2021 Guide: Best-Proven Strategies for Web Monetization for Tech Sites

2021 Guide: Best-Proven Strategies
 for Web Monetization for Tech Sites
Do you want to monetize your website? Most publishers will answer with a resounding “Yes.” In
fact, many content creators start blogs and sites because they want to start generating additional
income. Unfortunately, it’s often easier said than done. If you’re going to monetize your tech
website, you’ll need a good, proven strategy to get started.

Our 2021 guide covers the following topics:

       • Can tech sites take advantage of web monetization?
       • Our top monetization strategies for tech sites and blogs.
       • Pros and cons of each monetization strategy.
       • A brief overview of potential earnings.

Before we begin, let’s consider whether tech sites can take advantage of web monetization
strategies.

Is Web Monetization an Effective Way
to Generate Revenue for Tech Publishers?

Absolutely. Gadgets and technology are considered one of the top ten most profitable niches. In
fact, seven of the ten highest-earning blogs of 2020 focus on technology or related topics and
products.

However, it’s also one of the most competitive. All seven of the sites mentioned above launched
more than a decade ago, and they’ve had the time to establish themselves as experts. If you want
a share of the revenue, you’ll need a robust strategy that involves one or several monetization
tactics.

Luckily, tech and gadget sites can take advantage of several different monetization methods
to deliver excellent results. Sponsored content, product reviews, and gated content are useful
strategies, while monetization partners and affiliate networks can bring in additional semi-passive
revenue.

Any strategy will only be effective if:

           • Your website is professionally designed.
           • A high number of people visit your site.
           • You sign up with effective, proven networks and partners.
           • You consistently create valuable, sought-after, and SEO content.

In our experience at Softonic, time, effort, quality, and consistency are essential components of
any successful strategy.

Our Top 7 Monetization Strategies for Tech Sites

Are you ready to earn revenue from your tech site? Before you get started, you’ll need to know
your options. There are so many different monetization strategies that newer tech publishers
may struggle to find one that fits their needs. You can even use multiple methods, so it’s vital to
understand which ones do and don’t work together.

That’s why our team at Softonic decided to put together this expert guide. We’ll be covering
various monetization strategies, how they work, pros and cons, and some of the tools you need or
networks you can join. These aren’t all the methods you can use; in our experience, they’re some
of the best and most effective strategies available.

There are our top monetization strategies:

       • Affiliate marketing
       • Google AdSense and PPC
       • Memberships and premium content
       • Visitor donations
       • Digital and physical products
       • Sponsored product reviews
       • Dropshipping

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

AFFILIATE MARKETING

Affiliate marketing is a web monetization strategy that’s already proven its revenue-generating
capabilities time and again. Unsurprisingly, it’s a favorite among publishers, with content creators
and publishers, accounting for almost 40% of affiliate commissions.1

According to a Forester report, 81% of advertisers and 84% of publishers already partake in
affiliate marketing to earn an income. Several noted that it’s responsible for more than 20% of their
annual income.1

How Does it Work?

Let’s assume that you already have a reputable website with a substantial following. To take
advantage of affiliate marketing, you’ll first need to join a network or program. You should conduct
research to find one that provides the products, commission rates, and features in which your
audience may be interested.

Your goal as an affiliate marketer is to refer buyers to another business. For every successful
purchase a referral makes, you earn a commission. It’s a simple and highly effective system if you
have enough traffic and stick to products relevant to your niche.

While the process is relatively simple, networks typically have strict requirements and withdrawal
limits. If you don’t generate enough business, they reserve the right to cancel your membership.

How Much Can You Earn?

Most affiliate networks and sites have set terms and conditions that determine your earning
potential. Your revenue will depend on their rules and the number of leads you can generate via
your website and content.

The three most common models are:

        • Final price percentage, which gives you a small portion of the total price.
        • Revenue share percentage, which offers a share of the seller’s profit.
        • Fixed commission, which pays a set amount for every item you sell.

Affiliate marketing is a highly popular web monetization strategy, and many brands are taking
advantage of this fact. Several even have in-house affiliate programs.

New sellers typically make $20,000 per year or less, and it can be discouraging. However, mid-level
affiliates tend to make between $20,000 - $120,000. Some, like pro affiliate marketer Pat Flynn,
have recorded incomes as high as $100,000 per month or more.

In the end, it comes down to time, effort, content, and content reach.

PROS

        • Affiliate networks are typically easier to join than ad networks.
        • Low initial investment or start-up costs.
        • Convenient and flexible way to generate a passive income.

