A couple of years ago, on another blog, I wrote: “I am a professional blogger and writer, so pay me in cash.” The statement summed up my feelings about the ad revenue share blogging model. However, sites based on this model continue to spring up and many of them are popular with the people who use them, so I thought I’d try to look at the issue again.
Advantages of blogging for ad revenue
Many of these sites make it easy for you to get your blog up and running, providing ready made templates. All you have to do is select a username and you have a blog. This is a definite plus for those new to blogging.
The sites usually work with Adsense, but may also use other ad networks. Most sites promote new posts on their home page, helping bloggers to get the clicks they need to start making money.
If you are more experienced and know a bit about keyword research, then you can increase the odds that readers will find your posts when they use a search engine. Using the right keywords makes your posts more visible and brings you more revenue. A savvy blogger could start by researching high paying keywords before deciding what to blog about.
Finally, if you are a prolific blogger, you can earn a lot through the revenue share model. The more posts you have on the web, the more chances there are for readers to click on ads and the more likely it is that you will make money. And the longer your content is online, the more money you stand to make.
Disadvantages of blogging for ad revenue
But there is also one major drawback to be aware of with the ad revenue share model of blogging. That is that there are no guarantees. There is no guarantee that you will make money (unless the site provides an incentive payment at the start) and there is no guarantee that the site will still be around in a few months or years. That’s why it’s worth seeking a site that has been around for a while.
Many ad revenue share sites tout the big money that you can make but this only happens IF readers find your posts AND click on your ads regularly enough for you to make money. It’s also worth checking what your share of the pie is – you may only get 50 per cent of ad revenue or may have to reach a certain threshold to receive a payout.
Is it worth it?
I’ve written for several ad revenue share sites and in most cases I have regretted it. These days, I vet the site carefully to see how long it has been around, what other writers and bloggers say about payout history and what percentage of the revenue I get. If all that stacks up, then it’s worth a look. After all, bloggers can always use another source of passive income. What’s your experience been with blogging for ad revenue?
I used Hubpages and Squidoo before and I believe that they aren't really worth it as you don't get that big a share of the profits!
You have to have volume to make money with Hubpages and Squidoo, I believe. Unless you've got dozens of lenses or hubs, the earnings are minimal.