gaining advertisers and maintaining them

Ad-ding it UpMonetizing your Blog

Who is Jennifer Prince? Wife of 18 years and mom to 3 kids!

I enjoy all things vintage, fancy shoes and getting outside.

Former Biology, Chemistry and Physics teacher turned blogger.

Hill City Bride - 2010HCB is a resource blog for brides giving them

ideas and connecting them with vendors.

clutch magazine and blog -

2012A publication and a

women’s blog for ladies in VA and

beyond.

How did I gain advertisers?

I had a mockup made of my website before it was live.

A quality media kit was designed.

I met face to face with potential advertisers.

My rates were reasonable.

I communicated my business plan to vendors.

How do you give your blog value?

Post regularly (I do M, W & F).

Do not make your blog advertorial.

Claim your Google Place to seem established.

Guest blog and accept guest blog posts (be selective!).

Put a FACE to your blog by showing up at networking events and trade shows.

Do NOT just be a blog!Be active on social media

Facebook (1x/day)

Pinterest (2x/day)

Twitter (2x/day)

Instagram (1x/day

LinkedIn (update!)

Know your blog’s worth!

Utilize Google Analytics!

Number of visitors.

WHO is coming, from where and how often?

Vendors WILL ask about this!

Create a clear

media kit.INCLUDE:~ pricing

~ size of spaces~ how to have an ad

designed

Be prepared to answer questions!

Ways you can monetize!

Banner ads - these are ads that are along the side of your site.

Ways you can monetize!

Sponsored postings - someone can pay to have their site linked to your posting.

Ways you can monetize!

Resource listings - vendors can pay annually to be listed in a resource section.

Ways you can monetize!

Vendor spotlights - paid (advertorial!) postings that are on a specific vendor.

Let people know you want

advertisers! ~ Put an “advertise”

tab on your site.

~Email potential advertisers, and MEET

with them.

~ You CAN put a blank ad box with “advertise here” on it. (not me!)

Let people know you want

advertisers! ~ Write a post about

accepting advertisers.

~At the bottom of advertorials include a

link to your advertising section.

~ Offer FREE ads.

~ Trade for ad space.

What makes a good ad? Make it something eye catching yet simple.

Utilize a photo or logo so that it is clear what they do.

No web address needed, but phone # is a plus.

Do NOT get wordy on the ads!

Be sure the ad is consistent with the site’s look.

Be selective about WHO is on your site!

Have unknown perks for your advertisers.

Feature your vendors on the site when you can, and blog about them in a non-advertorial way.

Allow advertisers to blog (and link them!).

This provides you with content.

It allows them to present themselves as an expert.

You need to KEEP your advertisers!

Don’t treat them as advertisers.

Be present year ‘round.

Have events for them.

Ice Cream Social

Magazine Debut

Lady’s Tea

Be a friend! Visit them, too.

TextText

I think outside the blog!

I created an event centered around the blog (Bliss).

The blog helped start a print publication (clutch).

We give away 2 weddings (I Dream of a Wedding).

Bonding has occurred over collaborating on styled shoots.

Last tidbits.

Treat every email as potential (even spammers who want to write a post). They see value in you and may want to advertise.

Compile an e-book (Really? Possibly!).

Write sponsored or paid posts on non-advertisers.

Think about Google Adsense. (not me!)

Thank you for your time!

I am Jennifer Hadden Prince on Facebook.

All other social media is under...

@theclutchguide

@hillcitybride