For ease of use, this blog has now moved to a permanent home on Retire With Millions
I hope to see you there, or enjoy another site - Testosterone Zone - Daily updated babes and retro video games
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Choosing keywords for each Blog Post
There are a few tools that every affiliate marketer (who wants to be successful) must have in his or her toolbox. You definitely need some ad creation and distribution software, article distribution software and a keyword tool. I will cover each tool in turn, beginning today with keywords.
It should be no mystery to you that Google and other search engines capture sites to their index and return results based on keyword searches. Getting into Google is a topic for another time (and a complex one), but choosing the right keywords can mean the difference between being in the top 10 or bottom 10. ONLY top 10 results will ever get natural search traffic to your site or blog.
There are a few tools available for keyword searches (Wordtracker and Keyword Elite are historically the top 2). Personally I use Wordtracker for one simple reason - portability. Wordtracker is web based, so I can use it anywhere I am when I get inspired to write a blog post.
In short, a keyword tool works like this - you type in the general keyword (ex. blogging) and the tool returns the top 100 or so related search terms and the number of times that term has been searched in the last month. Generally I prefer to be a big fish in a small pond, so I choose the terms in positions 3 to 8 and try to work them naturally into the text of every article or post I make on that topic. That part can be done using the free Wordtracker tool.
What you can't do with the free tools is keyword research. With the full tools, you can research online markets, find niche opportunities and exploit them before your competitors. And really, that is how you make money. Keep an eye on the search trends in your niche market. Terms have a natural ebb and flow that can be influenced by time of year, news stories and other events (ex. "online shopping" has a natural peak in late November for Christmas related keywords and late January for Valentines day related keywords, but is relatively dry the rest of the year). Making sure to use those keywords just before the peaks will ensure you get lots of traffic (being proactive) before your competitors only using the free tools (which are reactionary). With Wordtracker full version you can look at these historic trends and act accordingly (free trial here).
By now, you should have a blog topic, an outline of your first 30-50 blog posts, and done your keyword research to maximize search engine relevance for each post. So get your posts up on the web! Next time I will discuss leveraging social networks to generate hits while you wait for Google to index your site or blog.
It should be no mystery to you that Google and other search engines capture sites to their index and return results based on keyword searches. Getting into Google is a topic for another time (and a complex one), but choosing the right keywords can mean the difference between being in the top 10 or bottom 10. ONLY top 10 results will ever get natural search traffic to your site or blog.
There are a few tools available for keyword searches (Wordtracker and Keyword Elite are historically the top 2). Personally I use Wordtracker for one simple reason - portability. Wordtracker is web based, so I can use it anywhere I am when I get inspired to write a blog post.
In short, a keyword tool works like this - you type in the general keyword (ex. blogging) and the tool returns the top 100 or so related search terms and the number of times that term has been searched in the last month. Generally I prefer to be a big fish in a small pond, so I choose the terms in positions 3 to 8 and try to work them naturally into the text of every article or post I make on that topic. That part can be done using the free Wordtracker tool.
What you can't do with the free tools is keyword research. With the full tools, you can research online markets, find niche opportunities and exploit them before your competitors. And really, that is how you make money. Keep an eye on the search trends in your niche market. Terms have a natural ebb and flow that can be influenced by time of year, news stories and other events (ex. "online shopping" has a natural peak in late November for Christmas related keywords and late January for Valentines day related keywords, but is relatively dry the rest of the year). Making sure to use those keywords just before the peaks will ensure you get lots of traffic (being proactive) before your competitors only using the free tools (which are reactionary). With Wordtracker full version you can look at these historic trends and act accordingly (free trial here).
By now, you should have a blog topic, an outline of your first 30-50 blog posts, and done your keyword research to maximize search engine relevance for each post. So get your posts up on the web! Next time I will discuss leveraging social networks to generate hits while you wait for Google to index your site or blog.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
How to structure a Blog Post
Remember in high school when you were taught that an essay consists of 3 parts:
1. the introduction with a summary of your main 2 or 3 arguments
2. Your arguments separated into one or 2 paragraphs each with supporting arguments, and
3. You conclusion with a summary of your arguments?
Well, blogging ISN'T high school.
