This is the first question I am asked. There are a lot of different ways to monetize a blog. And you don’t have to have a lot written yet to start making some money blogging.
Google AdSense
Signing up for Google AdSense is super easy. Just answer a few questions.
You can put a couple of snippets of code on your site. The rest is automated. Or use Google’s WordPress Plugin Site Kit to automatically set up AdSense.
Google will take some time testing your site, looking at the pages and who visits your site. It can take time for your site to be approved, so you might want to start as soon as you have something published.
Click around on the AdSense panel to customize what ads are shown on your site.
Once you’ve turned it on, you’re done. Google auctions off the ad space, creates the ads, collects the money, and pays every month or as soon as you reach $100 in ad revenue.
You earn money whenever someone visits a page with Google Ads on it. You earn more money any time someone clicks on a Google ad. It doesn’t matter whether they buy something or not, you still get paid for the click.
DO NOT CLICK YOUR OWN ADS!
AdSense Ad Serving Limit >
Google Ads For Search
Once you have an AdSense account, you can set up Google Search for your site. You can have it search just one site, or a few sites. Google Ads are displayed just like on any Google search, but you are paid whenever someone clicks.
See how a Google Search Box works
This searches just one site: www.deepdiscountlighting.com
This searches more than one site: www.mydesign42.com/advanced-search/
Amazon Associates
Nearly everything is sold on Amazon. If you become an Amazon Associate, you can earn commission whenever someone buys something after they click on a link on your page.
Amazon commissions are clearly spelled out on their site.
Amazon pays anywhere from 1% to 10%. You also get the commission on everything else they buy at the same time.
If someone clicks through from one of your links, but ends up buying something else, you still get paid a commission from anything they buy.
If someone puts something you have advertised into their cart, even if they buy it later, you can still get the commission.
Amazon also has Bounties. You get from 50 cents any time someone buys an Audible audiobook up to $15.00 any time someone registers for an Amazon Business account.
You need to be able to add code to your site.
How do I add snippets of code to my site? >
Google pays whether they click or not.
Google pays more if they click.Amazon does not pay you to put the ads on your site no matter how many people see it.
Amazon doesn’t pay if someone clicks the link.
Amazon only pays if they buy.
If the product is returned, Amazon takes your commission away.
eBay Partner Network
I have not found it as easy to work with eBay, but I have had some success.
You can find things on eBay that are not available anywhere else.
Setting up eBay is about as easy as it gets. You just put a snippet of code in the head of each page. Then any link to any eBay page carries your information with it and you get commission.
A page that has had some success with eBay: www.mydesign42.com/ralph-lauren-chinoiserie/
Other Options
There are a lot of other options out there, depending on what your blog is about.
The Target Affiliate Program pays up to 8% on anything they sell at Target. If one of your site visitors clicks through to Target, anything they buy on the Target website in the next week earns you a commission. You can sign up here: Target Affiliate Program
Walmart has an affiliate Program, too, the Walmart Affiliate Program. Walmart sells nearly as many things as Amazon.
Some people prefer to buy on-line from a local store, where they can return things easily. (Although I think Amazon is about the easiest return there is.)
Think about where you buy things. See if they offer an Affiliate Program.
Target Posts for Advertisers
If you haven’t already, you want to think about who might want to advertise on your blog. Look at other blogs that talk about the same topics you are blogging about. Who advertises on their sites? Start a list. See what they are selling. Who would buy those products?
Once you have a good guess of your potential advertisers target audience, write for them.
How Much Does It Cost?
It doesn’t have to cost much at all to get started as a Blogger. You can have a Blog on DreamHost for as little as $2.59 a month. They install WordPress for you and even register your Domain Name for free!