I've just received another mail from SixApart.com with regards to their "Help Blogger Make Money" program. Check out the screenshot of the e-mail below:

Apart from their claims of trying to help bloggers make money, they are also offering assistance in terms of the overall blog and blogger development. Hhmm...sounds promising so far.

A click on the link in the e-mail directed me to SixApart signup page. As usual, I'm required to give out my personal details plus complete a short blog related survey (site information as far as SixApart is concerned). No problemo there, I could do it even with my eyes close.

After filling my personal details, answering the survey and agreeing to receive more "updates" from them via email, I thought I would be able to start serving ads from them immediately.

Guess what? This is all I get to see at the end of the whole registration process:
LOL, from the looks of it there is still a long way to go. Will my blog be rejected or will there be something for me to cheer about the next time SixApart sends me an e-mail? All would be answered in my next SixApart updates. Subcribe to Bloggerfocus and be the first to find out the latest updates.

Till the next time, cheers and happy blogging!

P/s : This has got to be the longest membership sign-up process I have ever come across in all four years of my blogging life.

Recommended Read:
SixApart.com - Monetizing Your Blog?
SixApart.com Blogger Advertising Updates

Received feedback from SixApart.com with regards to their New Advertising program. Check out the screenshot of the email:

Honestly, if SixApart.com is not ready with the new program, why the rush to make an announcement of the new program last week? In my opinion, an announcement from a prominent company such as SixApart should be followed up by immediate release of their program. They have managed to create a hype, yet the delay has somehow or rather smothered the flames of excitement amongst bloggers. Do you think an enthusiastic email is going to quell the feeling of disappointment of the delay?

I hope SixApart has really got something big to offer to make up for their delay. Otherwise, I foresee a failed investment in the making here.

Recommended read:
1. SixApart.com, Monetizing Your Blog?

SixApart.com just announced today that they are planning to "help bloggers make money from their sites". Read about the announcement HERE.

While most bloggers have heard and most likely be using well known advertising platforms such as Adsense, Bidvertiser, AdBrite, Kontera and Text Link, I'm rather eager to see what form of advertising method that SixApart has to offer.

Bloggerfocus Explores SixApart.com
The advertising section at SixApart.com is divided into two categories, consisting of the "Bloggers and Publishers" category and the "Advertisers and Media" category. Like any other typical Ad management service, there is a short, somewhat virtuous description about how SixApart can help Bloggers make money from their blog. There's even a catchy text link at the end of the description using the phrase "Generate more income through your blog". (Wow I'm "sooooo" impressed!)

A click on that text link brings me to the Solutions for Bloggers page. Why am I not surprise to find more well written "virtuous bragging" on that page as well? Reading that page gives me the impression of a salesperson (in this case SixApart) trying to convince customers (thats me and you) to buy a product without actually showing what it is.

As a last resort, I had to sacrifice submit my email in order to obtain more information about SixApart advertising program. Fingers crossed, I hope they will send me the details soon. Rest assured there will be more updates on SixApart once I receive the requested information.

Bloggerfocus Summarizes on SixApart.com
From the announcement article, I get the impression that SixApart.com has already prepared the full program plus interface for publishers to register and start making some moolah! Yet a visit to their Advertising section leaves me with a page full of text and a submission box requesting for my email. Some sort of an anti-climax in my opinion.

Honestly, I have no qualms over the services such as VOX and TypePad being offered by SixApart to the public. However, I do question the capability of SixApart to provide a substantial publisher program that could help "small time" bloggers to earn some serious cash. Perhaps it is still too early for me to judge or maybe I have jumped into an early conclusion based on what I've seen so far. My only hope now is to receive some sort of mind blowing information from you guys in exchange for my email.

For the time being, I'm left with a bag full of promises and nothing to show for.

Peace and Happy Blogging to all!
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Another alternate way of monetizing your website/blog is by using AdToll. Like many other Ad Management Services, AdToll acts as platform for you to sell ads on your site. If there are no ads being taken up by advertisers, then RON Ads from AdToll will be displayed. I will further explain what does RON Ads mean and how it works later. Now, lets take a look at what AdToll has to offer.

Registration for Ad Toll?
FREE. Need I say more?

How much can you charge for your Ads?
AdToll lets you decide on the price you wish to sell to potential Advertisers. If your website/blog is still new, it would be advisable to set a low price to attract potential Advertisers. If you are too lazy to set your own price, use the Autopricing function and let AdToll determine the price for you.

Earnings?
AdToll promises 75% commission on all the ads sold by you. Thats much higher as compared to Google Adsense who only allocates 40-60% to their users. If there are no Ads solf, AdToll will serve RON Ads at your site. Run of Network Ads or RON Ads are Cost-Per-Click (CPC) based ads. RON Ads allow you to continue earning money when your ad space has no potential buyers. Your will still get paid 75% of the total commission earned from readers who click on the RON Ads displayed in your site.

Types of ads offered by AdToll
Apart from the typical banners and skyscraper ads, Ad Toll also introduced new ad formats such as video advertising and Peel Away Ad. Here's how a AdToll Peel Away Ad look like:

Updating your Site resume
In order to attract advertisers, AdToll offers a section for editing your site details. Here is where you set your site description, set restriction on industries that you do not wish to sell ads too and write your sales pitch. Make sure that you write a good sales pitch to attract potential advertisers.


AdTool Referral Program
Just like any other Ad Management Services, a referral program is also available at AdTool. Here's how much commission AdTool's for referrals:

20% commission on profit made from Advertisers (90 day period)
10% commission on profit made from Publishers (365 day period)

Based on AdTool requirements, if you refer a publisher to AdTool, you are eligible to a 10% commission for the profit earned by the refered publisher. Of course the earning would stop after 365 days. If you refer an Advertisers, for each ad they take up, you get to earn a 20% commission, but only for 90 day period. After the 90 day period, you will stop getting commission from any ads taken up by the Advertiser. Honestly, I would have preferred if the commission taking does not have a set number of days.

What Other Services Offered by AdToll

AdToll offers a Rate Cardlet that allows you to provide more information about your available advertising to your web site visitors. The Rate Cardlet also provides links to your full AdToll Rate Card, which includes your Affiliate link. Here's how 4u2invest.blogspot rate cardlet look like:


Summary

The pros:
1. Higher commission paid by AdToll as compared to other Ad Management Services
2. Larger range of ads format to choose from.

The cons:
1. Set number of days for commission drawing in their referral program.
2. AdToll is pretty new and yet to display their full potential.

Verdict:
Recommended to give AdToll a try

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Got a question? Drop me a comment or email me at sksee82@yahoo.com