I’ve been changing my viewpoint on blogging in general lately, mainly from all the reading I’ve done on “how to make money with blogging”. I’ve recently started skipping over those posts in my reader because I feel those popular bloggers are appealing to the weakness of the human condition. “I make money, I make money fast, I make money online, I make money easily”. If you notice, most of these A-list bloggers don’t typically outline EXACTLY what they did to make money online, they skirt around that explanation with creative writing making you feel that “YES I can do it too!”. I’m feeling a draft can you please blow some more smoke up my ass.
That’s not to say that those A-List bloggers don’t have something to offer, I subscribe to all of them, they have some great advice and tips… but like it would be invaluable to have them walk us through every step they took to make $X amount of money with just one specific website. If they have done that, then point me to that post… I’m here to learn AND to teach.
1. Say no to Paid Links
If you sell a few links in your posts, you are not only reducing the value of your content, you are selling yourself out. Don’t you think Kontera (or otherwise) links in a post distract from the article? Who cares right? You’re in it for the money… and in it for the wrong reasons.
2. Appeal to your Readers
Made any changes to your blog lately regarding monetization, format, or otherwise? Let your readers know exactly why you did it. You’ll allow them the opportunity to see how you operate and in turn they will learn to trust your character, as well as you on the whole.
3. Don’t Buy Links
I’ve been guilty of this in the past, and have recently stopped. So it is okay to advertise (where it’s expected) such as the 125×125 pixel ad blocks that Darren Rowse has made famous. However, buying keyword links from a PageRanked website just in hopes to increase your own… where’s the honesty in that? Earn your links with your content not your money.
4. Don’t Blow Smoke Up My Ass
If you make a decent living through online ventures, don’t just show me your statements from your Google Adsense account etc… walk me through what you did to get there. Don’t skirt around the explanation with vague terminology and cloak and dagger bullshit. Walkthrough, step by step, prove it with PROOF not a single image capture of Adsense.
So what frustrates you?
Popularity: 27% [?]
on Dec 1st, 2007 at 4:16 pm
I am in huuuge agreement.
When I see ads “stealthily” placed in blog posts, it’s like seeing product placement on the internet, which is a sad, sad thing indeed.
Let’s be honest, no one is going to be interested in reading something boring, and the way to remedy isn’t by placing ads all over the place. That might drive a few readers away too.
on Dec 1st, 2007 at 7:15 pm
@Najlaa,
You’re 100% correct on this. Like I said in a previous post, I’m working towards my content first, then hopefully I’ll be able to offer relevant links when they are NEEDED, not when they are expected.
on Dec 7th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Well, I think that everyone needs some money to live! You are true. Most of the A listed bloggers just give the outline of a topic. They will never tell you the complete story. I see them like a linkbait.They writes something and puts some affiliate links. I’m not a pro blogger. I’m just testing my knowledge in different fields. But, frankly speaking, I really don’t like most of those A listed bloggers. Thanks for your nice article. Will be back!
on Dec 7th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Thanks for the comment EB, it’s nice to have some general encouragement and advice (from A-listers) but they just don’t give up enough info. I hope to make it myself, then explain exactly what I did!
on Dec 11th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I don’t know…
Of course you shouldn’t blatantly overdo the ads, but everyone needs money to live and to pay their online costs. I don’t see a problem with sprinkling a few ads on your sites at all. Money makes the world go round!
I’ll bet everyone here would love to make a living online, working at home when they want. To do that you need an income, and that income will only come from your websites. What’s wrong with adding ads to allow you to achieve your dream?
on Dec 12th, 2007 at 1:48 am
@Jim,
I’m not saying ad’s are evil per se, just that if you visit a website in a few select niches (mine included) you see an abundance of ads that really do distract and DETRACT from the content. Sure everyone would love to make money online… but there’s a fine balance between Times Square and a yellow page ad.
on Dec 13th, 2007 at 7:19 am
Good post, but I have to chime in on #3 and #4
#3. Buying links is pretty much the cornerstone of getting a site authority quickly. I’m not saying whether it’s good or bad, that’s just how it’s done with the current state of the GOOG algorithm. Now, there’s a right and wrong way to do this however. I always say that you should only purchase links on a website that you’d normally want to advertise on.
#4. The internet is all about blowing smoke once you hit the level that you’re at. It all goes back to that 90/10 rule. Think about it from this light - an SEO/Marketer’s blog is like a free trial. They aren’t going to give away what they truly know. That service is for their paying clients.
on Dec 13th, 2007 at 7:59 am
@Paul (appreciate the visit and the thoughtful comments)
I agree with your #3 to an extent… I’d have to say it’s all about individual motive.
Ideally everyone wants a higher PR and more traffic, this is where TLA’s come in etc. I operate under your outline principal that, I only advertise on website that are of general relation to my topics. It makes sense. That’s what advertising is! However, I look at the whole picture in this. I don’t focus on PageRank (AT ALL!), I look at a website’s content, if it closely matches mine and it’s something that I’d regularly read then I’m interested in advertising with them.
I meant to focus on those who advertise soley for PR, so that when a PR update rolls around they can charge more with the tier 1 advertising programs. Not exactly over-the-table kind of dealings IMHO.
Seriously Paul,
I appreciate the comments
on Dec 14th, 2007 at 3:58 am
Very true, great way of putting it. I’m tired of having people play off of my desire to earn an income so they can keep my impressions. It’s infuriating.