Advertising
You can run ads on your network using an external ad provider like Adbrite, Google Adsense, Infolinks, Clicksor, Kontera — the list goes on. If you’re a U.S.-based Ning Creator, you can opt to activate Ning Ads as your primary source of advertising. Advertising is easy to implement and — if you’ve got the site traffic — it can generate a decent amount of revenue with little maintenance. The simple way to get started is to Sign Up for Google AdSense.
Getting started is easy. After you create an account with an external ad provider, you’ll be able to publish text or image-based ads in the text boxes and ad banners on your network. Advertisers track the click through rate and pay a certain amount of money — anywhere from $0.02 to $15 — per click. Earnings may not be consistent, and if you don’t yet have the traffic (or you don’t want ads to compete with your community’s message) you might want to consider one of the other options highlighted below.
If you’re a newbie to web traffic terminology and can’t pinpoint the difference between a page view, unique visitor and bounce rate, this quick-and-easy guide to Web Traffic Terms will teach you the lingo.
Paid Access
Create your own subscription-based network by setting up one or more paywalls for groups, pages, or site access. Ning’s optional Paid Access feature integrates with your existing PayPal account, and it’s easy to set up. You can specify price and duration of paywalls, customize the message your members will see, and monitor your revenue in real time. If you present a strong value proposition (premium content, interviews, online classes, videos, networking, Q&A) and pick a fair price, you may be able to make significant amounts of money.
Donation Options
Don’t want to deter new members with a paywall, but want to give those good-hearted samaritans the opportunity to support your hard work? Adding a customized donate button can generate enough extra cash to keep you motivated and pay the bills. You can create a PayPal Donate Button directly from PayPal. Make sure your button is placed prominently throughout your site for it to be most effective. Or, simply Add the Donate App that’s provided by Ning. Both are free, although PayPal does take a small percentage of payments processed through their service.
A good strategy to increase donations is to let your members know exactly what their cash is going to and what’s at stake. Set a fundraising goal and encourage members to help you reach it. If you plan to spend some time publishing hard-hitting blog posts on a niche subject, now’s the time to make those ambitions known. These are the kinds of things that could inspire someone to dig a bit deeper in their pockets.
Pledge drives
You may even want to designate a month or two out of the year when you devote time to raising awareness and involving your community in fundraising efforts. An annual pledge drive similar to the one your local radio station puts on is a completely valid approach. Your members will be happy to know they won’t be asked for donations outside of a few weeks or months every year, and they may be compelled to give a little more.
Remember to thank your donors in a personal way — e-cards, handwritten letters (gasp), phone calls, a rotating member spotlight — even small surprises go a long way!
Business partnerships
Partner up with a local organization or company that is interested in your community and supports your cause. This approach will afford you complete control over your revenue and can be a hassle-free way to cover your subscription costs. It can also provide you with another real world channel to promote your brand.
Depending on what your investment partner(s) are looking for, you could publish one or more banner ads and rotate them, host a guest blog, or proactively help with their content marketing and social media strategy. And, you’ll have the power to decide whether you want to forge an exclusive partnership or open your virtual doors to more than one business. When you forge a solid partnership, there will be less of a need to pore over traffic details or worry about inconsistencies in monthly revenue. Of course, understanding and analyzing your site traffic is always a good idea, as it will help you improve your business and attract new members to your community.
Once you’ve designed weighed in the positives and negatives and decided what’s right for you and your community, you’ll be ready to implement a unique monetization strategy and watch the funds roll in.