When should one start monetizing a legitimate blog?

[Bisturi]

Hello everyone,

First of all, thanks to all who help out, I have a legitimate blog that I am building my name around. It has been 6 months already and it is becoming popular but there is a long way to go still.

The blog is becoming more popular, as mentioned, but that is because I am working hard on creating original and attractive content (I write all my content and do everything myself). I have a paid job (completely unrelated to my blog) and the blog is requiring many hours of my time which means I need to start seeing monetary rewards soon as otherwise it will not be sustainable in the medium term. I realize that if I started trying to monetize the blog with ads now I would only be making $10, if anything, per day which is minute to what I earn with my current job.

My question is, when do you guys think it is time to monetize a blog? Is there any time specifics? Perhaps a daily average of visitors to reach? Popularity on Facebook and mainstream social networks? Potential daily earnings? I am well aware that inserting ads, and what not, too soon will damage my reputation and this is why I have decided to keep the blog ad-free so far despite everyone in my blog field populates their blog with ads like it is going out of business.

Likewise, what is a good way to go about slowly monetizing on the blog without damaging one's reputation? Google Ads? Single ads? Start selling products/affiliates?

For the record, I cover various fields and the blog is original in content. I average between 100 to 300 visitors per day (depending on when I post and effort posting backlinks) but I am still not popular on Facebook/Twitter (damn is it slow to get real Facebook Likes and people to follow on twitter the legitimate way).

I appreciate any help gents.

Many thanks.

 

[poweronics]

You can start monetizing your blog from day one. But as you have a blog with manual content adding and not autoblog so it takes time to earn money from it. Use adsense to start with.

 

[flx89]

i always monetize websites or blogs after they >1000 visits/day. Until then it's better to keep as less ads as possible.

You can just sell some blog posts if you got offers. Just my opinion

 

[ndaram]

after you get a large traffic then you can start display ads..

 

[GimmeMoney]

I suggest that you skip the ads and aim to get every visitor on your list instead. By capturing their email address, you'll be able to promote to them over and over again rather than just once. Most people don't spend money on their first visit.

A great way to sell to your visitors without sounding like a douchebag is to give tips on how to do something and promote products that make those tips easier/faster/better. That way it looks like you're helping them (which you are) rather than just selling them.

 

[paulcarter97]

$10 a day is not bad thing. Well maybe it is small comparing to your offline job, but additional $10 a day is not hurt at all.

 

[SouthernGirl]

I started monetizing from day one, but I have yet to improve my traffic. Hoping I see good results once I do!

 

[mastermind110]

Actualy alot of people start monetizing from the day one. But as you have a good old blog and i guess you have a good traffic start with adsense or buy sell ads. Just keep your blog clean and neat, don't put alot of ads to earn more.

 

[Acquisition of Money]

I would start to monetize when there is a steady visitor count. A "steady visitor count" can be interpreted in various ways, for me it is at least a few hundred Unique Visitors per day.

 

[AaronsArcade]

The question shouldnt be when...rather how much and how. I see alot of sites that merely throw ads on making the site look garbagiee. Taking the time and adding the ads correctly can be done at anytime...Taking the time to blend the ads into your content is key.

 

[Bisturi]

Thank you all for the replies.

I apologize for bumping this two week old thread but I have been away and returned today. Instead of starting a new thread, I think it is better I continue asking here.

I am averaging anywhere from 100 to 200 u/v/d sometimes it goes up to 300-400 on a day I post a big article and promote it a bit. I am hardly getting any organic traffic for I haven't tapped into my keywords (learning SEO) so all traffic I get is from links that I manually put (not spam) as I associate the blog with my name and reputation as an expert.

To be honest, I am starting to think that unless I have thousands of quality visitors coming in, there is no sense in putting ads in my blog. I mean, what is the most I could make a day? $1-$5 while making my blog look spammy/cheap? My income would come from my reputation and ebooks/product reviews/etc.

I have been reading around and unless you have a lot of specific blogs/websites with quality content, high PR and links, you will be making pennies on ads. I am seeing that those who earn a living from ads are those who satisfy what I have just mentioned. Please feel free to comment on this and whether you agree or not.

Since I am trying to associate the blog to my name, what would you guys recommend me to also look into? I already write quality and unique content and the area in which my blog is in is fairly untapped and has potential for me becoming a recognized expert.

Appreciate your replies

 

[nanexo]

Hello, you should start creating your PPD account from the first day your blog was created. You already wasted the clicks that should be converted in to bucks. You need to create an account and place the codes on your page.

 

[nikao]

do I understand correctly the blog is building your image of an 'expert' in a certain area?
if so, stay away from the ads. I reckon you use the blog then to sell your services? Or ebooks on the subject or video training or ...... anything an expert can sell?

 

[azguru]

It's never too early to start. If you can put some adsense in their tastefully, it should not deter visitors. don't over do it though

 

[nightsun13]

Monetization can start with 30-40 UVs a day.

1. <100 UVs -- sell your services (designing, seo, content etc)
2. <500 UVs -- promote offers (affiliates)
3. <1000 UVs -- contextual ads (adsense , chitika etc)
4. >1000 UVs -- mix of all

Mailing lists should be created as soon as possible. Its a gold mine which can be re-used again and again.

 

[Junior the goon]

I would do it from Day one !
because there's always a potential clicks lost + less suspension if your traffic is very low and then out the blew you get tons of visits

 

[Bisturi]

do I understand correctly the blog is building your image of an 'expert' in a certain area?
if so, stay away from the ads. I reckon you use the blog then to sell your services? Or ebooks on the subject or video training or ...... anything an expert can sell?

Well, it is actually a very interesting niche in that it still hasn't taken off because it is an untapped niche. There are no specific products per se (at least of any relevance although it is slowly building up) and my goal is to, if things go accordingly, produce the product myself! Until them, my site is beta testing the potential market with a cost of $8 a month and my time investment.

I really don't want to spoil my reputation since I'd like my site to be my hegemony for when the niche takes off (primarily through me).

I have taken the advice in this thread here and it is good to hear that there are other ways than ads to monetize the site as I was already thinking of offering my services in a professional manner for related niches.

 

[Bisturi]

Thank you all for the replies too.

One question, so there is Adsense and Adwords from Google.

I have also seen these banners with a company advertising their products in reputable blogs, what do you guys call this type of ad? How would one get to have a big company (e.g multinational such as Nike or Procter & Gamble) to advertise their product on one's blog/site? Is there a specific online hub where you can see which companies are offering their banner ads or do you have to approach the marketing team of a company with an offer and get a customized ad if they show interest?

I am asking because I see many big authority blogs with banner-type ads from big multinationals which I am sure pays well and also looks stylish as an ad unlike the ugly text ads like Adwords.

Thanks again.

 

[X9RILLION]

When to monetize a blog? Great question, let me tell it to you like this.

Never ever monetize a blog until you are absolutely ready. How do you know when you are ready? Only you can know. It isn't when you reach X number of visitors per day; you will be ready to monetize your blog when you KNOW that people are reading your blog because your content is quality content.

If you monetize a crap blog, you will lose loyalty.

 

[dowser]

Why don't you ask your visitors? Create a poll or simply ask in a post! You might be surprised with the outcome. I thought the same way - I don't want to put any ads as it may deter my visitors and I was very surprised when they asked me why I don't!

Also - if you want to create a product - don't wait too long, competition is not sleeping!