CONS
        • It can take a significant amount of time before you start turning a profit.
        • Promoting poor products or services can alienate your audience.
        • You can’t establish a repeat customer base.

Best Affiliate Networks and Partners for Tech Sites

In our experience, there are many affiliate networks available online, but few are a good fit for tech sites.

While there are a few, like Amazon and ShareaSale, that work well, tech publishers may have better
luck by partnering with appealing brands directly. Although you’ll need to partner with several to
offer a broader range of products, these sites typically offer higher commission rates.

Here are the top affiliate networks and partners we recommend:

       • Amazon Associates (Category-dependent rates, ranging between 1% - 4%)
       • Clickbank (Product-dependent rates, ranging between 1% - 75%)
       • ShareaSale (Undisclosed product- and model-dependent rates)
       • Awin (5% average commission rate)
       • Elementor Pro Affiliate Program (50% flat rate commission)
       • Siteground Affiliates (Set commission starting at $50)
       • TigerDirect Affiliate Program (3% flat rate commission)
       • HobbyTron (8% flat rate commission)
       • SEMRush (40% recurring commission)

At Softonic, we prefer to work with Radius, Rakuten, CJ, TradeDoubler, and Avangate. All five are
excellent networks that offer tech publishers several top benefits.

You can join one or several partner programs to start earning a commission. However, try to
choose products and brands that’ll appeal to your existing audience. That way, you’ll already have
access to potential customers.

Ad Networks and Pay-per-Click (PPC)

When publishers think of monetizing their websites, display ads are typically one of the first
methods they consider. It’s undoubtedly one of the most well-known and widely used systems, but
it also comes with several unique challenges.

How Does it Work?

Ad networks are part of an advertising ecosystem that connects advertisers with publishers.

The advertisers use demand-side providers (DSP) to bid on ad space. Through an exchange, the
DSP provides the ads to a supply-side provider (SSP), which publishers join to sell their ad space.
The SSP, or supply-side provider, is typically the network you’ll work with to “sell” your ad space.

Most of the process is automatic. To earn revenue, you need to join a network by applying and
meeting all their criteria. Once approved, you can start denoting advertising space on your
website, and the system will handle bids and ad delivery.

When people click on the displayed ads, you’ll earn revenue. While several other factors play a role,
this is a somewhat simplified overview of how the process works.

How Much Can You Earn?

There’s no way to pinpoint how much you’ll earn through PPC ads. Dozens of factors can impact
your revenue, including:

       • Your chosen network
       • Ad availability
       • Revenue share
       • Click-through rates
       • Geographical location
       • CPC rates for keywords

You’ll also need to account for ad blockers. Approximately 27% of people will use ad blockers
in 2021, which can significantly impact your revenue. When you research networks, considering
working with one that offers ad recovery and acceptable ads.

Ad Networks and Monetization Partners

As we mentioned earlier, larger networks may refuse to work with smaller publishers. You might
have difficulty finding one that will accept your application, especially if you don’t meet their traffic
requirements. Additionally, most of these networks won’t bid on more than 30% of your inventory,
which leaves you with severely underutilized ad space.

If you do join a network, you’ll have to learn how to manage your ads to get the best results.
Without experience, it can be a daunting task for many publishers.

Working with a monetization partner can solve several of these problems. Not only do they have
the required experience to monetize your content effectively, but they also plug into the networks,
manage the ads, and typically offer ad recovery.

Most importantly, you won’t need to meet high traffic requirements to use their service.
For example, Rev.Amp plugs into top networks like Rubicon and Ad Exchange, making it easy for
smaller publishers to take advantage of big ad networks.

PROS

       • Free or low application and joining costs.
       • Some platforms allow for ad customization.
       • Relatively consistent passive income.

CONS
       • Application requirements may be challenging to meet.
       • Visitors may leave permanently due to poor ad placement.
       • Ad blockers may impact your revenue.

Best Monetization Networks for Tech Publishers

There are many monetization networks available to you, although they all have unique
qualification requirements and terms. While AdSense is often one of the first platforms publishers
try to use, there are several alternative networks that we recommend:

       • Amazon Native Shopping Ads
       • Media.net
       • Revcontent
       • Rubicon
       • Index Exchange

Keep in mind that you don’t need to use an ad network or exchange to get results. In our
experience, using a monetization partner will give you access to more networks without needing
to meet the stringent requirements or manage your own ads.

