Blogs were originally only meant to be 'Web Logs', or personal journals for members of on-line communities to stay in touch, sort of like 'underground news media'. But, it didn't take long for net-repreneurs (internet entrepreneurs) to catch on to their popularity and to find ways to use them to make money. The human mind is infinitely creative and nothing really stays the same.
This awesome entrepreneurial spirit transmogrified Blogs into what they are today: very powerful marketing weapons that have almost made some other forms of advertising, redundant. It never ceases to surprise me how ingenious people are when it comes to finding new ways to generate cash flow, particularly in web marketing ? what a power-house!! It leaves real-world business for dead (in my opinion).
Traditional safelists are becoming somewhat threadbare. Isn't it amazing how quickly business changes on the 'Net, and isn't it weird how safelist people 'spin their wheels' by posting, posting, posting, when most messages go to 'junk' in-boxes to be automatically deleted. You can send out a whole lot of messages with safelists, but only a tiny percentage are likely to be actually read by a real person. Maybe that's why email traffic is threatening to choke the Internet. Because of this, many canny web business people have now shifted to Blogs as their main tool for promotion. Many others, like me - who continue to believe that safelists have a role (when properly used) -have made Blogs a valuable extra facility in their marketing toolboxl.
Blogs have become so popular because they are so very user-friendly for advertising. They are practical, easy to set up and very convenient to use. Keeping content up to date is very easy for webmasters who otherwise would have to spend hours uploading and downloading files. Be warned, however, that setting up a 'Free' Blog, will mean you will have a lot of other people's ads on it (There's no such thing as a 'free lunch'). It's always worth paying because, yes, you get what you pay for.
Anyway, There are probably five key methods (and a whole lot more) you can use to ensure that Blogs pump up your web profits.
1. BLOGS ARE MAGNETS FOR SEARCH ENGINES: Go on, get on to Google and, whatever topic you search, you'll inevitably see that the search engines have thrown up a number of Blogs in the top ten results. This is because Blogs are constantly showing fresh, new and key word friendly content just like your web pages should; that's a Blog's very reason for being. Imagine the value to you of having your own Blog pop in the top end of search results. The ubiquitous search engines clamor to highlight fresh, appropriate content ? they love it. Constantly re-newed and freshened Blogs leave stale, ageing (and rarely updated) web sites for dead.
2. BLOGS LOVE TO LINK TO EACH OTHER: Yes, Blogs love to stick together, creating networking 'heaven'. Just one link on your Blog could see visitors drop in from all over the place. Wow ? visitors queueing to click your links; how powerful is that for an advertising and traffic generating system. Awesome.
3.YOUR CUSTOMERS WILL APPRECIATE REGULARLY HEARING FROM YOU: You see, Blogs today have this great 'comment' facility which means your people ? your customers ? can ask you questions and give you valuable feedback almost immediately. This is almost like a 'chat' system, and is quicker than email. Forget about having to manipulate your source codes, Blogs make this unnecessary. Blogs have an amazing comment system that allows your customers to immediately post feedbacks and queries. And that's what service on the net is all about today ? quick responses, dependable advice and getting what you want, when you want. Now. And Blogs can do it.
4. PUMP UP YOUR ADSENSE PROFITS: If you're into Pay Per Click marketing, well Blogs are ideal for you. Then can stimulate even more regular traffic than your basic garden variety web site. Google AdSense, god bless 'em, even lets Blog owners show as many as three appropriate ads, and these must relate to your theme and content, on their Blog pages. It's Blogging marvelous!! Here's the key reason why your Blog should have a 'niche', a specific theme, a targeted audience. Take time to give some thought to this when you set up a Blog. What about AdSense? The more visitors ? and they're likely only dropping in because of what you specifically offer - who click on your Blog's Adsense ads, the more income you can earn.
5. BLOGS ARE A DREAM FOR AFFILIATE MARKETERS: Like me, I just bet you are enrolled in more affiliate programs than you can count. The problem is how to continue to promote all of them. ANSWER ? You can easily use Blog 'reviews'. Simply design each Blog entry around the particular affiliate program you want to focus on that day. Extol the virtues of the program, product, service or what-ever, give good advice about the PROs and the CONs (this objectivity impresses the hell out of potential buyers who are usually pleased with honesty) and include your affiliate link, almost as an after-thought. This is not hard-sell territory. This is the 'soft-sell' Most 21st century people run a mile from 'hard sellers' but they will take time to listen if they believe you are giving good, solid, valuable advice. Providing such good, valuable info encourages your people to come back for more. Hey, you don't even need to create an individual page for every affiliate program because Blogging makes this unnecessary. What a time saver!!
