Once your blog has built up some traffic, you've probably considered accepting paid advertising. I'm all for paid advertising - as long as it helps both you and your readers out.
Here are 3 ways to get paid advertising on your blog:
1. Be an affiliate.
With affiliate marketing you get paid to refer people to another business. There are affiliate programs for just about anything you can buy online. You get paid when your reader takes a specific action. You don't have to come up with the ads or track sales. The advertiser does this for you. Networks like CJ have hundreds of affiliate programs you can join. You get paid by the network for all sales you refer (usually a percentage of the sale amount).
To find programs, type the name of the product or company name and "affiliate program" into a search engine or join an affiliate network.
2. Use text-based ads.
Many bloggers use Google Adsense to make money on their blog. There are plugins to help and you make money for clicks. This is how article web sites and free press release sites cash in on your content. Just be careful not to overdo it or it will make your site look spammy. If you have a targeted niche that gets traffic for high paying ads, then you'll fare better.
3. Get your own advertisers.
This is the more difficult route. There are ad networks you can join that pull together many advertisers. You get some code and they rotate banner ads from their network. You usually have to meet their requirements to be approved and you get paid per 1000 impressions. Or, you can get your own advertisers. To do that, you'll have to use your sales skills. Put a link to your rates and spaces available for advertising. Give potential advertisers stats and reasons to advertise with you. Start low and raise your prices as demand goes up. At first you might call companies you have a relationship with and offer a special intro rate.
To get an idea of what people might expect to pay, search for a phrase like "vitamin store Indianapolis" and find some rate cards for what it costs to advertise in local newspapers and online to reach a similar audience.
Do you accept paid advertising on your blog? Please let us know about it in the comments.
Guest post by Eric Rea
Eric Rea is a college student from Canada who loves Blogging and Sports. He spends his free time working on his own blogs and playing sports. You can follow him at @ericwilliamrea.
How to Get Paid Advertising on Your Blog is a post from: We Blog Better. © 2010. Share it freely, but please link back to this source.