Selling Advertising Allows Us To Monetize Our Sites
Selling Advertising Allows Us To Monetize Our Sites
Selling Advertising Allows Us To Monetize Our Sites . Which can tune into once of the most profitable ways to monetize your website. So, I thought we would go over some of the pros and cons of using this method. As well as what you need to have in place before getting started.
The most difficult part of the process, however, is to actually find the advertisers. So before we go much further I would like to admit this is something I am having trouble with. But I hope by sharing this article with you it pushes me to get out of my comfort zone and reach out to advertisers for my site as well.
I included some places where you can look for advertisers, but I felt that it would be useful to have one post listing all the ways you can use to find advertisers for your website.
Leveraging Your Own Site
Your own website should be the first place advertisers come to when it comes to finding advertisers. Why? Because people who are familiar with your work and they will be more willing to discuss possible advertising deals.
So if you have worked with a client in the past and you think there brand is perfect for your site don’t be afraid to let them know your looking for advertisers for your site. As they might be looking for places to advertise.
1. Put an “Advertise” link on the menu bar
So today before we go much further lets both stop and visit our navigation bar and include a “ADVERTISE” tab. Make the tab go directly to your advertising page so people looking for advertising knows exactly where to go and what you have to offer them. Plus, new clients will be able to check out all the services you have to offer them.
2. Use an “Advertise Here” banner as placeholder
If you have unsold ad spots, you could include an “Advertise Here” banner as a placeholder on one of them. Once again I need to go through my blog page by page and take down banners that aren’t working for me and replace them with a few advertise buttons on my site. So are ready to do the same thing?
3. Write a post welcoming advertisers
If you have a blog, you could write a post inviting advertisers. These post will work pretty well because it allows you to elaborate your offer. Inside this post you will be able to explain what kind of audience your blog has, what kind of traffic it gets, what are the advertising options available and so on. This is the same information you will have inside your Media Kit.
Now, you will get new readers throughout the year. So I would make this post evergreen and as things change on your blog you can re share it and update. I would say at least every 3 months or as the Seasons change as advertisers follow the Holidays.
Also include this information in your newsletters as someone may read it that didn’t see the information on the blog. Also as you build your email subscription list I would suggest sending a email out every couple months reminding your readers you have advertise space on your site.
5. Put a message at the bottom of blog posts
Once you start to blog add a small blurb that will show up on the bottom of every post stating you have advertising available. Once again this isn’t something I have done so far but since I use WordPress I need to get this done sooner that later as all I have to do is edit a single.php file and my message will show up on all of my pages.
Once again if this is something you don’t know how to do and your using a VA then you can ask them to do this for you as it will save you time. Since you will not have to research how to add the file. Or search on Google or YouTube as I am sure they will have a video that will tells us exactly what to do.
6. Put a message at the bottom of your feed
Now we can also put a message at the bottom of our feed. With us doing this website visitors and RSS subscribers will see it. With WordPress, sites we can create easily create a custom message to be displayed at the bottom of our feed with the RSS Footer plugin.
Once again this is something I would reach out to Elle to do for me as I do not know anything abou the RSS Feed or how it works. But if it would bring in new advertisers then I am more than willing to check into it. So who’s with me on adding a message to our RSS Feed?
7. Check the comments on your blog and see who is commenting if it clients you would like to work with contact them and ask if they would be interested in advertising on your site.
Now even if it isn’t clients that are leaving comments on your blog but readers still take the time to answer them as they are your readers and it can lead to Guest Post or new followers. Plus you never know they just might be your perfect client as they could have a business and you wouldn’t know if you didn’t visit there site or ask questions.
8. Examine who is linking to you
Apart from examining who is leaving comments on your blog you should also check the people linking to your blog posts. Now, before you ask me how we would check I will make sure and ask Elle to come and share with us the best way to find out who is linking to our blogs. As well as how to get more links for our blogs.
9. Reply to all press releases and review requests
Once your website gets somewhat popular inside its niche you’ll certainly start receiving many press releases and review requests via the contact form. Instead of sending these to the trash bin, you should reply to all of them, stating that you found their product/service interesting, and that you believe they could benefit from advertising on your site because your audience would be a good match.
Now, I must confess something to you I never ever through a Press Release away I always email them back and if possible and it is for a physical product I ask for the items to review.
So as you see I have been shortchanging myself. As I should be asking for payment for placing this information on my site. Which if truth be none I should also be charging for reviews. Which is something Elle has been telling me to do. But I keep balking at it as I don’t want to hear no. Or I am scared they will laugh at me. But it is time to stop that and get out of my comfort zone and ask for payment. As they are paid to do there jobs so why shouldn’t I be paid as well. Because no, one wants to work for free…
Now lets Explore some ad networks:
I have worked with some in the past. But it has been a while so it is time to get to get out there and find some ad networks and start reaching out to them.
2. AdBrite
3. ClickBank
14. ReviewMe
Now, before we go any further I need to let you know I haven’t personally worked with the sites listed above. But what I can tell you is if I want to “SOAR” this year then I need to get out of my comfort zone and sign up today. Not, tomorrow and start reaching out to companies as there is still time to get some Advertising done for Valentines and also Easter.
Another way you can find advertisers for your site is to search other bloggers and websites and see who is advertising on there sites. As well as search for small companies on Facebook.
16. Contact the AdSense advertisers
As your visiting sites watch for the ones that use Google AdSense, as you can check the companies that are putting ads there and then contact them .
Search for sites in your Niche on Google and contact them to check out your blog or website and ask them if they would be interested in advertising on your site.
Also make a point to know what your key words are and then do a search for them on Google and contact the companies that pop up in your Nich as this can lead to new advertisers.
Also watch your Social Sites and who is liking or following you and reach out to them and let them know your looking for advertisers for your site. Don’t be afraid to do this as they are following you so you know they like what you do or they wouldn’t be following and liking your content.
Now I would like to suggest once you start to search for advertisers that you set up a spreadsheet online or a folder so you can keep all the sites in one place and you can always find the information your looking for.
Or find a notebook or folder you like and always print out the information and put it inside your notebook so it is always right where you can find it without having to spend time searching for the information.
So today I would like to show you some of the items I use:
Quarter Bulletin Board, Cork, 14″ x 14″, Home Organization, Black Frame
Quartet Dry-Erase Board, 2’x3′ Whiteboard, Aluminum Frame
2- Pocket Paper Folders with Fastners, Color Vary, Brand Vary, Pack of 10
Mead Filler Paper, Loose Leaf, College Ruled, 200 Sheets/Pack
Now, I also use a printer, typing paper, pen and a spiral bound notebook as well as a calendar. So I know everyone uses different systems when blogging so I would like to ask you what would be one product that you just would be lost without and why do you feel that way?
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
