Website owners who keep an eye on the tendencies in the web publishing world know that these past years blogs have greatly increased in popularity. Why is it so and what does it mean for advertisers?
The general belief not until long ago was that blogs are no good for advertising. For blogs started out as web journals, where people put their personal notes and reflections. Well, besides friends and family, who would care to read these? But soon blogs became also the means by which persons who really have something to say and high professionals expressed valuable opinions on topics of great interest, and they preferred blogs as these permit a free form of expression, allowing pure communication, unbiased and published in real time.
People look for such places on the internet knowing that thye'll find true, authentic information they can trust. For example, if you look for info on a specific topic you will find all kind of information from contradictory sources. That's when you want to find such an open place where any matter is open to commentaries and subject to constructive debate and you feel involved instead of just a looker-on. And you find valuable links too. It's connection and communication that builds value. The result is usually one closer to reality than many other materials.
AdSense™ for Blogs
Naturally, Google™ has entered the game. Blogs are the kind of sites that Google™ like: lots of links, fresh, new, rich content. Besides, they are still a not very explored ground with good potential in advertising.
Blog Optimization for AdSense™
Generally, the optimization principles are the same as for websites in general and the rules to be observed also, but because blogs are a particular form of web publishing, there are certain peculiarities on several main topics:
Qualify for Google AdSense™
First and foremost, keep up-to-date with Google™ AdSense Program Policies.
* Theme relevance. By their nature, blogs may mix several themes. Theme irrelevance might be a reason of rejection.
* Topic. Because of their openness to comments, blogs are exposed to occurence of offensive content. Filtering should be applied.
* Traffic. Low traffic might be a rejection ground.
Increase targeted traffic
* Content. Blogs that offer exactly what people are looking for are the most read. And put it in the best form — be brief, be true, be relevant, be clear.
* Don't spam in other blogs. Just truly comment on others blogs. Spamming is easily detectable and will have the opposite effect.
* Frequent updates maintain readers' interest high.
* Stimulate readers to come back by maintaining an interactive blog that involves readers.
* Links. With blogs, linking works wonderfully. Place as many links to other blogs as you can. The other bloggers are very open to linking back to you.
* Submit your blog to popular blog directories, such as Technocrati, Blogdex, Open Directory.
There are some traffic-generator topics for blogs (such as politics, celebrity/gossip, religion, sports) but they have lesser potential to generate AdSense™ earnings. These work with impression based ads, but are less suitable for CPC-based advertising, as they have no real product to promote and usually generate low EPC. Tech blogs are more worthwhile, as they are a combination of reasonable traffic generators and good click value.
Click Through Rate (CTR) and Cost Per Click
* Less is better. Keeping a small number of ads on page means higher CTR and higher CPC. Having a very limited number of ads will permit only the highest paying ads to appear. Keeping the ones placed in strategic positions will significantly increase CTR. Make sure you place them in your code in the order that you want them to appear (that is the highest paying ones in the best positions).
* Ads placement and customization. Blogs are about content. With blog, in-content, blend-in ads seem to work better than ads above your posts or to the sides. Especially the first paragraph of content is recommended as a strategic place, because it's generally read. The objective is (for blogs and for other websited) to bring the ad into the immediate view of the reader and to keep unspoiled the looks of the page.
* Variation in ads customization. Many blogs have regular readers who become used to the formats of your ads and thus, ad-blind. Moving ads and changing formats helps in these cases.
* High paying ads are attracted also by means of a “good” topic. Target the right markets — businesses with a higher profit margin will spend more on advertising.
Attract targeted ads
* Having your own domain name (that is also relevant for your blog content) pays a lot. Such a blog will get more relevant ads than one on a blog-hosting domain name. Usually, a blog-hosting domain contains blog-smth in the name, what will direct blog services ads. These will serve you only if you blog about blogging!
* Include keywords in the URL of your page. It may work. (The problem is that with blogs platforms you cannot do this in all cases.)
* Pay attention to keywords. One tendency with blogs is to use very many times the word "blog" (in title, on the sidebar and in the footer). Try to avoid this or you'll get blog services ads.
* Topic — maintain one topic per page. Keep each post targeted.
* Block ads that you consider irrelevant.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
3 POWERFUL Ways To Profit From Your BLOG... Starting TODAY!
3 POWERFUL Ways To Profit From Your BLOG... Starting TODAY!
Cyberspace has a NEW marketing tool, even though they've been around for quite some time, yet, ONLY recently have been recognized as a Powerful communication tool for Internet marketers.
If you've been following the latest Internet marketing trends like I have, then you've definitely heard of them.
What's this new marketing tool I'm taking about that every Serious marketer should have in place?
BLOGS! ...(A.K.A. Web-Log).
Now, just for those of you who aren't quite sure what a BLOG is, here's a quick definition:
A BLOG(A.K.A. Web-Log) is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating(usually on a daily to weekly basis) a blog is called "Blogging" and someone who keeps a Blog is a "Blogger".
Cyberspace has a NEW marketing tool, even though they've been around for quite some time, yet, ONLY recently have been recognized as a Powerful communication tool for Internet marketers.
If you've been following the latest Internet marketing trends like I have, then you've definitely heard of them.
What's this new marketing tool I'm taking about that every Serious marketer should have in place?
BLOGS! ...(A.K.A. Web-Log).
Now, just for those of you who aren't quite sure what a BLOG is, here's a quick definition:
A BLOG(A.K.A. Web-Log) is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating(usually on a daily to weekly basis) a blog is called "Blogging" and someone who keeps a Blog is a "Blogger".
