Sep 26
When to Close Up Shop
If you hadn’t heard, and hadn’t read my latest edition of Saturday Speedlinkin, two of my favorite sites have decided to close their doors, Listikal.com and Shaun Low.com.
Now I think both of those authors had fair reasons to do what they did, but it still sucks to see your fellow bloggers shut it down.
For some reason, I just makes my day to hear when my comrades in arms are having small successes with their sites. So to hear that a site is going down, well… It just gives my stomach that bad feeling ya know? Having said this…
The Grind
Blogs are work. Plain and simple. And depending on where you are in life, blogging may not be one of your top priorities. Say if you were in school for instance… Personally I don’t know that I could put in as much work as I do on here if I had classes. And I think if you’re looking to make some extra loot with your blog, (in terms of work) it gets worse before it gets better.
Replying to comments, replying to e-mails, worrying about stats and links… It can certainly take a lot of your time, and if you’re not getting the Alexa or Page Rank you want, who knows what kind of money you’re going to be making vs the work you’re doing. So if you’re caught in this awkward question of “To continue blogging or to NOT continue blogging…” maybe this will help:
Know When to Fold’Em
First and foremost, I’m a big proponent of the notion, “Like what you do – The money will come.” If you think that blogging is a quick and easy way to make a buck well, I can’t say that it’s not. If you think that blogging is a quick and easy way to make BIG bucks, I don’t know that I can agree. TO THAT END, if you find blogging to be a chore and are really just in it for a buck, get out now – You’re just going to hate it more later.
Sorry, I had to…
On the flip side, what if you love blogging, are in it and HAVE been in it for the long haul but haven’t made any money? Well it might also be time to close shop, at least on what you’re currently doing. If you’re in a niche that isn’t working for you, maybe you need to try a new one. If you feel good about your blog but just haven’t been “successful” with it (whatever that means for you), maybe you need to ask a fellow blogger for help and go back to square one.
Know When to Hold’Em
Well, if it’s not time to fold’em, probably time to hold’em! And if you’re definition of success is tied with a dollar amount, sometimes that means to stay the course with your site until you get the Ranks that you need and/or the search engine love you’ve been missing.
If you’re definition of success IS NOT tied to a dollar amount, then I’m guessing you’re blogging because you have a pure love for it. In that case, you probably don’t have to “make time” for your site, because it’s already something you pour a lot of work into. Just keep it up, enjoy it, and don’t lose site sight of why it makes you so happy. (#):)
September 26th, 2007 at 7:38 am
I haven’t made a single penny from my blogging which I’ve now been doing for over a year, and that’s fine with me because it’s not why I got into it.
However, I have had free movies and a trip to Germany courtesy of Sony so I’m certainly not grumbling! At the moment I’m so busy with my career that I haven’t got the time or energy to blog regularly which is a real shame. I’m also having trouble finding things to write about of late. I’m sure it’s just a temporary glitch
September 26th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Not everyone blogs for money and that is fine. I blogged for two years and just recently started monetizing my website.
Even though I enjoy writing at times I do have to make time for my website because well like anything else it takes time to write.
You can do very well with a PR of 0 and not that much traffic. I have heard a few bloggers say that but they are just parroting what they have heard. A few of my websites have proven that. I’ve made well over 1k with my low traffic websites.
I realized about a month ago that monetizing my website was similar to running my business. I market that very well so I devoted what I had learned from that into my blogs. I saw improvements very quickly.
I like thinking outside the box so that is why when I do listen to people i don’t listen to the typical make money online blogger because I really want to try something different. Most of the ones I’m thinking of don’t seem to be doing that. Not everyone can be a Darren Rowse, Shoemoney, etc.,
it’s important to come up with your own branding that works for you and your online business (if you think about it monetizing your website is a business) You need a hook that sets you apart from the other thousands that are trying to emulate the “leaders”.
I imagine that a lot of the successful bloggers don’t even talk about how much they make every day of the week. I can think of a few of my regulars that are doing very well but you won’t see them writing about it a lot.
I seriously thought about stopping my blog about a year ago but I kept it. I changed my focus and I’m changing again writing more about business and whatever comes to mind.
Depending on the approach you use you can write about anything and still do well. Although some say that “you can’t” thankfully I’ve never been good at listening to those type of statements I believe I can and I will. You don’t need a large audience to do well monetarily.
September 26th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Geez, Bush. Now I’m going to have that Kenny Rogers song stuck in my head all day long!
September 26th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
@Pete – Hey, if you’re getting free trips to Germany and free movies, I think you got a good thing going! And I’m pretty sure you’ll find things to talk about, like game and movie reviews! Personally I love that about your site since I don’t have any others that do such in depth posts.
@Opal T – Great comments especially on doing what works best for you. Even though you don’t do a TON of it on your website, I’m so glad you always stop over here and drop your GEMS on us!
Remember kids, “You don’t need a large audience to do well monetarily.” – Opal T
@Angela – The jam of the day the day BEFORE yesterday was “Have You Never Been Mellow” by Olivia Newton John.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
@Bush,
Most of my commenters could care less about making money online and I sure don’t want to write about it…oh that should have been…
One of the websites that is doing well has two readers in my RSS feed so that should tell you something and I don’t have it on my main website. I wanted to see how well I did without publicity. As a “new kid on the block” I did well but I had a business plan.
September 26th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
I had a feeling you’d stick an image of Kenny in there haha. I was planning on replying but Opal said it beautifully so I’ll just reply with an eloquent … “yeah, what she said”. Haha.