Exclusive Memberships and Content

If you’re creating high-quality content, why not ask your visitors to pay for the privilege of reading
it? Using memberships and gated content, you can charge users a small fee to access your best
posts or exclusive videos.

While you won’t turn every visitor into a paying subscriber, statistics show that people are willing
to exchange dollars for high-quality content:

       • 90% of Gen Z users are willing to pay for content.
       • 41% are willing to pay for content without ads.
       • 61% will pay for better quality videos, posts, or courses.
       • 56% are willing to pay for a better experience.
       • 50% pay for premium content because they consider it convenient.

Many large publishers are already taking advantage of this monetization strategy. WIRED
Magazine is a tech publisher using this method, while several other journalism sites do the same.

How Does it Work?

Memberships and gated content are relatively simple monetization strategies. The biggest
challenge will be finding a tool that’s compatible with your existing website. If you use WordPress,
you’ll have no problem finding plugins and integrable services. They’ll often guide you through the
setup, so you can simply follow along.

You can also use external platforms like Patreon, where you can set tiers with various rewards in
addition to exclusive access.

How Much Can You Earn?

Your earnings depend on the number of visitors you have, and how many of them are willing to pay
for your content. Before you decide to set a price, consider your audience and what they’d view as
a fair price. What seems affordable to one group may be too expensive for another, so it’s a good
idea to find an acceptable middle ground.

On average, subscriptions typically range between $25 - $49 per month. However, around 21.52%
charge less than $14, while only 12% charge more than $12 per month.

For example, WIRED Magazine offers both print and digital subscriptions at $29.99 per year. That’s
only $2.50 a month, and they frequently feature special offers that drop the price even further for
the first year. Although they have a large enough following to justify the lower price, it still shows
that you don’t need to charge a small fortune to earn an income.

PROS
       • Low-cost compared to most other monetization strategies.
       • Suitable for small and large websites.
       • Recurring income generated by subscribers or members.

CONS
       • Monthly fees for software or plugins.
       • Higher demand for exclusive, top-quality content.
       • You can alienate some visitors.

Best Tools for Creating Memberships

The tools you use will depend on the platform on which you’ve built your website. You’ll also need
to decide if you want to gate content, offer memberships, or both. Additionally, you’ll need to
consider options like plugins, stand-alone software, and separate platforms.

Here are three of the top tools we recommend:

       • MemberPress (All-in-one WordPress plugin for a fully featured membership site)
       • Patreon (Widely used premium content platform used by creators)
       • MemberSpace (Standalone platform with several third-party integrations)

If you have a WordPress website, you’ll find that there are dozens of plugins available. Explore your
options to see which one suits you best, as they all have different features and license costs. You
don’t want to choose a plugin, only to have to overhaul your entire website within a few months if
you’re unhappy with your selection.

Accept Donations from Visitors

There’s no shame in asking for donations rather than using ad networks. Many content creators,
artists, and even pro gamers turn to their fans for financial support. Publishers do the same by
adding donation buttons to their sites and asking for aid to keep their content ad-free.

While it probably won’t generate as much revenue as most other monetization strategies,
donations are a viable way to earn an income.

How Does it Work?

To get donations via your site, you’ll need to decide how you want to receive the money. Platforms
like PayPal will provide you with a button, while those like GoFundMe will require you to set up a
donation page.

Some platforms are strictly for charitable donations, while others may deduct fees for every
transaction. Pay attention to the rules of these sites so that you don’t violate their terms.

How Much Can You Earn?

Donations are voluntary, and there’s no real way to predict how much you can earn accurately.
That’s not to say it’s impossible to earn an income. In 2016, Wikipedia raised a substantial $77.8
million, while Twitch streamers routinely depend on donations before they qualify to become
affiliates. Some earn between $1,000 and $5,000 a day.²

Your earning potential depends on the size and loyalty of your following and your fundraising
capabilities.

PROS
       • You don’t need a significant amount of traffic.
       • No ads or paid campaigns are required.
       • It can be used across multiple platforms (website, YouTube channel, Twitch).

CONS
       • No guaranteed or recurring income.
       • Requires a loyal audience with access to expendable funds.
       • Active fundraising is needed.

