MelvinBlog

A blog that chronicles my journey on online marketing, blogging, social media, technology and life.

Blogging Experience

How To Get That Advertising

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Disclaimer: This is an article based on my experiences and wouldn’t guarantee anything on your part. People do things differently and I can say this is what worked best for me all throughout.

So I was being asked by my friends on schools on how did I get that many ads on my site while my site is new and unpopular? I told them “I just flaunt with advertisers”. That statement though, is just 1/4 behind the real thing about selling ads on your site. Many blogs have struggled immensely on finding advertisers on their blogs. The truth is you would really struggle! I know most people doing selling are new and unestablished blogs. Selling the spot is really hard especially when you’re content is a little out of place. So I have written here some thoughts on how to get advertisers for your blog (preferably for new blogs):

  • Putting affiliate links – It’s a rule of thumb that when your blog is new, then just try placing affiliate links there! It’s good and bad on some point, let me explain what I think. When affiliate ads are placed on your site, advertisers will come to think that spots are full and/or it would give them an ugly impression and will ask themselves “What am I getting here being the first one to advertise?” Obviously that’s a great point. When there’s only one advertiser on your part, make sure he’ll feel special because he’s the only ONE! It’s ok to put affiliate links as long as in moderation. For example in my blog, the only affiliate banner there is sponsored reviews and revresponse at the links part.
  • Sell yourself cheap! – This is always an issue on whether you are going to sell your blog’s space for cheap or not. Actually I pretty much believe starting out low is good, why? Because people love cheap prices? There are tons of people in digital point looking for super cheap advertising. If you are selling $20 on a banner and only getting 1 advertiser per 2 month, then why not sell it for $5 and get 4 in a month?
  • Show your booty hole what you’ve got. – This is one of the biggest misconceptions of people/bloggers. They tend to create an advertising page, then feel lazy and then just rush it. BIG mistake! Just saying you’re getting 1000 uniques a day is not enough. People look for proofs, they look for informations, they look for pictures. Showing it, makes people expect what they can get for a very cheap advertising. It also builds a good reputation around the blogosphere. Tell them your uniques, alexa, technorati, serp, countries where visitors originated, such those things. Maybe like this advertising page 😉
  • Contact them – This is common nowadays because it’s very effective. Most bloggers look for other blogs advertisers and contact them directly offering advertising. What I have learned here is that you have to be keen and logical. You cannot look at Shoemoney’s blog and then contact Clickbooth and asking them to advertise. Just look on how the advertisers are targeting channels. Some target niche blogs, some do target blogging tips blogs and so. Example here in my blog is the Blogriffic advertisement. I have seen that advertisement on some small blogs around the blogosphere. From that point, you can see that this is an advertiser willing to take advertising on small blogs and not on risky and costly ones. After that I contact Salwa and offered him her my advertising page and she said she would. That easy!
  • Get a great theme – This one is a no brainer. You don’t expect to handle ads with a Kubrick Theme. Heck this one is so easy as there are so many many many themes compatible with block ads and others.

Again this is what I have used for the past few years and have found it effective for me. You may not agree with me at some point but I am sure some of this are self-explanatory. If we are different in thoughts here, then how do you do advertising on you’re part?

Providing Something, That’s What People Love

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So I don’t really know if I can still compete to the blogging Idol. I would be entering the busiest week of this month. If you aren’t subscribed to my feed then consider subscribing now! 😉

Most people are thinking “how can I make my site popular?” And I admit, this is something that everyone of us wants but only few can have it. You see all the tips everywhere on how to run a blog and get tons of traffic and readers and how to promote and so. But the truth is, it boils down on how you make other people like your site, how you can provide them something that is useful. For this matter let’s take some examples on sites that do this one very well.

JohnChow.com – I know many are despising and hating Chow for putting so much ads on his site, for doing ten paid reviews a day, for having posts not related to making money online and more. But does it make his traffic suffer? how about the comments? Not even close! The truth about Chow’s traffic is that people enjoy him as him! I have seen many video posts of Chow and he’s very hilarious (looks very hilarious)! In this way, he provides ENTERTAINMENT for people like us. Of course, he’s still one of the more established make money online blog. But he does this with a twist! That’s what make John Chow’s blog grow!

JackBook.com – Well I am sure not many of you know this site. But I think it’s a popular one! Jacky Supit, the owner is a Malaysian blogger. Upon looking at his blog you can count on  both of you’re fingers why you will not like his site so much. Plenty of ads, lack of value of posts, atrocious grammar (worse than mine), an ugly tagline of “a master of blogger”, a 728X60 advertisement at the top of his header and doing reviews about casinos! Yeah, I don’t really much comment on his site. So why there are about 50,000 people following his site? Because he provides things! He converts wordpress themes to blogger for free, he shares his hacks to blogger blogs, he let people scorn at him, he’s very generous with most people and many more. That’s because he started with Blogger and then later moved with wordpress and he’s also a good coder. To count the rate of positives over negatives is just too much. Now, no wonder why many people are subscribed to his feed.

