Monetizing Your Blog: Strategies for Advertising and Finding Advertisers
When you've created a blog, one of the most crucial next steps is to monetize it. This involves generating revenue from advertisements and finding potential advertisers who might be interested in working with your platform. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to go about it.
The Basics: Affiliate Services and Google AdSense
To advertise in your own blog site, you need to sign up for affiliate services or use platforms such as Google AdSense. Affiliate services allow you to promote products and earn a commission when a user clicks through and makes a purchase. Amazon and Flipkart are popular options for this. Additionally, you can consider brand integration, where you incorporate advertisements more subtly into your content.
The easiest way to monetize your blog is through Google AdSense. This platform provides you with ad tags that you can directly embed into your blog, and AdSense takes care of the revenue collection. However, if your blog gets over 200,000 pageviews per month, you might want to explore other options. Google recommends signing up for a Google DFP Small Business account and linking it to your AdSense account. This allows you to work with multiple ad networks and ad exchanges, such as AdX, AdKarma, AdSupply, AOL OATH, AppNexus, bRealtime CPXi, Criteo, Defy Media, District M, DivisionD, Facebook, and others, to compete for your inventory.
Expanding Your Monetization Options
In addition to Google AdSense, there are several other avenues you can explore to increase your blog's income:
Data-Driven Ad Networks
Consider applying to other ad networks and ad exchanges like AdX, AdKarma, AdSupply, AOL OATH, AppNexus, bRealtime CPXi, Criteo, and others. These platforms will help you further diversify your ad inventory, increasing your earnings potential. You can also join ad networks like Facebook, Index Exchange, OpenX, Pubmatic, PulsePoint, Rubicon Project, Sonobi, Sovrn (which includes Lijit and Federated).
Content Discovery Widgets
Adding content discovery widgets can also generate incremental revenue. Platforms such as Outbrain, Rev Content, and Taboola allow you to display sponsored content from other sites, which can drive traffic and earn you a commission.
In-Image and In-Text Advertising
Consider adding in-image and in-text advertising from platforms like Content Ignite, GumGum, and Vibrant Media. These can be highly effective in generating additional revenue without cluttering your site excessively.
Connecting with Advertisers
To effectively monetize your blog, it’s essential to have a strong and inviting approach for potential advertisers to reach out to you. A well-crafted about page is key here. This page should provide an overview of your blog, its traffic, and the types of content you produce. Make it easy for advertisers to find you by linking to your social media accounts and a contact page where they can submit email inquiries.
As your blog grows in popularity, you'll naturally attract more interest from advertisers. However, focusing on quality content and traffic generation will significantly enhance your chances of success.
Conclusion
Monetizing your blog requires a strategic approach, from choosing the right advertising platforms to making it easy for advertisers to contact you. By following the steps outlined above, you can create a blog that not only generates revenue but also grows and thrives over time.