The Secrets to Long-Term Blogging Success [Part 5]

It’s time for another post in our lengthy series about creating long-term success with your blog.  In this series, we’re covering a battle-plan you can use to increase traffic to your site, write about what you love, and generate a profit at the same time.

So far we’ve covered:

Part 1: How to develop a winning content strategy

Part 2: Different techniques for improving your blogging productivity

Part 3: Creating a Blog Business Plan Using a Mind Map

Part 4: Focusing on your Most Wanted Response (MWR)

What are we talking about today?  Well, in part four we talked about the concept of the “Most Wanted Response.” Here I emphasized the importance of determining what strategy your blog uses to make money, then structuring the design and layout to ensure that you’re getting the exact response you want.

So this leaves us with the question… “How DO you make money with a blog?” The answer isn’t as simple as you would think.  In truth, there are dozens of ways to monetize your blog.  Today, I would like to cover the most common methods:

#13- Ways to Monetize Your Blog

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the most common way to make money.  All you do is talk about a product, insert a link to it, and you get a sales commission if someone decides to buy.

In my opinion, this is an excellent way to monetize a site.  The problem is many bloggers tend to get lazy when it comes to this method.  Usually, their “promotion” consists of placing an image on their site and once in awhile doing a review.

The trick to affiliate marketing with a blog is to constantly discuss how YOU use the product on a daily basis.  In a way, you’re treating it like it’s one of your own.  I recommend regularly talking about it…even it’s something that’s not beneficial.

We’ve reached a point in our society where a lot of folks are simply tired of marketing B.S.  They want honesty, even if you’re telling them about the faults of a product.

For instance, I recently did a review of a site that teaches affiliate marketing.   Here, I talked about the benefits of the site.  But I also listed a few drawbacks and reasons why certain people shouldn’t join.

Bottom line is your affiliate marketing efforts should be honest as possible.  If you can’t find anything good to say about a product, then you shouldn’t be promoting it in the first place.

Now, if you’re unsure about where to get started, I recommend you check out the Clickbank and Commission Junction websites.   Both have a large marketplace, that’s filled with excellent products, waiting for you to promote them.

Promoting Your Information Products

One of the natural evolutions of a blog is to go from affiliate marketing to pitching your own information products.  To be honest, this is something I’m hoping to do with the “Steve Scott Site.”

Obviously, this takes a lot more effort than promoting an affiliate program.  You have to actually take the time to find something that people want, and then write the sucker.

When promoting an info product, you would use the same techniques that I recommend for affiliate marketing.  In addition, you want to showcase your expert knowledge of the subject.  By demonstrating authority, many readers will want to buy things from you that’ll further help solve their problems.

To get started with this method, I recommend paying close attention to the questions you get a on a regular basis.  If you can’t find any, then start asking your audience what they want to learn. You’d be surprised at how many hidden opportunities that you’re probably missing.

Also, I recommend you check out my 4-part series on information products that I wrote a few months back.

CPA Offers

A CPA offer is similar to affiliate marketing.  You get paid by promoting a particular offer.  The major difference is you make money whenever someone takes an action.  This can include if they simply click over to a website.  Or you earn a commission if a reader fills out a form, generating a lead for the company you’re promoting.

I want to be very honest with you here… I have almost NO experience with CPA offers.  I’m aware they exist and some people make a killing with this method, but I’ve never bothered to take the time to learn how it really works.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, then I recommend taking an afternoon, and doing research into this topic.  Also, I know that Azoogle has a wide selection of companies you can use to promote CPA offers.

Google Adsense

About five years ago, Google Adsense blogs were all the rage.  They became popular because you could make LOTS of money simply by having people click on an ad.  How do I know this?  Well, because in 2005 I made a sizeable income by creating Adsense sites.

In my opinion, a Google Adsense site isn’t the best long-term strategy for a blog.  To make it really work, you need a massive audience.  And the way I figure things is if you have a large audience, then you should be building a relationship with them instead of simply directing them to click on an advertisement.

However, if you’re interested in this type of business, I recommend you find a WordPress Theme that’s specifically optimized for Google Adsense.  These should have a layout that places these ads in a prominent spot where they look like a regular link.  (In essence, you’re “tricking” your audience into thinking you’re linking to more content on your blog).

Promoting Your Services or Consulting

Many people use a blog as an extension of their business.  Whether they’re offering a specific service or they want to get more clients for their consulting business, these people are basically demonstrating their authority in a particular topic.

Again, this is a method where I have limited experience.  With that said, I feel that it’s extremely important to “brand” yourself with this monetization model.  Here’s what I mean…

Let’s say you want to increase business for your article writing outsourcing service.  Your blog should showcase your skills at writing.  You should discuss the challenges that people have with coming up with their own content.  Plus you should constantly refer your readers to samples of your work.

My point is this.  If you’re offering a specific service, then you have to show that you’re walking the walk instead of talking the talk.

At first, a person might not buy from you.  But if they’re a regular reader, they’ll eventually come to the point when they think to themselves, “Gee, I need someone to write a few articles for my site.  Where do I find someone like this?” If you branded yourself properly, then most people will think of contacting you.

Final Thoughts…

Like I said, there are a number of ways you can profit from a blog.  I really only covered the major methods that most people use.

I’m curious about how you’re trying to earn income from your site.  Do you use one of the methods I just described?  If so, do you have any special techniques that you’re successfully using?

Also, do you use a monetization method I didn’t cover?  How is it working for you?

Please comment below…

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