Top 5 Non-Advertising Methods to Monetize Your Blog
This is a guest post by Brandon Laughridge of MontageLoanPlace .
Bloggers have access to an advertiser’s dream – highly-targeted readers. So why can’t you make money off your blog? Maybe it’s time to start thinking outside the box.
There are other options out there that can bring in significantly more income than standard ads.
Below are the Top 5 Non-Advertising Methods you can try today if you’re ready to start better monetizing your blog.
1) Get Paid for “Spreading the Word”
Companies know that to get the word out about their company, service, or promotion, they need to be talked about on blogs.
Blogs represent a very powerful medium for announcing, reviewing and discussing a company’s services or products. But did you know you can get paid to do so? And this isn’t some tired paid review tactic.
A quick search of Twitter and the web shows these current offers:
- Mortgage Loan Place, the site I blog for, is having a Mortgage Calculator design/programming contest where they are giving out $10,000. In addition, they are paying the blogger that refers the winning entry $1,000.
- An online lender, VA Mortgage Center.com is growing and is offering a $20,000 bounty to anyone who refers them a new employee that they hire (for a specific position).
That’s just in the world of mortgages. What about your niche? Search Twitter here.
Keeping an eye out for these offers is an easy way to make a big pay day for your blog. It sure beats $.05 clicks from Google’s Adsense.
2) Sell Content
Create a Subscription-Based Section
This could be in the form of a ‘premium’ service, where you offer exclusive content or benefits to your most passionate followers.
This is a fantastic monetization strategy if you are willing to put in extra effort to create outstanding content. It can become a nice recurring income stream that relies on your talents, not search rankings or affiliate payouts. Examples of successful subscription models on blogs include SEOBook.com and TeachingSells.com.
Develop and Sell an eBook or Guide
Another path to a solid recurring revenue stream is to write a quality guide in your niche and sell it for a fee or add affiliate links and distribute it for free.
3) Consult
Your readers already trust your experience and expertise. If they read your posts consistently, it probably means they value your insight. Regardless of your area of expertise, there is someone out there willing to pay for your advice (if you are a true expert).
Start advertising your willingness to consult on your blog. Ask friends and business associates if they need assistance. Before long, you could have a nice set of client thanks initially to your blog.
4) Free Products and Services
Approach companies in your industry and ask them if they will supply you with free products or services for a review. Remember to provide an accurate review, even if it’s bad, and ensure the company understands this to maintain your integrity.
Companies give away all kinds of free products and services (consulting, event tickets, sports gear, and more) to anyone who will talk about them– for better or worse. This is not a way to bring in a lot of money, but a good way to get free stuff. Be proactive here and contact companies that sell products that make sense based on your blog and readership.
5) Sell Out!
If you are having trouble justifying the time it takes to maintain your blog with the income it brings, you could consider selling it.
Depending on the industry and visitors, you may be able to command a high price. One oft-cited example of blogger riches is BankRate’s $15 million acquisition of the Bankaholic blog. There have been thousands of blog acquisitions over the last few years. Many did not garner the publicity of Bankrate, but the money is there.
One word to the wise – if you are serious about this route, and have a blog bringing in lots of visitors and traffic, talk to an investment banker. They can help bring together the best buyers for your blog and ensure you get maximum monetary value.
Article written by Brandon
Hi, I am Brandon Laughridge; an Internet Marketing Specialist. You can follow me on Twitter @laughridge to know more about me.
Brandon has written 1 superb article(s) on this blog
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24 Comments Add yours
Twitter: @pinoymakemoney
July 9, 2009
7:11 pm
Pretty unique and practical method to make money from blog. Thanks for the post
Felix Albutra – SighNetDollars´s last blog ..I’m On The Front Page Of Google Search Engine
Twitter: @Ande12
July 9, 2009
11:47 pm
These are terrific ideas. I especially like the one to write to companies and see if I can review some of their products. Also going to do the search on Twitter for my niche. I don’t have a lot of followers on my blog yet but working on it. I sure am going to try all these ideas. Thanks so much
Margaret Elmendorf´s last blog ..Is it fair to leave your dog at home all day??
Twitter: @lunaticgamers
July 10, 2009
6:15 am
Hi!
Thank you for the advice and congratulation for your 1st place in google.
See you around.
lunaticg´s last blog ..Malaysia Ringgit Story
Twitter: @smartbloggerz
July 12, 2009
1:48 pm
Thanks for the comment but please comment according to the post.
Twitter: @sexywallpaper
July 10, 2009
7:54 am
Thanks Nice article.
I think creating subscription based site is little tough.Selling blog is really better side but then you need to do much more effort in creating another good blog .
Twitter: @gfserradinho
July 10, 2009
1:11 pm
Some great ideas for making extra money.
I would love to ask companies to review products, but I stay in South Africa and most of my visitors are from abroad. I will see what I can come up with, but I agree that we have to start thinking outside the box to increase our income.
