1) Use a Notification Bar
I’m sure you’ve noticed the red bar floating at the top of this blog. 😉 I created it using the Foobar plugin (affiliate).
If you’re not a fan of pop-ups or floating advertisements, a notification bar is a more subtle/less intrusive way of highlighting something you want to call attention to.
With the Holidays approaching, many sites are running special offers, discounts, etc. This is a fabulous way to promote them.
Do you have your own product? This time of year can be slow for many niches. Boost sales by discounting your products and utilize plugins like this to promote them.
What I like about Foobar is you can rotate multiple advertisements and it’s highly customizable. In fact, I was a tad bit overwhelmed by all the settings at first.
The plugin also creates an option on the Edit Post/Page screen that allows you to show different links on different pages.
I just started using this last week, so I’m looking forward to experimenting with different ways to use it.
The Hello Bar (no affiliation) seems to be the preferred plugin for bloggers, and there’s even a free version (unlike Foobar). However, Hello Bar’s free version has a 25-click maximum.
The paid version for Hello Bar starts at $5/month — which is quite economical for established sites, but maybe not so much for newer/less-trafficked sites.
I chose Foobar because it has everything I needed and I prefer a one-time charge over a monthly fee.
You can watch a demo below…
2) Promote The Theme You’re Using
This tactic probably works best on blogs about blogging/design/Internet marketing, but nevertheless, it’s never a bad strategy to tell your readers what theme you’re using — even if it’s a subtle mention in your footer.
Satisfy the curiosity of those readers who may admire your theme design. You’ll be surprised how these links can convert — especially if you have an awesome design.
Recently I added an ad for The Genesis Lifestyle theme (affiliate) at the bottom of this blog inside my footer widget. That link is now one of my highest converting links for the Genesis theme.
Not to mention, Genesis has a pretty generous affiliate program and their products convert incredibly well due to their sleek-looking sales pages.
If someone purchases their entire suite of themes, you’ll earn a whopping $122 just like that as shown below from a recent sale on 12/1/2012.
What’s interesting is I don’t even promote the bundled theme package — I only promote The Genesis Lifestyle Theme or the main Genesis homepage.
So you have to give credit to a merchant who does a great job of upselling their other products. Gotta love that!
Plus, it definitely helps when you use the product you’re promoting. I don’t think I’d sell as many of their themes if I didn’t.
For the first time ever this product is now my #1 earner for this blog. The banner helps call more attention to the link, and no doubt the video link aids with conversions too.
3) Refresh Your Older Posts and Pages
Now more than ever, Google is all about fresh content. I did a complete re-write of an old post because it was outdated. The older version of the page was ranking #7 on the first page of Google for the targeted keyword.
After the content update, the page jumped to position #3. Coincidence? Maybe. Who really knows exactly what Google’s algorithm is up to these days? But it never hurts to refresh your content.
Yes, you may earn a boost with regards to SEO, but it’s always beneficial to update older pages. You may find ways to work in new or better-performing affiliate links.
I know I keep going back to Genesis, but this old post on WooThemes and Thesis is actually converting for the Genesis theme just because of the text update at the top.
It pays (literally) to go back and make those updates!
4) Display Your Toolbox
If done right, a tools/resources page can really rev up your earnings.
Why? Because it’s easier to convert with affiliate marketing when you actually use the products.
Also, many of your readers are naturally curious about what tools/services you use for your site or niche anyway.
Tip 1: Mix up your links and recommend both free and paid resources. It’s tempting to load up the page with nothing but affiliate links, but we all know there are some fabulous free resources out there as well.
Plus, it looks suspicious when every single recommendation is tied to an affiliate link.
Tip 2: Organize your resources into categories to make the page easier to scan/browse.
Tip 3: Show demonstrations of the products you recommend via video. As you can see, I reference several of my videos on my resource page.
We all know that videos convert, and if you’re a YouTube partner, those added views can pad your earnings as well.
Here are some blogs with well-done resource pages:
John Paul Aguiar’s The Money Dummy Blog (I like how JP divided the page up.)
Corbet Barr’s ThinkTraffic.net (Notice the cleanliness of his landing page.)
Ana Hoffman of Traffic Generation Cafe (The equally-sized graphics add a nice touch.)
And if you want to drum up some extra attention to your page, create an eye-catching image like this…
5) Use an Affiliate Plugin
This is one of the easiest ways to monetize your WordPress content in seconds — especially if you use a plugin that automatically converts keywords to links in your posts and pages.
