Start Your Own Blogging Business: Generate Income from Advertisers, Subscribers, Merchandising, and More

by Jason R. Rich, Entrepreneur magazine

Overview

Fully revised with new and expanded chapters, Start Your Own Blogging Business delivers the perfect startup guide for online enthusiasts. Providing valuable updates such as the latest forms of blogging including Twitter/micro-blogging, mobile blogging, and video blogging, the experts at Entrepreneur lead aspiring bloggers from planning and publishing their blog to promoting themselves and turning a profit. Also included are an appendix with Ten Proven Ways to Promote your Blog and How to Avoid the Most Common Blogging Mistakes, and a new chapter on creating creating original content to attract new and continuous followers, as well as updated interviews, insight, examples, and tips. Entrepreneurs are presented with new content ideas, fresh ways to promote their blogs, new techniques for generating revenue, and priceless advice from successful bloggers of today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781599185217
Publisher:	Entrepreneur Press
Publication date:	01/28/2014
Series:	StartUp Series
Edition description:	Third Edition
Pages:	166
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Entrepreneur Media, Inc. is the premier content provider for and about entrepreneurs. Their products engage and inspire with advice, solutions, and resources that fuel the bold and independent way entrepreneurs think. Entrepreneur Press is a leading small-business trade publisher, providing aspiring, emerging, and growing entrepreneurs with actionable solutions to every business challenge, ultimately, leading them from business ideas to business success. They're based in Irvine, CA. Jason R. Rich lives in Foxboro, MA.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Preface xiii

Chapter 1 Planning and Creating Your Blog 1

What Is a Blog? 5

It All Starts with a Great Idea 8

Choosing a Profitable Topic 9

Blog Topic Idea List 10

Industry-Oriented Topics 13

Blogs Focusing on an Organization 14

Personal Blogs Can Generate Huge Followings 15

Blog about a Publicity Stunt 16

Political Blogs 16

Blogs Based on Hobbies or Special Interests 17

A Company Blog 17

General Interest Blogs 18

Continuous Stream of Content 19

Your Credibility as a Blogger 19

Existing Competition 20

Your Interest and Passion 21

Choose the Best Way to Present Your Content 21

Create a Posting Schedule and Stick to It 22

Selecting a Blog Name 22

Domain Name Concerns 23

Choosing a Pseudonym 24

Write Like a Blogger 24

Strategies for Producing Quality Videos (Vlogs) 26

Choosing a Platform for Growth 29

Hosted Blogging Services vs. Installed Server Applications 30

Hosted Blogging Services 31

Installed Server Applications 34

Suitability for Your Content 35

Advertising Capacity 36

Future Growth 36

Customization 37

Bringing On Staff or Contributors 38

Your Growth Plan 40

Business Goals 40

Your Time Frame 40

Inviting Other People to Contribute to Your Blog 41

Don't Forget About

Building Your Audience 43

Planning Wrap-Up 43

Chapter 2 Publishing Your Blog or Vlog 45

Consider Hiring a Freelancer to Help You Get Started 46

Community Blogging Services 47

Web-Based Blogging Services 48

Blogger.com 48

TypePad 50

WordPress.com 53

There Are Many More Options to Choose From 54

Installed Server Applications 55

Movable Type 55

LifeType 57

B2evolution 57

WordPress 58

YouTube: The Premier Online Service for Vloggers 60

Twitter: The Primary Tool for Microbloggers 61

A Few More Thoughts About Blog Publishing 62

Chapter 3 Promoting Your Blog and Building Your Audience 65

How to Begin the Blog 67

The First Post 67

Focus On Descriptive Tides and Filenames 70

The First Months of Blogging 71

Filling Your Archive 71

Consistency 72

Testing Your Platform 73

Attracting Traffic to Your Blog 74

Search Engines 75

Submission Pages for Top Search Engines 78

Keyword Optimization 78

Keyword Popularity 78

Keyword Profitability 79

Search Engine Advertising 80

Blog Aggregators 83

Technorati 84

Get Your Blog Listed within Blog Directories 84

Link Exchanges 85

Blogrolls 85

Word-of-Mouth 86

Become a Guest Blogger on Other Blogs 86

Post Reviews on Bookselling Sites 87

Don't Forget to Use Public Relations 87

Don't Forget About Real-World Promotional Opportunities 88

Get Started Now, But Keep It Going 89

Chapter 4 Generating Revenue Directly from Your Blog 91

Donations 93

PayPal 94

Click & Pledge 95

Other Easy-to-Set-Up Merchant Account Options 96

Affiliate Programs 96

Merchandising 98

Memberships or Subscriptions 100

Partial Access 100

Early Edition 101

Ad-Free Version 101

Selling Display Ad Space 102

Ad Networks 102

CPC vs. CPM 102

Optimizing Layout 104

Profiles of Ad Networks 105

Google AdSense 105

CrispAds 107

Pheedo 108

Wait, You Still Have More Choices 109

Private Sponsors 109

The Media Kit 110

Describe Your Blog 110

Audience 110

Traffic Level and Analysis Services 112

The Offer 114

Running Multiple Blogs 115

Chapter 5 Transitioning from a Hobbyist into a Professional Business 117

Business Classifications 118

Sole Proprietorship 118

Partnership 119

Corporation 119

S Corporation 120

Limited Liability Corporation 120

Registering Your Business Name 120

Hiring Help 121

More Protection 123

Play by the Rules 123

Chapter 6 Meet Established Bloggers and Learn from Their Success 125

Liz Corry, Blogger, MySubscriptionAddicrion.com 126

Micah Warren, Blogger, OffTheRecordSports.com 133

Janet Barclay, Blogger and Blogging Consultant, OrganizedAssistant.com 138

Christina Zila, Blogger and Executive with Textbroker International, textbroker.com 141

Chapter 7 Final Thoughts 145

Six Strategies for Improving Your Blog 146

1 Define the Target Audience for Your Blog and Cater to That Audience 146

2 Put a Unique Twist on Your Blog's Topic and Content 147

3 Add New Content on a Regular Basis 148

4 Focus on Engagement: Transform Your Blog into an Interactive Online Community 148

5 Adopt a Multifaceted Approach to Promoting Your Blog Continuously 149

6 Keep the Blog's Look, Overall Design, and Content Professional 149

Additional Things to Consider 150

Take Advantage of Technology to Help You Blog 150

One Last Thought 151

Glossary 153

About the Author 157

Additional Books Written by Jason R. Rich and Published by Entrepreneur Press 158

Entrepreneur Magazine's Personal Finance Pocket Guides 159

Entrepreneur Magazine's Business Traveler Series 159

Index 161