WORDS OF WISDOM

     Today we have a Guest columnist Greg Newhouse. 

When you attempt to change for the better, old ghosts will rear their ugly heads.
" Friends" and loved ones will point to your past as an indication of the future. Ever heard these...

You can't hold a job.

You are useless.

Everything you have ever had was given to you.

You just don't fit, you never have

I am miserable

MY FAVORITE!!!---->How are YOU gonna motivate anyone, you can't even motivate yourself? 

WATCH AND LEARN
 

People are used to seeing what they have seen, some say you have to prove it.  I think you struggle to make yourself better.  You are who you are and getting better.
If you are truly improving and moving forward, let nothing or no one stop you.  Listen to good advice, and note when you may be incorrect.
Although, people become used to hearing these negative things. They start to say it to themselves. They question if this is true. Be very aware of people who seek to drag you down. You are stronger, do not absorb their poison of fear, hate and doubt.   Stronger still, when you have support systems of more people.  People who preferably have mutual trust and faith or at least the same goal.  Know that a few people will never think this way and they will continue to be miserable regardless of whatever they do. They chose misery, you don't have to.  You cannot motivate a person, that person will chose and persevere on their own.  All you can do is help point to some of the answers.
If you aren't right with yourself, fix it, so you can be right with others.

     Greg Newhouse is a blogger, Motivational Speaker, and Real Estate Broker.  Check out his work on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NewhouseNow

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING: 101

     What is the easiest way to market your new blog or business?  Social Media.   Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter reach millions of people everyday.  If you don't believe it just look around you.  Everyone seems to be on some sort of device "checking in".  If your house is like mine, you can have the whole family in the same room, each on their own device.  I even saw an ad on television where a young man had to send his girl a text in a coffee house to get her to look at him so he could propose!!  

     Social Media is very similar to "word of mouth" in that as your blog/business is seen by more people, they in turn send you more people. A TV ad for shampoo from when I was younger summed it up with...."you tell 2 friends and they tell 2 friends and so on and so on...."

     I have covered Facebook in previous posts, any business or blog should have its own Facebook page.  You can promote that page on Facebook to reach beyond your core of friends and family for as little as $5.00 a day.  Like any other advertising, the more you invest the more return you will see.

     Pinterest and Instagram are 2 that I have not personally tried.  I understand they are for posting images and since my blog is currently short on images, I have not tried them.  If I were an artist or crafter I would pursue this avenue to get images of my work in front of potential buyers. If you have tried these I would like to hear from you as not all my readers are bloggers and they might benefit from your experience.

     Twitter has been my most successful social media so far.  I have been able to interact directly with other folks like me and been able to bring much more traffic to my blog.  The down side of this is that I have been spending more and more time "Tweeting" and less time working on my blog.  I am looking into many ways of doing both but have no answers yet.  When I have my solution I will share it. For now I have to work on good old fashioned "time management". 

BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A "CLICK"?

    I told a friend of mine I was making money online and she immediately assumed I was hosting a porn site because "they are the only sites that make money on the web". 

     It is true that internet porn is a big business, but it is by no means the only game in town.  Sites like Etsy, Amazon and Ebay are big business too and there are  huge numbers of independent blogs and websites for every topic under the sun.  Most are "free".

     People who produce "free" web content are just as dependent on advertising as are the network television stations or newspapers.  Think about it, all over the web people are producing content with the hope that someone will check out their sponsors.  For most it is a passion that they will pursue regardless of pay, but wouldn't it be nice for them to get some sort of pay for the hours of work they put into creating their blogs/webpages.

     Knowing what I do now, when I visit a blog or website I "click" on at least 1 ad to help the producer. It only takes a moment and I feel like it is only fair. If more of us would do that we might see a surge in quality content on the web.

     

PPC

PAY PER CLICK DECLASSIFIED

     When I started this blog, I was truly a novice.  I had no idea what to do or expect and did not know what any of the initials like PPC or SEO meant. I looked into SEO in a previous post. 

     Let's explore PPC.  PPC or Pay Per Click , seems kinda dark and mysterious.  In reality it is very simple.  I have explored it from both sides and will simplify it for you.

     Advertisers go  to places like Google Adwords, create an ad, and choose which words will trigger the ad being displayed.  The advertiser pays for the number of people who "click:" on the ad hoping that a percentage of the clicks will turn into sales.  Depending on the ad it can cost the advertisers a few cents to several dollars for each click.  These advertisers "bid" for placement on the search engine and that is one of the key factors in the cost of the "click".  

     As a site which displays the ads,  our job is to bring targeted traffic to the advertiser by providing content that brings the type of person the advertiser is looking for to the advertisers ads.  In return for this, for each person that "clicks" on the ad, we are paid anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars.  Even if the "click" does not result in a sale.  Remember, the advertiser is counting on a percentage of the clicks to convert to sales and is willing to pay to get the numbers to look at the ad so they make sales according to that percentage.

