Question for internet entrepreneurs regarding blog and ads... need good alternatives to google ads

I had a popular blogger blog a few years ago on historical southern cooking.  I signed up for ad sense, got approved... began to make a little money.  Then, they moved the goalpost, refused to pay me several hundred bucks they owed me, cancelled my account/blackballed me for no reason and would not respond to appeals.  I was part of the class action suit... and got $15.... woohoo...

So, I started my herb blog and put it on blogger just because i know how to use it and still have a gmail account.  This one is doing really, surprisingly well... like around 1,000 readers a month and growing.  No marketing.  Just organic.

Now what?  It seems I could actually make a bit of a living writing about herbs.  Please recommend a good free or cheap non-google related blog hosting platform.... that preferably has an auto-import for my nearly 500 posts!  Also, what can I use other than adsense?  I doubt they would ever approve me again, nor do I really want them to profit from my work!  

Hello!

I run a blog called Wild Homesteading that gets around 5 to 6k users per month. For revenue I don't use ads at all--never liked them and I feel they distract from the site. I use Patreon where people sign up to support the site as patrons. This brings in $88 a month at the moment which is likely more than I could get from ads. I also use affiliate links both from Amazon and Permies. This tends to bring in $20 to $60 per month. And I'm in the process of creating my first online course which will be an evergreen product and will likely bring in a fair bit more than affiliates or Patreon. Though I'm also getting ready to launch a podcast which I think will help grow the number of Patrons I have. I also recently started doing paid public speaking and that looks like it will also result in me being hired to provide consultation services to people though that is all new for me. But I've got 2 people that are interested. Potentially this could be a good revenue source though it needs more development.

As far as hosting services for the site. I use Site Ground to host my site which is a wordpress site. I like it and the cost isn't bad--though eventually I will upgrade to a better host service to improve my site's load time. But that isn't needed now.

I would also recommend looking at building an email list if you haven't yet. I use a site called Convertkit which I think is really good--there is a free option to get you started with them. Once you get an email list you can use that to market your products and services and start getting sells. As long as you don't spam them and provide good free content people should be happy to consider buying any paid services/products you end up offering.

I'm also exploring writing some books and marketing those in the future. I've got one that is in progress but it had to be put on the back burner for the moment.

To me this overall approach is much better than trying to deal with ads and generally results in more revenue than ads would--plus the user experience tends to be better.

Daron Williams wrote:Hello!

I run a blog called Wild Homesteading that gets around 5 to 6k users per month. For revenue I don't use ads at all--never liked them and I feel they distract from the site. I use Patreon where people sign up to support the site as patrons. This brings in $88 a month at the moment which is likely more than I could get from ads. I also use affiliate links both from Amazon and Permies. This tends to bring in $20 to $60 per month. And I'm in the process of creating my first online course which will be an evergreen product and will likely bring in a fair bit more than affiliates or Patreon. Though I'm also getting ready to launch a podcast which I think will help grow the number of Patrons I have. I also recently started doing paid public speaking and that looks like it will also result in me being hired to provide consultation services to people though that is all new for me. But I've got 2 people that are interested. Potentially this could be a good revenue source though it needs more development.

As far as hosting services for the site. I use Site Ground to host my site which is a wordpress site. I like it and the cost isn't bad--though eventually I will upgrade to a better host service to improve my site's load time. But that isn't needed now.

I would also recommend looking at building an email list if you haven't yet. I use a site called Convertkit which I think is really good--there is a free option to get you started with them. Once you get an email list you can use that to market your products and services and start getting sells. As long as you don't spam them and provide good free content people should be happy to consider buying any paid services/products you end up offering.

I'm also exploring writing some books and marketing those in the future. I've got one that is in progress but it had to be put on the back burner for the moment.

To me this overall approach is much better than trying to deal with ads and generally results in more revenue than ads would--plus the user experience tends to be better.

Thanks for the feedback - I'll start exploring those options!

Ive read both your stuff and you are both very talented.

On the income stream, id just like to point out an analog (non digital) trend you could embrace. Plant inventory onsite consult for new property owners.

People are moving from cities to the country. Those people want some self reliance and they dont know what plants are on their property which might be useful for food / medicine.

I spent a hundred bucks to have a local plant expert walk my newly acquired land with me 7 years ago. Best hundred bucks I ever spent. 2 hours onsite tops.

Designing an edible yard on top of the inventory could bring in other fees. Plan. Selection. Planting. Training on first harvest, etc. Foraging training wheels...

Realtors are literally slammed right now, network with them to get referrals.

Anyway, good luck!

J Davis wrote:Ive read both your stuff and you are both very talented.

On the income stream, id just like to point out an analog (non digital) trend you could embrace. Plant inventory onsite consult for new property owners.

People are moving from cities to the country. Those people want some self reliance and they dont know what plants are on their property which might be useful for food / medicine.

I spent a hundred bucks to have a local plant expert walk my newly acquired land with me 7 years ago. Best hundred bucks I ever spent. 2 hours onsite tops.

Designing an edible yard on top of the inventory could bring in other fees. Plan. Selection. Planting. Training on first harvest, etc. Foraging training wheels...

Realtors are literally slammed right now, network with them to get referrals.

Anyway, good luck!

Good idea - thanks!