A few years ago, where there were much less blogs than now, a website made fast, with some copied content from here and there or with a writer that was showing no interest could bring you lots of money. Now, you need to do a lot of things to make your website successful. I will not rewrite the tips you can already find on my blog, but things behind scenes, that makes a blog a bit different than other, tips more related to copywriting and to you, the blogger or webmaster.
Your reader is your client
You have to thread your readers well and fulfill their requests. Well, you don’t have to jump off a building if he asks you too, but neither you should answer with “that’s none of your business” if he asks you how did you start your blog, made it successful or other things he may be interested in. You don’t have to tell them your biggest secret, but to act well.
Keep in mind that your reader is your client, because he may click an ad, he counts on CPM ( cost per mile ) banners, he may buy an affiliate product and if he doesn’t do it this time, he may do it next time, if you convince him to return.
Blog first for pleasure, then money
You have to enjoy what you are doing, not to say “damn, i have to post on my blog again”, because your readers will read that into your posts, there’s a difference between blogging by pleasure or obligation. For example, I have some satisfactions when i see comments, more feed readers, more traffic and then I look at the money. Don’t get me wrong, money are important too, but you have to enjoy your job and make your readers enjoy what they are reading too.
So choose a niche you like and start writing about it, don’t just start writing about pills because they monetize better.
At any time, success is far away
You will probably reach a specified amount of traffic, reader or income where you say your website is earning you enough and it’s enough for you so you won’t work any more to improve it. That’s definitely wrong, because an unmanaged, not updated website or blog is dieing and it will be very hard to resuscitate it. It is better to keep working or hire someone to manage it, with you being a web CEO, so you don’t have this problem.
I’m waiting for your feedback on this.
July 7th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
quite interesting .. especially the part that says that you have to enjoy what you’re doing, i noticed that you mentioned it in other blog posts, this one is no exception .. thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experience .. cheers !
July 9th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Fantastic Post. I find that many of my readers end up being my clients so one thing to make sure you do is make your readers happy.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Hello!
Nice article! I agree with you saying that it’s important to like this ‘job’, because I think it’s not worth posting an article just because you have to post it…For instance, I haven’t posted anything on my blog for 4 days, because I had no inspiration, no ideas, and not that much time, so I found it useless to post …I want to put a little part of my soul in my blog, because that makes the content more valuable…
Best regards!
July 17th, 2007 at 4:11 am
My blog has most success when I’m trying to meet my readers needs. This is what I always strive for. Glad to have found your blog.
Best,
Sully
July 17th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Good points. I always try to answer reader requests to the best of my ability. Sometimes it’s difficult due to time constraints or when you have other plans for your posting schedule, but they ultimately come first.
Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:02 am
“Blog first for pleasure, then money”
Although this should be in all bloggers mind when they just start up, the monetization factor is just too hard to forgo.
July 24th, 2007 at 5:32 am
I really agree with you about having to like the job that you do. It’s always better if you view it as something fun to look forward to, not just an obligation that you can’t get out of.
July 25th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Especially Your first aspect: Your reader! is very important and in my opinion often forgotten.
July 26th, 2007 at 3:54 am
pleasure and passion is key to making a successful blog / website. Without this can never make money
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:39 am
Thanks for the information. I’m just starting so I’m trying to reach a balance between posting and background work. I’ll return here often as I move forward.
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
thanks for article.