     So, when you are visiting sites and see an ad that you might be interested in don't hesitate to click it.  Many of the products or services are high quality and may be just what you need.  They may not meet your needs at this time.  Either way , you are helping both the advertiser and the host.

MAKING MONEY ONLINE

     There are many ways to make money from home.  So are understandably easier than others.  I have chosen to monetize this blog to learn the ins and outs of making money by placing advertisements on the blog and letting my readers buy the products or services offered by my advertisers.  The hard part of this is getting traffic. the right traffic, to the blog.  

     There are plenty of ways to get traffic to the site,  Some I have tried and some I have yet to try.  Of the ones I have tried I have had some success.  

     I began on Facebook.  My friends and family are supportive and Like/Share my posts, but the views to my blog were very low. 

      I also set up a Twitter account and began to get followers.  As the followers grew on Twitter the hits to the blog grew by leaps and bounds. 

      I also tried Google Adwords.  Adwords did send me traffic but at the moment I need to increase my base revenue to be able to afford advertise the blog in that way.  That being said, if I were selling a product instead of ad space on my blog I would lean towards that or maybe even some form of Email advertising such as Constant Contact.  I would love to hear from some of you that have tried any of these.  Share your successes and failures so we may all learn.

GIVE ME PATIENCE....R I G H T N O W !!

     Patience is a virtue.  If you are like me, it is hard to come by.  One of the key things to remember when you start you blog is that it will take time to get it going.  You will have to establish a history of posts that readers want to read and come back to.You will also have to regularly post new material to your blog to keep your readers engaged.  

     The "Work at home" scams will tempt you with immediate income and promise you will get residual income for doing nothing.  NOTHING could be further from the truth.  The only people making money from these schemes is the one YOU send money to to buy their system.  Don't be fooled.

     Legitimate money can be made online over TIME.  The legitimate bloggers who make decent income have been blogging for YEARS.  It took time to build the audience.  It took quality content to keep them.  And, it took the right ads to reach that audience.

     Blogging is definitely not a way to "GET RICH QUICK" .  It can be a way to earn income,  Like any other business it will require patience and hard work.

MAKE MONEY ONLINE

1 MONTH UPDATE

     I started this just over a month ago, and I thought I would give my readers an update.  

     Since going live with the blog I feel that I have learned volumes about the mechanics of making money on the internet.  I feel that just in the last month I have completed a Masters course on social media and self promotion.  There have been Highs and lows.

     Lets take a look at the numbers.  Since it started I have had over 1000 visitors to the blog. Some of those visitors were other sites and search engines.  But all in all most of those visitors were regular folks like you and me.   

  The biggest draw to the blog came after I started a twitter account.  Prior to twitter I was fortunate to see 2 visitors a day.  After I got the twitter account, I began to see 30+ visitors.  I don't want you to think that all I did was set up a twitter account and sat back and the readers came.  NO it has been WORK.  Tweeting and Re Tweeting links to the blog several times daily to encourage folks to take a look.

     As the readership increases, the potential of sales from the ads on the blog increases.  I have had Amazon ads on the blog almost from the beginning,  Google Adsense is now looking int placing ads on the blogs.  As of this writing, I have had NO sales or clicks but I feel it is simply a matter of time.

     I will keep you posted

HOW TO START BLOGGING   UPDATE!!

     I received a question on my Facebook page from someone who wanted to know just how to go about setting up a blog.  Thanks for the great question.  I should have covered this sooner.

     The first step to creating your blog is choosing your topic or niche.  You must also decide what you want to accomplish with your blog  .Some blogs are really no more than online diaries for their creators, some are meant to share information or opinions with a few friends,and some want to reach a large audience to make money from the blog.  The more people are interested in your topic, the more likely they will visit your blog.

     When I started this blog, I had no idea where to go or what to do.  I asked around and found that the two most popular sites were Blogger (www.blogger.com/start‎) and Wordpress (wordpress.com/‎).  I tried both.  Both were easy to start and even a technochallenged person like me could create a good looking blog.  I posted the first post to this blog on both, then I got lazy and just posted everything to Blogger.  Please note, I did not find one better than the other Blogger was simply the first saved and therefore the default blog. Both sites have good templates with a variety of widgets.  Both sites allow for personalization.   as time permits I do plan to revisit the Wordpress site and do a more thorough try of it.

     Once I had my topic and template set, I began to look for ways to get ads on my blog.  I am still exploring options for this aspect of my blog, but for now I am using Amazon (affiliate-program.amazon.com/) As I try more I will keep you posted .  For more of my trial and error successes check my other posts.

Hope this helps.  Feel free to ask your questions in the comments section here.

