Goals: Blog Monetization.

On the readership survey, some of you expressed interest in my progresses with personal goals. Let me know if there is something in particular that you want to know about.

I have a gang of goals. I plan to do posts on some of them.

The one I want to talk about today is #9 on my list.

Just admitting it to myself, was hard.
I expect actually doing it will be more difficult.
At least, at first.

Over the years, I’ve read a ton of blogging blogs & information on the subject of blog monetization.
I’ll spare you the general buzz-killing, “info-tips” & get to the more helpful suggestions.
They were to:
• Create a product/service that people want/need, market it, & sell it.
• Have income streaming from different sources, until you find a formula that works for your blog. So…selling your own products/services, ad networks, affiliate programs, commission-earning sites, etc.

Over the past year, I’ve tried:
• Affiliate partnering.
I had an Amazon shop. This was short-lived, as Amazon chose to end its affiliate program with Illinois residents. I’m glad this happened when it did. Before I made one cent that would’ve needed figuring on my corporate taxes! And before I made hundreds of posts, with links to my favorite products. All of which, would have needed deleting. I don’t think the earnings from my shop would’ve been worth the linking effort any way. I remember it being a bit of a hassle.
• Joining a publishing network.
BlogHer accepted me into their program last year. It was good experience. The advertising earnings were enough to cover my monthly hosting & site fees. I recently opted not to renew my contract this year, to free up premiere (above the fold) advertising space.
• Creating & selling my own product/service.
I developed MerelyBlogDesign, where I create custom designs for bloggers. This seems like a somewhat obvious solution, being a graphic designer & blogger. And yet, the idea didn’t come right away. I just remember when I first started blogging…not being able to stay away from the design section of the dashboard. #Lightbulb! I’ve earned more from providing this service, than any other monetizing attempt.

My next steps are to:
• Sell direct ad space.
With that, I’m still working on my media kit & also writing proposal emails to specific individuals & companies that I really want to work with.
• Write, design, publish & sell a recipe E-book.
This is indeed a project! I’m trying not to rush this. I want to feel really good about this book. Most of all, I want to enjoy the process. It starts with my top-secret recipes. Then, comes the building & testing of new ones.
• Decide whether or not to join any ad/affiliate/commission-earning sites or programs.
I’ve researched a few popular ones. But, there is this hesitation in signing up.
I think it’s great that there are companies out there with “missions” to help bloggers earn money for their efforts. And yet, I can’t help but wonder who’s really helping who. I’ve read reviews, and it seems that bloggers, all too often, get the short end of the stick. In more specific words, they earn “chump change”. While the commission sites & their advertisers take home the big bucks.
This was so disappointing to read. I really hope that it isn’t the general experience. Because, that would really suck!

I have a couple more ideas brewing for the future that I’m really excited about! Will happily share as the time comes.

How are you monetizing your blog?
If you’re not, feel free to share any one of your life goals. Are you making progress?