Should You Commercialize or Monetize Your Blog?
Published in: Blogs
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Tags: AdSense, Advertisement, Blog, Blog Monetization, John Chow, Make Money Online
What’s the difference, you might ask! There is a very thin line between commercialization and monetization from a blog owners’ perspective. But that thin line is very much noticeable by blog visitors. A blog owner may not be consciously doing it but may happen without him even noticing it. Below are certain aspects that might help you understand the difference.
Commercialization of Blog: When commercialized, a blog is heavily dominated with advertisement, content promoting commercial products and a lot of embedded affiliate links redirecting visitors to products/services on various sites. Visitors find it difficult to distinguish between the actual content and commercial part of the blog. In a nutshell, a commercialized blog would want to use every possible opportunity to make money online by using various ways of doing so. An example is this post from Guy Kawasaki’s blog, check out the comments section for visitors reaction.
Monetization of Blog: Blogs that are monetized do not overly involve in making money online by using various ways outlined above. They rather focus on content that their visitors like and keep coming back for. Monetization involves using AdSense and other contextual advertisement programs to a limited extent to make money and occasionally writing about some products with embedded affiliate links. In this case, visitors can very clearly distinguish between the actual blog content and commercial side of it. John Chow’s blog is an excellent example of this.
Advantages and disadvantages of commercializing a blog: You may make money, may be a lot of money in short term but lose visitors in long term. How will you make money when there are no visitors to your blog? 
Advantages and disadvantages of monetizing a blog: You may make nothing to small amount of money but retain visitors. One can expect to grow with this approach and then make large amount of money over long term. Focus on the content and money will automatically come to you. If you don’t know how to make money from your blog, contact me. 
What do you prefer to do with your blog, commercialize or monetize it? Post your feedback in the comments sections below.
Binny V A Said,
August 8, 2007 @ 11:41 am
I see no problems with monitzing my blogs. I promised myself that I will put just one ad unit - it gives me enough.
Raj Said,
August 9, 2007 @ 4:43 am
Hi Binny,
That’s right! You won’t see any problems because you are not filling up your blog with ads. People still want to come to your blog to read your blog posts. At least, I do!
Cheers!!
TonNet Said,
August 13, 2007 @ 9:54 am
Well, who doesn’t need money! The problem is you have a blog with a paid hosting but what about those who are not paying yet. I guess, they should -we also- take advantage of our tools and knowledge. That’s what we went to College or University, isn’t? So, even when I do respect the marketing people for comercialization of their blogs I still strongly support the second option. You and every blogger do not need to shy away readers. We need to attact them! Right?
Raj Said,
August 13, 2007 @ 11:02 am
Hi TonNet,
I concur your thoughts. You are absolutely correct in staying with option # 2. We need to attract and retain visitors. Money always follows when you have visitors.
Thanks for visiting and reading my post.
Cheers!!