Recent Woman's Day magazine article "11 Easy Ways to Put Money in Your Pocket" by Mary Hunt offers a few "super simple ideas that are like found money." Hunt suggests that starting a blog is an easy way to earn some cash. "You can write about anything," she says, "and once you do, you can place ads, using … Google AdSense. Each time a visitor clicks on an ad, you earn money. And once you've earned $100 you'll get a check in the mail…."
Found money? Super simple? What about the part where you have to spend months writing posts good enough (years!) to attract sufficient readership to allow you to hit the $100 mark during your lifetime? Granted, my blogs aren't plastered with ad units, and maybe there's some AdSense secret that I'm missing (if there is, please let me in on it), but pasting AdSense on a new blog isn't going to bring in much cash any time soon.
Since I started with AdSense in May, I've made a whopping $40.71 with AdSense for Content. I get about $.18 every time someone clicks on an ad. If you extrapolate my data onto a blog that gets 1000 impressions a day (more than 500 a day in unique visits, which takes months and months for most of us) you're talking one click every four days, or about $1.37 a month. The blogger will wait SIX YEARS for a check at that rate!
I have much better luck with AdSense for Search, where in the same length of time I've earned an average of $1.08 a day. A blog that gets 1000 page impressions will earn a dime a day, or about three dollars a month. At these rates, it would take almost two years of using both Adsense for Content and AdSense for Search to make enough for Google to issue you a payment!
If making money with AdSense is your motivation for starting a new blog, the only check you'll be getting any time soon is a reality check.
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Angie blogs at BlogCoach.org and BabyCheapskate.com. She is also the founder of free-baby-stuff site Freepeats.org. Angie lives in Atlanta with her husband and young son, and very fluffy dog.
photo by littleamandie via Flickr
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Glad I am not the only one that thinks this. I had a few on my site, but I am not holding my breath on making any money =)
that is so true!
I've made more money with other affliates than adsense that is for sure and in a lot less time.
I've been considering getting rid of Adsense altogether at least for awhile. Just clutter if it isn't making me any money!
Great post!
That's a good piece of advice about Google custom search. I have AdSense on my blog, but so far, not a lot of return!
ahahhaa..omg that is too funny (but true!). That is not easy money at all, you are so right. There is a loooooooooooot of work that goes into a blog, esp if you're out to make them dollars.
good post!
You're right that it isn't easy money, but if you're blogging about the right topics, putting the ads in good converting positions, and writing good content – you can definitely make some steady income using adsense. I started out with adsense when I launched my blog about 8 months ago. It took me 3-4 months to cash out adsense for that first $100 – but since then I've cashed out every month – with the amounts going up every month. Now I'm making between $6-8 a day from adsense.
Keys for making money with adsense:
1. Ad placement
2. Good content
3. traffic
4. stick-to-itiveness.
I agree. The blog I had before this and tried to work with Adsense. I think I made a dollar. In like 6 months. Not easy.
That's pretty hilarious….but sad too. I would never say that blogging is easy money. I've been at it on a few sites now for a while and I've made money. But compared to the hours I put in total, it's less than minimum wage (and that's more than AdSense). I'm getting a better return now, but I've been at it for a year and I have a large number of readers. I've also had to learn about it. It's not something you just throw up there.
It would be funny if people didn't end up putting so much time into trying and not get anything out of it.
This is great information. One site I've found to generate income online is at http://www.flixya.com. It's a great site for sharing videos, photos and blogs — and making friends! Check it out?
I have to agree, Angie! We did start out with those ads, but quickly realized how little we were making with it. I think we have them still in just a couple of places and once in a blue moon we get a check from them, which is like a happy surprise.
I read that same article from Mary Hunt and thought the same thing. I also smile when people say, "Oh, all I have to do is start a blog and I will make money." If only it were that easy, right?
I've not had the problems most of you have had. I started my Adsense account in mid April. I didn't do so well the first month. I've earned an average of $1.00 per day for a couple of months and now up to an average of about $3.00 per day. My second payment is in the works.
Some beats none and it is not causing me work to get this income. I'm pleased and will leave it there. I even have income from it on a blog that is stagnant.
Personally, when I visit a blog I click a Google ad and do a Google search for something I have an interest in while I am there as my thank you to the blogger. I don't abuse it and I hope everyone knows DO NOT CLICK ON YOUR OWN ADS OR DO SEARCHES ON YOUR OWN SITE! It is a violation of the TOS you agreed to when you signed up.
Regards!
Ginger
Ginger,
Maybe placing ads between each post as you've done brings in more clicks. I'm glad to hear about your success!
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