Comments on: What the Blogging Gurus are Missing http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html Turn Readers into Buyers with Your Blog Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:56:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Dr Wright http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html#comment-429 Dr Wright Fri, 30 May 2008 14:26:45 +0000 http://www.gatewayblogging.com/?p=51#comment-429 you totally nailed the problem! Dr. Wright www.twitter.com/drwright1 you totally nailed the problem!

Dr. Wright
http://www.twitter.com/drwright1

]]> By: Darlene Norris http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html#comment-413 Darlene Norris Fri, 30 May 2008 13:40:02 +0000 http://www.gatewayblogging.com/?p=51#comment-413 I haven't really look at my blog as a business. This post is making me think. I'm not blogging for the fun of it. I really do need to build a source of income. I've done all the traffic promotion things and sunk untold hours into making maybe $100 a month. I'm reaching the burn-out point after a year of this. I'm getting decent traffic to my blog, and lots of people are clicking on links, but they don't buy. Obviously something is wrong. I signed up to be an alpha tester as a monetized blog. But maybe I need to be thinking more about a business model. Hopefully this program will help me with that. I haven’t really look at my blog as a business. This post is making me think. I’m not blogging for the fun of it. I really do need to build a source of income.

I’ve done all the traffic promotion things and sunk untold hours into making maybe $100 a month. I’m reaching the burn-out point after a year of this. I’m getting decent traffic to my blog, and lots of people are clicking on links, but they don’t buy. Obviously something is wrong.

I signed up to be an alpha tester as a monetized blog. But maybe I need to be thinking more about a business model. Hopefully this program will help me with that.

]]> By: Linas Simonis, PositioningStrategy http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html#comment-430 Linas Simonis, PositioningStrategy Fri, 30 May 2008 12:15:51 +0000 http://www.gatewayblogging.com/?p=51#comment-430 Michael, You made an excellent point about the gap between these two blogging goals. The same point about the differences between problogging (like Dan Rowse) and business blogging - blog from the CEO of the company I stressed in my recent e-book "The New Rules of Business Blogs". You are welcome to check it out in my blog at www.positioningstrategy.com. Please feel free to post it on your blog or pass the e-book to whomever you believe might benefit from reading it. Michael,

You made an excellent point about the gap between these two blogging goals.

The same point about the differences between problogging (like Dan Rowse) and business blogging - blog from the CEO of the company I stressed in my recent e-book “The New Rules of Business Blogs”. You are welcome to check it out in my blog at http://www.positioningstrategy.com. Please feel free to post it on your blog or pass the e-book to whomever you believe might benefit from reading it.

]]> By: Gateway Blogging 101 http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html#comment-414 Gateway Blogging 101 Thu, 29 May 2008 12:40:44 +0000 http://www.gatewayblogging.com/?p=51#comment-414 [...] the last post on how most blogging gurus are missing something resonated with many (who expressed their thanks and relief in the comments), I thought it [...] [...] the last post on how most blogging gurus are missing something resonated with many (who expressed their thanks and relief in the comments), I thought it [...]

]]> By: Michael Martine http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html#comment-433 Michael Martine Wed, 28 May 2008 19:58:07 +0000 http://www.gatewayblogging.com/?p=51#comment-433 @Chris - Thanks for the kind words. We both write about these topics and we're often of the same mind. @Karen - <blockquote>I started a business and have grown that business. I started a blog as a creative outlet but then realized that I needed to connect the two without diluting the value. This is the missing link.</blockquote> Those words are music to my ears! That's how I <strong>know</strong> we're on the right track here. I can't think of any other clichés at the moment, so I guess that'll do for now. @Ted - Yes! The blog is part of the business strategy! Blogging the business reaches goals, but "businessing the blog" is the tail wagging the dog (there, I knew I could fit in another cliché!) @Chris - Thanks for the kind words. We both write about these topics and we’re often of the same mind.

@Karen -

I started a business and have grown that business. I started a blog as a creative outlet but then realized that I needed to connect the two without diluting the value. This is the missing link.

Those words are music to my ears! That’s how I know we’re on the right track here. I can’t think of any other clichés at the moment, so I guess that’ll do for now.

@Ted - Yes! The blog is part of the business strategy! Blogging the business reaches goals, but “businessing the blog” is the tail wagging the dog (there, I knew I could fit in another cliché!)

]]> By: Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html#comment-431 Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business Wed, 28 May 2008 16:27:10 +0000 http://www.gatewayblogging.com/?p=51#comment-431 As I've always said, a blog needs a primary GOAL. Monetizing a blog is one goal, and although a few bloggers do it well, most business owners and solopreneurs are much better served by using their blog as part of their business strategy, whatever that may be. Hey, this isn't one size fits all :) I make a few bucks from my blog, and that's OK, but my goal is to sell more consulting and speaking gigs by positioning myself as an expert. It's working for me. As I’ve always said, a blog needs a primary GOAL.

