Running a profitable blog that focuses on a topic that you’re truly interested in seems like an impossible dream to most internet entrepreneurs.
It can be difficult learning and mastering search engine optimization concepts, web design, and great content creation. Doing all of those things with a profitable niche that you actually enjoy is infinitely more impossible.
Well, that’s what you’re led to believe. It’s actually a lot simpler than most people think.
It doesn’t matter if you’re running a self-hosted blog, or if you’re using one of the popular web 2.0 hosting platforms, either. As long as you have a blog, you’ll find that you already have all of the tools you need to succeed.
The Old Way – Keyword Research and SEO
Don’t those words leave a bad taste in your mouth? They’re so boring and absolutely terrifying. For most of us they turn out to be nothing more than a big waste of time – and maybe even a waste of money. What we really need to understand is that these are outdated methods that never actually had anything to do with profitable blogs, anyway.
Is that to say that you won’t collect a significant amount of traffic with your blog? Of course not! The search engines will (hopefully) provide hundreds of new visitors to your site every day. But this shouldn’t be the primary source of your traffic.
If it is, then you’ll quickly find it really is impossible to earn a living from your site. The search engines (and these techniques) are only good for bringing new visitors to your site. Once you have them there, you’ll need to convince them to become regular readers. That’s when things start to become profitable.
The New Way – Finding and Writing for a Market
This is where most people get it all wrong, whether they’re relying on the old techniques (SEO and on page optimization techniques) or focusing on the latest zeitgeist – “content is king.” Actually, that mantra has been around for at least a decade. Don’t you wonder why it keeps popping up?
In order to run a successful blog you’re going to need more than passion for your topic and well searched key phrases. You’re going to need a topic that actually has a market. If you don’t take the time to investigate the viability of a market before you start creating your site then you’re doing it all wrong. You have to know that people are going to want to read what you write.
Even if they do find it through search engines, how do you know what they’re going to be interested? Sure – anyone can write a 500 word article on model trains. But how do you know that the content you’ve created is actually relevant to the audience? You do it by finding and studying their market. Once you’ve done that, you can start writing for that market.
This is the first post in a three part series on turning your blog into a successful venture. In the next article you’ll learn how to find a market. You’ll also learn about micro-virality and how to put it to work in your online business.
About Kevin Gao
Great post, informative and helpful. Came here after finding part 3. Looking forward to reading the next 2 parts.
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I am new here i have got many information from this blog. first time he lelped me. thanks.
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says:
Nice points Kevin,
If you’re really looking to create an article which been liked by maximum number of people on social media networks, then you should first find out what people are looking for. You can do this by visiting niche blogs and forums. There you can see their problems and questions. Then create an article offering solutions and you’ll certainly see good response.
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This is very fascinating, You’re an excessively professional blogger. I’ve joined your feed and stay up for in quest of more of your wonderful post. Additionally, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
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the author perfectly differentiate between new and old ideas…… appreciate
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I kind of agree. Actually keyword research and seo is mainly good when you are trying to promote niche websites, where content matters less.
However when blogging, the few visitors arriving via organic search, have not only to find your pages but also they have to bookmark them and come back for more, because they enjoyed the content on that particular blog.social media, is to have a blog which links to all your other social networking profiles. Creating a LinkedIn profile is a very good move, as well as being active on Twitter and subscribed to the big names in your industry.
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Twitter: socmedsean
says:
Well said, Kevin!! It’s about adding value to the conversation, not about trying to trick readers to visit your blog through keyword tactics or Fiverr gigs.
I firmly believe that if you write good stuff and stick with it, the traffic will come.
Cheers!
–Sean
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Twitter: Ajayudayagiri
says:
I totally agree with the author.
Social media virality can make a blog successful effectively. It earns a good fame and good loyal readers to the site.
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Twitter: comonppldotcom
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I kind of agree. Actually keyword research and seo is mainly good when you are trying to promote niche websites, where content matters less.
However when blogging, the few visitors arriving via organic search, have not only to find your pages but also they have to bookmark them and come back for more, because they enjoyed the content on that particular blog.
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social media, is to have a blog which links to all your other social networking profiles. Creating a LinkedIn profile is a very good move, as well as being active on Twitter and subscribed to the big names in your industry.
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Social marketing is, quite simply, the act of utilizing social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube to expand a marketing strategy.
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Thanks for sharing this article with us. Your article is good and interesting. It has helped me a lot to gain knowledge about something new.
I agree with you that we should setup something related to market, but you can not simply ignore the importance of search engine optimization. Search engine optimization if done effectively can generate business for you. There are thousand people offering same business, how can you make more business against the term ‘buy iphone apps’ via search engine.
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Yes, writing for a market is important. It can work effectively if you take time to study this market and that’s where keyword research is required. Bloggers still must do keyword research to dig through the minds of their target audience.
There is nothing as dangerous as writing without a purpose. Keywords help to make the purpose real. Thanks for this post.
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