I was reading a post on GarryConn.com yesterday about the new direction he was taking his blog. The post was titled Make Money Online by Shutting Your Mouth This really got me thinking about this site and my attempts to monetize and profit from it.
Affiliate Sales
Many bloggers are making money from affiliate sales. Basically they recommend a product or service and if someone makes a purchase using the bloggers affiliate link, that blogger gets paid a percentage of the sale.
I promote healthy weight loss without using expensive pills or programs as well as posting my own personal successes and failures. Almost every affiliate program related to weight loss or dieting etc.. promote the very things I speak out against. So trying and sell you a diet pill or a weight loss plan/program would completely contradict the purpose of this blog. The only exception I’ve found so far is P90X which I honestly believe lives up to the hype.
I’m sure there are products that I could find that would be useful in your weight loss efforts, Whey protein, scales, running shoes etc… but you’re not going to buy those products off the internet from non reputable sellers.
Adsense
I also use adsense on this blog as well as the main site Weightlossweapons.com. I’d say 95% of the money made comes from the main site. It gets quite a lot of search engine traffic especially the weight charts.
The money made is enough to earn a monthly paycheck but not nearly enough to allow me to make a full time income online, yet 
Bloggers are also notorious for being ad blind so adsense isn’t really effective with them. (If your reading this that means you).
Money is not my main motivation
I have come to the conclusion that barring a major change in the way I blog, I am not going to make any substantial amount of money from this blog. I’m ok with that because making money blogging in not my sole intent.
I try to teach and share what I’ve learned about weight loss. I know what it’s like to be overweight as well as how it feels to reach my goals, so I think I can relate to a wide variety of people. Help them is my main purpose and goal of this blog and website. The money is just a bonus.
How I will profit from this site
I’ve heard of people clicking ads as a way to support the sites they like. J.D from getrichslowly.org had a great post that discourages this and really nailed how you can support the sites you like called Ads are not the new online tip jar definitely worth a read.
As mentioned most of the money made is from my main site, so that is where the majority of my efforts will be directed.
How you can help
There are a few ways that you can help. One is to have a look at weightlossweapons.com and read what I have written. If you like it or find anything useful I’d ask that you share it by linking to it or telling your friends.
The other is by letting me know what needs to be fixed, improved or if there is something I am missing. I did this with the blog a little while ago and I had a ton of really helpful and useful emails.
Finally, leave a comment here and let me know what you’re doing to make money from your site(s) and what kind of success or failures you’ve had so far.
Exactly… love your point about money not being your primary interest. If you work this way you will make money. It’s funny that way but it’s true.
I’ve notice that too Hayden.
They say that what you focus on is what you get, but some how that doesn’t apply to making money online
Thanks for the comment
I’m trying an experiment and actually turned off my adsense ads for regular visitors. I’m hoping its improves my CTR.
Money = Traffic. You should focus less about money part, and focus more about the traffic part. Basically the more traffic you get to your site, the more money it’s going to make!
Steve I have the same philosophy than you, I don’t like the idea of selling or recommend products that I really think are good or will really help you on weight loss in a healthy way.
However, I don’t think that you are not going to make money on your blog, you just have to be patient and in the future you will see that your approach will pay off.
Nice post. I looked at your site it is great. I think you should not only rely on adsense. you should also go for adding back links on other’s site which has good PR and good traffic flow.
Best of luck
Well and if you are getting enough money from this blog than I am sure we will be able to read more and more good articles from you.
Best of Luck Mate.
The most important thing to make money is traffic. If you have traffic you will get more “clickers” and buyers and this is more money for you. Your blog is really good. I am webmaster and I have a few blogs my earning from blogs are about 80$ per month from adsense. Regards.
hey thats good that your not concentrating on money. some people who monetize their blogs end up losing all quality in their content and worry too much about making money.
I think its refreshing that you aren’t money making and are doing it because you enjoy it. Blogs weren’t intended for making money from and I am sure you get more readers for it. It means people can trust what you say here without worrying about being exploited.
Thanks for your ideas and musings.
Owning a site myself I can relate to what you are saying. I have a passion for weight lifting and therefore started my own site to help others. If you try to make a blog or site with the interest of money, you will ahve a greater chance of failing IMO. People will come to sites and blogs they can relate to, so by focusing on the topics which mean stuff to you personally you will in turn recieve more traffic and build a great site over time.
I really enjoy your blog and site, and keep up the good work
Andy
Fitness Uncovered
I hear ya. Even if there was money to be made by promoting “eat healthy and exercise,” no one would buy any of the products. Everyone is after the fast and easy fix (e.g. diet pills.)
i AGREE when it comes to money many people must always know there capabilities. They say easy money can come if your an affiliate marketer but actually they are wrong you can only gain more money if people worldwide buys your products.
I see, I am really glad that money is not an option for you. The only lesson for this Is just be patient.
Yup, I have gone looking for the Online riches elsewhere but I will be back to a regular weekly posting schedule starting in January 2011.