I'm wondering what monetization techniques are working for you? (e.g. IAPs, Ad Networks, Ad placement, Network Advertising, Free Version w/ ads AND Paid Version w/o ads)

I do a very odd technique, and I have a free app and then ask for clients to pay for a placement in my apps. If you don't expect over 1000 downloads, charging for an app or getting an advert won't be very profitable.

It is the downloads that will make it or break it for you app. Lots of downloads => a chance to make money through ads. Dozens or hundreds only -- the app must be customized for the high end client. And everything in between. Don't worry about monetisation until you know for whom are you making an app, and how it will enhance their lives.

Between 3 apps, we've had over 3,000 downloads in one month. Based on our freemium structure, we are not seeing a big return with our current ad networks or IAPs. We're just wondering if there's a better way...

I could only dream of 3,000 downloads per month! But this shows that advertising isn't an efficient way of monetization. What you can do is charge to download the app, although that tends to bring the download rate to 20% of a free app. You can also ask companies for advertising within the app and act as the agency yourself.

Can you ask the viewers of your apps what do they really want and/or need? Then you will have some intelligence from the people who have downloaded your app or apps, and you will be able to work from there. 1000 downloads per app per month won't bring much cash from ads alone, never has and never will. Always work on growing downloads by posting videos on YouTube as well as links everywhere else where your potential customers may abide. With an app maker site such as Buzztouch (and many others), the barrier to entry is very low, even lower than to bring about a new site. It's a tough business to be sure.