishment, nor is it particularly as cool as people think it is to have blocked ads. It's really the height of entitlement, to be quite honest.

I respect your right to do so, but don't be offended when we design something that advertises to you your ad blockers can't defeat. You declared war on advertising by installing it, and opened the doors to far more invasive and sneaky methods of advertising.

These words don't pay for themselves.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:08:14 -0000

Cool! Let me know when you have something.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:06:53 -0000

I don't think behavioral networks are currently illegal in America, though they're working on making it that way.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:02:04 -0000

I only know broad and inaccurate figures (i.e. what my salary is, and multiplied across how many employees i know of here at mash. :-p ) - those are questions for Pete. I'm not sure that we make public disclosures of that data though.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:00:36 -0000

No problem. Your pieces on blogging have been really grabbing my attention lately.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Mark Stevens — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:41:53 -0000

Lambasting your readers for not clicking ads or using adblockers isn't the best way to go about building a loyal readership. Playing the Tiny Tim card doesn't help matters either.

If you rely on your blogging for a living, but also rely on click-through ads for financial compensation, then you seriously need to investigate alternative revenue streams.

I also resent the implication that people who use adblockers somehow have attention deficit disorder. Unfortunately, the vast majority of web sites that reserve space for advertisers are cluttered, badly designed abominations. Those web sites that successfully integrate ads into their design framework, with a seamless aesthetic but nevertheless high click-through rates, are few and far between. Besides, by establishing a web site you should be accepting of the notion that most people who read your content will be drive-by readers pushed there by a Google query. They want to read your article then high-tail it out of there, not have to wade through garish banners to get to what Google told them you had. If your content's good enough, you'll be able to convert casual readers into loyal readers. That's where the real opportunity to make money lies.

Personally, if I become a loyal reader of a blog or web site, I whitelist that site in my adblocker. I think it's only fair to allow them the opportunity to open up their advertisers to me. Whether I click on an ad is another matter entirely. If it offers goods and services I feel may be useful to me, I'll check them out, but I don't go on a guilt-purging click-fest simply because the web site owner says I should.

Subtle requests for financial aid are fine. Whine-fests that amount to little more than describing your potentially loyal readers as ADHD-suffering freeloaders really isn't.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Sheraz Mahmood — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:52:41 -0000

Forcing users to click on AD's because we like the Blog isn't good for you, in fact all it does is yield short term revenue. Revenue will be lost in the long term when the advertisers see your blog doesn't yield acceptable ROI.

Jeff is correct, maybe the model needs to change.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

jeff — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:10:55 -0000

If you're not making money, maybe your business model has some problems. I wouldn't blame the customer. You offer your content for free.

If you are unhappy, charge a fee for your service, don't try to guilt-trip viewers into responsibility. If that and other ideas don't work, then you don't have a business.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

ListensToYou — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:07:20 -0000

Good point, MichaelW.

This is the problem with using online profiles for advertising - I cannot choose what information I trade for things I value. I gave my birthday to Facebook (actually it was required "as a safety precaution") so that children will not use Facebook without supervision - i.e. as a safety precaution. I gave my education information so I can network, not so I can get ads for "Nerdwestern" t-shirts.
It isn't just the consumers who are getting the bad end of the deal. Marketers, brands and publishers all look bad when readers feel mis-targeted or stereotyped or feel that their private information has been abused.

I like the theme of this blog post, but I cannot agree that it is primarily the fault of the advertiser. It is also the fault of the ad network (or the ad serving methodology) and the publisher (or blog). I would like to see all of these constituents take responsibility, listen to consumers and give them some control over the ads they see online.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

MichaelW — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:24:24 -0000

Targeting ads based on social networking user demographics violates the 7 laws of identity. First one is user control and consent. Users provide information for the purpose of sharing it with their contacts. Sharing that with advertisers without the user's consent is unethical. Typically there's a difference in outlook in the US to Europre on this.

Re: 3 Ways to Make More Money Blogging

Michael Kimsal — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:42:04 -0000

I'm guilty of throwing generic ads on some sites, even knowing it doesn't work very well. I just put a few on a couple sites, and will likely remove them in a couple weeks if there's not decent activity. Also likely is I'll add a 'donate' button and simply rely on some type of goodwill from readers.

The problem, as I see it from both sides, is that ads aren't relevant. Yes, even Google's 'targetted' adsense, is rarely that relevant to *me*. They might be relevant to the content of the page, but not really to me. The content I'm reading may or may not be relevant to me. Given all the tracking Google does, I'm suprised they can't take my habits in to account more than they apparently are.

I've come to Mashable for the past several weeks and seen a 'userplane' ad. I've not yet clicked it. 'Branding' aside, how many more times do I need to register a view as a visitor and *not* click the userplane ads before my non-interest is taken in to account and a different ad is shown? What? I can't do that? That's part of the problem.

Another problem is the same damn ads all over the place. Even if something's relevant to me, I may have clicked it 2 weeks ago on another site. It's not really fair to the advertisers for me to click and visit their site multiple times. Certainly not fair on me to have to buy the same thing multiple times just to 'show support' to every site I like.

While not 'broken', the model is seriously flawed for the types of things we (bloggers) want it to do (provide us money). Invidual donations are a bit of a pain to do, both to remember to do on each site that you read, and also to manage for bloggers. Receiving money's easy, but going beyond that (identifying paid readers, sending a thanks, etc.) is harder.

Perhaps an aggregating service that helps people to make donations to groups of bloggers would be useful? Maybe that's my next project! :)