     Last night I received a comment on my Twitter account to the effect that anyone who wants to start blogging should just go to Blogger and start.  While that is good advice, it is a bit oversimplified.

   The original question had more to do about how to make money from blogging, and was by someone like myself who really had no Idea how to go about it.  I will continue to share what I learn to make it easier for them.

     Since I posted this, I have added Google Adsense as an advertiser.   It is still too early to judge the earnings from this, so I will keep you posted.

ZEN AND THE ART OF PROMOTION

     As bloggers we walk a fine line between self promotion and begging for readers.  

     We start with friends and family, showing them and getting their input.  Then we actually publish a post or two, we share it on Facebook and...???  Now what??

     If the goal is to monetize your blog as well as to inform your reader, that lag in radership can be frustrating and does not put any money back into the project.  

     Step back a moment and ask "how do other creative folks promote their product?"

     Major movie studios spend large amounts of money advertising upcoming movies.  Then as the release date nears, they put the actors, writers and others on the "talk shows" to drive more viewers to the theaters.  

     Authors do things very similarly.  After months or years creating their work they then travel town to town setting up in bookstores signing copies of the book and meeting readers.

     As bloggers we promote on the web via social media.  It will take time to get the word out about your blog.  Patience is truly a virtue in this business.  

     You can search Amazon for books to help with your strategy, I have provided an Amazon search box to the right.

     

IS THIS THE GOLDEN AGE OF BLOGGING?

     I can compare today's Blog atmosphere to the early days of radio and television without stretching too much.  

     In those golden early days of both radio and television, announcers and even the stars of the program would promote the products shamelessly.  They would gently (and not so) prompt the audience to purchase the products.  Advertisers exercised great control over the programs that they sponsored.  Many early television programs were brought into our homes with only one sponsor.  Daytime dramas are a great example of this, still to this day bearing the name "Soap Operas".

     I have spoken to several potential bloggers who are AFRAID to monetize their blog, feeling that it makes them look greedy.  Other bloggers will say that they would monetize but "I am not a salesman".

     Affiliate programs really do not require salesmanship.  They do require that the visitor to the blog click on the link and buy the product.  And sometimes we as bloggers do have to remind our visitors that we are here to make money as well as share information.  

     To that end..."We will be right back after a brief word from our sponsors".  I will say a couple of things about a book that is helping many bloggers get on the right track.  The book is "Problogger:  Secrets For Blogging Your Way to A Six Figure Income"  By Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett.  The book is full of great information from a SUCCESSFUL blogger and is available by clicking the link to the right.   Many thanks to the authors for some great information.

HOW TO START BLOGGING

PART III

     The blog is all set up.  You have written a few posts, and gotten a few page views.  You are on several social media sites....and all of a sudden you find that you are spending more and more time on the social media.

     As a new blogger you cannot afford to get overwhelmed by the social media.  While it is fun to see who is doing what and with whom, you cannot afford to allow it to take away from the time you would spend creating new content for your blog.  

     I have found that if I schedule times to write, research, and promote then all goes well.  If I allow myself to get distracted then I don't do any of it well.  

     I struggled at first to find the balance between promotion, social media, and research for new content. not to mention writing new posts.  

     It is also important to set aside time to read and reply to other bloggers that follow you, remember they need the same things you do.  So budget your time wisely and all will be possible.  

HOW TO START BLOGGING II

     By now I have had this blog running for just about a month, and like most new bloggers, I was struggling to drive traffic to my blog.  

     I had the hope that just because of my writing style and topic that readers would flock to my blog, read my posts, and click on my advertisers.  In my defense, I didn't REALLY think that was all there was to it.  

     I have been involved in business in some form or another for more than 25 years.  As a young man I worked on the edges of the radio advertising world and got to see first hand the effects advertising had on a businesses chance of survival.  I saw how a good ad could drive customers to a business and how placement of those ads was key.

     I also learned that money couldn't buy the most valuable advertising.  Word of Mouth is by far the best form of advertising.  A pleased customer will bring you business for life. but a DISPLEASED customer can have devastating results for a business.

     How do we as online bloggers create that word of mouth?

     The first way is create good content.  There really is no substitute for quality.  If  your reader feels that they receive good value they will tell others.  By the same token, if you offer a bad product or give poor quality, these customers will tell many more people about how bad you are.

     The next way is to reach out to people via social media.  I started with my friends and family on Facebook.  Even with my friends sharing my posts, I only got a few visits.  It was growing, but at a very slow pace.  Being that I am a bit techno--challenged, I did not have an existing Twitter account. So I set up an account for the blog. Within 2 days on Twitter, I had made more contacts than on Facebook, and generated more traffic to the blog than Facebook gave me in a month  I will be exploring other social media and types of paid traffic in other posts

Stay Tuned

What is SEO III

SEO Declassified

     

     So how do you know which keywords to use?  There are services out there where you pay money to get keywords, or you could just ask Google.  

