Question / Discussion 2019 - Looking to Monitise my blog

The Reverend

The Reverend
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So, as I've said, I'm planning on looking to monitise my blog in 2019. By that I mean I will be willing to have sponsored posts on there.

I'm sure there are things I need to do and my questions are as follows;

1) What 'pre-work' can I do on my blog?
I'm planning on adding the media kit to my blog. Is there anything else I can work on now ready for making myself more attractive?

2) Is there a formula to working out what I should charge?
Do you work out how long a 'post' takes to create? Do you do it as a multiplier of your viewing stats? Is it based on your DA?

3) Anyone I should avoid taking sponsored posts from?
Is there a dodgy company that treats bloggers like rubbish?

4) I know I need to pay tax on my earnings (I have a day job), do I need to tell the tax man straight away?
Also, I plan to put 50% of all earnings into a savings accounts to pay the taxman. Can I deduct costs from this figure (web hosting/research/IT equipment/etc)?

Anything else I should think of?

:)

Thanks,

The Reverend
 

Jon

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So, as I've said, I'm planning on looking to monitise my blog in 2019. By that I mean I will be willing to have sponsored posts on there.

I'm sure there are things I need to do and my questions are as follows;

1) What 'pre-work' can I do on my blog?
I'm planning on adding the media kit to my blog. Is there anything else I can work on now ready for making myself more attractive?

2) Is there a formula to working out what I should charge?
Do you work out how long a 'post' takes to create? Do you do it as a multiplier of your viewing stats? Is it based on your DA?

3) Anyone I should avoid taking sponsored posts from?
Is there a dodgy company that treats bloggers like rubbish?

4) I know I need to pay tax on my earnings (I have a day job), do I need to tell the tax man straight away?
Also, I plan to put 50% of all earnings into a savings accounts to pay the taxman. Can I deduct costs from this figure (web hosting/research/IT equipment/etc)?

Anything else I should think of?

:)

Thanks,

The Reverend

1) Create an identity on your site with a loga / slogan / colour scheme / get your social media game UP UP AND AWAY across all platforms as when you apply for paid ops you will need to put in your social media numbers more often than not. You also need to be guest posting EVERYWHERE and upping your backlinks so your DA rises as it is DIRECTLY related to how much you are going to get paid.

2) If it's just an SEO person paying for a backlink then it's up to you what you charge as they would typically (in my experience) pay you for either inserting a link into your existing content or giving you a copy'n'paste blog post to put on your site so time wise it's very minimal so you are just charging people for having a link off your site.
You have a DA of 19 with THESE being your top linking inbound domains so I would look to charge £75-£100 per link insertion / copy and paste op.

If you are talking about campaigns which would be a mixture of you writing content , social media promotion etc then it's up to you to add on to the previous price for how much you time is worth.
ALSO I would say factor in the size of the company. If say McDonalds come after you wanting a backlink and say they only have a budget of £40 then call BS on that and NEGOTIATE. ALWAYS NEGOTIATE ON PRICE!!

3) Entirely up to you. Your blog, your content

4) Yes you can tell HMRC you are earning self employed style. However, as you have a full time job as well you can tick the box that lets them take the tax you owe out of your main PAYE pay which makes life very easy.
 

The Reverend

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1) Create an identity on your site with a loga / slogan / colour scheme / get your social media game UP UP AND AWAY across all platforms as when you apply for paid ops you will need to put in your social media numbers more often than not. You also need to be guest posting EVERYWHERE and upping your backlinks so your DA rises as it is DIRECTLY related to how much you are going to get paid.

2) If it's just an SEO person paying for a backlink then it's up to you what you charge as they would typically (in my experience) pay you for either inserting a link into your existing content or giving you a copy'n'paste blog post to put on your site so time wise it's very minimal so you are just charging people for having a link off your site.
You have a DA of 19 with THESE being your top linking inbound domains so I would look to charge £75-£100 per link insertion / copy and paste op.

If you are talking about campaigns which would be a mixture of you writing content , social media promotion etc then it's up to you to add on to the previous price for how much you time is worth.
ALSO I would say factor in the size of the company. If say McDonalds come after you wanting a backlink and say they only have a budget of £40 then call BS on that and NEGOTIATE. ALWAYS NEGOTIATE ON PRICE!!

3) Entirely up to you. Your blog, your content

4) Yes you can tell HMRC you are earning self employed style. However, as you have a full time job as well you can tick the box that lets them take the tax you owe out of your main PAYE pay which makes life very easy.

Hi @Jon

Thanks for your input. I do need to rebrand as it hasn't changed in nearly 3 years!

Guest Post will involve me writing 'spare' blog posts....something I'm not too great at doing so I will need to improve on that.

