This is a guest post by Jonathan Beebe from make money online blog
How do you make money from blogging? Many ways, right? Let’s see, you can put up Adsense ads, you can sell ad space for a flat rate, you can recommend different products you’re affiliated with, or you can create your own. There are countless ways to monetize your blog, so which one should you go with?
Try Neither.
The answer is neither, because while you can use any of those methods to make money, you won’t make much unless you first monetize your website using: pure value. That’s right. You need to monetize your site with value before you can expect to make any money from actual monetization models. The term “pure value” translates simply into giving to your visitors before you can expect them to give anything to you.
No, I’m not saying you need to pay your visitors! But in a sense, you will be. You need to give them exactly what they came to your website for, and if possible, surprise them with even more. For example, if your website is about improving your life, then make sure you site has genuinely good content that’s going to help your visitors do just that.
You can also offer them free downloads, offer some of your paid services for free occasionally, and just get in the habit of giving, giving, and giving of your value and you’ll find that the value will come back at you in the form of more money than you could ever expect to make from your website.
How Does It Work?
When you monetize your website and don’t get the results you expect, and you focus your efforts on trying different monetization methods, such as switching ads, promoting a different product, etc. you’ll find that you’ll run into the pretty much the same problem every time, which is right back where you started.
However, if you focus most of your efforts on making absolute certain that the site you’re running is providing genuine value to your visitors, then it doesn’t matter how you are actually monetizing your website, just about anything will perform!
So once you know you’re providing value, and that the content on your website is actually worth something to your visitors, then that is the time you should start optimizing the different monetization models you have in place. But don’t worry, that’ll be the easy part.
Why? Because at that point, your visitors will not only be grateful for what you’re providing them, but they’ll also trust you as an expert in your field. As a whole, people are very willing to pay for something valuable, and are ready to buy what a genuine “expert” is recommending, if even just an expert in their eyes.
You Still Need Visitors
Of course, all of this is assuming that you are also getting yourself “out there” by promoting your website and networking with others, which is beyond the scope of this article. The take-away point here is that when you DO get visitors, you need to treat them right by focusing on what you’re going to GIVE them, not focusing on the different ways to siphon money from their wallets.
If you’re ever in question as to whether or not your site is providing genuine value, simply ask yourself, “What about my website would others not want to live without?”, or “What am I providing to my visitors that they would miss if it were gone?”. If the answer isn’t what you would want, then use that as your foundation for improvement.
To sum things up, if you want to make money from your website–aside from actually GETTING visitors–focus on providing value to them and the “making money” part will naturally follow.
–
Jonathan Beebe is an online entrepreneur and list-building expert. Visit his blog for regular articles on making money online, building your list, and a FREE report that takes you step-by-step through the exact method he used to quit his day job. Get it FREE at the official Online Income Formula website.
PDF 
Ready to Get Started with Your Freelance Writing Career?
Ready to Get Started with Your Freelance Writing Career?
11 Pings on "Monetize Your Blog by NOT Focusing On Monetization"
36 Comments on "Monetize Your Blog by NOT Focusing On Monetization"
Excellent advice Jonathan. Whatever you want to get you first must give. Money is value in green/white pants. To get value give plenty of value. Once you’ve offered enough value and share the opportunity with enough people the money floodgates open up.
The mistake many newbie bloggers make is to try to manipulate the user. Instead of attracting followers by providing helpful content they try to lasso them with forced competitive marketing strategies. All the tweaking of ads and promoting of different products doesn’t mean a darn thing if you’re not giving people value for their time spent visiting.
Successful bloggers don’t have to chase people down. People are more than willing to come to them and buy whatever they might be offering because the blogger spent hours providing loads of free content. Give, receive.
Thanks for sharing your insight Jonathan
.-= Ryan´s last blog ..Ryan Biddulph Quotes – April 28, 2010 =-.
Hi Ryan,.
That is true, value should be in the first place while money come after.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment.
.-= Onibalusi Bamidele´s last blog ..Monetize Your Blog by NOT Focusing On Monetization =-.
As a beginner in the realm of blogging, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this advise. I’m far from the point of monetizing my blog and don’t know if I ever will, but this is sparkling advice for anyone wishing to reach out to others via their blog.
.-= Sandra Lee´s last blog ..High oxalate foods can trigger pain and inflammation =-.
Yeah! exactly,
Jonathan is a great blogger and internet marketer (I mean great), just from my communication with him and reading his book, I know he is doing great.
Thanks for the nice comment.
.-= Onibalusi Bamidele´s last blog ..Monetize Your Blog by NOT Focusing On Monetization =-.
Excellent advice. I think most people go into blogging or building a website thinking about the money first. However, time and time again, it’s those who focus on providing value that wins in the long run. I just started a blog purely for fun and one to earn an income. I’m going to follow both carefully and see what develops.
.-= Kim – self improvement and motivation´s last blog ..Optimistic Quotes =-.
Hi Kim,
Yeah! Value wins at last, Irrespective of the marketing tactics you use, only those who provide real value will last long.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment.
It seems that many people do fall into the rush to monetize their blog, though it seems like there are fewer sites that are just filled with ads now. Of course, that could just be due to Google’s algorithm improvements.
Anyway, as you say, “You Still Need Visitors”. Without traffic, no one will ever click on your ads anyway. Thank you for your thoughts.
Have a great day!
Also, Onibalusi – I have been seeing you everywhere lately – good job!
