My blog traffic is rising - need monetization ideas/advice!

Hello Warriors,

I don't post here often, but I read many of the threads here and I have learned so much that I could never thank people enough. I am in need of some friendly advice, and I can't think of anywhere else to get people's insight but here.

I am finally getting into a groove with my personal blog site. The address is carltonzone.com. You can click the blog tab to see my articles.

I mainly write about technology now, but I originally created the blog to write about social media marketing and topics relating to small businesses.

I got serious about my writing in 2011, and I am now more committed than ever. I write 4 to 5 articles per week, sometimes more.

I have a love for smartphones, and I have noticed that my site traffic is highest for my articles related to such. I started writing about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S2, and I hit a sweet spot. I am an iPhone owner who is at the end of the line with Apple, and I am anxiously planning on making the switch to Android with the GS2.

When I write about the GS2, I am passionate, and driven. I have been able to outdo most of my competitors by giving my own special extra pizzaz instead of just writing about the obvious. My added value is hitting a chord with my readers, and now I am getting roughly 400 to 800 hits per day with an average time spent reading of 3:30min. This is a dream come true.

My short term goal is to get my traffic above 1,000 visitors per day with an average time spent of 4:00min each, and build from there. Long-term, I am looking to build that traffic to 5,000 per day, and I think it is very attainable.

I just started monetizing my blog in May. My first move was to add Amazon banners. I found a hot niche with a repair part for a certain phone, and sold over $1,500 of the item. The commission isn't much, but if I can get people buying on a small level like this, I should be able to multiply the effect and build it to a respectable income.

I am also selling cell phones through TMI Wireless, and also the Amazon Wireless store. I have yet to make a sale through Amazon on cell phones, but I have sold around 10 phones in a month through TMI.

I have decided that I really need to look at all the possibilities on monetizing the site, due to the increase in traffic. One thing I don't want to do is over-advertise, and clutter the site up.

I have had people tell me to do Google Adwords, but I hate the way they look on a site. I never EVER click on Google Adwords advertisements on blog sites, and I don't know why anyone ever would. I'm truly shocked that it produces such good revenue for people.

If there is another idea or two that I can look at to better monetize my site, I'd love to hear it. I want my visitors to enjoy my site, and I don't want get greedy and shove too much in their faces.

Thanks, and I look forward to your veteran input!

Carlton