At some point you will have read everything you need to read to get started and
succeed on the internet. Now it is time for you to take action. But, now that
you are ready to take action what action are you supposed to take? What are you
to do?
Everybody runs into this question daily. What am I supposed to do today? What
can I do now? Can somebody tell me? Here is the thing. Most of us are like
lambs. We feel comfort being a member of the sheep class. We like to follow. We
don’t want to lead. We just want someone to tell us what to do. Then we will do
it.
Write - Traffic - Monetization
Well, here it is. This is what you need to do everyday. Create a list and follow
this list You need to remember the key points to a successful blog. You
need traffic coming to your website. You need to have some way to monetize the
traffic you receive. You need to write articles so there is a reason for the
traffic to continue to return to your world.
If you remember those key things then it is a matter of setting up a program
that includes some action on your part to make these 3 steps a reality. Create
a little mantra for yourself. Write – traffic - monetization Write –
traffic - monetization. Write – traffic - monetization. If you neglect any one
of these 3 items, you will begin to lose your revenue stream.
There really is no get rich quick, passive income on the internet. If anyone is
trying to sell you something and say’s to you, “use our product and you will
make lot’s of money without any work.” Then grab your wallet and run. When the
transaction is complete they will have money and you will have some experience.
Making money on the World Wide Web and especially with a blog you have to
complete those 3 steps daily. You have to find the right mix for your schedule.
Will you write an article a day? Do you have time each day to work on the
things that will drive traffic to your website? How much time can you spend
looking for ways to monetize your website? It is a delicate dance that requires
harmony and rhythm to achieve.
What Should I Do Today?
But, I haven’t answered your question have I? What should I do today to make
money with my blog?
Let’s start with key one in our mantra. Write. Today, write an article for your
blog. You have defined your niche. You know your niche. You have researched the
areas of interest to the members of that niche. So, write an article that will
be of interest to that niche. It doesn’t have to be long. Don’t write your
entire life story. Pick a topic that is interesting and tell us a little about
it.
If you are concerned about your writing skills then nothing will make them
better than writing everyday. Your grammar will improve. Your typing speed will
increase. The words you use will become more professional. Once you get into a
flow with writing regularly, good things will occur. Plus, blogging often will
help with step two in our mantra, traffic.
The Traffic Equation
There is a nice little equation to drive traffic. If you engage this equation
regularly you should see traffic to your blog increase, monthly.
Forums + Comments + Articles + Stumbles + Social Networking + Emails + RSSfeeds
+ advertising + Entrecard = traffic you need to succeed.
That is a pretty big formula. I have already shared the specific tasks you need
to complete this formula. But, the key is to add it to your daily routine for
success.
Have you visited a forum today? Did you just lurk, read articles, or did you
get involved? Did you ask a question that was on your mind? Did you create an
article that might interest some of the people there? Did you respond to
someone else’s article? Did you correct a misunderstanding? Did you make a
friend?
Those same questions can be asked of your commenting strategy. Yes, it is a
strategy. It is not, “I only do it when I feel like it thing”, it is a business
strategy. And if you want to monetize your blog and make money from it you need
to look at your blog as a business. And if it is a business you need to have a
business strategy.
We already talked about writing articles. But, you have to remember that your
article writing is also a key part of the traffic formula. If you stop writing
articles then traffic will slow down and eventually stop.
Stumbling and Social Networking is Important
Stumbling and social networking is important and requires a tremendous time
commitment. It doesn’t matter if you use FaceBook, MySpace or some other social
site. To really drive traffic you have to commit to doing the things within
that network that will get people to visit your blog.
Once you get a number of people on your email list, then you will see a
significant jump in your traffic each time you mail out your newsletters. So,
don’t neglect this traffic source. You obviously don’t want to email them
daily, but no less than monthly. For some niches and if you are a good writer;
you can send newsletters weekly.
If you haven’t started an rssfeed, then get one. Now. Stop reading this article
and put it on your site. Use FeedBurner or roll your own. But, make it happen.
This is a must have in your traffic arsenal.
The last two variables in the equation include any advertising you can afford
and Entrecard. If you can’t afford to advertise then use Entrecard. Or any
service where you can drive traffic to your site without spending money.
Entrecard is another vehicle while effective requires a significant outlay of
time. Be sure and factor that into the equation. How much time do you really
have to do all these things?
Advertising has to be watched. Don’t just throw your money away. Are you
getting value for your advertising dollars? Do the websites where you advertise
get traffic and is it relevant traffic to your website? Keep an eye on your
adverts and don’t hesitate to cancel advertising that isn’t working.
Monetizing Your Website
You are getting traffic. People are reading your articles. What steps do I need
to take to make money?
