Aboriginal Buying Group

Blogging is the biggest new Internet trend, and it can make you money. But you need to know what kind of content to focus on in order to do that. There are plenty of failed bloggers out there, but this is mostly because they didn’t go into a strategy. In this article I’ll show you how to earn money blogging, and keep the money flow coming in. The first step is to not quit too soon, and it is going to be slow at first. Your blog must be created to bring in cash.

The top ad program that offers bloggers a chance to earn is Google adsense. Basically this is a program that allows publishers to run ads on relevant websites, and they pay a website a set amount of money every time the ad is clicked. For this reason, the program is paid per click. There are thousands of publishers who use Google adsense and there are tons of tips and tutorials out there to show you how to monetize your blog by using this great program. Signing up to Google adsense is quick and easy, and it is a great way to both advertise and make money online. Adsense accounts for some bloggers may be terminated and this should not be the end for publishers.

This mostly has to do with content limitations, there are certain types of content that are not allowed on websites that are going to be running Google adsense. Fraudulent clicks are a ticket to getting kicked out of the program but, if this happens, there are other programs to explore and you can still make money blogging. Chitika is another great program that you can use to run ads on your blog. However, if you’re not getting a lot of traffic you won;t get much money from this as it is also a pay per click advertising program. There are several information resources on their website if you would like to check out this program.

You can also opt for affiliate programs with Amazon associates and this will see you sell their products on your site. Affiliate marketing has you advertising certain products on your website or blog, and you are paid a cut if the product sells. If you build a strong blog, you will manage to draw a significant number of people who will promote you in this regard. You can also look at a private sponsorship via companies such as AdBrite and Bidvertiser, or your own text and banner links agreed on with sponsors. It is good to have a variety of programs to supplement the income you get with your blog. Keep in mind that the better and more specialized your content is the more traffic you will see and the more money you will be able to make from advertising on your blog.

Copyright 2006 Stephen Ashton

The thought of making even a part-time income as a freelance Web writer from home can be quite appealing.  Yet, finding small niche sites that are looking for articles, paying a decent amount of money, and buying content from freelancers with your particular expertise can be a daunting task. Enter online content networks. You probably come across articles on some of the larger content networks on a regular basis through search engines. Having experience working with three such networks, I’d like to share some background on content networks in general, what they’re like to work with, and then follow with a comparison of the three networks I’m experienced with.

What Are Content Networks?

When I refer to content networks, I mean a group of websites, each covering a niche topic, but still housed under one large umbrella site.  The three content networks I’ll soon be comparing are www.About.com (where I was a former writer), www.Suite101.com (where I am a current Editor), and www.AllInfoAbout.com (who I am currently building my third niche site with).  Often, sites within a content network are managed by an expert in a field who serves at the site’s writer, front-line editor / proofreader, blogger, and manager of a discussion forum, newsletter, or other site features.  In some cases, writers even have some say over the design and layout of their site and content.

What is it Like to Work for Content Networks?

What it’s like to work with content networks can vary greatly from one network to the next.  But in all cases, you have the ability to focus on a subject you enjoy and are qualified to write on (or they probably wouldn’t have accepted your application in the first place).  You also have a lot of flexibility in your schedule, because you’ll work as a freelance writer.  Despite the fact that pay scales and methods can vary greatly, you also have the potential to earn money and over and over again from the same articles you’ve written, instead of simply being paid a one-time fee.

The Networks

Please note that all information I mention regarding the networks below is pulled from personal experience and from information readily available on their websites between late 2005 and May 2006. Each of the networks reserves the right to change their general pay structures, writer requirements, and anything else at any given time, and you should check the network’s official site for the latest information.  The information below is opinion-based from experience, and will cover some of the best and worst points of each network.

www.About.com – One of the best qualities of About.com is the fact that they have the best pay structure for new writers (called Guides on the site), currently listed on their site as a $500 per month guarantee for the Guide’s first twelve months on the job.  Another positive note with About.com is that they have the backing of, and are owned by, The New York Times Company.  That fact can help Guides more easily get review copies of products and books, interviews, and other necessary contacts for information they’d like to use on their sites.  Despite how good that may sound, the biggest negative aspect of About.com is that they have somewhat rigged rules, in order to keep the network looking unified, so you have less control over your content there, and they probably take the least amount of feedback from writers.

www.Suite101.com – The difference in pay scales between Suite101 and About is similar in that the basic pay scales are based on pageview rates (the number of pageviews your site draws for the network), but different in that Suite101 currently has a set rate for all sites ($2 per 1000 pageviews as listed on their site now) whereas About’s rates are variable. The biggest plus to working with Suite101 is that the company just underwent a reorganization and is going through a series of positive changes and growth right now, including hiring a large number of writers. Suite101 is also fantastic at listening to writers’ and editors’ feedback and suggestions to consider improvements network-wide.  The biggest negative for writers would be the fact that there is no guaranteed pay.  It’s strictly based on pageviews.

www.AllInfoAbout.com – All Info About (or AIA) is a UK-based network with writers all over the world. The best part about AIA is that writers retain the most control over their content, and can decide how to lay out many aspects of their site (from their color choices to whether or not they want to include a blog to organizing their navigation structures in the most effective way to suit their content). The biggest drawback is that the network doesn’t pay.  However, writers have control over most of the ads on their site, and they can monetize them in other ways such as selling their own relevant products or services.  But despite the lack of direct payments, AIA recently started breaking sites onto their own domain names, instead of sub-domains on most networks, and running a site on their network instead of on your own can allow you network support through the writer community and enormous cross-linking opportunities to help you grow your traffic.

Overall, each of these networks has their pros and cons. If you opt to give content network writing a try, just be certain to weigh how much the issues of pay, freedom over your content, and open ears of management mean to you. Once you have your own priorities, you’re sure to find a content network that will fit the bill.