How To Make Profit From Your Blog In 5 Steps
Not everyone wants to make money from their blog, and that is fine. But if you do want to profit from your blog, you have to think of your blog as more than just a "web log". Here are 5 steps to start earning money from your blog.
Profit blogging is an entirely different activity than blogging for fun. The purpose of your blog changes from something you do when the mood strikes you on whatever topic tickles your fancy, to a targeted and systematic activity with a specific purpose. And the purpose is to create a high-quality, high-traffic, high-profit blog that makes you money.
Here are 5 easy steps you need to go through to create a profitable blog...
Step 1: Pick A Profitable Topic
When you are writing a blog for fun, you can write about anything you want. But when you are writing a blog for profit, it must be about ONE topic. And the topic you choose must be profitable if you want to see any money.
There are two vital characteristics of a profitable blog topic. First, there must be a lot of interest in your topic. And second, there must be people ALREADY spending money in the niche. If you blog topic has those two important characteristics, is is possible to make money from blogging.
But you must also beat out the competition for attention and traffic. And that's where the other steps come in.
Step 2: Build A Professional Looking And Performing Blog
Most bloggers get involved in blogging because it is a free way to create a web presence. But you need to look at your blogging differently if you expect to make money. And that means looking at your blogging as a business and INVESTING in your success.
For this reason, I suggest you set up a blog on your own hosting and use the Wordpress blogging platform. This is the first step in setting yourself apart from the other blogs in your niche.
Step 3: Add Content To Your Blog Consistently
Obviously, the best way to set yourself apart from your competition is to only post high quality content to your blog. But you also want to post on a regular, consistent and long term basis. This makes coming up with high quality content challenging.
To overcome this, you need to have a publishing schedule in place that uses both your content, and content you refer to from around the web. This establishes you as the go to blog in your niche for the most up to date and valuable information.
Plus, it takes all the pressure off coming up with all the content by yourself.
Step 4: Promote Your Blog
There are a lot of bloggers that blog and nothing else. They make a blog post and ... wait. They sit back and hope the readers interested in their topic will find them. But that is the wrong way to do it if you want to see money any time soon.
You need to contribute to the Internet in other ways and point back to your blog. For example, you could comment on other people's blogs in your niche, post on forums or submit articles to article directories. All those activities are free and can point back to your blog bringing in targeted traffic.
If you want to beat your competition, be proactive.
Step 5: Turn Blog Readers Into Buyers
If you want to make money from your blog, you are not just a blogger, but a marketer as well. There are a lot of people who shudder at the thought of being a marketer and think of all marketers as used car salesmen. For this reason, they try to make money by posting Google Ads or charging for advertising.
But that is the wrong way of thinking about marketing.
Being a marketer is not something sinister. You are simply helping people with a problem find the appropriate solution. Nothing else. You are actually doing your readers a favor because you are using your knowledge and experience in your niche to hand pick the best options for solving their problems.
Complete these 5 steps and you will set yourself apart from other bloggers and start making the money from blogging you derseve.
Profit blogging is an entirely different activity than blogging for fun. The purpose of your blog changes from something you do when the mood strikes you on whatever topic tickles your fancy, to a targeted and systematic activity with a specific purpose. And the purpose is to create a high-quality, high-traffic, high-profit blog that makes you money.
Here are 5 easy steps you need to go through to create a profitable blog...
Step 1: Pick A Profitable Topic
When you are writing a blog for fun, you can write about anything you want. But when you are writing a blog for profit, it must be about ONE topic. And the topic you choose must be profitable if you want to see any money.
There are two vital characteristics of a profitable blog topic. First, there must be a lot of interest in your topic. And second, there must be people ALREADY spending money in the niche. If you blog topic has those two important characteristics, is is possible to make money from blogging.
But you must also beat out the competition for attention and traffic. And that's where the other steps come in.
Step 2: Build A Professional Looking And Performing Blog
Most bloggers get involved in blogging because it is a free way to create a web presence. But you need to look at your blogging differently if you expect to make money. And that means looking at your blogging as a business and INVESTING in your success.
For this reason, I suggest you set up a blog on your own hosting and use the Wordpress blogging platform. This is the first step in setting yourself apart from the other blogs in your niche.
Step 3: Add Content To Your Blog Consistently
Obviously, the best way to set yourself apart from your competition is to only post high quality content to your blog. But you also want to post on a regular, consistent and long term basis. This makes coming up with high quality content challenging.
To overcome this, you need to have a publishing schedule in place that uses both your content, and content you refer to from around the web. This establishes you as the go to blog in your niche for the most up to date and valuable information.
Plus, it takes all the pressure off coming up with all the content by yourself.
Step 4: Promote Your Blog
There are a lot of bloggers that blog and nothing else. They make a blog post and ... wait. They sit back and hope the readers interested in their topic will find them. But that is the wrong way to do it if you want to see money any time soon.
You need to contribute to the Internet in other ways and point back to your blog. For example, you could comment on other people's blogs in your niche, post on forums or submit articles to article directories. All those activities are free and can point back to your blog bringing in targeted traffic.
If you want to beat your competition, be proactive.
Step 5: Turn Blog Readers Into Buyers
If you want to make money from your blog, you are not just a blogger, but a marketer as well. There are a lot of people who shudder at the thought of being a marketer and think of all marketers as used car salesmen. For this reason, they try to make money by posting Google Ads or charging for advertising.
But that is the wrong way of thinking about marketing.
Being a marketer is not something sinister. You are simply helping people with a problem find the appropriate solution. Nothing else. You are actually doing your readers a favor because you are using your knowledge and experience in your niche to hand pick the best options for solving their problems.
Complete these 5 steps and you will set yourself apart from other bloggers and start making the money from blogging you derseve.
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