Monetizing a blog is one goal, and although a few bloggers do it well, most business owners and solopreneurs are much better served by using their blog as part of their business strategy, whatever that may be. Hey, this isn’t one size fits all :)
I make a few bucks from my blog, and that’s OK, but my goal is to sell more consulting and speaking gigs by positioning myself as an expert. It’s working for me.

]]> By: Karen Swim http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html#comment-432 Karen Swim Wed, 28 May 2008 15:51:13 +0000 http://www.gatewayblogging.com/?p=51#comment-432 Thank you! I was not ever to quite articulate why blog monetization did not quite click with me but this post had me saying "Yes, that's it!" There is nothing wrong with blog monetization if that is your strategy. However, as you pointed out not everyone is in this game for the same reason. I started a business and have grown that business. I started a blog as a creative outlet but then realized that I needed to connect the two without diluting the value. This is the missing link. Thanks for helping me to see the forest, those tree branches were really starting to irritate me. :-) Thank you! I was not ever to quite articulate why blog monetization did not quite click with me but this post had me saying “Yes, that’s it!” There is nothing wrong with blog monetization if that is your strategy. However, as you pointed out not everyone is in this game for the same reason. I started a business and have grown that business. I started a blog as a creative outlet but then realized that I needed to connect the two without diluting the value. This is the missing link. Thanks for helping me to see the forest, those tree branches were really starting to irritate me. :-)

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html#comment-415 Chris Garrett Wed, 28 May 2008 10:49:22 +0000 http://www.gatewayblogging.com/?p=51#comment-415 Great post, again :) For me, I see myself as another working business person sharing what works for me or ideas I have. Yes, I have written about "blog monetization", but my own blog is not about that. In my case my business came first, a blog is one tool to serve my business. Michael, I would say you *do* give good advice, who is being humble now? :) Great post, again :) For me, I see myself as another working business person sharing what works for me or ideas I have. Yes, I have written about “blog monetization”, but my own blog is not about that. In my case my business came first, a blog is one tool to serve my business. Michael, I would say you *do* give good advice, who is being humble now? :)

]]> By: Michael Martine http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html#comment-416 Michael Martine Wed, 28 May 2008 01:35:37 +0000 http://www.gatewayblogging.com/?p=51#comment-416 Jack - Anti-gurus? Traffic creates possibilities, but I get the sense that most people wouldn't know what the possibilities are beyond advertising. Take one of the world's most popular blogs ever, Boing Boing. They've progressed beyond simple advertising. What was once a simple blog is now a series of products/properties. They did this by segmenting the audience and extending the brand. They've become a media property. They're practically the New York Times for Generation X. Jack - Anti-gurus?

Traffic creates possibilities, but I get the sense that most people wouldn’t know what the possibilities are beyond advertising.

Take one of the world’s most popular blogs ever, Boing Boing. They’ve progressed beyond simple advertising. What was once a simple blog is now a series of products/properties. They did this by segmenting the audience and extending the brand. They’ve become a media property. They’re practically the New York Times for Generation X.

]]> By: Jack Humphrey http://gatewayblogging.com/2008/05/27/what-the-blogging-gurus-are-missing.html#comment-417 Jack Humphrey Wed, 28 May 2008 01:02:35 +0000 http://www.gatewayblogging.com/?p=51#comment-417 I'm with Brian. We need a name too! My blog makes me the best "super affiliate" for my own products. Even though big names have mailed for my products, the blog beats them all handily in sheer sales. Since product creation, monetizing your list, selling with direct sales copy and everything else about making money with the attention you get on the web, whether with a blog or a static html site, has been covered well since 2000, we've found people want to know more about traffic, not as much about what to do with it. Even though most people have no products of their own, when surveyed by us several times, their biggest concern is traffic. Good blogs get that in spades. We've since added training to help them with product creation and pushing their traffic to a funnel that is effective and profitable because of the argument you make above: traffic alone doesn't equal a business. Most people shouldn't even THINK about trying to be like Arrington or other pure bloggers. They are setting up for disappointment. But that's just what they think they want: a monetized blog with no business behind it. I’m with Brian. We need a name too!

My blog makes me the best “super affiliate” for my own products. Even though big names have mailed for my products, the blog beats them all handily in sheer sales.

Since product creation, monetizing your list, selling with direct sales copy and everything else about making money with the attention you get on the web, whether with a blog or a static html site, has been covered well since 2000, we’ve found people want to know more about traffic, not as much about what to do with it.

Even though most people have no products of their own, when surveyed by us several times, their biggest concern is traffic.

Good blogs get that in spades. We’ve since added training to help them with product creation and pushing their traffic to a funnel that is effective and profitable because of the argument you make above: traffic alone doesn’t equal a business.

Most people shouldn’t even THINK about trying to be like Arrington or other pure bloggers. They are setting up for disappointment. But that’s just what they think they want: a monetized blog with no business behind it.

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