     Google provides a tool to find keywords in its adsense product.  You can sign up and use this tool for free.  

     Go to Google Adsense  www.google.com/adsense and set up an account. 

     Once you have that go to TOOLS AND ANALYSIS.  

     From ther you can click on SEARCH FOR KEYWORD AND AD GROUP IDEAS.

     Then all you do is type in your topic and Google suggests the best keywords.

     After I get the list I do some searching on google to see which of the suggested keywords work best for me.  

     I prefer longer keyword strings they tend to be more specific and bring me a more targeted audience.  I include words such as "who what when where and why".  

  

HOW TO START BLOGGING

     I received a question on my Facebook page from someone who wanted to know just how to go about setting up a blog.  Thanks for the great question.  I should have covered this sooner.

     The first step to creating your blog is choosing your topic or niche.  You must also decide what you want to accomplish with your blog  .Some blogs are really no more than online diaries for their creators, some are meant to share information or opinions with a few friends,and some want to reach a large audience to make money from the blog.  The more people are interested in your topic, the more likely they will visit your blog.

     When I started this blog, I had no idea where to go or what to do.  I asked around and found that the two most popular sites were Blogger (www.blogger.com/start‎) and Wordpress (wordpress.com/‎).  I tried both.  Both were easy to start and even a technochallenged person like me could create a good looking blog.  I posted the first post to this blog on both, then I got lazy and just posted everything to Blogger.  Please note, I did not find one better than the other Blogger was simply the first saved and therefore the default blog. Both sites have good templates with a variety of widgets.  Both sites allow for personalization.   as time permits I do plan to revisit the Wordpress site and do a more thorough try of it.

     Once I had my topic and template set, I began to look for ways to get ads on my blog.  I am still exploring options for this aspect of my blog, but for now I am using Amazon (affiliate-program.amazon.com/) As I try more I will keep you posted .  For more of my trial and error successes check my other posts.

Hope this helps.  Feel free to ask your questions in the comments section here or on my Facebook Unofficial: Coffee and Cigarettes Blog.

What is SEO II

SEO Declassified

    What is the secret to good placement on a search engine ranking?  Since Google has the biggest share of the search market, I will be outlining methods for good Google placement. While there are multiple ways to rank on Google, some of them are "frowned on".  We will concentrate on a few very effective "good" ones.

     The first way is to put your "keyword(s)" in the web address or URL.  Assuming that your blog is about cooking you might want your web address to be "www.myrecipes.com" or "mysecretrecipe.blogger.com"

       The second way is to include your keyword(s) in the TITLE of the post.  Something like "My Secret Recipe for Haggis Tartar"

     The third way is to include your keyword(s) in the BODY of your article.  Maybe "....everyone has asked me for my secret recipe for haggis tartar so here it is...."

     The last and most important way is to write a quality post.  If you do not deliver good content to your readers, you won't have readers for very long.  

     So you see it is important to place your keyword(s) in the right places, but how do you decide what those keyword(s)?  Tune in NEXT time for that

What Is SEO?

SEO Declassified

     SEO those 3 letters are as scary and mysterious for bloggers as the IRS is to the rest of us.  So what is SEO?

     SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.  Simply put it is the way a search engine ranks your post for relevancy to the search criteria.  For example, if you are searching for cookie recipes then you would not be interested in pages or posts about "tracking cookies".  The search engine "reads" your search and by the terms you put in the search bar gives you the most relevant results to your request.  The search engine has software that scans the posts and pages for matches to the words in your search to those posts to give the best results first.  

     How then do you get your post/pages to rank high in the secret world of SEO? Do you have to wave a magic wand over your keyboard? Do you make a deal with the devil to get good results?  No.   You simply do some research and include the right keywords in the title and body of the post to ensure your readers find you.  

     In part 2 of this post I will show some simple and FREE ways to do this

THE SHIFTS OF FORTUNE TESTS THE RELIABILITY OF FRIENDS

CICERO

     So you have an idea for a blog or website and you are ready to start.  You have lots of WONDERFUL  friends on Facebook and you just KNOW they will get involved.  So you post it on Facebook or other social media and......... ????

      You will be surprised who doesn't help spread the word.  Not all of your "friends" and family will help, some may not even look at your posts.  Some folks are just not comfortable helping others.  Unfortunately, some just like to see others fail.  Some will not understand what you are doing.

     Instead of focusing on the ones who don't help, focus on the ones that do.  Make these folks the core of your new audience.Ask them for feedback and input.  Learn from them what works and doesn't.

     Feel free to ask the ones who don't help for their reasons, but don't expect to convert them or change their minds.   Maybe some will answer and you can incorporate the results into your blog or website and attract them or others like them.   

     Remember, all "failures" are really an opportunity to succeed.