Blogging in and of itself won’t bring in the money. It’s what you do with your blog that brings in money.
There are a few ways to do this.

1. Throw up Google Adsense on your site and wait for people to click on it.
2. Solicit advertisers to put banners on your site and then earn pay per click money.
4. Sell other people’s products.
5. Sell your own products or services.

I’ll cut to the chase. Sell products or other people’s products. Every new blogger starts out with Google Adsense and hopes to work up to banner ads. The truth of the matter however is that it takes TONS and TONS of traffic for this to work.

An even better plan is to become an affiliate marketer. Here’s how this works. You become an affiliate of a certain product that according to your research will sell well and that will fit in with your blog. You drive traffic to your blog. Write articles that relate to the product you are selling. That will help get people to your site. Then get those people on your email list. Then pitch the affiliate product you are selling. There is no inventory or overhead. And usually you can get upwards of 50 percent commission on sales of products.

Or, you can create your own products. Ebooks, private label products and other information products cost little more than your time and effort yet you reap all the monetary benefits. You go about selling them the same way you would affiliate products.

Either way, what people don’t tell you is that you can’t just blog and expect to make money. It does take work. But eventually you can make money. What products do you enjoy that you could put your reputation behind and sell as an affiliate? What skills do you have that you can share with others in an informational product?

You can submit press releases to both online or offline media whenever you hire a new employee, release quarter earnings, have a website redesign, add a new product line, partner with a nonprofit–any number of similar situations. It doesn’t have to be something really grand, it can be any simple change.

Take that information and format it into a press release. Talk about what has occurred, why it has occurred, when it has occurred and where, if applicable. Then start submitting. If you submit to offline media and the news is something small, you might want to just submit the press release to your local media–even though your business is online. Just mention to the media that you live in or are based in their coverage area. Local media loves to have a local tie-in. Expect at least a mention in their business section.

For smaller news items online submission is the way to go. Take advantage of the free submission opportunities offered by online submission sites. The sites are put out there and are searchable so you’ll want to make sure you have your keywords in there based on search terms applicable to your announcement. Some of the sites also allow you to include one link in your press release so you can also be building backlinks to your site. So it is well worth the effort.

If the announcement is a small one stick to the free submission service. However if you’ve got something significant to say you might want to invest in the paid placement.

What do you have you can announce? Look around you and make a list and create a press release for each thing you can think of and start submitting.

Meanwhile dad got to play with my older boys on the sled and make snowmen. I was a little bit frustrated that I couldn’t even put my gloves on because if I did the baby was sure to drop his mittens and I’d have to take off my gloves and put his on again. Plus I was tired of trudging behind him as he seemingly toddled in circles doing nothing really fun.

Then I took a deep breath and looked up to the sky. Big fat flakes fell all over my face. Snowflakes dangled from my hair. The air was fresh and crisp and stung my cheeks just a little. The boys were having a blast and the baby was experiencing something he had never experienced before. I was living a moment. And I almost missed it by complaining and getting short tempered. I was in a moment and in that moment, my part was to follow this baby around and pick up his glove when it fell. That was my task in that special moment, the role I was supposed to play.

This living in the moment reminder hit me once again the next day as I dressed the baby for the snow once again. He just let me dress him–in snow bibs, boots an oversized down jacket, you know, all the necessary snow gear. And being a beach baby it probably wasn’t his preference but he didn’t complain much, then just went outside to play. He lives in the moment every day. He just looks at us as if to say “What’s on tap today? Gardening, OK that’s cool, I’m in.” I mean it could be anything, and he just lives that moment, whatever we’re doing with no expectation, just experiencing.

How does this apply to business? It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the tasks that need to be done. Reaching the goal. But sometimes we are so focused on the outcome we forget to pay attention to the ride. If you are a blogger or in a business that you started because you are passionate about it then you are missing out by not focusing on living the moment.

When things get overwhelming remind yourself to live in the moment. You don’t have to forget about the end goal, but stop and take in the details of what you are doing right then. Be thankful for the experience. Suddenly life and work get so much richer.

In what ways do you remind yourself to live in the moment?

It was from a woman who sounded a bit nervous when introducing herself but then quickly launched into a great presentation. She gave me her name, told me she had just moved into a nearby town from the big city, and threw in a quip about how lucky she was to be now living in this nearby town, then she went straight into telling me she’d like to talk to me about a book she wrote called, whatever it was called.

She was pleasant, polite and to the point. No long-winded explanation on what her book was about. She didn’t tell me that she thought I should write a story, though of course that is what she was hoping for. It was just a simple introduction to get the point across.

