Monetization of Internet-based content is still getting a ton of conversation around the usual cyber-water-coolers. There are hundreds of blogs you can visit that will give you numerous strategies for maximizing your click-throughs, focusing in on Google Adsense schemes, sources for adding pre and post-roll ads to your videos, or even going to a pay-for-post formula to generate revenue.
They all work to some degree of course, but I’ve finally come to grips with the reality that by cutting out the middle man, by stepping up and negotiating your own private advertising contracts, that you can see revenue returns well beyond all of these other solutions.
Why more people don’t go this route is obvious. Most other solutions will let you run some sort of ad on your content simply by asking. Google in particular is ridiculously easy to set up and at least begin having the potential of generating revenue. Nearly no questions asked.
Private contracts, on the other hand, are on the entire other end of the spectrum. You will likely need to pitch your idea dozens of times before maybe finding someone that will take a chance on you. Your site needs to already be well established unless it has one of the most unique elevator pitches ever put together in the history of marketing on the web. And, if your advertising isn’t converting for your customer you can expect a quick cancellation and the unpleasantness of needing to deal with this failure person to person.
Also, how many of us are good salesmen when it comes to this sort of thing? Maybe you are a blogger. Maybe you are a creative video producer and director. What makes you qualified to pitch advertising ideas to various buyers? Very little.
But, the rewards of success working this angle can be tremendous if you know you have a good product that will work for your potential advertisers.
