Advertising Tactics That Just Don’t Make Money
By: Manoj Jasra
The advertising methods that I am about to talk about are a reflection of what I have tried on my blog from time to time.
I would also like to point out that I don’t like to drown my website with ads because I believe it completely takes away from the user experience.
* Google Adsense - Embedding AdSense is a simple way to attempt to make money but if you’re not getting tens of thousands of page views, I am not sure if it’s worth it. Google adsense does provide an interface which allows the customization of ads, however if implemented incorrectly it’s an excellent way to lose visitors. Some bloggers have been successful with it, but not me.
* Affiliate Sites - I tried adding links to both Text Link Brokers and Review Me through their affiliate program and even after a few hundred referrals were sent to both sites, I didn’t see a penny in return. If anyone has had success as an affiliate, I would love to hear about the programs they had success with.
* Feedvertising - FeedBurner offers an easy way to monetize your feed by embedding graphical ads within the RSS Feed. I ran a few ads for Verizon Mobile phones for approximately 3 months and in return made 22 cents.
A tactic I do recommend is getting sponsors for your site or blog that are part of the same vertical as your own. This makes for a win/win situation for both the advertiser (who receive qualified traffic) and the site owner (who can implement unobtrusive sponsor ads). But how do you get sponsors? I recommend writing content that is meaningful to your readers and leaving the advertising and money making for later. Good content will result in more traffic, which means more subscribers and most importantly more authority. Below are some content ideas that your readers may find meaningful:
* Develop relationships with fellow industry bloggers* Interview authoritative people in your industry, better yet Podcast
* Review Products/Services related to your vertical
* Establish yourself as a thought leader in your niche
* Offer a solution to common business pains
* Attend industry conferences and report back useful information to your readers
* Provide Feedback for other interesting post/articles
* Compile lists, example: The Ultimate Web Analytics Comparison
About The Author
Manoj Jasra has been in the search marketing industry since 2002 with Enquiro Search Solutions. His role as the Director of Technology at Enquiro involves him developing strategic relationships with technology vendors, overseeing web analytics and designing cutting edge solutions for clients. Manoj's background in software development and experience in search marketing/web analytics gives him the ability to provide strategic consultation throughout the entire online marketing process. Manoj's blog, Web Analytics World focuses on insight in Search Marketing, Blogging, Web Analytics and Technology; it is also one of the top read web analytics blogs. You can frequently find Manoj's writing at popular marketing publications.