Now, I splurged on the Max Blog Press Ninja plugin (affiliate), but you don’t have to. There are more economical and free varieties like Thirsty Affiliates (starts at $39), Pretty Link (free and paid versions), etc.
However, many of the free plugins don’t automatically convert the keywords in your content, so be sure to check on that.
While redirect plugins are amazingly convenient, just remember that if you have a technical issue and/or have to uninstall them, you’ll lose all your links. This is one of the reasons I try to use these kinds of plugins very sparingly.
I hope this post offered up some tips and strategies you can implement on your own site!
Great! But I,m using Blogger. If you have any great collection about Blogger Hosting. Inform me please.
I have a problem in making my own navigation bar. I guess I still need to learn a lot of things. Thanks for sharing this, though!
I just want to ask if there is a way to squeeze in Google Adsense or does WordPress has its own way to monetize something like PPC?
Promote the theme that I will be using? Now, this looks new to me. But, anyway, I’m going to try it for a change! Thanks for the information!
Great Post! I liked the article as well as use of notification bar was new for me
Solid, practical advice. I’m glad you mentioned my favorite plugin Pretty Link
Do we really need the above stated steps as i am earning through affiliate marketing without using hellobar and all. Lisa can you elaborate these things?
You know,some years back all i want from blogging is money but now it has become my hobby and money will come itself if you have great content and exposure.
Years ago, I never thought that blogging using WordPress can be enjoyable and, at the same time, profitable! But, as always, I’m struggling when it comes to the “profitable” side! But, these information you’re giving away is a treasure! Thank you!
Thanks for the info. You are indeed very helpful and an inspiration. Thanks to you, I can confidently pursue making money online with the different options (SBI, WordPress, etc.) you provided. And I love the fact that you are a real person doing this and not some paid actor with whom I can never communicate with or see; much less get helpful advice on how to make money online.
Lisa you are a blessing, my friend told me about your site and now I know why. You gave me inspiration to do my own site and Seo and your video makes it so simple with the WordPress site, many thanks for the free info.
Currently I am using Viperbar for notifications but I will be moving on Viperchill because I want to advertise multiple products.
Great tips, I have a website that I made through the godaddy website builder, and complemented it with a wordpress blog, so I’ll be sure to put this to good use on http://www.fotografiaemsantos.com
You have sharing such a great tips that becomes helpful for every webmasters, Thank you for sharing….
Hi Lisa,
these are really helpful hints – many thanks for them. I immedeately implemented the notification bar and started to write the resource page.
Many regards
Hi Lisa
Thanks for the beautiful post with great tips and i think its helped me out in blogging and hope for best result.
Hello Lisa! Your blog is great! Lisa may i have your help? i am getting spam comments, do you know any plugin to stop Spam Commenting for free? I need your help regarding this?
Try Askimet or GASP.
Are these free plugins or paid?
The prices are mentioned in the post. You must’ve missed it.
Great Post! I liked the article as well as use of notification bar was new for me 😉
I love this blog. I like these ideas too, about making money on your website. They are really practical. I worry Google doesn’t like ads but you seem to me ranking well and you have ads.
Google doesn’t like EXCESSIVE ads. And if you have enough quality links pointing to your site, having ads is not going to harm you. Today SEO is more about the complete picture.
These are great tips to start extra income options, will try them out and see how things turn out!
Once a gain I have to thank you for your great insight on marketing and SEO, I just changed my site from a static html site to a wordpress site while still being able to keep my original code and look. The best part is google saw the changes right away crawled my site and moved the site up in rankings.
Thanks for all the tips and to push me out of the static dying site I once had!
Hi Lisa!
Great tips! I was wonderig what you think about micro payments in the middle of blog posts? Do you think that this is rather detering or a good way to make money? It probably depends on the content, right? With premium content people are probable less reluctant to paying a small amount in order to continue reading. Have you tried it out? I’m afraid that it might scare the readers away… :S
I definitely think it depends on the content and if you are going to do this, it needs to be stellar content that is clearly superior than what you have for free. I don’t think this would work with most blogs but definitely worth a test with the right site.
