SEO Smart Links
When it comes to generating some money on a website without bloating it with countless ads, a very interesting solution to look at is definitely SEO Smart Links.
This plugin allows you to enter keywords or keyphrases, and link them to a hyperlink. So let’s say that you often blog about WordPress plugins. Just use the plugin to link the term “WordPress plugins” to your favorite WP Plugin vendor affiliate program, for example ThemeForest or WPZoom. An easy way to make a few bucks while keeping your content relevant and without a ton of ads.
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Disqus
I already blogged about the Disqus comment system, a plugin with a lot of good points: a lot less spam, less database queries, and the chance for your users to discover new content (including yours). But if you have already installed Disqus, you’ve probably noticed that ads are displayed on top of your comments. Go to your Disqus control panel and enter your details: once your earnings reach $100, Disqus will send you the money via PayPal.
Don’t expect to make millions with this, but if you’re owning a somewhat popular blog, Disqus could be the chance to cover your hosting expenses while providing interesting features to both you and your readers.
Note that Disqus ads are blocked by Adblock and other ad blockers.
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Redirection
Affiliate marketing is probably the best way to make money with a website. The principle is simple: You link to some vendor website, and if your referral buys the product, you get a commission. In order to multiply your chances to make some real money, you should never hesitate to join affiliate programs of products you are blogging about. But then, the problem is that you have to manage your countless affiliate links.
While it’s not the plugin’s primary purpose, Redirection is widely used as a way to manage affiliate links. Extremely easily, you can cloak your affiliate links, and keep a track of how many clicks they received. All that for free!
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Membership
While I’ve never done it myself, I know a bunch of bloggers who are making money by providing “premium” content in exchange for a monthly fee. If you own a WordPress blog, the Membership plugin can turn your site into a partly-premium content platform.
The basic version of Membership is free, and there’s also a premium version available if you need extra features. If you’re interested in the premium version, make sure to visit my Deals page to grab a 50% discount on WPmu Dev plugins, including Membership.
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WP125
A few years ago, 125*125 pixels ads were very popular among bloggers and advertisers. In 2016, this ad format is probably living its last months, but you can still make some money with those ads.
You can join an ad network such as BuySellAds.com, or manage your own ads yourself. If this is what you decide, then the WP125 plugin is definitely the best way to display 125*125px ads on your WordPress blog.
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