2 builders who never spoke to each other

Sell one sponsor slot instead of running a network

Three publishers reach the same structure from different sides: sell a single sponsored placement per issue, keep it relevant to the readers, and price it against the audience rather than the impressions. One newsletter charges fifteen hundred dollars for the sponsored link to forty five thousand readers, a baseline of six thousand a month. At the small end, offer micro-sponsorships from around a hundred dollars to listeners who want to promote their own projects and expect to push hard for each one. Display networks are the opposite trade and cost you the reading experience you are actually selling.

The method

1. 01

   Sell a single sponsored slot per issue, kept relevant to the readers, once the list is large enough

2. 02

   Sell small sponsorships at a low fixed price to listeners who want to promote their own projects, and expect to push hard for each one.

3. 03

   Keep display ad networks off a site whose value is being trusted. They cost you the reading experience you are actually selling.

What it returned

• $1,500

  iOS Dev Weekly charges $1,500 for the sponsored link to its 45,000 readers, which is $6,000 a month of baseline revenue

• $99

  Justin offered micro-sponsorships from $99, found buyers willing to spend $99-$199, and had a best week of over $1,089 during one specific story arc.

• Lidiya rules out Google AdSense on the grounds that it is incompatible with building a trusted resource with a good user experience.

Sources

• How to make money from your tiny podcastJustin Jackson · justinjackson.ca · In what ways can a small podcast earn revenue? · undated
• How to grow an audience through curating contentNathan Barry · nathanbarry.com · Sponsored content · 2018-12-03
• How to Make $2,000/Month with a Personal Development BlogLidiya K · failory.com · How did you build Let’s Reach Success? Which is your business model? · undated