Holiday MoneyMaking Ideas for your Blog

The Monetizer previously mentioned how to make money with Amazon Associates, the program where you can earn commission on Amazon products purchased by viewers of your site. Basically you provide a link or picture or widget involving Amazon products on your site and a reader or visitor may click over to it. If the reader buys that product or any other product on Amazon (after arriving there through your link), you receive a percentage referal fee. I've noticed some increases in sales through other blogs I author thanks to the holiday season. It's a pretty sweet deal (sign up for Amazon Associates here).

So now that the holidays are much upon us, you should consider adding more of these Amazon links into current posts. Don't do it too forcefully as many readers don't want that much "in your face" selling. But there is one idea you may consider using, and that is a blog entry listing off your Holiday gift ideas. You could even make this a series of posts, such as "Top 10 Christmas Albums" or "My 10 Favorite Gift Ideas". From there you add in the appropriate Amazon links for each of your items in list-like fashion and include your own personal commentary or review of each. It can work quite effectively, and even if a reader does not purchase one of your suggested items they just might stick around Amazon and do some other holiday shopping. These posts also work well as you may be able to use them next holiday season and so forth. People may even stumble upon the posts from internet searches done all year long as well. You may even consider calling the post "Gift Ideas for the Pet Lover" - if you author a pet blog, or "10 Great Presents for a NFL Fan". That way it becomes more useful year round.

You can also tweak other current monetizers you may be running on your site. For example, AuctionAds allows you to insert keywords that are comma-seperated when you set up the ad codes. Depending on your blog theme, consider items or types of items that may find their ways onto holiday wishlists (that relate to your content). Sometimes a little extra effort can bring in that extra revenue, especially this time of year when pocketbooks tend to open a bit more.

These are just a few very simple ideas on how to increase possible holiday revenue from your blog. With just 2 weeks until Christmas, here's 3 other articles from the blogosphere which discuss how to monetize or update your blog for the holidays.

Make Money With Christmas and Holiday Offers by Zac Johnson

Getting Your Blog Ready for Christmas by Problogger

What Your Website Wants for Christmas by Darin.CC

2 Risky Online MoneyMakers

The Monetizer has given you his recommended moneymakers and reviews of new moneymakers that have come along. Well now it's time for some other (risky) moneymakers you may want to consider. Proceed with caution, because these may be fun, they may be addictive, and they just may destroy your bank account. But it's quite possible you could profit big time as well...

(Disclaimer: Monetizer is not being paid to write about these sites or moneymaking ideas, does not advocate them and advises you to proceed with extreme caution).

Online Sports Betting

Online Sports Betting - The Monetizer will be the last one to advocate betting, but if you're a risk taker and consider it fun, why not? I learned a while back that it can be quite a thrill, but when you have to pay rent or mortgage, last thing you want to do is be betting :) Usually those who are very well off find the most fun in this, but we all know it can be problematic. However, this is an example of another way to possibly make money online, albeit risky in nature.

With Bodog you can bet on sports outcomes from just about any sport you can imagine (even Cricket). The Monetizer enjoys sports, especially basketball, and found it interesting that on Bodog you can bet on things like "Will Steve Nash lead the Phoenix Suns in points and assists in his next game?". And not only can you make sports bets there, you can play poker online, bet on horses and even bet on things like "Who will win Amazing Race or America's Next Top Model" (interesting because these aren't really live outcomes on TV like pro sports). I haven't fully investigated the rules on US Sports Betting, but if Shoemoney is betting on UFC, it can't be illegal (Note: Wikpedia claims online sports betting is ambiguous, and states: online bookmakers generally operate outside of the U.S. Some online bookmakers do not accept wagers from the U.S. due to these unresolved legal questions). Sports betting is yet another online moneymaker, but due to its ambiguity as well as the potential to destroy finances and lives, proceed with caution.

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Online Poker Rooms

Online Poker Rooms - Monetizer's been to the casinos plenty of times, in various states, but never picked up the popular game of poker. I was more of a roulette guy, which involves no skill, just pure luck. I also was good with Blackjack slots and made a bit of extra money, and Bingo because I was more awake than the other players. But these days we see poker has become what some say is a legitimate sport, and you can make big bucks playing it. There's many variations of the game from five card draw to five card stud to the very popular Texas Hold Em'. If you have the guts and want some glory (and know the rules and strategies) this can quite possibly be a lucrative way to make money online. Additionally, it seems various sites, such as Full Tilt's site, offer a referral program where you earn up to $100 for a friend joining.

Just like sports betting, be careful here. Online poker has been controversial in terms of making money online. See the article here debating its legality. Gambling can become a serious problem, as you begin betting more and more, eventually finding yourself in a deep hole. But if you know what you're doing it's a possible moneymaking option. You can learn more on the Poker Wikipedia page.