Regarding HMRC I'd prefer to have them do it separate (I think) as I'd want to keep my employer away from what I'm doing.

:)

Thanks,

The Reverend
 

Jon

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Hi @Jon

Thanks for your input. I do need to rebrand as it hasn't changed in nearly 3 years!

Guest Post will involve me writing 'spare' blog posts....something I'm not too great at doing so I will need to improve on that.

Regarding HMRC I'd prefer to have them do it separate (I think) as I'd want to keep my employer away from what I'm doing.

:)

Thanks,

The Reverend
Your employer won’t have a clue. All you get in a change in tax code that’s it :)
 

fraserbooks

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Have you tried quoting for sponsored posts yet? I have been approached to write an article about choosing a care home. I used to be an assistant nursing home manager in a previous life so I could do it. I don't realy do social media. I wonder what I should say. I was told the budget was between £30.00 and £80.00.
 

Jon

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Have you tried quoting for sponsored posts yet? I have been approached to write an article about choosing a care home. I used to be an assistant nursing home manager in a previous life so I could do it. I don't realy do social media. I wonder what I should say. I was told the budget was between £30.00 and £80.00.
go in at 80!!!
 

The Reverend

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Have you tried quoting for sponsored posts yet? I have been approached to write an article about choosing a care home. I used to be an assistant nursing home manager in a previous life so I could do it. I don't realy do social media. I wonder what I should say. I was told the budget was between £30.00 and £80.00.

I haven't - No-one has approached me for sponsored posts! :D
 

Jon

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I assume Mediavine haven't got back to you still ;(

For the sheer amount of traffic you get on your site I would just flip your theme to fix whatever scripting error is stopping the media.net ads from appearing on your site as you are losing out on some major income there by only having them appear when people view your site on their smartphones!
 

The Reverend

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I assume Mediavine haven't got back to you still ;(

For the sheer amount of traffic you get on your site I would just flip your theme to fix whatever scripting error is stopping the media.net ads from appearing on your site as you are losing out on some major income there by only having them appear when people view your site on their smartphones!
Still no reply.

I've updated my theme so hopefully it works better with the media.net adverts.
 

The Reverend

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My God! The ads are staying on the screen.

All you need to do now is use https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-ads/

and insert some ad code within the articles like you see on TMS Blog and you are off to the races!

giphy.gif

"OH MY GOD ITS FULL OF STARS!"

Glad to see it is working.

I'll check that plug-in out.
 

Jon

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giphy.gif

"OH MY GOD ITS FULL OF STARS!"

Glad to see it is working.

I'll check that plug-in out.
aye, install it, create some adcode on media.net for lone rectangle shaped ads and I would say set it up so that one appears under paragraph 1 and another before the last 2 paragraphs at the bottom.

Then you should be good to go!
 

The Reverend

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aye, install it, create some adcode on media.net for lone rectangle shaped ads and I would say set it up so that one appears under paragraph 1 and another before the last 2 paragraphs at the bottom.

Then you should be good to go!
Well. One day in and zero improvement.

One day I got over 8k impressions and remained at $0.00

Yesterday (first day on new skin)

2.5k impressions and $0.00
 

Jon

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Well. One day in and zero improvement.

One day I got over 8k impressions and remained at $0.00

Yesterday (first day on new skin)

2.5k impressions and $0.00
Have you put the ads inline to your content. It may take a day or two for companies to start bidding on your inline adspac

Also drop a line to your account manager! They are there to help you and will create ads that Match your colour scheme / themeing on your blog which can create a big difference so they look more natural on your site
 
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The Reverend

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Have you put the ads inline to your content. It may take a day or two for companies to start bidding on your inline adspac

Also drop a line to your account manager! They are there to help you and will create ads that Match your colour scheme / themeing on your blog which can create a big difference so they look more natural on your site

Not yet. I'm unsure if I want to flood my posts with ads. I was planning on putting my media vine ads in line...

giphy.gif


Just really disappointed with media.net - 8k impressions and ZERO payment? I'll keep an eye on it over the next few weeks but frankly. I'm more likely to accept anyone who is willing to offer me a curlywurly a month in payment for a ads than get any more media.net ads on the blog.
 

Jon

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Not yet. I'm unsure if I want to flood my posts with ads. I was planning on putting my media vine ads in line...

giphy.gif


Just really disappointed with media.net - 8k impressions and ZERO payment? I'll keep an eye on it over the next few weeks but frankly. I'm more likely to accept anyone who is willing to offer me a curlywurly a month in payment for a ads than get any more media.net ads on the blog.
The companies are bidding in real time on the space you are offering. The same way mediavine would

Sidebar placement isn’t so hot but inline contextual text ads are as companies like that opportunity

Text ads inline are a Lot less intrusive than picture one I always Find
 

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