However, she was out of our coverage area so I couldn’t do a story. But here’s the kicker. I referred her to our sister paper, which covers her area. I gave her the name and number of the appropriate editor. She thanked me, then asked “Well would you like me to send you a press kit and maybe the book, anyway just in case?”

Interesting. She had a little gumption. I declined because I really wouldn’t be able to do anything with the information and I didn’t want to waste her time and effort. However, I was really impressed that she threw that last bit in there.

I talk a lot about not annoying editors and reporters, about the fine line between being persistent and becoming annoying. This person walked that line with expertly. Just because you are trying to avoid being annoying doesn’t mean you should not be persistent. A bit of gentle persuasion works in your favor.

In what ways has gentle persuasion helped you?

Whether you know it or not, if you have a business you participate in public relations in some way. So What is public relations? It’s a formal name for the marketing activities you do on a regualr basis. That’s it. There is nothing secret to it.

Public relations can be considered anything that gains attention for your business. Different PR firms offer different services, but generally services include getting media attention and getting general publicity.

Getting media attention
This can include writing press releases, submitting press releases to media, submitting them to online sites, buying ads both online and offline and interacting with the media by pitching stories or acting as a liasion.

Getting general publicity
This can include website design, managing social media, organizing events and even organizing publicity stunts designed to appeal directly to audiences.

All of these services may sound like you would need a professional to handle them. And depending on the amount of publicity you need and the importance of the message you need to get across you may indeed need a professioinal public relations campaign. However, for most everyday publicity needs you can probably handle it yourself.

In fact, the biggest aspect of public relations that you probably need will be the press release. Press releases can be submitted both online to submission sites and offline to media. And don’t think you need to limit yourself to one all-encompassing press release. Narrow your focus and submit fairly often. Whenever you’ve got a new hire, a new product line, a significant change in your company, an important partnership, you can submit a press release. Each time you submit one use it as a excuse to begin building a relationship with the reporter.

DIY public relations is easy. Leave the fancy words to the professionals, to handle your own PR campaign you need an anouncement and a simple write up to submit to the media. What marketing efforts are you already making that you can combine into a structured DIY public relations campaign?

And I told her that our paper comes out on Thursday and that we were on deadline that very moment. In fact, we were putting the paper to bed it was going to press in a couple of minutes. So she said:

“But our event is on Friday.”

And I said, “I understand but our paper which comes out on Thursdays, just went to press. As we speak. It was already laid out and everything. They may very well be printing the first copies right now.”

And she replied: “Yes, but you see there was a mistake. And I really need to get something in the paper to tell people about the event.”  What she expected me to do at this point I didn’t understand, since I tried to make it clear the paper was gone.  She continued. ” I emailed a press release to the other paper. I thought your papers were affiliated. And they called me and told me you weren’t and so now I need to get this in your paper before the event.”

I insisted. “Our paper is already getting printed. There’s nothing I can do. Next time be sure to get your calendar listing in two weeks in advance.”

She said, “But I did. I emailed it two weeks ago, but I sent it to the other paper, thinking you were the same.”

“Well I”m sorry but there’s nothing I can do. I’m really sorry for the confusion.”

“Well don’t be, it was my fault not yours. But I really need to get it in your paper before Friday.”

I use this example, not to make fun–although, yeah, I think it’s kinda funny. But really because it’s a good example of what not to do when trying to get something in the paper. Not because it makes a reporter mad, but because you will be missing out on an opportunity to get your news item published, whereas if you would’ve done it right in the first place you would’ve got that mention.

So here’s the lesson in all that. Newspapers have deadlines. Not because they want you to get things in by a certain time so they can deal with it, but because they have to go to press. That is when they actually print the pages. In fact once the pages are laid out and designed you’d be hard pressed to get someone to add your press release. Especially if it’s a calendar listing. And there is no “Stop the Presses!” moments, unless it’s something monumental. The fact that you are holding a fundraiser in two days doesn’t qualify.

Here’s the other thing. In our town there are two newspapers–the decades established conservative daily and our community alternative newsweekly that is 10 years old. We have differnt looks, different names and different leans, yet some people think we are affiliated in some way. I have no idea why. This does not make a reporter feel good about the caller.

So take away thoughts: Always make sure you get things in time for the news source’s deadline, to make sure you get coverage. And second, never mix up two competing media outlets and you should have smooth sailing working with reporters.

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When do you find time to write? You want your blog or, in essence, you business, to be successful and writing is time intensive no doubt. I hear ya, I have my public relations business to run, I have four kids, I still write newspaper articles and I have a household to run, so time is a premium, especially if I want to do the fun stuff, like running, hanging at the beach or playing my guitar. 

