Some observers say they mix about as well as fire and water.
Blog critics believe that blogs can never be money makers.
So far, the returns have favoured the doubters. The vast preponderance of blogs fail to produce any revenue whatsoever.
Of course, from that vast and overwhelming majority, we must remove all of the blogs, where the owners flatly do not want to make any money.
In a nutshell, many bloggers refuse to have any commercial or revenue producing streams associated with their blogs at all.
Once that group of purists is removed from the equation, we see some bloggers starting to make some progress toward monetization.
The problem is that the journey to cash is a slow one.
The first halting steps toward making a living as a blogger are slow and often painful ones.
In a post about blog revenue, The Blogfather invites bloggers to tell him about their blog revenue. The Blogfather mentions how some of the big name bloggers are already on a revenue producing path.
I would think the money trail will eventually move lower into the more mainstream blog pecking order over time. Some mid level blogs will start to produce some dollars for their owners too.
I am attempting an experiment by offering my readers free magazine articles. Simply click on the rotating display ad and take advantage of the no strings attached free magazine offer. I get a small commission from each free magazine subscription claimed.
So far, the experiment has been good. Many of my readers are getting the free business and industry magazines. Since they are available to readers world wide, that helps a lot.
I'll keep everyone apprised of the experiment.
Right now, I depend upon my blog as a general advertisement for marketing my skills as a freelance writer.
My blog also highlights my knowledge of search engine optimization, for those businesses who want their websites to rise in the search engine rankings.
The use of the blog, as a resume, is still a work in progress.
Highly regarded baseball blogger Aaron Gleeman of Aaron's Baseball Blog and The Hardball Times has asked readers for donations to purchase a computer. Aaron's donations request was very successful for him in purchasing a new computer.
Perhaps there is still some future, for the "tip jar" type donations, for favourite and most informative bloggers. The donation system appears to work best however, as a one time donation of support, for bloggers in need.
I have requested, in the past, that my readers provide financial assistance to Jennifer at Drink this. Jennifer was experiencing severe money problems. She could still use a bit of cash to help her out. If you click over to Drink this, don't forget to show your monetary support for Jennifer.
She deserves your support.
There will be many ways to make cash from blogs in the future.
Some methods will include an advertising model. Some bloggers will gain commissions from book and music album sales as affiliates.
There will be blogs that return cash in ways as yet unknown.
Some bloggers will refuse to receive any money for their blogging efforts at all.
It appears to be a mixed bag right now.
We'll follow this idea in the future.
Let's follow the money.