Whew. Blogs do get me a bit excited. And these tips are only the tip of the iceberg. I am sure you can be creative in the marketing use of your Blogs because they have enormous potential. Just check out the exponential growth of Blogs today and you'll see what I mean. If you want fresh Blog ideas, all you have to do is cruise through a few of them. Check out what the pros are doing and, do the same. Remember, imitation is the ultimate form of flattery.
Don't let anyone try to tell you that the bottom is falling out of web marketing. The awesome growth and popularity of Blogs shows that they could not be more wrong.
Happy Blogging!!
Contact Ross Storey with any feedback.
(Here's Some More Great Blogging Resources)
Ross Storey is an experienced public relations and marketing consultant who has been obsessed with web marketing, web design and the internet for more than a decade.
(Copyright © 2005 Ross Storey Please feel free to use this article, so long as you keep this resource box intact)
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
RSS feeds are reshaping how we access information online. In... Read More
Q: Not to ask a ridiculously obvious question, but what... Read More
You can make it easier for your visitors to subscribe... Read More
Are you new to RSS? If so here is a... Read More
This article is designed to teach you how to profit... Read More
T.V. and radio News got you down? On-line current events... Read More
Blogs are extremely hot right now. Everyone is starting them,... Read More
Creating an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed is really quite... Read More
Displaying RSS RSS offers webmasters a unique opportunity to display... Read More
I've spent months answering questions from marketers about blogs and... Read More
... if not months to come.At a distinctive and stable... Read More
In part 1 and part 2 of this article series... Read More
Writing?Blogs?Blogs are on-line journals where people express themselves through writing.... Read More
Blogs Are the NEW Secret Weapon for Reaching Your Tarket.... Read More
Feeds are simple, really. What's even more exciting is that... Read More
There are many advantages of running a blog, on top... Read More
According to Technorati, there are over 15 million blogs as... Read More
If you've been under a rock for the last year... Read More
Although Blog was the most requested word of 2004 as... Read More
A properly created weblog will do the following for your... Read More
When webmasters first hear about RSS they tend to concentrate... Read More
RSS is a many-in-one marketing & publishing tool, although unfortunatelly... Read More
The real potential of RSS lies in Broadcasting.In former times,... Read More
Make money blogging is fun: you enjoy blogging and getting... Read More
When you are involved in RSS everyday you get to... Read More
Microsoft Corp. says that the next version of its Windows... Read More
Since the recent rise in interest in RSS there has... Read More
3 Tips to improve your RSS marketing You have... Read More
How to blog to make money from it?Truly the whole... Read More
I have 'Googlebot' coming to my site every day since... Read More
There is no doubt that the Google Adsense program for... Read More
In 1999 I asked my friends and colleagues if they... Read More
I don't claim to be a futurologist or an RSS... Read More
You Might Be A Snob-Blogger If?According to Jupiter Research, about... Read More
Everybody is talking about blogs. They are everywhere: on the... Read More
I've never been popular in my whole life. I think... Read More
With the increased interest in Blogging (web Logging), many web... Read More
Although Blog was the most requested word of 2004 as... Read More
Microsoft Corp. says that the next version of its Windows... Read More
For many people blogging is the way in which they... Read More
Blogs are more permanent than posts to an online discussion... Read More
The popular blogger.com owned by Google, Inc. has been around... Read More
1. It is perfect for creating a web presence for... Read More
Blogs are an unbelievable way to achieve success on the... Read More
Technorati reports that 30,000 - 40,000 new blogs are being... Read More
Blogging for dollars might sound like the latest game show... Read More
11 Ways to Promote Your Blog1. Ping weblogs.com and other... Read More
(Continued from Blogging Your Way To Success Part 2)You have... Read More
RSS for the Rest of UsI don't know about you,... Read More
It's fair to say that blogging has taken the Internet... Read More
Delivering regularly updated content to website visitors is easier through... Read More
Building niche sites is all the rage these days.The basic... Read More
Unfortunately, this formerly reliable method of getting listed in Yahoo... Read More
Blogs can be described in many definitions and they are... Read More
1. Place all your feeds on the following website and... Read More
T.V. and radio News got you down? On-line current events... Read More
Well, basically, setting up a blog means that you are... Read More
According to a recent survey, gentlemen prefer blogs to the... Read More
There are two reasons why you would want to use... Read More
Blogging is easy, blogging is fun. And what's more?it can... Read More
It's inevitable. Everyone hits the wall. Whether you've been blogging... Read More
In today's online world of high-speed websites and giant portals,... Read More
Businesses that are not using feeds today, as part of... Read More
There's no denying it, the Internet has changed. The change... Read More
A blog is short for weblog, which simply means a... Read More
Recently I did an interview with a well known email... Read More
Blogging, RSS & Feeds |