When people think of monetizing their blog they think they will automatically will be swimming in money. That is just not the case. There are very few websites or blogs that bring in enough money that they can support themselves and their families off of what comes in each month. Starting out you might be able to bring in enough money each month to buy dog food for a small dog or to make sure you have treats in the house.
I was asked about a week ago by one of our long time awesome readers if I could help others monetize their blogs. While I understand how to do it and I know some bloggers make a nice little income (think out to lunch or maybe dinner with their significant other once in a while) each month. I do sell some advertising to companies and participate in paid opportunities but in all honesty most of the money made from that has gone back into our blog. The only bills I pay from the money I make with this blog are all to Blog Designers or to pay for Cash Giveaway events I guess some was spent on going to events too.
When I had GoogleAds running I did get a check for $100 which went into my bank account and not Paypal so that was nice. Actually Google Ads is the only affiliate or ad network that I have used that I ever made enough to get a check from. I did do some sponsored tweets but it seems their network is too big now and so they don’t have enough to go around. I also belong to several others that haven’t really given me any great leads. Even the event that promised the companies there were looking for more involved relationships with bloggers there was not a single one willing to send us to events or sponsor our blog for the year. For the most part they were looking for Reviews and Giveaways of items under $30.
There is one network that I was invited to join I even filled out the paperwork and went through their whole acceptance process but after more careful consideration and hearing the actual payout on their network I decided that they were asking me to give up too much and giving too little in return. Especially because they did nothing to help advertise your blog to bring in the kind of traffic needed to do well with them. This become quite apparent after I reached a major blogging milestone last week and figured out what I would have been paid if I was with them during that whole time and well it made me a little lot sick knowing how much time and energy I put in to make that happen.
Since making the decision to forgo the “exclusive” network I have been looking for affiliate ads from companies that aren’t advertised on every single Pet Blog but offer quality products our readers might be interested in. I even took down all of the ads from a certain network because they were getting blocked by a spam blocker and well I didn’t think the network was offering true quality ads (there were a few but would never make a profit because everyone else was using them). I had 2 run-ins with ads that were spam-y and enough was enough. I currently have ads from 2 different affiliate networks running on our sidebar and I think I like these networks a lot more. I just joined a 3rd one last night but haven’t put up the ad we have been approved for yet. Its an awesome product and I am excited that I finally figured out how to join.
I do wish that I could explain to affiliate networks why I think an ad is a good fit for our blog. For instance I was denied by a famous dinnerware manufacturer because they didn’t think is was relevant but Davinia and Indiana happen to have about 6 of their bowls acquired over time that they use as Water Bowls. At one point they were also eating out of them as well that I would absolutely put our stamp of approval on saying we have been using them for years.
What do you think about the ads currently on our side bar? Are they ones you would choose for your blog? Are there companies you would like to work with that you have not seen ads for around the internet or would like to learn how you can get the ad for your own blog? Do they interest you at all beyond being something colorful to look at?
What other topics would you like help with on your blog?
So you’re saying this *isn’t* my big chance to ski on a mountain of money? Well, there goes my big dream! LOL. We have a minimal amount of advertising on our blog and what little revenue comes in either goes right back into the blog or I like to donate it to our favourite rescue. As long as it can pay for it’s costs and let me give back occasionally, that is all I ask. What I would really love to do is get into doing a few more Giveaways. I definitely need to reach out to a few products I love and open a diologue with them.
Thank you, Felissa, for speaking so honestly about this topic. You’re such a hard working blogger and if you find monetizing a challenge, anyone would.
I’m not a big believer in advertising. I’m skeptical that it benefits bloggers that much. Your post suggests I’m right to be skeptical.
I think affiliate marketing of products from a blogger I trust makes more sense. I have bought products recommended by bloggers at their sites. But I don’t pay much attention to ads.
What I would say is just blog for the love of animals and writing and if you do that, the rest will all fall into place.
If you do anything “just for the money” it will never work
What a wonderful post Felissa. I am just starting to learn what you are talking about and had actually joined a network earlier in the year thinking that it was a great opportunity for me. After a few months I learned the hard way that this move was only holding me back and putting way too many restrictions on my blog with very little profit to me. (after 90 days I had earned to buy myself lunch) I do believe the pet bloggers get overlooked by advertisers, but my hopes are that the more we work together to make an impact in the blogging world the advertisers will see what they have been missing. Thanks for posting about such a wonderful topic that isn’t talked about much!
Great, great post. Thank you for being honest about how difficult it is to monetize a blog – it seems that so few people want to actually admit what a difficult time they have doing it. I’ve been fairly successful, and in terms of successful I mean I’ve finally paid off the cost of my website and have earned a profit, but it has taken SO much hustle and hard work, I definitely get less sleep than I used to. Sometimes it takes the fun out of the actual blogging.
I pick very carefully which companies I want to work with. I think affiliate marketing is great, but the payoff seems small compared to what I can charge pet-related companies (local ones, not usually national brands)…
This is a very good post. I use a couple of different programs to monetize with but nothing that requires me to have banners in the sidebar. I have never had luck with getting the banners clicked, so I use the programs where I get paid to post or offer deals through posts and those seem to work the best for me.
I am very picky what companies I work with. If I deem it to be a good fit to my blog, I will write about it. If not, I will pass. I blog for the love of it- I feel the money will come in due time. Nice post!