When you are putting together a blog post, your structure needs to be as follows:
1. An introductory teaser, or funny statement
2. 2 to 3 paragraphs on a SINGLE topic
3. Closing statement, or call to action if you are monetizing your blog, and a teaser for your next topic.
Yes, each blog post should cover only one topic. Remember the goal of your blog is to get people to read it. Since about 90% of visitors to your blog will come via Google, the Google-spider needs to know how to classify your post. In order for that to happen, your blog as a whole should be about one topic, and each post should be about a specific subset of that topic, centered around key search phrases.
In order to keep your readers coming back, blog posts should be short - 400-600 words each - about 1 to 2 minutes read. After 2 minutes you will lose about 50% of your readers every 10 seconds. If your call to action is in the final paragraph (as I suggest it should be) most of your readers will be gone before they even see it!
If you have been reading this blog since the beginning, you should now be ready to start blogging. You should have your topic and first 20-30 posts outlined.
Next post will be about choosing keywords and how to write around them. If you can't wait and need to start blogging now my favorite resource is Rob Benwell's Blogging to the Bank 2.0. The best $50 I ever spent (especially since it taught me how to make about $50 a day from blogging!).
1. the introduction with a summary of your main 2 or 3 arguments
2. Your arguments separated into one or 2 paragraphs each with supporting arguments, and
3. You conclusion with a summary of your arguments?
Well, blogging ISN'T high school.
When you are putting together a blog post, your structure needs to be as follows:
1. An introductory teaser, or funny statement
2. 2 to 3 paragraphs on a SINGLE topic
3. Closing statement, or call to action if you are monetizing your blog, and a teaser for your next topic.
Yes, each blog post should cover only one topic. Remember the goal of your blog is to get people to read it. Since about 90% of visitors to your blog will come via Google, the Google-spider needs to know how to classify your post. In order for that to happen, your blog as a whole should be about one topic, and each post should be about a specific subset of that topic, centered around key search phrases.
In order to keep your readers coming back, blog posts should be short - 400-600 words each - about 1 to 2 minutes read. After 2 minutes you will lose about 50% of your readers every 10 seconds. If your call to action is in the final paragraph (as I suggest it should be) most of your readers will be gone before they even see it!
If you have been reading this blog since the beginning, you should now be ready to start blogging. You should have your topic and first 20-30 posts outlined.
Next post will be about choosing keywords and how to write around them. If you can't wait and need to start blogging now my favorite resource is Rob Benwell's Blogging to the Bank 2.0. The best $50 I ever spent (especially since it taught me how to make about $50 a day from blogging!).
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Picking your Blog Topic
Blogging should not be a chore.
Unlike a website, you have to update your blog regularly (and not just a few words here and there). Most blogs will take about 4-6 months before they start to show a profit. If you post 2 times a week, that means you will need to blog about your topic somewhere between 30 and 50 times before you see any income.
Read that again - 30 to 50 blog articles before you would expect to see one dime!
So what is the bottom line - before you start typing, pick your topic. Make sure that the topic you choose is something that interests you. Forget keyword positioning, Adsense revenue and Affiliate products (for now) and blog about something you are passionate about.
For example, I blog about fitness and Mixed Martial Arts on 2 other blogs. Combined these 2 blogs get about 500-1000 hits per day (it can vary - I had 2500 hits on my MMA blog after the last UFC) and earn between 25-50 dollars a day. It's not a fortune, but I am still starting out (a mature blog is about 2-3 years old with 1000s of posts).
So if you are considering blogging for a living, start today by brainstorming 1 blog topic and your first 20 articles. You don't have to write them out in full yet (I prefer to work from an outline and let the words flow naturally), but you should know what you want to say and have ideas that flow naturally from one to another.
Next post - how to structure each blog post.
Of course if you can't wait, sign up for Rob Benwell's Blogging to the Bank 2.0 free newsletter.
