My definition of a successful blog is a blog that gets tons of Search Traffic which in return makes you tons of money. That is my definition. Of course lots of others will beg to differ. They will say a successful blog is one that has tons of loyal readers who comes to read their high quality contents and goes away inspired. I also can live with that, it is also a good definition.
The fact is a blog with tons of loyal readers will not be a good money maker as compared to a blog with tons of Organic traffic. Loyal readers are people who comes and enjoy their articles daily because they like what they see. Their only purpose of them visiting is reading their articles and nothing else. They won’t be much clicking on the Ads because they are not specially there looking for information.
These kind of blogs can grow very big over a period of time due to the articles they write mainly by word of mouth and by the links they get to their high quality articles. It is the kind of blog that would attract Advertisers to place their 125 x 125 button Ads, so they can gain some exposure and leverage on this blogger’s vast readership base and these bloggers can charge a more than decent fee for those Ads.
On the other hand, you will seldom see these blogs carrying Adsense Ads, confirmed to be the best money making source of all time, because they know they will not benefit very much from it if they placed it in their well known blogs. So most of these highly successful bloggers have lots of other blogs that makes the real money for them and they never reveals them to their readers because of certain reasons. They will also never reveal to their readers how they make these blogs and what are the methods they used, so most of the time, we will be reading tips that harm us more than it will help. This harm is made even worse when lots of half baked gurus picks them up and pass it on to the unknowing newbies who starts placing tons of Adsense in their blogs.
I don’t know if they are just being selfish or they fear by revealing the truth they might tarnish their A-lister’s image or if they have other any hidden agenda, but I have been in a lurch for so long that I am on the verge of giving up. I know they have something that they are not revealing but yet, hard as I tried, I was not able to find out and I certainly do not have the talent to figure it out myself. Until recently that is.
Finally, some very good souls have decided to come to the open and tell everybody what are the real secrets behind a successful blog and how anyone with a little bit of hard work can too be like them. All of a sudden, the blogosphere seems a much better place to live in. For those who has aspirations to successful, I suggest you bookmark these 2 blogs and digest all the articles, especially the few recent ones. You think you already know everything? I doon’t think so.
Internet Marketing by Court
Making Money Online - BloggerUnleashed by Vic.
For those blogging from Blogger:
How To Make Money Online for Beginners by Grizzly
I used to put Adsense ads on my blog too.
Good analysis Costa.
The difference is in social networking traffic vs. search engine traffic and the repeatability and sustainability of the process.
I have trouble reading Vic’s blog because his language is “unique”. But let me tell you this, one of the possible secrets (which is no more a secret when I tell you now) to being successful is to be a master marketeer. To sell one’s thoughts so convincingly that people buy it and tell others about it regardless of whether it actually works as well as claimed.
Hi Costa, I may be biased but that was a nicely condensed summation of a broad topic. There really isn’t much of a secret - the more targeted traffic you draw the more opportunities there is to monetize that traffic. How to get the traffic is the key and there isn’t a magic wand, just a repeatable set of SEO basics. Oh… patience and a little hard work goes a long way as well.
Thanks for the nod and I’d wish you luck but I don’t think you need it - you’re one of the few who “gets” it.
Thanks again,
Griz
Pablo
But that is no big secret LOL. Every one knows you have to be convincing to be able to able to make a sale, be it selling your blogs or whatever. A lot of half baked gurus are master marketeers.
The thing is how ethical are these “master marketers”?. Are they selling me something that actually works or are they selling me things that claims to work in theory and have me following blindly? That is where the difference lies.
Agreed that everyone has to master the art of selling oneself. If you convince me to buy something and have me discover on my own that it doesn’t work, the reputation and trust is gone forever. If you are convincing and yet honest, and sells me something that really work, I will be a repeat buyer.
So you see, both must be master marketeers too. Else no one will be buying.
I actually do see something in both the blogs that I mentioned and they are willing to put their reputation at stake to show us how. I have never seen any other top bloggers do that .
Anyway, that’s only my humble opinion and since I don’t have any hint on really how make myself a blog that would allow me to pay for my mortgage, I am more than happy and willing to give their advise a shot.
I’m too easily distracted to be successful at one thing. Hmmm, I got a short attention span. Not a good thing. lol
Thanks for sharing.
Perhaps I always get wary of those who “oversell” their pitch. When one oversells and claims that their’s is the one that will work and discredits others, I will take their advices with a pinch of salt.
I guess the core of dissatisfaction is when a blogger wants to be the next Problogger or Techcrunch or Dosh Dosh without realising that there can only be one of each.
I just skimmed blogger unleashed, it looks promising. Must check the other site too. Man, I’m so glad I subscribed to your feed after reading your blogging goals. Your recent posts have been a great enlightenment to me. very thought provoking.
keep up this good work and happy and prosperous new year to you and all your readers
Pablo
Okay, I see where you are coming from LOL. but if you can stand Lilian, you should be able to accept Vic. Anyway, to each his need I guess.
Planet Apex
That was very flattering. Thanks. May you prosper too.
LOL! I have no problems accepting Vic, just having difficulty reading the contents due to the language used. He is unconventional but I think if he writes in clearer and shorter sentences, he will get more readers without a doubt.