But in every day there are minutes that are wasted. I don’t remember where I heard it or what the statistic is but to paraphrase, much of our lives are spent standing in line. I know this to be true because I spend every Friday in line at the bank for a minimum of 20 minutes. But it’s not just standing in line. It’s also waiting.

 Like today, I waited more than four hours in the jury selection process before I was dismissed. Talk about a waste of time. Add up today’s sit and wait session with Friday’s bank run and we’re at close to five hours of wasted time. Now if I get sick this week and have to see my doctor then I can tack on another 45 minutes to an hour (on a non-busy day). I don’t let those precious minutes get wasted however.

 I know I’m busy so I take advantage of the downtime. I also carry a pen and paper with me. EVERYWHERE. Sometimes, if I can’t carry a whole pad of paper I will carry a scratch paper folded up and stick a pen in my hair to use. Then when I get a minute I write. I write down thoughts, observations, witty phrases I can use in a blog post, ideas for future blogs posts, you get the picture.

 Some of my best posts have been created while I was waiting to see a doctor. Then when I get home I simply have to type up what I scribbled down. Then I get to use the majority of “my” minutes doing the things I love to do like spending time with the family. Well, maybe not the majority of the minutes. I still end up having to do a lot of work from home, but at least I’m taking advantage of every minute that would’ve otherwise been wasted.

 Where are you wasting your minutes?

Ask yourself, “When people search for what I am selling will they be searching for my business name or for the product or service I offer?”

If they will be searching for a product or service you offer, your site would do better in search engines if the domain has something to do with the keywords people will be using.

On the other hand, I chose my domain www.BeachBettyPR.com for branding purposes. Also, because my long range plans for the site dictated a name based on my services alone, like “affordable press releases”  or “affordable public relations” would be to limiting. Also because I don’t offer all the traditional public relations services, only a select few, and the services I do offer are varied. So to me it made more sense to use the name of my business.

But for the new online store I’ll be launching soon offering surf stuff, I chose the domain www.bestsurfstuff.com rather than what we are calling the business.

And that’s a good point. Remember you don’t have to have your domain name and your business name be the same as long as the domain name isn’t misleading. For instance if I chose some hot topic of the minute as my domain because I know people will be searching for it and it has nothing to do with surf stuff and they come to my site and that’s not what they were looking for, then there are going to be some people angry and they won’t buy anything. So what’s the point?

I know good domain names are getting harder and harder to come by these days but you want to try to get a .com domain name. It is just want people are used to and .net and the others are not what instantly comes to mind for people, or what stays in their mind.

Also, try to get something short if you can. Long names are harder to remember for people coming to you directly. And avoid hypens. That’s just another thing that trips people up.

Do you have any tips to add in selecting a domain name? How did you come about your domain name?

http://www.mikeslife.org/case_study.html

Warning, if you are looking for a get-rich quick blueprint, it’s not in this book. But you will find the highs and lows, the mistakes and lessons and exact steps on how they built up their blog and got turning out  a decent income. Check it out. 

And if you are looking for the basics on getting your own blog started, check back here Fridays. Each Friday I’ll be posting basic instructions for various aspects of getting your blog up and running.

What happens then is that you get people trying to complicate things in order to present themselves as the all-knowing social media experts, pitching extensive services and strategies and coming up with titles that just don’t mean a thing. On the other side, you’ve got small and mid-sized businesses befuddled at the whole thing.

It really doesn’t have to be that complicated. For sure, measuring ROI hasn’t been easy. You don’t get immediate sales results with social media. You get business-customer relationships. And isn’t that really what it’s about anyway. I mean if you get the relationship you get the client, and their loyalty. In the end it adds up to dollars and a whole lot of sense.

Small and mid-sized companies, do need to incorporate social media marketing into their budgets. Perhaps the mulit-team, multi-level social media strategy approach is good for big corporations, but for many more businesses a streamlined approach to social media is preferable.

When looking for someone to manage your social media campaign ask yourself a few questions. Are they simply selling you on what they think you need or are they asking you what your goals are?

Do they suggest that there are areas you don’t need to be in? This is important because not every business thrives in every area of social media. Some industries work better with Facebook than Twitter etc., some industries really benefit with press release creation and submission, while for others it wouldn’t be the best place to focus energy.

Do they want to tie you down with a year-long or longer contract? While it does take a long while to see results of your social media efforts, you may decide earlier that it’s just not for you. And while that may not be the best decision, quitting early still should be your decision to make.

In the end your ROI will be apparent when you see lots of activity on your social media accounts, a marked increase in links/visits and comments to your site, and ultimately and eventually an increase in dollars in your bank account.