Field of Dreams?

...so I built it?  When will they come?

(pic via here::special thanx)

So you've  monetized your blog?   So you think, "If I build it, they will come".  NOT!  It should be that easy.  How about trying this mantra on for size? 'First I build it, then I help them find me'.  This is the second step in successfully monetizing your blog.  You've made certain that your blog is focused, targetting a specific demographic.  A specific niche.  Good.  First half of the game - won.  Now to the second half of the game. 

If one word is to describe the theme of the second half, that word is 'diligence'.  From this point forward, it will take diligence, on your behalf, to put your blog in front of the audience that will make it possible to earn revenue.  Be it book/magazine publishers, sponsors, affiliate marketers, advertisers or/and businessess willing to pay for posts, every concerted effort at this point is to 'optimize your blog'.  Make it shine.  Shine like a beacon guiding its charge into shore after a long journey.

Getting in front of the businesses that pay for the audience that you have carefully groomed through the content of your blog, can be accomplished in several ways.  If your blog successfully reaches your intended audience, it is safe to say that you have a grasp of the techniques used to optimize your blog.  Let's go through a few. 

Appropriate use of 'tag' words.  Without boring you to tears, the wizards behind Google Analytics have devised a method of ranking web/blog sites on their search engine.  The ranking is driven by an intricate number of factors, one of which is the use of 'tag' words.  The word(s) that the average individual, doing a web search, would use to find web-based information - tag words (aka, labels, keywords).  All blogging platforms have templates that allow the blog author to put tag or labels.  Make your tags/labels/keywords descriptive of the blog post that it is highlighting, minus the industry jargon.

Link Building.  The inclusion of rich anchor text that references or/and gives credit/kudos (or just plain ole' shout outs) to another source - reciprocity.  Quality links, placed appropriately in your posts, allow interested readers (read:: potential monetizing agents) to add your blog to their site's blogroll, allow them to 'follow' your  posts,  becoming evangelists for your blog and ultimately monetizing agents.  Links help to optimize your blog by  allowing search engines to follow the links to your site.  Some sites will always give you 'link love', while others will not. 

Increase the amount of traffic to your blog.  Increase in traffic flow to your site is a direct function of truly knowing your audience and then providing them with relevant, pertinent, useful and valuable  information.  The greatest challenge in doing this is refraining from 'selling' to your followers.  Increased traffic, naturally, draws the attention of those who share a common audience with you. 

Remember that the use of strategically used tag/keywords/labels, appropriately placed links and relevant posts is about making quality connections.  Thinking in terms of offering content that is of value to your audience will, eventually come to the attentions of those monetizing agents who, also, have the best interest of their audience at heart.

Show Me the Money...

...aka How do those companies make money from their blogs?

(pic via here::special thanx)

You've seen them.  The fantastic blogs that you 'follow' regularly for their unique, up to date content, cutting edge information.  More and more you've noticed the amount of advertising and sponsorship that appear neatly incorporated into the site's wallpaper (almost as though they are just  subliminal suggestions and not actual ads).  If you're like me, you have- on more than one occasion- scratched you head while wondering, "how do they do that'?  The 'that' in this instance is, attracting and retaining well-known, innovative, familiar advertisers and/or sponsors.  After all, the sponsorships and ads must add a bit more credibility to your blog.  Monetizing your blog can be done either, directly or indirectly.  And it appears that one might have greater successful monetizing a business blog versus a 'personal' blog.

With direct monetizing, your blog is making money.  The blog generates revenue through advertisements, sponsorships, paid posts and/or affiliate marketing.  Although, this method is generally seen with business blogs, there are several blogs - whose focus is the event industry (ie, Kelly De Luca, Abby Larson and Maria Cooke) - that have been successful with  implementing this method of monetizing.

Indirect monetizing, the more popular method, serves double duty.  Not only can it be lucrative means of generating revenues,it is a valuable means of branding. yourself.  This method involves you, (the blogger)  leveraging the success of your blog to generate revenue.  Revenue sources, often times flow from speaking engagements, workshop, book proposal, article writing and the like.  Rebecca Grinnals, Liene Stevens, and Katasha Sherrie Butler,  are a few of the event industry gurus who have parlayed indirect monetization of their blogs into a handsome business 'up' sale. 

Your business has a focus.  A target audience. Your blog represents your business focus- your niche.  And selling to advertisers is much easier when you have a niche.  Suffice it to say, advertisers fully understand niche marketing.  Advertisers know who their audience is, and,  if your blog caters to that audience, then it has value.   

Whichever path that you chose to travel toward monetazing your blog, directly or indirectly, be sure to keep your blog 'valuable' by posting content that is  focused and true to your audience.  First you build it.  Then you help them find their way to you.