Adsense: Does Just Breathing Count?

I know the title might be a little misleading but I do just wonder about things. For example, I was looking at my Adsense earnings today. The money part of blogging has ceased to mean a thing to me but once in a while I check to see what is happening. Here is how it has been going...

I looked for FITBIT bands...
now that is all I see in
the ads! I am sorry I didn't buy
from you but the ads were everywhere. :)

The real people that actually stop and read anything is not much but I do get between 500 and 600 hits per day. Of those people a few really care about what I have written. A few of those that read are also taken by the ads in the sidebar...the trouble is every blog or website they go to will probably show the same ads so the chances of anyone clicking on my ads drops to the minus column. Personally, I did a search for a particular type of skirt I want. Now, no matter where I am on the web, that skirt shows up in the ads. I am assuming that this happens with everyone.

However, on those days my traffic drops, the income will go up. I find that extremely strange!

Even today, when I doubt anyone has clicked on an ad, I have earned a few pennies. So the question is "does just breathing count?" Do I earn income even though no one has clicked an ad or has someone seen an item that catches their interest and clicked...then I earned 4 cents? I wonder.

Now as far as Amazon is concerned, I do know that someone has to buy something on the main part of the page they do in a Amazon search. Those ads at the bottom earn Amazon money and I won't see a penny of it ever. As far as Amazon is concerned, I don't even exist unless someone buys something. Going to the website through my blog does NOT earn me or any blogger money. In their case, breathing does not count.

Any thoughts on the subject?

b+

Related articles

• 5 Reasons You're Not Earning What You Should With AdSense - And What You Can Do About It
• Key Advice from Adsense Optimization Specialist
• Ultimate Collection Of Google Adsense WordPress Plugins
• 7 Solid Ways to Explode Your Google AdSense Earnings

6 Idea for Building Affiliate Marketing

One of the things we miss most when we are not working or retired is the validation that working for an income provides. Someone thinks we are worthy and pays us to do what we do. I don't know about you but we missed that part of our careers. So, the question is, "How do you find validation and a little income when you are retired or a blogger?" That is where Adsense and Amazon come in if you are a blogger like me.

I'm restoring my water fountain

in my front yard and so I am

shopping for a pump. I

just thought you would want to know!

Tom over at Sightings Over Sixty left a comment and asked me the other day how I made any money using those sources that are allowed on Google Blogger. He said that he had tried Amazon and found that it just didn't provide the validation he wanted. It is tricky to say the very least. There are some ingredients I think you need to make it a worthwhile endeavor.

1. Time is what you have the most of in retirement or a freelance blogger...time that you can do what YOU want and time is what it takes to make any money online.
2. Products that you can write about consistently and truly want to promote.
3. The ability to promote your affiliate position without putting off family and friends.
4. Enthusiasm for following other people and connecting with them. 
5. A Facebook account and a group of like minded people that are active in that media. I belong to several groups of women online that support each other. It has worked for me.
6. Remain realistic in your expectations.

Yesterday I wrote about patience and how it can be such a positive thing. That is what affiliate marketing is all about for me. I suggest that you bookmark my Amazon page on your computer if you shop at Amazon. But I don't bombast you with emails that make you feel you are being stalked. I take my time and am not impatient if I don't see results. I have been doing this for several years. 

In my case, books are my go-to subject. But there are other things I buy. I use Amazon Prime so I usually get free shipping and I can send gifts to grandchildren without worrying that the postage will cost more than the gift. Anytime I buy something on Amazon, I post it on my Facebook account and talk about it on my blog. I write about products that I can promote sincerely. If I don't love the experience why would I try to sell it?

Amazon will also pay me a fee if I refer you to their program.

I love to shop so I visit those website that carry a product that I love and follow their links to find really good stuff that I actually would like to have. For me it is clothes and beautiful things for my home or garden and gifts for my family/friends. It may be boating or financial interests or even underwear for you. (Remind me to tell you about my pantelones underwear online order one day soon.) Then I write about it on my blog. ADSENSE will add links in my sidebar ads that fit what I write about. If people click on those (as I hope they will) I receive some income. I get several checks a year from them...sometimes more and sometimes less.

Word of mouth is my best connection. I have spoken to those people in my family that shop at Amazon and asked them to bookmark my Amazon link. They all told their friends and hopefully the word will get out more and more. I also have asked my friends to do the same...once. I have mentioned my account on my Facebook page and in the groups like Midlife Boulevard to which I belong on that social media website.

The key here is you realize this is not easy money. It is something much, much more. It is a small way of validating what we do for fun. Seeking out readers, telling them what you like and spending time being a reader/follower can pay off for you but it will not come fast. I personally think that small income and building an affiliate presence can make a big difference in your life.

I would be interested in hearing any other idea you have.  Just leave a comment with a link to your blog.

Be well.

b+

Note: I only get a fee if you buy something on Amazon or Adsense. The links above are for your convenience. I hope you found the information helpful.

Google's Blogger: Afraid to Ask the Questions!

Retire In Style Blog header created by Barbara Torris for Blogger

I do read the fine print on Google because I love to write on my Blogger account.  But the fact is I might be breaking the rules when I link to a business in a post. I do vet the articles and make sure that I can support what they propose but it is a gray area that I often wonder about. I often wonder why Google doesn't go into the business of offering a paid option for their clients. It would be wonderful.

Blogger is the most wonderful service a writer could ever have.  The simplicity of the website is something I love. I even think that the Adsense ads add a lot to the page. But if the Adsense doesn't work and bring in income, why even use it?