So you may want to throw caution into the wind and start making sports bets online. Or put on your best poker face and head to the online rooms to win some cash. While both of these are risky due to gambling addictions or legal debates, it's usually the big risks that offer the big rewards. Again, I don't advocate betting online, because I prefer stable and established moneymakers, such as The Monetizer's Recommended MoneyMakers.

And if you have experience, good or bad with either of the above moneymakers, drop a comment...

Ranking Changes & Get Reviewed!

I'm happy to report the Monetizer's Alexa Rank has jumped another 100k into the 400,000 range. I'm aiming for under 100,000. It's funny because another blog I've maintained for over a year with over 250 subscribers and plenty of steady traffic took months to hit the 500k range. It may go to show which niche readers have the Alexa toolbar installed and which do not. If you don't have it feel free to download the toolbar here, or scroll down to the bottom of my blog where you see The Monetizer's rank displayed and go through that widget.

On the flipside, the 45n5 Top Money Maker blog rank went down 2 spots. It may be due to when they update or just shows how competitive the make money niche is. Most likely a few people experienced slightly bigger Alexa rank jumps this time around. No worries there, it's 2 spots and the Monetizer can easily rebound from that one.

I also wanted to toss out this offer, while it's still free. If anyone reading this would like a blog site, e-book, or product they have reviewed, feel free to contact The Monetizer so we can discuss it. I'm not entirely about getting paid for reviews right now. I do belong to ReviewMe and have considered setting a price for them, but will wait to get the blog rank up and self-hosted.

You may be asking, "So why would I want to be reviewed here?"

1 - You will get feedback from someone who's been in an IT position. While it doesn't mean it's expert advice, it may provide you with tips here and there to help you improve design or get more subscribers.

2- I've read a ton about the Make Money Online, marketing, SEO and blogging fields, and feel I can impart some of the tips and tricks to others.

3- It's another website user's opinion you can use to possibly shape what you're doing for more readers, exposure and money making!

4 - It's free advertising on a blog with the aforementioned 421,127 Alexa Rank and Google Page Rank of 3. I'm also advertised in several other spots so you will gain exposure.

So feel free to drop me a line, because it will not only give you an honest opinion and a free review but its also some free advertising for your site or product! And take advantage of it before it starts being monetized!

The Entrecard High School of Thought

Hello friends, it's the Monetizer here with a Public Service Announcement about EntreCard. I previously discussed what Entrecard is all about, and ways to advertise with Entrecard. I have seen recent discussions about people being rejected at EntreCard when trying to advertise on certain blogs. It might be just like being in high school, where you have the new kid at school (new money making blog) and then the popular crowd, like John Chow, Problogger et al. And you have the various "cliques" and those who will like your blog or not.

You have to take it with a grain of salt when you're trying to make your way in the blogosphere. Realize that some of these guys got big through hard work and they can't accept every ad coming their way. A lot of them are extremely busy and the ads most likely pile up. Many of them have learned the ways of the net and charge real $ to advertise with them. You also have to realize some blogs are very picky and specific as to the types of ads and even styles of logos they want on their site. Does it mean they hate you? Not necessarily. Does it mean they are trying to screw you out of money or business? I doubt that highly.

When Monetizer first signed up at EntreCard, it was still early. There were maybe 20-30 Make Money Online blogs in the mix. I had an immediate 10 requests for ads, mainly because they realized the rock bottom purchase price of 2 credits. I accepted all of them because I know some people realize a good opportunity and pounce on it. Today there are over 80 blogs in the Make Money category and it's still growing. Competitive? Most definitely. It's hard to guess at the reasons for rejection but....

Here's 5 Reasons You Might Get Rejected on EntreCard ad:

1) The site publisher/owner doesn't like how your card looks with their design. For example they have a pink and black design. I can understand why Monetizer as cute a character as he is doesn't mesh with that.

2) The site publisher/owner wanted to wait til their blog was worth more credits to advertise on (capitalism at its finest).

3) They accidentally clicked "Reject". Hey it happens.

4) They seriously didn't like the tone of your blog, what you had to say or it's design.

5) They don't like bloggers who try to monetize their blogs. That's always been a point of contention in the blogosphere. So if you're in that niche, consider that as well.

Quite honestly a few of those reasons are high-schoolish, but hey it's the real world right? We get rejected all the time for things, but sometimes you have to overcome that and be great in spite of it.

I've been rejected by 4 or 5 blogs and I don't even remember who they are. I'm fine with it and believe that either they didn't like the colors of my logo for their blog site, or they wanted to drive up credits to advertise on their blog, rather than just allowing the early birds to get the proverbial worm ;) My previous advice on advertising mainly suggested trying to find good bargain blogs to advertise on, and I'd like to toss in an additional suggestion. Advertise on the smaller, newer blogs at 2-10 credits, even if they don't have impressive ranks. With this you might gain a new reader and a new networking opportunity, and you want all of them you can find in blogging.

Feel free to advertise on Monetizer 's EntreCard widget as well. All members of the blogosphere are welcome here..