September 26th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
@Brown – You gotta watch Opal, she’s faster than disaster. (#):D
@Opal T – So this site that you’re talking about, is it using more affiliate marketing to accomplish its goals?
September 26th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Thanks for the kind words Bush. You’ll find me now over at ConnectedInternet. Listikal will stand until I decide to completely shut it down, which may never happen. I’ll probably get back into it at some point, but now just isn’t the time.
September 26th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
At the moment it does not have any adsense on it I might use it eventually but I just wanted to prove what I already know I don’t need adsense to make money online. I also don’t need a high traffic site if I market it correctly. The more I learned the more I realized that this was most likely true. I think it will do better without adsense but I might add it to test eventually. If I do it will only be in a small section.
I don’t want to be dependent on Google to do well. I’m not worried about the next update & what my rank will be because I know I’ll make money regardless. That concerned me for the first month that I started monetizing my websites (May.) It didn’t take me long to figure that out, and I’m glad I did!
September 27th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Thanks for the props buddy! You just made my lunchtime
September 27th, 2007 at 8:58 am
…Oh and thanks Brown Baron.
I can rattle about business for hours just not on my website in person yeah and occasionally on other peoples websites. 
I love challenges so I’m always testing myself.
September 27th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
@Tim – Well again, best of luck and I look fwd to seeing more of your stuff over at CI!
@Opal T – The whole diversifying your income streams IS something that everyone should look at no matter what their business is or where it’s housed. Relying on one income source is great way to go down to 0 revenue real’ fast.
@Pete – Just callin’em how I see’em!
September 29th, 2007 at 7:32 am
@Bush,
I would say it depends if you have chosen your niche wisely I would disagree for example nutrition there will be people who are always looking at ways to improve their health. Effectively marketing your product or website is a good way to ensure that you do have steady sales. In affilate marketing I get paid from people signing up for programs, a lot of them are free, and for a sale. I make money two wways.
In business I rely on one source for my income but I effectively market my products and myself. I am that brand and my customer service is excellent. I’ve shipped out thousands of packages over the past five (almost six) years and so far I have not had a “bad customer”. I listen. I’m trying to brand myself in a similar way online.
I’ve already received referrals on my website. If you’re good people will talk about you and they will email you. I’ve received a lot of feedback that way as well.
October 1st, 2007 at 12:26 am
I started blogging to make money in the long run.
I didn’t make any quick money and am not making any money now but strangely the more I read the more I started to enjoy blogging and now my blog is improving because of this.
But still making money is a long way off and I don;t mind that.
I am however trying to work on some other money making ideas.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:59 am
@Opal T – Good points. I think I’m certainly going to go this way on one of my other websites (Aff marketing and the like)… But of course that would mean I’d have to tear myself away from this site first. (#):D
@Forest – Yeah, I think the whole blogging/money making thing is surely an interesting one. You’re like me (and a lot of other ppl I’m guessing) in that you really enjoy blogging! So much so that making money w/ your blog just doesn’t dominate every inch of your brain! While I’m certainly (and obviously) trying to make some money, at this point it’s more like a game to me! Ha ha. That probably explains a lot huh?
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:22 am
I used to think that relying on one source was a quick way to dry up sales until I thought Duh Opal what is your business based on? A very small niche and it does well. I also thought about a good friend that works soley on 100% commission. He’s doing something right. He makes over 6 figures yearly. He stands out from the most by effectively branding himself. People request him.
I know I can do that online it’s not going to happen overnight but i can see signs of where I can end up. When people trust you they will ask for your advice on products. I put up a lot of free stuff because I enjoy sharing. I think people, at times, shoot themselves in the foot when they put a price tag on all their “information” or “advice” they give. I’ve seen that on a few websites and it really turned me off. That is not smart.
Of course once people trust you that means even more online time since your emails will increase. When I checked my email this morning I had a person asking me for advice about a variety of products. They use my recipes and want the proper tools. I’m starting to see that with my Healing Yourself Naturally website.
With affiliate marketing I’m only recommending things I have tried. eventually I’ll move onto other items but only after I’ve done extensive research. I’m not going to recommend crap. I’m branding myself and I want people to look to me as a trusted source for recommendations.
The most I’ve made from a sale was $95 in my niche I’ve seen it as high as $150 per sale, The highest lead I’ve seen thus far for a products I would market is $25. Not bad, $25 just for having someone sign up for a free trial service of course if they stay after the trial you make even more. However I have not personally tried the product so that is on my “research” pile.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:44 pm
@Opal T – Very interesting. For the niche I’m looking to get into, I expect the sales #’s would be more (because shocker it’s tech related), but it’s still going to take some work to get to any point where I’d be making good money from it. Man. I keep saying I’m going to go ahead and get started, but I just haven’t been able to find the time! ARRRRRRGGGGH!
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Yes tech related affiliates can pay a whole lot more. There are a whole lot companies that have affiliate programs. It’s another way for them to market their product or service to a larger audience.
For example I wrote about Stamps.com and Endicia about three weeks ago. Guess what? They both have an affiliate program. Why did I write about them? I tried both services. I did a little investigating and sure enough they both offer affiliate programs. I would be willing to bet some of the companies that you have already purchased equipment from also have affiliate programs and there is always Amazon. They don’t pay as high as many I use but if I mention a product that I’ve used and cannot find a program I will use Amazon.