Google AdSense is great and all, but I’ve been using it for an undisclosed number of months, and I still haven’t gone past the $100 mark. I did spend a good number of hours early this morning to find alternatives to the AdSense model, but failed to find a service to my liking, except the Amazon Associates program. Since most of my existing ads focus on blog-related content, the Amazon link can easily attract photography enthusiasts’s interests.
To paraphrase a classic pinoy comedy line: Traffic is good, but cash is better 
So, any advice? Feel free to comment 😀
UPDATE: Since SassLawyer sideblogged this entry, I re-evaluated how I just concluded that earning revenue is better than site traffic, and how bad-sounding it is 😕
Let me cite this though: site traffic is nothing if the visitors don’t close their browser tab without pondering on the content (or photo!) you’ve posted after reading/viewing it. Half of the traffic might even be sourced from those pesky online gambling idiots. If a blogger is already confident that he has a semblance of a relevant readership, that’s enough to be gratified. Only then should the blogger be concerned about profit Ha!
I want to participate in this program – is it really worth the trouble?
Uhm, which one? Amazon Associates? I think SassyLawyer uses one, too, better ask her, since I just implemented mine today 🙂 I really am not in a position to say if it is worth the trouble, but compared to Adsense, I am just giving it minor space on my blog.
ako google adsense din ako.. same like you. wala pa sa 100$ mark.. around 75 to 80% to go. hehehe. anyways, it will also depend on your visitors.. only a few would click the ad.. that is if the ad seems to be very interesting.. amazon associates is something like what by the way?
Well, barya na lang kasi ako, nandun na
Kaya, medyo atat na ako. Yeah, afaik, same din yung sa Amazon, pero kumuha lang din ako ng account kasi medyo attention grabbing at sikat si Amazon din. Though, I guess it would have more impact kung may US readers ako. Asa pa 😕
Sorry, I was referring to AdSense.
Paul: I’ve done some research, and it looks like its the most favorable of the existing blog advertising models based on the relevance of the ads it displays. I would be interested myself in clicking some of the ads. I’d suggest you try it, everyone has got one in their blogs, anyway. Also, there won’t be much effort, and you’ll start serving ads within minutes. All you have to do is wait until it reaches $100, and you’ll just wait for the check 😀
Hi Rain. There are a lot of avenues for blog-based revenues (sorry just had to use that). There’s contextual advertising (Google Adsense), then there’s affiliate marketing (Amazon Associates, etc.).
The key for any initiative is traffic. The more impressions you have, the more chances of people clicking. More people clicking means more chances of closing a sale (for AM). I would theorize the big Pinoy blogs out there may be earning as much as $20 for 4000 impressions per day..not bad indeed! 🙂 while I’m nowhere near that range now (traffic took a nosedive with the recent Google algo changes), I know for a fact that it’s attainable. Some people are even talking $300 a day in Adsense revenue. Read this for inspiration: http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum20/3974.htm. Anlupet di ba? Makes me want to quit my day job hehe
Anyways, there are a lot of ways to monetize your blog traffic. You can get pointers at http://www.livingroom.org.au/problogger/ and over at WMW 🙂
BTW, I really like what you did with your WP setup. What plugins are you running?
Hey, thanks man for the input. Will get to those links when I have the time.
I have two plugins on my plugin list to install and configure pa, but here’re my existing ones: http://raincontreras.com/?p=544
Oh, plus Blogtimes with Icons: http://www.diretribe.com/stuff/blogtimes-with-icons
I think we actually have the same design sense, but I guess I needed to be a little flashier to make up for my design flaws. White As Milk was also a candidate for my default theme before 😀 I think its still installed in my WP setup.
Thanks. Must try that myself.
Thanks. You may want to get WP-Amazon from Manalang.com. It works really well for Amazon Associate/WP users. The plugin author’s Pinoy too 🙂
Paul: You are welcome! 🙂
Marc: Thanks for the advice. I’ll look into that 🙂
adsense doesnt work for me as well… we need readers and clickers. 🙂
Its going to work! I need the money to sustain my needy lifestyle!
Well, I’m dangerously close to getting the Google check, anyway 😀 Hehehe
heck…i have yet to earn $5 from adsense… but hey… however long it takes… after all, i blog really just because i like documenting some of my thoughts/experiences 🙂
We’ll all get there, someday 🙂