< Reward your regulars : Advertising: don't put all your eggs in one basket? >
This message is in stark contrast to what a lot of other blogs will tell you. I am fully aware that blogs can make money. But while some extra cash would always be nice, I don't rely on it to survive. This means I can take a much more laid back approach to making money online.The extreme approach doesn't always work.
Some might say that if you depend on your blog income, you're more likely to work hard to get as much as possible. This is very risky. I think it's better to have a day job and do blogging as a hobby. Don't start out with the assumption that because certain well-known bloggers can make thousands online that you can too. Maybe you can, but it won't happen overnight.Blogging tips are not just for moneymakers.
I have had comments made about my blog saying that blogging tips and make money online go hand in hand. I couldn't disagree more, and I'll admit that this comment aggravates me. My blogging tips are universal whether you want to make money or not.If you make money online - great!
I have nothing against people who make money online. If you make money then that's a good thing. I just find it rather boring to see so many blogs that try to teach you how to make money online when they don't actually know the first thing about it.I do have some ads.
But I try to choose ones that are relevant and unobtrusive. I'm currently experimenting with Google AdSense, Project Wonderful, Sponsored Reviews and ReviewMe. I've made a whopping $5 from these since I started writing blogging tips at the end of November.A mistake I see a lot of sites making is that they all do the same thing. They either put far too many ads all over their site, or they try to approach money from the angle of "I know nothing about it, so I'm going to try things out and see how it goes".
This is non-news. Until you have made some decent money, people aren't going to be interested. It's like saying "I'm going to eat lots of different food until I find the one I like best". Don't bother. Tell people the food you like once you know. Don't give us a blow by blow account of your mission to find out.
Why I haven't been reviewing sites recently
I haven't reviewed any of the moneymaking sites I listed above because I am far from done with them. If I reviewed them now I wouldn't have given them a fair chance. I'm trying out some tips and I'm waiting to see what works. I don't need to tell you which tips I'm trying out because I don't know if they work yet.I'm sure that some blogs can be excused for doing this as they were the first ones to give it a try. But how many more blogs do we need to read that say "I'm going to show you how to make money with Google AdSense, watch how I do"?
I'm not in this for the money.
That doesn't mean I'm going to work for free. I set up Injader so I could work towards building a profitable business. The system I built is the product I'd ultimately like to sell. However, my blog is not a product I'm trying to sell - it's free.Because I'm not blogging for the money, I can keep ads to a minimum. As I said, I'm experimenting with advertising to see if I can make anything at all, but I'm not going to flood my site with far too many ads. It would devalue my site.
And to put it into perspective, I've recently had a few private ad requests that I have declined. I'm not an idiot - I decline ads that I do not consider to be appropriate for my site, that would not interest my readers (that's you guys!), or that would run under unrealistic terms.
Blogging is not my job.
Besides Injader, I work full-time for a small software company. I started this blog simply because I enjoy helping people. I want more people to give blogging a try. I want people to worry less about the technicalities and more about what they're going to write today.If I can achieve that goal, then that's what counts. Any money I may make from blogging would be a nice bonus, but I'm not going to stop blogging if I never make another cent.
What do you think?
Do you make money from your blog?If not, do you want to?
Do you think we need more bloggers who care less about money and more about content?
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Comments
Hey Ben. Great advice. I have many of the same opinions, especially related to being realistic about earning money. My blog is a hobby. I hope it makes money eventually, but that is not why I am doing it (I don't have any ads either). I agree that your content will suffer if that is your only motivation. However, my blog is one that is written with that "learn as you go" persective. I don't flood my readers with each idea I am going to try though. I only write about something AFTER I've learned it. I do believe (and hope) people find this of value. My reader base has been growing so hopefully I'm doing something right!
I enjoy your blog. Thanks for your honest and straight forward thoughts!
Jeff
I agree with you. Yes, I wish more of the blogs I see were less monetized. For example, I really don't enjoy reading pay-per-post reviews, and I'm not sure why someone with great content would place an ad above the first article headline. I'm not perfect, and I'm sure there are things about my blog that others don't like either. I guess the best thing about blogging is that you can do whatever you want with yours, for better or for worse. :-)
I feel like I missed a day somewhere. Last thing I remember someone had run an ad and bloggers everywhere were up in arms that everyone's credibility would be ruined. Next thing I know everyone is getting rich, and talking about it.
I am not opposed to making a buck or two, but my blog is not headed in that direction right now.
I know this seems obvious, but why does making money online have to be through a blog? Can't I bid on Ad words, put ads on other people's sites, buy and sell domains, or sell on eBay? You don't need a single ad on your own site to make money online.
Ben, this is good thinking. (Somehow I feel like I've had part of this conversation with you recently! LOL!) What I appreciate most about this is the sense that you're really giving to the blogging community. Keep the tips coming. I gobble them up left and right! ;)
Thanks for all the comments. :)
narissa - thank you! I think people can make money online, but the reality is that most will not make very much. the money has to come from somewhere. You don't get money for nothing.
Jeff - you sound pretty clued up about when to tell people about how you're doing. There's not much point saying "I'm trying this out" only to find that you don't have time to give it a proper try. That doesn't benefit anyone. Equally, it's not going to be very helpful if someone says "I will be writing this and that" until they do it. Too many promises, not enough action!
GeekMom - one thing about Google AdSense is that the ads seem to do best when they're above the content. I do this, but you'll only see Google ads on a blog page, not on the home page of my site. I've been looking into paid reviews but the kind of sites asking for reviews are either irrelevant to my readers or they sound pretty dodgy.
anti - good point! I also remember a time when banner ads generated no money at all, so stuff like free forums had to use popups. Yuck! I guess contextual ads (i.e. Google ads) are better, but I have to wonder if sites that display them are going to get less and less money until they're not worth using anymore. After all, it happened once, it could happen again...
turnip - good point from you too! I also have the benefit of having my own system (Majestic) to sell, and if it takes off, I could feasibly remove the ads from my site. But it all helps. Not putting all your eggs in one basket seems like good advice here.
Sweet Mummy - thanks! Now I just need more people to read. :) Then again, I'm always looking for more readers, so I guess I'll be saying this forever!
A very well balanced and well expressed post Ben.
I did try to comment a few days back but was having trouble getting my comment to submit.
I've decided I want to make a bit of pocket money from my blog. Not expecting millions or anything. In fact, my first month looks like being around the $20 mark (if that). Which is fine with me because a few more months like that and I can buy a new handbag! ;) I consider any money earnt to be a bonus though and still view blogging as a fun hobby. I guess I'm lucky that I'm not the "breadwinner" in our family so there isn't too much conflict there.
I TOTALLY agree that we need more people focused on content rather than money. Although, it becomes apparent very quickly those who are in it simply for money and I think this does go against their credibility (unless they're extremely good at what they're doing).
Hi Lightening, thanks for the feedback. Not sure why you had problems, it may have just been a timeout - please send me a message if it continues.
People who make lots of money are obviously good at what they do, but I wouldn't want to rely on a blog for my main income - it just seems too risky. However, as Turnip said above, you can make money online without putting ads on a blog - there are other options that many people don't even think of.
Sounds like you have made a good start and it'll be interesting to see how it goes for you in the future. I've told my wife that I'm making a little money, obviously we can't expect a lot but it all helps.
hi.. i like your ideas. it is an irony though that most blogs encourage everyone about the make-money but yours is so realistic and honest.
blog success is not overnight, that i agree very much.