Best Tools for Accepting Donations

You don’t need to use particularly special software to accept donations. Several online payment
platforms and mobile apps already include the necessary functions. If you’d like to ask your
followers for donations, we recommend the following platforms:

       • PayPal (Donation button linked to your account)
       • Venmo (Direct transfer to your username)
       • GoFundMe (Donation page)
       • Donorbox (Website integration)

Sell a Digital or Physical Product

Have you created a useful plugin or piece of software? Do you enjoy designing stock images or
videos? Perhaps you have expert knowledge on a topic that a lot of people would pay to learn.
Instead of giving your goods or information away for free, sell it instead.

How Does it Work?

The fastest way to get started would be to find an e-commerce platform that’ll integrate with your
website. Once you have the products you want to sell, set up your store and list your items.
Unfortunately, in our experience, it won’t be a case of “build it, and they will come.”

If you want to make more than the occasional sale, you’ll need to invest a lot of time and money
into marketing your product or store. If people aren’t aware of you or your goods, they won’t
suddenly show up to make a purchase. While it’s an effective monetization strategy, you’ll have to
pair it with a proper marketing plan to get significant results.

Luckily, there are several products you can sell that’ll complement your website and content:

• eBooks and guides
       • Online courses
       • Stock images and photos
       • Video effects or stock footage
       • Website themes
       • Software or plugins

Remember that, unlike dropshipping, you’ll be responsible for creating the product, performing
quality control, and the fulfillment process. Whether you offer an eBook, software, guide, or
physical item, you’ll need to ensure that orders are processed and delivery is made.

How Much Can You Earn?

Creating and selling a digital or physical product won’t guarantee a profit. There are a few key
factors that’ll affect your income, including the:

       • Cost of creation or production.
       • Quality of the item.
       • Promotional and advertising costs.
       • Cost of tools and e-commerce software.
       • Fulfillment or shipping costs.
       • General expenses.

It may be tempting to set a low, generic price to attract buyers, but it may cost you money rather
than generate revenue. Instead, calculate your expenses to create, sell, and deliver the product.
Once you know the cost, you can decide on a fair price while still making a profit.

PROS
       • You, the seller, determine the prices.
       • More cross- and upselling opportunities.
       • No dependency on external quality control or fulfillment services.

CONS
       • Requires a significant amount of time and resources.
       • Payment gateways, taxes, and shipping issues need to be considered.
       • Expensive advertising campaigns may be necessary to market the product.

Best Tools for Selling Products

There are various tools available if you want to sell products via your website. Some are simple,
while others are full e-commerce solutions. Here are three of the most common tools you’ll find:

       • PayPal (Using a “Pay Now” button to unlock the product)
       • WooCommerce (Popular WordPress e-commerce platform)
       • Shopify (Standalone and integrable e-commerce solution)

Sponsored Product Reviews

Sponsored posts and reviews are an excellent way to generate revenue if you have the numbers
to back up your asking price. If you start using sponsored posts, keep in mind that there are a few
rules you’ll need to follow.

First, and most importantly, always add a disclaimer that a post or a review is paid for.
For example, here at Softonic, we often partner with reputable brands to create sponsored posts
that we know will add value to our readers. We highly recommend trying out any products or
services before accepting a deal or approaching a brand for sponsorship.

When we do partner with a brand for a sponsored post, we always add a disclaimer (highlighted
above) that shows our readers that an article is paid for by a brand. By adding the disclaimer, you’ll
come across as transparent and more trustworthy to your visitors.

Second, keep your review honest. According to Statista, 78% of online customers tend to trust
online reviews, and you can damage your reputation by making a bad recommendation.

How Does it Work?

In theory, the process is relatively simple: contact brands, get sponsorships, and write content.
However, getting brands to take the leap may be a little trickier in practice.

The most effective way to make contact is to email the appropriate brand representatives and
provide them relevant statistics and information about your site, visitor demographics, and niche.
Make it clear what product or service you want to present to your audience and why they’ll be
inclined to act on the information.

You can also add a section or page on your website explaining that you’re open to sponsorships.
Allow interested parties to contact you directly with offers. If they approach you, you’ll be in a
better position to negotiate.

Once you’ve reached an agreement with a sponsor, you can create the post and share the review
with your audience. Whether they decide to make a purchase or not, you’ll still get paid for your
efforts.

How Much Can You Earn?

Sponsors will consider a few criteria to determine a sponsorship amount. Traffic, domain ranking,
unique visitors, audience reach, and social media influence will all affect how much you’re worth
to advertisers. The better your numbers, the more you’ll be able to ask.

Smaller tech sites may be able to earn around $75 to $100. However, larger sites can make
significantly more. Popular fitness and financial site, Fitnancials, charges between $750 and
$1,500 per post.

