Blog Marketing Academy - Latest Comments in Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Coree — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:32:55 -0000

I read your Six Figure Blogger Blueprint a few months ago and this was the main thing that stuck with me. I knew you were right, I'd heard it before and yet (just like most new bloggers) I still tried the ad networks and OIO publisher to sell banner ads. I made a whopping zero dollars from that waste of time and energy at such an early point in my blogging career.

I liked what JB Glossinger said on his panel when he told us to stop wasting time looking at analytics & statistics and get busy creating content to sell. For the next two weeks I'm focusing only on putting together my own product. If I wait until I think I'm expert enough, I'll never get it done! Thanks for reminding me once again...this time I'll listen. :)

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

RussRave — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:10:22 -0000

Hi David,
glad to see you had a worthwhile and enjoyable trip in Vegas. I totally agree about the prerequisite for enormous volumes of traffic before banners or Adsense could start to mount up to anything substantial.
I'm focusing on building a following and fine tuning some skills and then developing projects (some in process at present) that will offer value to my blog visitors.
Kudos to you for having enough insight and perspective to produce some really worthwhile products such as 3-day etc.
Also,.. congrats on the impending new baby girl. We have 2 boys aged 2 & 4 and just got news of a 3rd on the way (this will be our last) which we'd be thrilled if was a girl,.. otherwise the boys can start a boyband or something :-). Now this is really motivating me forwards!
Russ

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Ursula (the WP Gal) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:27:20 -0000

I've had this in the back of my mind for a while - this is definitely something I want to do, but I have to come up with a good idea first as a "product", and then I have to find the time to actually create it! Thanks for the reminder! :)

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Richard60 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:03:12 -0000

I agree with the "direct sales" approach but have several problems with it. I would love to see a post from you titled: "10 Ways To Sell Advertising On Your Blog With The Direct Sales Approach." Selling anything using the direct sales approach is very time consuming and a new blog is going to have a tough sell. If it's a popular, well trafficked blog then it would seem that affiliate advertising would be a better way to go.

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

John Lufadeju — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:24:48 -0000

Thanks re-emphasizing that David.
This has clearly being your thing for a while now. You've always encouraged selling your own stuff.

The easiest temptation for a new blogger is to go down the banner ads route.

I sometimes watch this video of yours as a reminder of this
How Money is REALLY Made With a Blog?

Thanks for sharing

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Jimi Jones — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:19:31 -0000

Thanks for this post, David.
Many bloggers may have this in the backs of their minds, knowing that they will have to go this route someday (me included). But the reality is to bring that to the fore and get busy now.

A great reminder to refocus on what will be most beneficial in the long term

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Sarge — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:03:43 -0000

Great post - I have adsense on my blog. I mainly put it up as I just wanted to experience what having adwords on my blog would be like and to see if anyone actually clicked on them. Which would appear not to be the case at all! I plan to take them down at the end of the month and make my site look a bit more professional without all the ads.

I do include affiliate link banners on the side because I feel these products are exactly what beginner bloggers should be looking for. Things like aweber email, web host, Yaro's subscription site and Darren's build better blog in 31 days. I'm not a fan of those ads that are displayed on blogs where it seems evident they're just there with no influence from the blog creator/author. For me they're there as I feel bloggers can benefit from them. (I should add yours too to fill my last remaining spot ;) I would probably do better if I were to directly email my list about products but I feel I'm not ready for that just yet.

I do plan to have my own product eventually for beginner blogger. Can't wait :)

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Steve — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:43:01 -0000

Good advice for everyone. Direct Sales seem like the difficult way to earn a living while everyone is looking for the easy widget they can display that will earn them a living.

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Max Bronson — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:34:00 -0000

Thanks for the reminder David,
I'm still stuck with ads and affiliate marketing until I develop my first product.

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

David Turnbull — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:08:08 -0000

I'm always surprised how bloggers gloss over the possibility of actually selling a product. But it takes a bit of effort compared to slapping up a network ad, so maybe that's why.

I have a long time before I'm even interested in seriously monetizing my blog, but I would love to do it with a small range of products, so I can manage the quality myself and keep the revenue generation consistent with my own goals & values. :)

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Michael Martine — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:06:06 -0000

Amen, brother. Easily the most powerful business model there is.

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Dave Doolin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:12:42 -0000

Figured this out a couple of months ago, but it takes time to put together products I'm proud to sell. Just don't have one of those "4 hours ebooks" in me.

I am just NOT ready to "go public" with the little projects I have simmering away... nothing is quite finished... the sales chain is still a bit fragile, and I think I want to move to a speedier host than the shared hosting I'm on now.

@Christian, *everyone* is in sales, whether they realize it or not! Especially with this economy.

Very good to see the mindset moving in this direction as well.

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Christian Russell — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:40:07 -0000

You are 100% right David. This is why I keep telling people they need to learn how to sell. You're in sales, whether you realize it or not. So many bloggers and business owners of all kinds avoid selling like the plague. I get it. But there's a REASON most businesses fail, and blogging is not immune to this.

If you're not willing to sell, you're in trouble, period!

Re: Direct Sales: The Forgotten Revenue Stream For Bloggers?

Tony Teegarden — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:24:12 -0000

Dead on man! Good to know I'm on track with creating something of my own right now.

I'm also glad to see you're (as always) telling it like it is when talking about other bloggers and in this case panelist at Blogworld. You're one of the most stand up and transparent guys in the business and it's because of that you're readers should appreciate you.

Looking forward to more updates from you!