As regular readers know I've long had advertising on my blogs.
After years of offering people the opportunity for BlogAds, and allowing Google AdSense to advertise as well...I've made the decision to end both.
The decision wasn't all that hard to make.
In 4 years I think I've only had 6 BlogAds on my blogs, all on The Cycling Dude, and 4 of them created by me to promote a site I liked.
GoogleAds took 3 years to earn me my first $100 check, and it would be 2011 before I'd get another. ;-D
Being an Amazon Associate has been nicer to me, at least in the number of people who make purchases by going to Amazon thru my links.
Over the years I've been approached by people wanting to put banner ads on my blogs, and go into partnerships of all sorts that make me wonder how much they explored my blogs, and the links to my traffic stats. ;-D
I plan on sticking with what I know, and understand, and expand from there.
That means utilizing what Amazon has to offer in ways I've not done before, and see what happens.
You will notice a 2nd "Mad Macedonian Recommends" in the sidebar, with 8 books, and the 1st one has expanded from 6 to 8 books as well.
Nikita plans to add his own list of Books for Felines and their Humans.
I also plan to explore making an Amazon Associate Store in the next couple of weeks to promote all my various interests as explored in my blogs.
I'm a cyclist, an urban hiker, a poet/writer, a genealogist, a music lover, a film buff, a classic TV series lover, history buff, book lover, and more, and I think I can create a shopping environment that would appeal to people with similar interests.
It is my hope that, if people like the content of my blogs, that they are encouraged to show that appreciation by going to shop at Amazon thru the links on my blog, and maybe even take a chance on something I recommend.
Will I be able to retire early due to all this Greedy Capitalistic Activity on my part?
Nope! ;-D
But I do hope to do better than I've done up to now, and maybe, eventually, make enough money to help pay for my use of Typepad, and my Domain Names, each year, and maye have something extra left over, to boot!
This year I set out to do two things. 1. Gain the Reach our Conservative Message deserved 2. Monetize
I have a great start on #1 we have an incredible reach with over 136,000 first order followers on Twitter, online magazine and 24/7 radio channel.
But the Monetization angle is a killer!
This next year I think I need to look into this advertising more professionally. I am thinking of opening a branch of my business where bloggers such as yourself and I can unite giving potential advertisers more hits and clicks for their money.
I think there are some really good models to look at out there. But on the Conservative side of the aisle no one has yet pulled this off.
If you have any thoughts, I would love to hear them!
Posted by: Chad Everson | November 30, 2009 at 02:04 AM