Hi Lisa, I have been following your blogs for a while now and you are one of the reasons I decided to start my blog. My blog is about 8 months old and I am struggling with the decision of whether to start monetizing or not. I have a few ads on the site to make it look alive but I know it will take a lot to make money with google ads. I am wondering if I should wait until I start getting around 10,000 daily visitors to start trying other monetizing avenues ? Thanks
Hi Ebele
I always start monetizing right away. I see no need to wait as long as the majority of your content is helpful. Go for it!
@Syed, to answer your question, you can make a lot of money with 400 daily visitors depending on your niche, monetization mix and a whole lot of other factors, that is the major reason why I am on Lisa’s site – to learn new ways of monetizing my traffic, this site sure got the magical spin.
I have wordpres blog and i have 400 trafic can i earn any revenue
Using “Foobar” would be a great experience for me too. But I’m not agree with the fifth point “Use a Affiliate Plugin”.
wow what a well written post, after reading your post. I have come up with an idea to make money from my website, and now I am implementing these small but effective tips on my website. And the point you mentioned promote your theme, really that gives best affiliate earning. Thanks once again for publishing such a great post on your website.
Nice post, there some great tips for new bloggers to make more money here !
Promoting the theme that you are using is a nice idea and usually works well on blogs where you are providing blogging advice 🙂
Great selection of ways to maximise money from a website. I will definitely look in to the Foobar Plugin – sounds just like what I was looking for.
Solid, practical advice. I’m glad you mentioned my favorite plugin Pretty Link (I use Pro). It’s awesome.
with foobar plugin, can I get for free?
it would be nice if I got it.
This plugin seems unbelievably polite in offering advertising and affiliate links
Thanks for the tips Lisa, I’ll definitely be adding Foobar to my blog. I’ve been following you for a while but not doing much. You have given me the oomph I needed to get cracking. Good job.
TY for the comp Lisa.. means a lot coming from you
Great tips. Never thought these small things could even matter.. Thanks for the post.
Thanks for your tips. It helps a lot of new-webmasters around the world to learn from your experience. As a blogger i personally promote the theme that i am using.
The idea of refreshing old posts and pages is so easy you’d think it would be something you’d easily think of – but nope. Took me until reading this blog to think about it. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing. But i,m using free plugins only.
Hi Lisa,
Recently I’ve started using hellobar and have added link to deal page. ( I’ve created a deal pages where I’ve listed best deals for WordPress blogs.)
I’m also promoting skin for thesis that I’m using. Have also made few sales! 😀
Will try remaing ways as mentioned in your article now!
Very interesting tips. foober sounds really good to use.
I will definitely try this.
Thanks.
I love reading your post Lisa. As of now I still thinking to improve our site. Hoping your ideas will help us increase our website traffic and user experience. Thank you!
Great list Lisa. To be honest I believe there is a free alternative to Ninja Affiliate – SEO smart links+. It doesn’t cloak links, but some have found workaround, it’s available online. Otherwise it does links, nofollow and opening in new window if necessary. Thanks!
I use Hello Bar & after some month regularly write old content in new style. But I never used Affiliate Plugin. It seems a better way to earn more
Nice post. As a blogger i personally promote the theme that i am using. I manage to make a few sales a month with it but with other methods it all adds us. There are some nice ideas though in this post 🙂
You were nice enough to tell money making ideas based on your own ideas. Normally, people won’t tell their secrets. I notice that, you were updating the older posts. I to do this normally do it too. That was a good tactic.
Some great tips here! I’m loving your blog and I’m definitely going to have to implement some your ideas with my own.
Thanks,
Mark K.
Great tips Lisa…..but my personal opinion is that before implementing these tips on our blogs we should have some loyal readers or traffic to convert these techniques into great money.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for sharing these 5 additional ways to make money from blog. I was aware of affiliate plugins, notifications, tools, and updating of older posts. But, I never thought of recommending the Theme I’m using. I am going to do it. Thank you. 🙂
Terry
I want to add to this that, I have been blogging for a long time using best software”WP”. Almost all the proffessional webmasters are aware of WP since blogging became dominant. Almost all the facilites necessary for better ranking and promotion are provided by WordPress either itself or through plugins. The only effort to be made by WP user is producing unique and quality content.
I’ve got a couple of WordPress laying around, so I really appreciate the tips you shared there. I never though of a notification bar as a way to squeeze leads. Thanks
Hello Lisa,
Happy New Year!
This article is really a big help for beginners to start with earning money from their website. Foobar plugin for affiliates is new to me.
Thank you..
Huntkeys