Control your destiny and your income by purchasing your own blog domain. Domain names are very affordable, and will help you sidestep the problems of using a free hosting platform.
Make sure that your blog's theme is centered on a unique selling proposition (USP) by answering the question: What do I do better than my competition? That means focus closely on a certain subject niche and offer a fresh perspective or twist that is not found elsewhere. You'll build a strong list of loyal readers and subscribers.
If you are a newbie, get off on the right foot, by visiting Google AdSense and take its tutorials-- you'll learn the ropes quickly there. It's by far the fastest way to get over the learning curve. AdSense on your blog will help you create a steady income. Later you can explore competing networks based on the experience you've gained with AdSense.
The next step in creating blog money is to advertise products on your blog as an affiliate. You can find out more about becoming an affiliate of products by visiting websites such as Click Bank and Commission Junction.
You can launch discussions around the problems and issues that the affiliate products solve, but don't lose credibility with your readers by schilling or product pitching. Disclose that you are an affiliate and tell the reader why you have chosen to endorse that particular product.
If you are commenting on an affiliate product, don't be afraid to critique its weak points and offer comparisons with its competitors. Your reputation will be secure and your click through rates will soar.
Use the free Google keyword tool in AdWords. You can type in keywords and keyword phrases that will show an estimate of cost per click that advertisers are willing to pay for ads targeting a given keyword or phrase. Click on the keyword and visit the websites that are ranked on the first page. See who is advertising on AdSense and cherry pick the advertisers for good affiliate offers.
Advertising and affiliate marketing are the two best ways to get your blog making money quickly and inexpensively. Drive traffic to your blog by doing keyword research for your posts and articles. Develop the reputation for quality content.
Make sure you emphasize your USP in your posts and post titles. Then look for profitable keywords that have relatively low competition. By optimizing for words and phrases people are actively searching for, you'll do better in the search engine rankings, and you'll be giving your readers exactly what they want. Delivering quality content with a unique perspective that is not found elsewhere is your prescription for profitable blogging.
With over 25 years of experience, Thomas Reidy solves online-offline sales and marketing issues for entrepreneurs. Avoid being "road kill" on the Internet superhighway by getting his free report: "Internet Entrepreneurship Survival Guide" at http://ThomasReidy.com.
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