3. 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.
Steps to monetizing your blog
4. • 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!
Ad networks
5. • 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.
Popular ad networks and tips
7. • 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
8. • 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
Sponsored content networks
9. • 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 marketing
10. • 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
Affiliate networks
11. • 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!
Reviews and Giveaways
12. • 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!
Get social!
13. • 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)
Disclose: It’s the law
14. • 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
Return on investment
15. • 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/
Resources