.-= mark´s last blog ..5 Steps to New Motivation and Productivity =-.
Hi Mark,
You are absolutely right. I think the most important thing is traffic, have it and every other thing is easy.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment.
In my opinion, the contents are the most important thing that we need to focus on. Monetization is just a subproduct for the blog. I love to write something that i know to share with others. I will feel happy if someone love to read my article even though i didn’t get any penny from writing that article.
.-= KS Chen´s last blog ..Win the Prizes for SEO =-.
Hi Kok,
Exactly, the content is the most important thing, I also feel happy when people love my writing, especially when they give their valuable comments.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment.
.-= Onibalusi Bamidele´s last blog ..Monetize Your Blog by NOT Focusing On Monetization =-.
Well said
a very good post for newbies in blogging .We need to add value to our blog by writing unique contents before we think of monetizing .
.-= Shabnam Sultan´s last blog ..How to back up your WordPress database with WP-DB-backup =-.
Hi Shabnam,
You are absolutely right, Value is essential before monetization.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment.
Onibalusi
You are right bami, MMO should be not MMO sometimes, it seems to be passive income, build up your brand and money will come
.-= Tinh´s last blog ..WiredTree Super Specials 2010: 50% Lifetime Discount =-.
Yeah! Exactly, I will have to put this in my head from now on “build up your brand and money will come”
Thanks a lot for the nice comment,
Onibalusi
Well said. But newbie bloggers can never stop thinking about “doing it”! Monetizing is all what stays in their mind. But of course, everybody grows up! In a sense, giving importance to the content shows your maturity and that’s the starting point of any successful blog. Now the money making part automatically follows.
Thanks for the nice post.
.-= Jane Sheeba´s last blog ..Review Of Nokia E72: The Smart Smartphone =-.
Hi Jane,
You are absolutely right. Newbies are always thinking of monetization, but I think that mentality just have to change. Blogging is not only about money, it is all about giving value.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment,
Onibalusi
On one of my blogs, I never intended to monetize it, I just kept writing and writing. I didn’t even bother optimizing the pages. I keep pumping out quality content.
Now it’s reaching nearly 10,000 visitors a month and rolling out advertising and affiliate links has proved to be a great way to make money.
It’s important to build an audience first, create powerful content and leave the monetization when it feels “right”.
.-= Murlu´s last blog ..How To Make Money Online With ArticleMe =-.
Hi Murlu,
Exactly! Build your audience first and the money will come.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment.
Although providing valuable content is important , in my opinion , providing all that a visitor requires , makes your visitor satisfied and he sees no other reason to click any other link on your site ! Hence a downward trend in your PPC earnings !
Hi Sebin,
You are absolutely right. You can make money through affiliate promotions, your readers will believe in your recommendations, you can also make money through your own products.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment,
-Onibalusi
Thats is what I am preaching as well but with the nature of blogging and bloggers, people will always try to find quick ways to monetize their own blogs so even though there are like hundreds of this type of post, people will still not follow this unfortunately.
.-= Melvin´s last blog ..Why Personal Posts Get LOTS of Traffic =-.
Hi Melvin,
You are absolutely right, some people will listen but the majority will just not listen.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment,
Onibalusi
Thanks most of the Blogger wants to make money with blog. But we should not just try to make money in every sector. I really love johnchow. But now a days i seems he is trying over to make only money.
Hi Alamin,
Thanks a lot for the nice comment.
-Onibalusi
Simply put learn to creep before you walk this should be the value of any business build yourself to become trusted and reputable before you start making money good post brilliant read food for thoughts for me
.-= lawmacs´s last blog ..Can you get rich by blogging ? This is a question which i am being asked by many of my friends who aspire to be a blogge =-.
Hi Lawmacs,
Exactly! Build yourself to become reputable and trusted before you start making money. This is a fodd for thought.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment,
-Onibalusi
Very great post. Without visitors you will nor make any money. So we should thank them for visiting our blogs or website
.-= Kharim´s last blog ..Become A Friendly Blogger =-.
Exactly!
Thanks a lot for the nice comment,
-Onibalusi
Quite true. I fell too in the ‘Quick money’ lie, centering too much in AdSense and less in the content of my work. Luckily I’ve changed it
After all, who’s going click at your ads if you don’t offer them any content to read?
.-= David´s last blog ..Economy Lesson: The Assault on Saving, by Henry Hazlitt =-.
Hi David,
You are absolutely right, nobody will click your ads if you have no content.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment,
-Onibalusi
thank you Onibalusi for the advice
Hi Olawale,
Thanks to my guest author
-Onibalusi
Great post. Making money is the end goal for most bloggers and the temptation of monetizing one’s blog is too hard to resist. I think I am going to remove all my adds and focus on my traffic!
Hi Craig,
Thanks you are inspired, This post was written by Jonathan Beebe, an experienced internet marketer. He knows what he is saying.
I am very happy to have you here
Thanks a lot for the nice comment,
-Onibalusi
Providing value is truly important, however, it is so hard to get away from the monetization part of things. I think I have to rethink a lot about my blogging and my goals.
Thanks for bringing more clarity to my thoughts on this topic. I appreciate the post a lot!
.-= Michelle Tukachinsky´s last blog ..Want To Make Money Online? Is Making Money Online As Easy As It Used To Be? =-.
Hi Michelle,
No Problem. I am happy this post helped.
Thanks a lot for the nice comment,
-Onibalusi