9 Ways to Make Money from Your Blog Without Google AdSense
Blogging is a money making tool. No doubt about it. Thousands of people around the world earn a living from blogging. The common assumption is that Google AdSense is the only way to profit from your blog.
Wrong. We’ve listed 9 ways to monetize your blog without using Google AdSense. While AdSense is the best contextual ad network, it’s not the only option. What happens when you’re banned by AdSense or you don’t get approved? Should you pack it in and forget about monetizing your blog?
Some of the top blogs I know do not have Ads. Blogs such as Shout Me Loud and Neil Patel make a ton of money every month through other monetization techniques. Neil Patel is against using AdSense. He believes you can make more money selling your own product rather than using AdSense.
Experiment with Multiple Platforms
There are over a hundred monetization services online. Try a few and see how it goes. Look for a solution that works for your niche.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with a new ad network. Read reviews, case studies and income reports to see how much they pay bloggers.
Affiliate Marketing
For those who don’t use Google AdSense, affiliate marketing is their primary source of income. Don’t listen to people saying you’ll make $1,000 in a day without any effort. You need a proper plan to reach sustainable income with affiliate marketing.
At the core, affiliate marketing is a partnership between a blogger and a retailer to earn money. The affiliate retailer gives you a code that serves as a website link. You can use this link on your page to connect with the company’s product page.
To convince your audience, add information that sells the product/service as the best. Tell them the benefits and give the product your stamp of approval. Your positive review nudges the audience to purchase from you. Affiliate programmes give between 2%-50% of the profit. Retailers are more willing to increase your percentage if you get a consistent flow of income from affiliate marketing.
Be careful not to choose products of ill-repute that tarnish your image. The last thing you want is to receive emails from unhappy customers whom you’ve recommended the product to. It helps if you’ve tried the product yourself.
9 Ways to Make Money from Your Blog Without Google AdSense
For instance, I got invited to join a platform but I noticed most of the products were hair, clothing and cosmetics. They had nothing to do with digital marketing or copywriting. The SEO product they had involved “buying SEO”. The name insinuates you’re buying traffic, links and everything in between.
Only choose products relevant to your blog. Give an unbiased product review based on your honest opinion. Include a disclosure at the top of the post letting your readers know that the post contains an affiliate link.
Sponsored Posts
9 Ways to Make Money from Your Blog Without Google AdSense
To an outsider looking in, a sponsored post isn’t different from other posts on your website. It has the same tone and writing style. The key difference is that you’re either paid to write and post on your blog or paid to publish a written post.
Some companies want one mention of their product in the post while others want a detailed review. Some brands want you to publish a pre-written post for a fixed fee.
As your blog grows in popularity, seek opportunities with brands whose interest align with yours. Setup a page listing guidelines and information for companies to contact you.
Sell Ad Spaces
9 Ways to Make Money from Your Blog Without Google AdSense
High-traffic blogs are a magnet for marketers who want to sell their products. Sell banner ad spaces on your blog for a product relating to your niche.
The revenue from ad spaces is higher than anything you’ll make through Google AdSense. Negotiate for a price and ensure the product is a good option for your audience. Create an “Advertise With Us” page. Here, you list your criteria for marketers who want to promote their products.
Create and Market Your Own Products
This is the option I recommend. Why sell ads when you can leverage your traffic and audience base? Sell software, eBooks, training material and anything that allows you to transfer your expertise to your audience. People are willing to pay good money to learn a practical skill.
If you’re selling an eBook, ensure it’s packed full with information your readers can’t find elsewhere. For products and services, show them how it solves problems. You’re an influencer, which means they already trust you. All you have to do is convince them to buy what you’re offering.
Find the Next Best Thing to AdSense
Let me be clear. Nothing else compares to AdSense in terms of Revenue Per Thousand (RPM) impression. But there are alternatives such as Media.net to consider. They manage Bing and Yahoo! Contextual Ads. They’ve grown exponentially thanks to their partnerships with advertisers and large websites. But Media.net only accept websites in the English language with a decent amount of traffic from the UK, US and Canada.
Similar to Google AdSense, Media.net has a flexible pricing model, easy implementation, support for multiple types of ad and works with AdSense on the same website. Other options to consider include Adversal, PropellerAds, RevenueHits, AdsOptimal and Clicksor.
Promote Amazon Products
You can make a tidy profit when you sell with Amazon Shop. Amazon is one of the best affiliate commission generating company. You earn money by promoting, selling or advertising their products.
Sell Premium Content
This advice only comes into play when you’re getting crazy traffic. You have a loyal audience who can’t get enough of your content. They comment, share and like your posts on social media. How about a private corner where you go the extra mile with premium content?
You cover a topic in-depth on your regular blog and pick a unique angle to explore in your premium section. People love to hear an influencer’s take on a trending or divisive topic. It should be information they won’t find elsewhere.
For instance, if you run a health and fitness blog, you could write an article on the group of foods that cause people to gain weight. In your premium section, you’ll break it down into calorie count and create a food plan that helps people lose weight sustainably.
Sell Services
Sell your expertise on your blog. Create a page with the title “Hire Me”. What do you excel at? Is it writing, website design, development or SEO? Whatever services you offer, use your blog to market your services.
Conclusion
You don’t have to give up on a profitable blog. There is life beyond Google AdSense. Affiliate marketing is a top choice because it is sustainable with a resilient sales funnel. Alternatively, combine sponsored posts and affiliate marketing. Whatever channels you choose, ensure your audience benefits.
Author Bio
Chima Mmeje is a blogger and copywriter. She has a weak spot for small companies because they remind her of the underdog. When she is not working on client deliverables, she helps bloggers and small businesses improve conversion through content marketing. You can find her at Zenith Copy.