Is there a "right time" to start monetizing your blog?

Hello everyone! I've just jumped on the blogging bandwagon with my blog Chickstravelflicks (www.chickstravelflicks.com).

It's slowly picking up readers but I still have a long way to go before it reaches a significant threshold. Should I wait a while before going the Adsense route?

Thanks everyone and happy blogging.

Vanessa

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chris Richardson on January 4, 2010 at 11:49pm

I would look at having one or 2 small ads from the start so that they don't look so foreign on your blog when they do all appear. As you build up your readers and built a relationship with them then maybe look at some more.

Permalink Reply by Craig Martin on January 21, 2010 at 2:12am

And consider using yeildbuild.com instead of just slapping the adsense code on. They're great. (And I wish yeildbuild gave me a commission :) )

Permalink Reply by Aly & John on January 27, 2010 at 12:35pm

I've added a few ads with commission junction but not much success so far with it. I think when the re-designed page goes up I'll look into a new system. I'll look into Yeildbuild Craig, you should get a commission. ;)

Permalink Reply by Flygracefully on January 27, 2010 at 11:27pm

wow. yieldbuilder is great.

Permalink Reply by Marjorie Hope Rothstein on February 2, 2010 at 8:03pm

Hi
Just checked out your blog-great design! Can you suggest someone that can do mine for me?

Permalink Reply by Stephen Bugno on February 18, 2010 at 10:22am

I've been advised to wait until 5,000 unique viewers per month until you start selling direct advertising. (Hoping to get to that point very soon) I've also been told to avoid adsense. To wait until I have enough viewers to sell direct ads, because it's much more profitable, (but also more work). (Although I do use adsense now, it's not making me very much money. I will probably ditch it in the future when I get direct ads). Thanks Craig, I will look into yeildbuild. I had absolutely no luck with commission junction. I think it's a lot of trial and error with getting the right advertising.

Permalink Reply by marta @ ATravelAroundtheworld on February 23, 2010 at 3:33am

we had no luck with adsense and have been advised too that you have to have hundreds of readers to make it works, but even so i read many reviews that is not worth it. thanks graig for the hint, i would also have a look at yeildbuild

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Anne McIntire on March 14, 2010 at 9:22am

I'm not sure. I guess I'm not there yet.My viewing has been growing *so slowly.* In addition to creating content, how do you girls/guys promote yourselves?

Permalink Reply by Nathan Comp on April 7, 2010 at 7:50pm

I'm new to this game, too, and was wondering this same thing. Has anyone had success with affiliate programs? It's too early for direct advertising, but my thought was there is a lot of cross-promotional potential with affiliates. Some of the claims I've read about affiliate programs seem rather fantastical. Is there any I should be weary of?

Permalink Reply by Bonnie on May 16, 2010 at 9:46am

In my experience with my philippines travel blog, I just tried hard to drive up the PR and alexa rank and then I started getting emails from folks wanting to advertise on my site. My Alexa rank is pretty low now (I kinda neglected this blog) but it used to be under 100K. Adsense, well unless you're getting a high volume of visitors, the earnings not going to be very significant as keywords for travel are not that high CPC wise. Could pay for your annual hosting though. :)

Permalink Reply by Craig Martin on May 18, 2010 at 8:15pm

Just to let you know, it's possible to get thousands of visitors a day and make under a dollar on adsense. Just sayin'

Permalink Reply by Gray Cargill on May 19, 2010 at 9:34am

Like Stephen, I've tried Adsense and Commission Junction with no luck at all. (Granted, I started with both of them shortly after I created my blog, before it built any momentum, which was a rookie mistake. Still, I think if I were to try them both again today, I'd have the same results.) I am not particularly fond of the model any more, because it seems to me you're giving away free real estate on your website without the certainty of any kind of compensation. Even if people aren't clicking on those links or ads, the companies are getting exposure and name recognition. They win, while you may not.

I have had several companies approach me to purchase text links on my blog, but when I point out my policy of making sure that ads are identified as such, they lose interest. (No loss to me, as far as I'm concerned.)

I'd be interested to know how people approach potential advertisers for direct advertising. I am not good at self-promotion or marketing, but am willing to learn.