Blogging to make money online should be understood in the context of content monetization. One of the cool things about blogging, besides being able to voice one’s opinion; is parlaying written or video content into cash!
In this article, we’ll review three things to get you started earning money with a blog;
1. Shopping carts vs. ad only revenue
2. Quick start techniques
3. Content creation best practices
It is believed, by many, in order to earn money with blogs that a product, created by the blog owner, must be offered for sale. Selling is relative to earning goals and not necessarily about anyone offering their own products and services. Some have heard of a website called Shopify. This, in my opinion, is a great way to launch a profitable online business but certainly, not the only method. Setting up shopping carts, on a website, requires webmasters to offer something for sale. With drop ship options freely available, it is no longer necessary to physically stock and ship products. Affiliate sales can provide income for entrepreneurs who do nothing more than place ads on their website without spending time, money and effort to create a service.
Whatever option you chose (shopping cart or ad only), what is most important is to drive website traffic. No discussion, about running ads anyway, is complete without mentioning one of the top ad earning opportunities; Google Adsense. In past articles and surely more will come in the future, I’ve discouraged bloggers from partnering with Adsense for one reason; earnings to effort ratio. Go to pretty much any free blog and it is a sure bet you’ll see advertisements. It isn’t even necessary to seek out a blog to verify this – go to your Gmail account and Adsense ads will appear all over the place!
Here is why I refuse to endorse Google ads or any other quick start ad options for that matter;
1. For each click your website provides to an advertiser, you’ll receive a paltry and truthfully, insulting few pennies. Put more simply – it is like working hard all day and receiving a few bucks for the effort.
2. You are prevented, through the threat of an ‘Adsense ban’, from running any promotions of your own. Many have tried to ‘have their Google cake and eat it to’ and can no longer run Google ads due to being banned for what the search engine giant calls ‘violation of terms of service’. For those who’ve experienced it, believe me, it is no big loss.
3. There are more lucrative Affiliate sales opportunities. One of the better known is located at Clickbank.com. The question to answer when choosing between Adsense (as well as competitive services), is do you want, for example, to earn $0.05 per ad click or $15-$97 per click? Of course, the few pennies Google offers, is guaranteed and with Affiliate options, a sale must be completed to get paid.
Whatever option you choose, begin the process NOW. Poor planning is most often the cause for business failure but it is followed closely by the plague of all ‘would be’ entrepreneurs – inaction. Although we loathe clichés, sometimes they are true; “a 1,000 mile journey begins with the first step”. Before launching a blog, choose a topic you are most familiar with and next, organize that familiarity into a cohesive content plan. No worries, it doesn’t take a long, drawn out planning session, only an idea which can be clearly communicated. To select your topic theme, become familiar with the basics of keyword research because it will be the difference between success and failure.
Here are questions to answer as you begin to create monetized content;
1. What subject can you immediately began to create written or video content about? If you aren’t an expert on a topic but have interest in it, take a free online course and put what you’ve learned into your own words.
2. Where will you publish content? I came across a Youtube channel called SBTV.com with very informative videos. Unfortunately, they had no website or even blog! DO NOT begin your blogging career using only social media channels as your primary means of establishing your brand. Set up a custom website or no one is going to take you seriously.
3. How will you gain immediate search engine ground swell for your blog? This boils down to one thing; keyword research and deployment.
Content creation is a process. Over the years, I’ve developed from a novice blogger to a very well established industry voice on quite a few business related topics. When I look back at content created, for example, seven or eight years ago, I think; “Oh my! That was bad writing”. However, my style has developed and so will yours. Despite what those who sell get rich quick schemes would have you believe, becoming a power blogger doesn’t happen overnight but don’t allow this fact to hinder implementation of your vision.
Here, in order, are items for your consideration when formulating a content plan;
1. Setting up a content management system such as WordPress to publish your thoughts, expertise as well as opinions.
2. Understanding readership needs. This is a simple matter of online research to discover who is writing and how readers are responding.
3. Committing to a set schedule for content creation and deployment. At minimum, I create one blog post every other day. That works out to exactly 180 posts per year, each targeting a different keyword market (search need) yet all business related.
4. Locating an Affiliate product or service to promote. It is best to select something you believe in or at minimum, can offer with a clear conscience.
5. Testing, with each new article, different products and services and monitoring response rates. There is no need to set up fancy (and expensive) Affiliate monitoring software because effective response means one thing – PROFITS!
I would like you to check out our WordPress Website Blogging course and commit to your future earnings and profits right now! What are you waiting for?
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