What does that mean exactly: “a ghostwriting business.”

Just curious I’ve never heard of that.

-Lauren
.-= Mama Laundry´s last blog ..How to Fold: Underwear =-.

However, I started my ministry site Beauty by Design Online.com before I started blogging at Life from my Laptop. I started the site to raise awareness about my speaking and events, that has been successful. I speak (for pay) at least once a month.

I also in the midst of getting my ministry rolling started a ghostwriting business back in 2007, this was to help me pay the bills while I was getting other things going. THis is where I make the bulk of my income (basically a part time salary or better).

THough I struggle sometimes with wanting more, I believe I am doing better than I sometimes think.
.-= Alyssa´s last blog ..I Could Use Your Help =-.

I’m a minimalist (so I don’t like a lot of ads on my blog) and somewhat of a control freak (in that I want final say regarding what ads will/won’t run on my blog) so a lot of ad networks are not a great fit. Rather than straight ads, I’m focusing more on forming a few select (mutually beneficial!) sponsorship partnerships with companies that are natural fits. It will be interesting to see how this whole thing evolves…

My blog is a spin-off of my home laundry business actually, so I definitely don’t consider it a personal blog. But it IS personal in that I talk about my life, how I do laundry, etc. But I feel like it is more educational than personal – or at least I hope to steer it in that direction.

I found through my home laundry business that so many people struggle with laundry and want to make it a simple process. Hopefully I can help with that.

All of that to say, I’d definitely like to monetize in the near future.

Where would you suggest a new blogger start? I’m still a baby at 6 weeks old! I don’t have blog stats, etc. Maybe start there?

Thanks for the opportunity to link up! Found you on Twitter, btw. I can’t wait to take a look around! I can already tell you have a wealth of info for this new girl!

-Lauren

I think the best way to monetize a personal blog is with an ad network. There are restrictions, sure, but you’re also getting the benefits of professionals working on your behalf. I also sell some private ads — text ads work well for me. I have some that renew monthly, and it’s nice a nice source of “passive income”.

I find affiliate links to be very NOT successful. The only exception is at Christmastime. I do pretty well with Amazon affiliate links with my gift guide (and I also ask family and friends to do their Christmas shopping through my affiliate button.)

Nice post, Sarah! Thanks for putting it together.
.-= Musings of a Housewife´s last blog ..Advice for Making the Most of Blissdom =-.

I love writing and blogging, but if I am going to keep it up, I need to at least supplement our income somehow.
.-= Kristina´s last blog ..armpits through the eyes of a four year-old =-.

The things that attract advertisers aren’t necessarily the things that attract readers. The trick is to figure out how to find the common ground. Great points!
.-= Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy´s last blog ..Bloggers, Conferences and Sponsorships: Think Outside the Box =-.

I remember when the whole “putting Google Ad links” or even graphic ads was seen as “betraying the blogging community.”

There are still those who will be offended that anyone would even consider putting up affiliate links on their blogs. Those same people seem to have no problem with buying magazines with advertising or watching television with commercials – but they don’t seem them as the same sorts of thing: informational &/or entertaining writing by someone who needs to make a living too.

I’m going to Affiliate Summit West in Las Vegas next week. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what the affiliate community does differently from the non-monetized bloggers. Not sure that I’ll have the right stuff to make it a good idea – but I’m willing to learn!
.-= Lucretia Pruitt´s last blog ..Just Breathe. =-.

My hubs has done quite well as an affiliate marketer over the last year and I’ll tell you this: The best sales he gets are not from blogs, the way that we blog, it’s from sales pages. You know, the kind you land on with all the colors and fonts and click heres? It’s true. He has tried to get me into affiliate marketing on my blog, and I’ve tried a little bit of it. I’ve told him, it just doesn’t work the same way. I laughed last week when he and his business partner started a blog to try to sell some affiliate item and I found out they gave up after a week. I said, “why?” He said, “it didn’t start making money fast enough.” ROFLOL. No KIDDING – right?

I don’t care if it’s “old school” or “chump change”, Google adsense and amazon affiliate links have done better for me than anything else I have tried, since I don’t have a highly specific blog niche, like, say, coupons or recipes alone. It’s not much but I’m keeping them around. I do have a few things I want to try in 2010, including writing my own ebook. We’ll see how that goes.

Niri
.-= niri´s last blog ..My Shake ‘N Bake Tofu! (Giveaway – 5 Winners) =-.

{Although I DID get the savvywidget link…thank you!}
.-= Muthering Heights´s last blog ..Isn’t It Just Like Life? =-.