George Serradinho´s last blog ..WordPress 2.8.1 is ready for Download
July 11, 2009
4:15 am
Great idea to summarize them here short and simple.
Dragan Mestrovic´s last blog ..Darren Rowse – 51 Minutes of Video Streaming Q&A on Blogging
Twitter: @webloggr
July 11, 2009
1:35 pm
I don’t really recommend the idea of selling out
I can’t take it if it was me. Imagine all the hard work. Besides, we consider our blogs more than just money right? I enjoy blogging, selling out is just so horrible an idea for me. But I guess it would be understandable if they are those loggers who are really busy with their new ventures.
Liane YoungBlogger´s last blog ..What I Got Free From Blog Masters Club | The Six Figure Blogger Blueprint, Blogging Wealthgap Report, and Woah, Opening in T Minus 7 Hours!
Twitter: @gerri50
July 13, 2009
4:23 am
I like number 4. Over the past few weeks I have noticed that if you ask chances are high that you will get – that is if the company gets something in return too. Its a good way of getting free stuff not only for yourself but stuff you can giveaway on your blog and as you said boost readership (hopefully).
Gerri – Ninety Nine Ways´s last blog ..Monetise Your Tweets with Twitterfeed and RevResponse
Twitter: @Puneet_Thakkar
July 14, 2009
10:43 am
those are good ideas to get better from advertisers rather then depend on Adsense. but for those steps u need to have many readers and subscribers of your blog so that to look promising in front of other companies which we can approach for advertising.
Custom term paper´s last blog ..Un astudentessa racconta la propria preparazione agli esami universitari a Bari
Twitter: @denharsh
July 14, 2009
10:08 pm
Preety useful tips and like the consultant tips. Never thought in this way but can be done ..
Twitter: @isaacyassar
July 18, 2009
6:24 am
Interesting points there. I am not aware of the fourth technique before, thanks. Those 5 can be a good alternative to conventional advertising method.
July 19, 2009
7:22 am
Thank you for those tips and ideas! I guess, bloggers can earn more than the ppc programs.
Twitter: @billmcintosh
July 19, 2009
8:59 am
Thanks for submitting to my online marketing blog carnival! I just published your submission.
July 22, 2009
4:50 pm
I have belong on travel n tourism. I regularly add text content and pictures in it. It is getting good traffic form Google. But, i need to know, that how can I sell my content to other traveling websites? Or is there any way to share my posting with other blogs?
Custom Essay´s last blog ..Un astudentessa racconta la propria preparazione agli esami universitari a Bari
Twitter: @smartbloggerz
July 22, 2009
5:49 pm
To sell your content you can try listing your content details on popular webmaster forums like digitalpoint forums. There you list some info about your article and it’s price.
You can also try one site http://www.associatedcontent.com. It might be helpful to you.
Twitter: @jijosunny
November 15, 2009
1:25 pm
Hello brandon,
Well written article. Keep writing!
Jijo Sunny´s last blog ..Start a Discussion Forum with Your Blog
Twitter: @bloggerspassion
December 1, 2009
9:29 pm
the last option has got my attention….i got an offer to sell my blog a month back..it was quiet tempting amount but i do not think selling the blog will be helpful..if you consider the picture in the long run this will only hamper your image..next time when you will start a new blog, people will not take you seriously….
IndianCashMaker´s last blog ..Blog Life Cycle Day 11- Blogging in Next 6 Months- Part III
Twitter: @offers4free
December 6, 2009
11:42 pm
Never sell your blog it cannot be the good option for anyone out there…
Lucifer@Blog Contests´s last blog ..Prizes Worth Over $1200 @FamousBloggers
Twitter: @senthilramesh
December 6, 2009
7:58 pm
That might be some really cool tricks for sure. I have to say that I am in a situation now not to monetize the blog. But, this ways can help. But I feel personally that we need a good subscriber stats in order to have these ways word for us. Isn’t it? May be the first trick can work. But, even those companies, chk our traffic, visitors and subscriber stats.
Senthil Ramesh´s last blog ..What Does Google Say About These Websites
December 10, 2009
3:01 am
Great article Brandon! I have a close friend who makes a pretty decent living out of building then selling blogs so thats definitely a powerful strategy!
Alex @ Niche Blueprint 2 Bonus´s last blog ..About Us
December 14, 2009
2:09 pm
Under the “Get Paid for ‘Spreading the Word’ ” blogger is very important. Today blogger is very famous among the internet community. So most of them come to blog to get information regarding such product or services.
kids make money´s last blog ..How Do I Make Money
Twitter: @senthilramesh
December 14, 2009
6:01 pm
Yes, I am looking for such persons who can give me a sufficient pay for spreading the word.
Senthil Ramesh´s last blog ..How To Use Facebook Effectively
February 1, 2010
5:28 am
Thank you for writing this. I have a blog of my own and am hoping to try and gain some income from it to just pay off the hosting and domain. These tips you have provided me seems to be very good and not ones that I have thought of. I hope they will help me out.
Thank you for this article and I’ll see what works best for me.