Author: Darren Rowse (Author), Chris Garrett (Author)
Publisher : Wiley (May 5, 2008)
ISBN : 0470246677
Pages : 220
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Table of Contents
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Introduction
Danner Rowse's story. His conclusions:
- Blogging for an income takes time.
- One step at a time
- It takes hard work and discipling
- Follow your dreams
Chris Garrett's Story.
Chapter 1: Blogging for money
What is a Blog?
A blog is a particular type of website.
What Makes Blogs Different?
- Content: Blogs are updated more often than traditional websites. The content is arranged in reverse-chronological order.
- Syndication: A blog usually offers its content in the form of a feed.
- Conversation: Bloggers communicate directly to their audience, and replies are expected in the form of comments.
The Added Benefits of Blogging
Other goals besides money:
- Fame
- Contacts
- Traffic
- Sales
Making Money with Blogs
Introduction to Professional Blogging
Blogging evolve to a mini-industry.
How Much Could You Earn?
Not all bloggers succeed. Only the few who put in the effort to make a go of it over the long haul.
Po Blogging in Not a Get-Rich-Quick Tactic
It takes time to build a profitable blog.
Direct and Indirect Earning Methods
Direct Monetization
- Advertising
- Sponsorships
- Affiliate commissions
- Paid reviews
Indirect Monetization
- Freelance writing contracts
- Book Deals
- Speaking engagements
- Consultancy oppurtunities
- Service contracts
Passive and Active Income
Passive income comes because the blog is always online. But blogs need to be cared and updated regularly.
Is Pro Blogging Right for You?
You have to examine your intentions. Not every blogger is suited to blogging for money. It is harder to write day after day.
Which Monetization Method is Right for You?
Indirect
- Blog to promote my business
- Blog to promote my writing
- Blog to make myself known
Direct
- Blog for recreating purposes, about my interests and hobbies.
- Blog to make money in my spare time
- Blog about products and write reviews
How to Make Blog Advertising Work for You
- Put your reader and content first.
- Don't let ads dominate.
- Add only relevant and appropriate ads.
- Write reviews only for products you experienced.
- Promote affiliate offers that they are good value.
Blog Strategies
Basic Model
- Set up a blog
- Make it popular
- Earn from advertising
Multiple Blogs
There is no reason why you should have only one blog.
Freelance Blogging
Writing for other people.
Build and Flip
Glow a blog's value and then sell it.
Measuring a Blog's Success
Different metrics
- Traffic: Unique visitors (important for advertisers)
- Visits
- Subscribers
- Comments, Feedback and Interaction
- Links
- Trackbacks
- Search Engines: For example you can type "link:domainname" into Google.
- Technorati: Technorati counts how many references to your blog have been made by other bloggers (authority).
- Referral Stats
- Search-Engine Results: The higher the better.
- Income
Chapter 2: Niche Blogging
Introduction
Most bloggers start with a personal blog. This kind of blog doesn't always make good business sense. So it's better to have a number of niche blogs that focuse upon specific topics.
10 Reasons Why Niche Blogs Are Successful
- Loyal readers
- Community
- Specialist authors
- Brand, credibility and profile
- Contextual Advertising: More specific adwords for example.
- Direct advertising sales
- Search engine optimization
- More posts
- Leverage to expand into neighboring niches
- Higher conversion
How to Choose a Profitable Niche Topic for Your Blog
Are you Interested in The Topic?
Start by identifying your own interests, passions and energy levels for topics. Nobody wants to read something that the author doesn't really believe in.
Do you Have Experience or Expertise in the Topic?
Non-experts can document their own learning experience.
Is the Topic Popular?
Make sure that others want to read information on the topic you're writing on.
Is the Niche Growing or Shrinking?
Get in the habit of being on the lookout for what people are into.
Sometimes it is better to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond
Will You Have Enough Content?
- Do you have enough content within you as an author?
- Do you have access to enough other sources of content and insipration?
Is the Niche Able to be Monetized?
Difficult to know how well different income streams will work on a blog before starting experimenting.
How Wide Should a Niche Be?
Both wide and narrow niches can work. Choose a niche that you can find enough to write about but that won't overwhelm you.
Niche Demographic or Niche Topic?
Some blogs identify an audience that they want to target and then develop content on a variety of topics that would relate strongly to that group of people.
Choose a Niche
The best way to get the answers of many dillemas is to start blogging.
Tools for Helping You to Choose a Niche for your Blog
- AdWords Keyword Tool
- Google Trends
- TEchnorati
- Google Blog Search
- Wordtracker
- Yahoo Buzz
