Comments on: How Do I Make Money From My Blog? Should I Put Ads On It? http://www.taoofprosperity.com/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging create a non-striving business Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:30:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Emma http://www.taoofprosperity.com/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-1922 Emma Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:50:26 +0000 http://www.taoofprosperity.com/2008/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-1922 =) Glad I could help. =) Glad I could help.

]]> By: Robin http://www.taoofprosperity.com/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-1907 Robin Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:09:18 +0000 http://www.taoofprosperity.com/2008/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-1907 Thank you so much for this response, Emma. It reminded me of how the Google ads first affected me on other people's sites - especially when they appeared before the blog-text. Then I assumed that this was just an inevitable aspect of "monetizing your blog," in the same way that one might have thought of direct selling as an inevitable part of marketing a product. Now it's clear that you don't really need to do anything distasteful and alien to yourself to get your point across. Quite the contrary, successful blogs seem to market themselves. Well, I don't mean that one doesn't have to be attentive to them. It's like a child. You must be totally sensitive to the child's development, yet relinquish the need for immediate, let alone constant, control, and - wonder of wonders - the child grows. Thank you again for the answer. I thought you might be irritated by the quest for clarification, but you gave me more than I expected here - more new thoughts rather than just a "translation." Thank you so much for this response, Emma. It reminded me of how the Google ads first affected me on other people’s sites – especially when they appeared before the blog-text. Then I assumed that this was just an inevitable aspect of “monetizing your blog,” in the same way that one might have thought of direct selling as an inevitable part of marketing a product. Now it’s clear that you don’t really need to do anything distasteful and alien to yourself to get your point across. Quite the contrary, successful blogs seem to market themselves. Well, I don’t mean that one doesn’t have to be attentive to them. It’s like a child. You must be totally sensitive to the child’s development, yet relinquish the need for immediate, let alone constant, control, and – wonder of wonders – the child grows. Thank you again for the answer. I thought you might be irritated by the quest for clarification, but you gave me more than I expected here – more new thoughts rather than just a “translation.”
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]]> By: Emma http://www.taoofprosperity.com/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-1906 Emma Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:57:31 +0000 http://www.taoofprosperity.com/2008/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-1906 Hi Robin, Everything on your site communicates your brand in some way. So, if you have ads, those are also communicating something about your brand. They are part of the entire experience of your site. If the ads are really relevant and part of something you are personally recommending to your readers, then they can add to your brand - because you are recommending them as an expert, and they are congruent with the rest of who you are and what you are doing. If they are just random Google ads, that mostly sends the message "I want to make money off you, the reader." On some blogs it doesn't hurt too much, because the content is less personal and more commercial. In those cases, there are usually enough ads to be relevant. But on most blogs Google ads are jarring and make the reader feel like the author isn't there to be a blogger but rather to try to make a few cents from clicks. It diminishes trust and the overall experience of the site. Emma Hi Robin,

Everything on your site communicates your brand in some way. So, if you have ads, those are also communicating something about your brand. They are part of the entire experience of your site.

If the ads are really relevant and part of something you are personally recommending to your readers, then they can add to your brand – because you are recommending them as an expert, and they are congruent with the rest of who you are and what you are doing.

If they are just random Google ads, that mostly sends the message “I want to make money off you, the reader.” On some blogs it doesn’t hurt too much, because the content is less personal and more commercial. In those cases, there are usually enough ads to be relevant.

But on most blogs Google ads are jarring and make the reader feel like the author isn’t there to be a blogger but rather to try to make a few cents from clicks. It diminishes trust and the overall experience of the site.

Emma

]]> By: Robin http://www.taoofprosperity.com/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-1904 Robin Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:44:50 +0000 http://www.taoofprosperity.com/2008/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-1904 I see I'm a little late in responding to your blog, but I think it is still relevant today. I agree with you, and this has helped me to understand how to think about the affiliate advertising craze and how important it is to "monetize." You mentioned the problem of "diluting your brand." I think that this makes sense, but could you explain this a little more? Thanks for any thoughts... I see I’m a little late in responding to your blog, but I think it is still relevant today. I agree with you, and this has helped me to understand how to think about the affiliate advertising craze and how important it is to “monetize.” You mentioned the problem of “diluting your brand.” I think that this makes sense, but could you explain this a little more? Thanks for any thoughts…