My husband points out that we don't need the money and he is right.  I guess it is just a little validation for what I do...with the emphasis on little. And, if I begin to earn more, I gain the spotlight which is not going to make things easier for me.

As for the title, Afraid to Ask the Question, I went ahead and sent a note to Google feedback with a screen shot of my blog. Will I be sorry?  Maybe!

What do you think?

b+

Blogging about Retirement: 6 Lessons I Learned at the DMV

Note: I use Grammarly to check for plagiarism because bloggers like me need a good editor.

I love to blog but it has been a slow process to figure it all out. But I have learned a lot over the last few years. There are a few things I think YOU need to know. It is all a matter of getting it right in the beginning.

Blogging at the DMV

Yesterday I learned about blogging in the least expected place. I had to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to renew my driver's license.

The DMV branch office is like all big government service locations. There are forms and lines with lots of people.

They require information. A man checks you in as you enter the door and explains the rules. (He was very nice. Things had changed since I was last there.) A wordy postcard comes through the mail telling you everything you need to know; do bring a passport or government papers to prove that you are in the United State legally and don't produce a birth certificate laminated card or something from the hospital to prove anything.

If you decide to do it your way, the man explaining the rules doesn't care. You won't get a number. You are going home to come back another day.

The whole thing fascinated me. There are interesting people to watch. Clerks go to lunch as 30 patrons wait for their return. Elderly people walk around in a confused daze. People that know more than you do may take your place in line. Children run unattended up and down the aisles.

When you finish giving the clerk your money, you will be sent to get your picture take for a new license. When the camera clicks, you know that you are going to be stuck with that image on your driver's license for many more years.

What I Learned

I have been retired for 17 years and blogging is a way that I earn money during my retirement. I am self taught and have made many mistakes. I would have earned money sooner if I had taken the time to figure out what I was doing BEFORE I actually hit publish. There is more to it than being a good writer. Maybe I should have gone to the DMV sooner!

1. If you are writing about retirement like I do, you need to be retired. Don't talk about what you don't understand. Like that Passport, you need to prove your certification. People will decide if they will come back and visit based on how you demonstrate what you know. 
2. Why use 800 words to say what you could say in 250? The DMV postcard that came in the mail used a lot of words...most of them were unnecessary. I did not read it all and paid the price. But I was not totally to blame. DMV's postcard failed me. Don't fail your audience. 
3. There are rules. Pay attention to the details and read the rules. If you don't, Adsense or Google can ban you! 
4. Your driver's license will be valid for several years. Online information on sites like Facebook will last forever. We are very lucky that our DMV picture is temporary. Facebook is NOT! 
5. Be curious and ask questions. It can save you lots of time. Who wants to be the last person in line. I recommend Money Dummy Blog as a place to learn. 
6. Pay attention to the people around you and learn from them. In fact the DMV is the perfect example of what you can learn if you pay attention. Make friends in your community of writers and give them feedback. Answer every email or comment. They will do the same for you. 

Life is a very good teacher. But if I had taken the time to do a little more preparation, I would have made money sooner. Do it right the first time. It will pay off...really it will.

I am hitting publish...if I have made mistakes, point them out and forgive me!

b+

Thoughts on High Blood Pressure, Dark Chocolate, pointy people and Digg!

How pointy are you?
You would think that once you have retired and settled on a second home in a warm climate, you would have it all solved.  Perfect weather, hobbies, and a plan that can be replicated year after yet.  Still, I find people are discontented and always looking for something just a little better/bigger/greener.  Isn't that interesting?

Does it ever end?  Do we ever really, really grow up?  I am beginning to wonder.  As I have said so many times before...just because we get older does not mean we become sweet, cute or settled!  In fact all the sharp and pointy things about our personality become more so.  It is just a fact of life.

Do You Like Dark Chocolate?
I have some good news for you...it is really true.  Dark chocolate will lower blood pressure!  I saw it on the web so it must be so.  To be right honest with you I don't even care if it is a lie.  I like dark chocolate...a lot.  The Aussies are advised to eat a whole bar of dark chocolate which made me want to move there.  Then I read that American doctors say it may only take about a square of dark chocolate to get the job done.  Now, really, is that right?  American's are such spoil sports when it comes to things that taste good.  Anyway you can check it out on the Sun Sentinel website.

What is Digg? +a little education about this blogger and the blog.
Here in the blog world there is a site called Digg.  Some blogs have it at the bottom of their blogs.  My Digg button is in the ShareThis pop up window...the button is found in the footer.  So what does that mean?  Well, believe it or not, those of us that write for a blog depend on you, our readers, to tell us what you do and do not like or even what you would like information on.  That is what the comment button is for.  The Digg button is just a way of supporting you local blogger and maybe helping them get a few more readers.

Picture of the ShareThis button at the foot of the blog.

Actually the website for Digg is very interesting.  It can tell you what the hot topic for today is and how many people thought those topics were worth passing on to someone else.  Like my free blog, it is just there for the using.  

I write on a free blog but I pay in a way.  In order for my time to be well spent, I have to do research for subjects and keep up with those things I think might interest you.  Your way of paying me, the blogger, for my time is to comment, Digg my work, tweet or post to your Face Book account.  The ShareThis button makes it all so very easy.  It also helps if you take a look at the ads that surround my writing.   So, you see, nothing is really free anymore.

Thank you!
Thank you for stopping by.  Leave your url if you have a blog or business and I will visit you.  If you are just an interested reader, go to the foot of the blog and comment or Digg a post that you enjoyed.  I will do the same for you.

I just thought you might be interested.

Have a great Sunday!

b