Tim Bray on blogging

But aren’t blogs dead? · Um, nope.

Also, this bit:

Since most of us don’t even try to monetize ’em, they’re pretty ad-free and thus a snappy reading experience.

I’ve successfully monetized niche blogs in the past that made enough for a few incomes.

I’ve only tried to monetize my personal blog a few times over the last few decades of writing it. Each time didn’t really pan out. I cannot recall any singular month where my personal blog scored more than just a few hundred dollars per month. So I gave up. I’m so happy I did. The experience of both writing and reading my blog is better as a result. I do not plan to ever try to monetize my personal blog ever again.

/via Jeremy Keith.

August 3, 2020 Add Comment

New ways to monetize on YouTube

Announcements are beginning to pour out while VidCon is happening.

YouTube:

The number of creators earning five figures a year is up by 35 percent and the number of creators earning six figures is up by 40 percent. As in previous years, the vast majority of the revenue is coming from our advertising partners. We’ll continue investing here, but we also want to think beyond ads. Creators should have as many ways and opportunities to make money as possible.

They’re announcing several; merch, channel memberships, premiers. Very smart.

(Also, worth noting, the timing of Instagram’s announcement. Just prior to VidCon. I hadn’t thought of that at the time.)

June 22, 2018 Add Comment