Unlike a website, you have to update your blog regularly (and not just a few words here and there). Most blogs will take about 4-6 months before they start to show a profit. If you post 2 times a week, that means you will need to blog about your topic somewhere between 30 and 50 times before you see any income.
Read that again - 30 to 50 blog articles before you would expect to see one dime!
So what is the bottom line - before you start typing, pick your topic. Make sure that the topic you choose is something that interests you. Forget keyword positioning, Adsense revenue and Affiliate products (for now) and blog about something you are passionate about.
For example, I blog about fitness and Mixed Martial Arts on 2 other blogs. Combined these 2 blogs get about 500-1000 hits per day (it can vary - I had 2500 hits on my MMA blog after the last UFC) and earn between 25-50 dollars a day. It's not a fortune, but I am still starting out (a mature blog is about 2-3 years old with 1000s of posts).
So if you are considering blogging for a living, start today by brainstorming 1 blog topic and your first 20 articles. You don't have to write them out in full yet (I prefer to work from an outline and let the words flow naturally), but you should know what you want to say and have ideas that flow naturally from one to another.
Next post - how to structure each blog post.
Of course if you can't wait, sign up for Rob Benwell's Blogging to the Bank 2.0 free newsletter.
Why a Blog???
To begin, this is not my first blog.
I became involved in blogging about 6 months ago after a big drop off in Adsense and Affiliate Sales revenue from my other ventures. Why the drop off? Honestly, Google.
It is not my style to blame others for my problems, but Google's Ranking Algorithm combined with changes to Adsense and Adwords rules has made it really hard for Affiliates to earn income from those sources.
Case in point? Have you noticed the number of former Affiliates who are selling books and ideas to new Affiliates? That is because they, like me, know that it has become almost impossible to get an Affiliate site in Google ... and even if you do diligent SEO and secure hundreds of one-way links, the Google Sandbox still prevents you from showing up in Google searches for any terms other than your URL or site/company name.
So why blogging? Well, it is a big harder than website design to come up with new material almost daily, BUT Google will index and list you in searches. Also, with RSS feeds your blog can show up in numerous places, and it's easy to submit a RSS feed to dozens of listing engines.
Since this is my fist post on this blog, I will be honest - this is an income generating blog. Don't write to me, or comment complaining about ads and Affiliate links. I will make this promise though - I will not "promote" any product I do not use, or believe in.
Since you are here, you are obviously interested in monetizing and promoting your own blog. Check back regularly. Every couple of days I will comment on some aspect of blogging for cash and monetizing your blog. If you can't wait that long, buy Rob Benwell's Blogging to the Bank - 2.0 - the top clickbank product of it's kind about blogging.
Next time - choosing your blog topic.
I became involved in blogging about 6 months ago after a big drop off in Adsense and Affiliate Sales revenue from my other ventures. Why the drop off? Honestly, Google.
It is not my style to blame others for my problems, but Google's Ranking Algorithm combined with changes to Adsense and Adwords rules has made it really hard for Affiliates to earn income from those sources.
Case in point? Have you noticed the number of former Affiliates who are selling books and ideas to new Affiliates? That is because they, like me, know that it has become almost impossible to get an Affiliate site in Google ... and even if you do diligent SEO and secure hundreds of one-way links, the Google Sandbox still prevents you from showing up in Google searches for any terms other than your URL or site/company name.
So why blogging? Well, it is a big harder than website design to come up with new material almost daily, BUT Google will index and list you in searches. Also, with RSS feeds your blog can show up in numerous places, and it's easy to submit a RSS feed to dozens of listing engines.
Since this is my fist post on this blog, I will be honest - this is an income generating blog. Don't write to me, or comment complaining about ads and Affiliate links. I will make this promise though - I will not "promote" any product I do not use, or believe in.
Since you are here, you are obviously interested in monetizing and promoting your own blog. Check back regularly. Every couple of days I will comment on some aspect of blogging for cash and monetizing your blog. If you can't wait that long, buy Rob Benwell's Blogging to the Bank - 2.0 - the top clickbank product of it's kind about blogging.
Next time - choosing your blog topic.
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