5 Ways to Modernize your Blog Monetization for 2013

Out with the old, in with the new.

It happens every year and it never gets old.

Just as the seasons change we must adapt and adjust in business or suffer the consequences.

Do you remember why the hare lost the race to  the tortoise?

Planning + Action = Victory.

2012 introduced brand new technology to the internet.

A brand new modern internet protocol and markup language:

• HTML4 is old news.
• Now its all about HTML5, what people are calling the “Flash killer” because of its built-in support for Javascript.
• IPv5 is old news.
• Now its all about IPv6 which was created because it was projected that unique IP address will mathematically run out soon.  (I have my doubts.)

These new updates only exist because of a natural and powerful desire to change that’s ingrained in our very spirit.

Humans, you have to love us, we just can’t help it.

We are forever obsessed with finding new ways of improving everything.

We tend to take what was hard and make it easy so we’ll have more time to enjoy ourselves find something else wrong and repeat the same process again.

To justify our crazy ways these days we call it modernization.  : )

Making money or monetization works pretty much the same way.

It requires you to constantly review and improve on the old methods like:

• PPC ads
• Affiliate promotion
• Sponsored content/ Paid reviews

What was your bread and butter in 2012 could be a coffin nail for your blog in 2013.

Here’s five modern methods to monetize your blog for 2013:

1. The “How you doin” Header.

This is one of the hottest trends that I’ve notice gaining increasing popularity.

Instead of pop ups which annoy readers;  many top bloggers have switched their designs to an over-sized header and put their offer right in front of you so you can’t miss it.

You have to literally scroll past it in order to get to the remainder of the site.

Derek Halpern was one of the first bloggers I noticed doing this early in 2012 thanks to a tweet by Jon Morrow.  

WHAT TO DO NOW?  

• Understand the header is an ideal location for capturing email addresses or pitching your direct sales or affiliate products.
• Update your design in stages.  Start off using an image in your header/footer with a link to your email subscribe form until you can hire a programmer to customize your header with a properly styled email form.

2. Persistent headers and footers.

The persistent header and footer is a much cleaner way to keep your offer front and center in the eye of your reader with out using a pop up.

They’re called persistent because the HEADER and FOOTER remain FIXED on the page as you scroll up or down.  It stays there even after you click other links and pages.  It’s persistent. 

There are basically two ways to implement this popular feature:

1. Custom programming.
2. WordPress plugins.

Darren at Problogger uses the hellobar and the wibiya footer on his photography site.

Both premium plugins.

Keisha at WeBlogBetter has a custom designed persistent header that transforms from a pop up window into a text message that explains her special offer with a text link.

Lisa at 2createawebsite has a persistent header that could be a feature of her design theme “framework”, I’m not sure but it’s fast, functional, and it matches her design theme.

WHAT TO DO NOW?

• Consider testing the WP plugins and comparing your conversion rates. After 30 days or so you should be able to tell if it is helping you or not.
• Consider hiring a programmer to develop a custom persistent header and footer for your site.  Hire programmers off of positive referrals and recommendations only.

3. Thank you page.

The one thing I learned from my interview with Steve Scott, the six figure affiliate marketer is that people are leaving money on the table.  A ton of it.

Steve talks about how one link on his thank you page has earned him a staggering amount of money by itself and how much it out performs basically every other element on his site.

All it takes is one little link included with a personal message on the thank you for subscribing page.

Lesson learned:  Never under estimate the power of a captive audience.

WHAT TO DO NOW?

• Create a new page titled “Thank you for subscribing,  almost done, check your email to confirm”.
• Write a personalized and warm thank you message with a text link to your best affiliate offer at the end of your greeting.
• Update your email management system to send subscribers to this new page when they join your email list.

4. Comment confirm page.

Another example that follows the same logic from Steve Scott.

Only it’s being used by the Get Rich Slowly blog.

When you post a comment there; the comment confirm page displays a pop-under window featuring a PPC advertisement.

There is no doubt with the number of comments this blog receives that they are making a nice profit from this little feature.

The logic is simple and practical; who would be more likely to give your advertisements a click?  Well, the visitor who just gave your article a comment that’s who.

WHAT TO DO NOW?

• Promote your blog to the point that you are getting comments regularly.
• Hire a programmer or a WordPress expert to add this feature to your blog.

5. – Mobile

Facebook isn’t the only website struggling with mobile revenue.

Your blog needs help in this department too–smart pants.  

I recommend getting a modern mobile optimized theme.

It was just announced recently by the way that for the first time ever more people used Facebook from a mobile device than from a laptop or desktop.

Think about that for a second.

Now think about how YOUR website looks on a cell phone.

I don’t think people have put a high enough value or emphasis on mobile visitors.  Most blogs you visit on your phone aren’t optimized for mobile so they look bad, function poorly and hampers users experience..

I recommend instead of trying to balance between two themes one for laptops and one for mobile consider a mobile theme that you really like.  This way your site will look sharp on all devices.

WHAT TO DO NOW:

• Update your blog theme to a free MOBILE optimized design theme.
• Install a WordPress Plugin to make your site mobile compatible.
• Purchase a premium RESPONSIVE design theme that  will look great on any device rather it’s a cell phone, tablet, or laptop.

Now its over to you.  

Are you using an old ancient strategy to monetize your website in the 21st century?

What’s your plan to modernize your blog monetization for 2013?

image credit: michaelsbrown.com