Earlier in this eBook I have mentioned ways to make money from your blog. You
have to decide which monetization strategies are right for you and then follow
through with making them happen.
To succeed with the monetization process you have to make sure you are putting
yourself in position to succeed. If you are running ads on your site you have
to make sure they are working. Be sure and bill anyone for the next month when
the time is up. Make room on your blog so the prime money making advertising
spots are near the top. Ideally this location is above the fold.
If you are running a membership site, are your links working? Can the members
traverse the web site without problems? Are you giving the members new goodies
regularly so they stay engaged? That is a problem with membership sites keeping
the members engaged so they keep coming back.
Check your Google AdSense ads to make sure they are contextually accurate. Are
they placed in a spot that encourages clicking? Will your niche readers find
them and want to click? Are you writing articles that will help you earn money
from that niche?
What are you doing today to encourage action from your affiliate’s links? Have
you written an article that tells us more about the program? Have you teased us
into getting more information from the affiliate company? Or have you tried to
sell us yourself on the affiliate program? Did you know that most affiliate
programs have high paid marketing staffs to create professional sales tools?
Just give your readers a little tease and then let the professionals take them
to the buying decision.
Wandering Around the Building Aimlessly
As a small business owner this is your daily checklist. Each day you need to
follow a specific set of actions that you know lead to success. This article is
the start of that list.
If you were running a business with a hundred employees, would you want them
just wandering around the building aimlessly? Or would you want them focused on
doing the tasks that you know will lead to the company’s success? And yet as
bloggers, each day we continually get distracted by things that won’t lead our
blog to success. In fact, it is more likely that the distractions just make us
despair about our lack of moving forward and making more money.
Print The CheckList Only
I encourage you to stay focused. Put this check list on your desktop and as you
complete each task, then go on to the next task on the list. At the end of the
day, ideally you have completed each of the tasks and you can sleep soundly
knowing that you succeeded today.
Other articles that work well with this article to focus your efforts and
succeed as a blogger.
Why Do I Drop Entrecards and What is My Strategy?
Ten Things to Make Your Blog Successful
Seven Steps to Reaching Your Goals
Writing Check list
Write an Article Today
Research an Article
Visit a forum to get ideas about articles
Read other blogs, newspapers, and books
Study grammar
Look for new, stronger words instead of using adjectives
Do not write in passive voice.
Traffic
Forums
Comment
Write Articles
Ask Questions
Become an Active Member
Comments
Comment on Other Blogs
Have a Comment section on your blog
Follow up with people that comment on your blog
Articles
Write regularly so people keep coming back each day.
Stay within your niche
Humanize it so we know you
StumbleUpon
Stumble other Articles
Write so your articles get stumbled
Social Networking
Become involved in a social network
FaceBook
MySpace
LinkedIn
Twitter
Place a link to your articles on the network
Become a member of the community
Invite others to your community
Emails And Newsletters
Send out emails to your opt-in list
Write a new article just for them
Summarize your latest articles on your blog
Link to the articles in the newsletter
Send out the newsletter weekly or monthly
RSSfeeds
Create an Rssfeed.
Put it on feedburner
Keep your feed updated with your latest article
Advertising
Use AdTolls
Use Project Wonderful
Use Text Link Ads
Evaluate their effectiveness.
Evaluate the cost per thousand impressions
Drop ads that aren’t working
Spend more money on ads that are working
Entrecard
Drop at least 100 cards a day
Drop to different categories
Get involved in the Entrecard Forum
MyBlogLog
Place a MyBlogLog indicator on your website
Run a Contest
Find a prize you can afford
Keep the contest short ( a week )
Reward immediately
Submit Article To Google
Use the Sitemap.xml file
Login to Google and resubmit after each article
Link Each Article to Other Articles You’ve Written
Each article you write should have three links to it
from your blog.
Monetizing
Affiliates
Research each one
Signup
Create your advertising
Write an article and link it to your affiliate number
Reviews
Write reviews for other sites
Make it clear what you charge
Have a clear set of review criteria
Don’t be afraid to be negative
Say some things positive
Advertising
Are all links valid
Are you charging enough – test
Are your ads situated above the fold
Is potential adspace wasted with fluff
Could you put 2 ads where you now have one
eBooks
Write ebooks for your niche
Length is determined by the market or eBook niche
Tell us HOW
Tell us WHY
Tell us WHEN
Tell us WHO – It had better be me
Google AdSense
Location
Location
Location
Content
Context
Membership Programs
Are all links working?
Are you providing anything new to program?
Are the paid areas secure
Has the price been tested?
This is the checklist you need. Use it as your daily routine for success. Isn’t
success easy now that you know exactly what to do each day? Have you stopped
reading and started doing?
Print The CheckList Only
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