PROS
       • High earning potential.
       • You can earn money irrespective of traffic or sales.
       • Helps build a direct relationship with advertisers.

CONS
       • You’ll need 10,000+ organic views to appeal to sponsors.
       • You must disclose that the content is sponsored.
       • Reviewing or promoting irrelevant items may annoy your visitors.

Dropshipping E-commerce Store

If you’ve been looking at ways to start an online business, you’ve likely come across a few articles
about dropshipping. Ambitious e-commerce entrepreneurs have been buzzing around the topic for
over a decade.

Today, it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry. The last-recorded global sales total came to approximately
$85 billion, and it’s expected to reach a market valuation of almost $600 billion by 2025.3

How Does it Work?

Essentially, dropshipping is a fulfillment method. It allows you to sell products without needing
to keep an inventory. Instead, you advertise the items in your e-commerce store. When someone
makes a purchase, a third-party will ship the item directly to the customer.

It’s proven itself as an excellent web monetization strategy if correctly executed. When done
properly, dropshipping is one of the easiest ways to create an online store that can generate a
significant income. Done wrong, the model can cost thousands of dollars and waste countless
hours.

How Much Can You Earn?

Dropshipping e-commerce stores have a lot of earning potential. Several online claims rave about
the potential revenue you can generate, with numbers ranging between $200 - $10,000 per day or
more.³

While possible, you need to manage your expectations to avoid becoming discouraged. It can
take a lot of time, hard work, and financial investment to achieve those goals. Several external and
internal factors can also affect your income:

         • The quality of your store
         • The quality and accurate portrayal of goods
         • Customer interest
         • Shipping times
         •Partner profit margin limits
         • Investment in paid advertising

Can you earn revenue as a tech publisher? Yes! Around 18.5% of dropshippers sell gadgets,
devices, and related accessories.3 It’s also the most popular and competitive niche.³

PROS
         • No inventory, fulfillment, or shipping management is required.
         • High earning potential for dedicated sellers.
         • Relatively easy to set up.

CONS
         • No control over product quality and shipping times.
         • Dropshipping companies typically require monthly fees.
         • High start-up and advertising costs.

Best Dropshipping Partners and Databases

According to 84% of online sellers, finding a good supplier is one of the biggest obstacles
you’ll face. For tech publishers, it’s imperative to find a top-quality partner for their store. Poorly
manufactured gadgets or glitchy software can garner several negative reviews and impact your
reputation.

Here are eight of the best suppliers and directories we recommend for tech sites and publishers:

        • Oberlo (The best Shopify plugin)
        • Modalyst (Easy to use directory with several quality tech products)
        • CROV (Wholesaler with 60+ global branches)
        • SaleHoo (Over 8,000 suppliers available to members)
        • Worldwide Brands (Budget-friendly with excellent reviews)
        • AliExpress (Affordable supplier based in China)
        • Megagoods (Brand name items)
        • Spocket (Integrates with all popular e-commerce platforms)

Keep in mind that you’re not limited to using these companies. Established brands and distributors
are beginning to accept dropshipping as a viable method to reach a broader customer base.
By working with local suppliers or brands, you’ll have better control over fulfillment and quality
control.

CONCLUSION

There are several strategies for web monetization you can use if you have a tech site. Some may
be more effective than others, but each one has unique pros and cons. Before you decide which
ones to use, evaluate your options to see which ones would suit you and your site, audience, and
content.

All the methods we’ve recommended are tried, tested, and proven to work. However, even if you
work with an expert team, agency, or monetization partner, the success of these monetization
strategies isn’t guaranteed. The results will depend on the time, effort, and research you’re willing
to put in and the quality of the content you create.

¹ https://supermetrics.com/blog/affiliate-marketing-statistics

² https://www.businessofapps.com/affiliate/twitch/

³ https://torchbankz.com/dropshipping-statistics/

ABOUT US

Rev·Amp is a brand-new initiative from Softonic. After spending 20 years perfecting the
monetization of our own sites, we are now bringing our expertise to the wider world of publishing.

Our large, enthusiastic, global team understands the publishing and monetization businesses
like no one else. We’ve assembled an unrivaled squad of engineers, advertising experts, business
developers, writers and editors that stand behind our best-in-class monetization program – and
stand behind your success when you partner with us.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US:

WEB: https://revamp.softonic.com

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/rev·amp/

Or you can contact us at: publishers@softonic.com