]]> By: Peter Chee http://www.taoofprosperity.com/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-312 Peter Chee Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:48:35 +0000 http://www.taoofprosperity.com/2008/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-312 This in an interesting post that you have. It's also in an non-threatening environment, where I don't feel like someone is trying to sell me some great new way to make more money the fast way. Thanks for your insight into this. I think a lot of times people get caught up in the really successful stories where bloggers make six figure salaries. I guess if it's just passive income where you get a check once in a while and the ads are small and relevant enough then it doesn't transform your blog into a splog, then why not! This in an interesting post that you have. It’s also in an non-threatening environment, where I don’t feel like someone is trying to sell me some great new way to make more money the fast way. Thanks for your insight into this.

I think a lot of times people get caught up in the really successful stories where bloggers make six figure salaries. I guess if it’s just passive income where you get a check once in a while and the ads are small and relevant enough then it doesn’t transform your blog into a splog, then why not!

]]> By: Wei Liang | ABloggerBlog http://www.taoofprosperity.com/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-277 Wei Liang | ABloggerBlog Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:06:36 +0000 http://www.taoofprosperity.com/2008/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-277 Hi Emma, Great response from you. But new bloggers goes crazy when they see that they are making $50 from their blog. And this might be the way to keep them blogging. I feel that people can accept the fact that bloggers are placing 125x125 ads by the side as long as it is related to the niche. Just my 2 cents on this. Wei Liang Hi Emma,

Great response from you. But new bloggers goes crazy when they see that they are making $50 from their blog. And this might be the way to keep them blogging.

I feel that people can accept the fact that bloggers are placing 125×125 ads by the side as long as it is related to the niche. Just my 2 cents on this.

Wei Liang

]]> By: Emma http://www.taoofprosperity.com/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-276 Emma Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:20:52 +0000 http://www.taoofprosperity.com/2008/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-276 Heya, Thanks for visiting. =) I think most people who try to monetize their blog for the first time with ads don't make more than pocket change and end up diluting their brand, which means they lose earning potential in the long run. Each person seeing the blog has a bit of reaction like 'ick, those ads aren't relevant' rather than a pure 'wow, this blog is so awesome'. (this is brand dilution = creating cognitive dissonance in your user) I think it has to do with awareness of business concepts. And sure, people are going to experiment and learn the hard way. But if I can save the world from one more AdSense-laden baby blog, I'll be happy. =) It's the difference between seeing your blog as an investment in a platform that will help you later, vs thinking "hey, I can squeeze 50 cents a day out of it with ads!". Emma Heya,

Thanks for visiting. =)

I think most people who try to monetize their blog for the first time with ads don’t make more than pocket change and end up diluting their brand, which means they lose earning potential in the long run. Each person seeing the blog has a bit of reaction like ‘ick, those ads aren’t relevant’ rather than a pure ‘wow, this blog is so awesome’. (this is brand dilution = creating cognitive dissonance in your user)

I think it has to do with awareness of business concepts. And sure, people are going to experiment and learn the hard way. But if I can save the world from one more AdSense-laden baby blog, I’ll be happy. =)

It’s the difference between seeing your blog as an investment in a platform that will help you later, vs thinking “hey, I can squeeze 50 cents a day out of it with ads!”.

Emma

]]> By: Wei Liang | ABloggerBlog http://www.taoofprosperity.com/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-275 Wei Liang | ABloggerBlog Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:18:59 +0000 http://www.taoofprosperity.com/2008/how-much-traffic-do-you-need-to-make-money-blogging/#comment-275 Hi Emma, You provide some concrete information on monetizing blogs. But I believe selling ads space would be the bread and butter of most bloggers who tried to monetize their blog for the first time. The more advanced bloggers will know that selling your own created products are the most profitable when accompanied with a good sales copy. I guess it all bores down to the level of confidence one have in monetizing their blog at different phase of blogging. Wei Liang Hi Emma,

You provide some concrete information on monetizing blogs. But I believe selling ads space would be the bread and butter of most bloggers who tried to monetize their blog for the first time.

The more advanced bloggers will know that selling your own created products are the most profitable when accompanied with a good sales copy. I guess it all bores down to the level of confidence one have in monetizing their blog at different phase of blogging.

Wei Liang

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