DoshDosh.com Dosh Dosh is probably my favorite blog. It is probably one of the more super duper informative blog about many things. Blogging, Social Meda, Internet Marketing and so. With Doshdosh I know people don’t bother with the anime faces at his blog. Now think if someone unpopular do this tactic. I’m sure people would question it and scorn at it. Also Dosh Dosh has also decreased his posting frequency. I think he’s just posting two to three times a week! Does it affect his traffic? No! Because every single post there is marked with educational and proven tips and techniques (in a formal language) that we could surely apply.

You see, these blogs are blogs that other people can easily think the reverse way what we (I) think of them. But because they have overdelivered with something that is beneficial to us, readers, they remained to be at the top of their niche. At the end it’s not important, how your site looks like, how you hide your privacy too much and even where you came from! It boils down to how you can greatly affect the society, and that is what people will follow!

You and you’re blog, what do you provide to the society? Do you just do it in hopes that you’ll make money from it sooner than later? Or you really have a genuine intention of providing something?

I’m Making Money Online

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Update: I am still accepting sponsors, so if you are godly then you can contact me

Back to the days when I was starting out my venture on making money online, friends usually ask me “What the heck are you doing bro?” I normally respond and say “Im trying to make money online. They didn’t mind and never asked a follow up questions anymore.

So some time early this year and recently I was showing them some checks and moneys from affiliate programs and my records on paypal and that’s the only time they have got interested into what I am doing. Problem is, they ask me now seriously. How did you do it? How are you doing it? How can I do it also? Can I also get rich doing that? I respond by saying “I do affiliate marketing, I promote other people’s product and get paid by commissions”. Then they respond with so many many more follow up questions. Because for them it’s hard to understand technical terms such as CPA, CPL, Adwords, Squeeze page and so. Now I want to ask you guys, how would you explain this to someone who knows literally nothing about internet marketing. I mean when they ask you “How do you make money online and how can I too?” How can you answer them (meaningful answer that would enlighten them and not confuse them) in less than 5 sentences?

Ok, actually this one is a little contest. Everyone is running big contest just to boost their feeds and I don’t want to be the same with them. This one is just a small contest with very small prices (can’t even see them). And here are the prices first:

  • 2 copies of how a newbie could make “$500 a month in affiliate marketing sponsored by Simple Cash Blog.
  • 1 copy of the “Atomic blogging ebook” which I have won in the contest
  • Mega PLR package hosted by Me… 😉
  • Update 3 links for 1month free from Zigtur
  • Adsense Profit Unleashed by Zigtur Again
  • 2 125X125 ads at the sidebar
  • 5 text-links at the sidebar

As you can see I did not even include the price for the prizes. Let the quality do the talking. 😉 You see, just a very little contest that benefits other people and great value of prices. What do you have to do to get points?

  • Answer the question – Obviously this is what the contest is all about, right? This would not benefit me, but others who have very little knowledge of this one. Only 1 answer please. 5 points + 5 to the best answer.
  • Stumble this post – Obviously I was getting very little traffic from social media except reddit so maybe you can help me. 3 points
  • Linkback from this one – 2 points

As you can see I didn’t even include you subscribing to my feed because I know you guys are subscribed. But if you aren’t the best way to give back is to subscribe to my feed. Another way of gaining points also is by signing here (available only to United States and Canada)

That’s it. Everything would be randomized and the higher the points the better the chances of winning. 10 winners will be taken and I will post the result here next week since my exams are pretty close. Goodluck to everyone and happy blogging… 😉

Laying Out My Initial Plans

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Most of the contestants for the blogging idol have already revealed what they are planning to do to gain rss subscribers on the first week. I have read most of it and I can say that they really have a nice plan to gain subscribers. Today I am going to share with you what are my initial plans that I have thought of. Of course writing good content, doing some forum promotions and others stuffs are obvious. My thoughts are a bit of out of box but I think is very very effective. So how do I start promoting this feed? Well I have started doing it offline. 😉 But of course I also had some great plans for online promotion

  1. Begging – yeah I am going to admit this one is a little unorthodox. But so what? I did some statements that would surely touch the readers heart on some discussion sites. Of course I made sure the statements wouldn’t look exaggerating to them. So where did I do it? First is Smorty Forums. I have a pretty good image there as I have helped a lot of people earn (or at least what i think). Another is in the Blogcatalog discussion area. Obviously Blogcatalog is a high-trafficked site averaging about 50,000 page views per day. The problem there is that all members want to take the spotlight so if you had posted there, come back after 2 minutes and you’ll see that you’re thread is already in the second page.
  2. The family and friends – this one is so easy to understand. The great thing here is that the more friends you have the more chances that there are more who will subscribe to your feed. Filipinos are very close to each other and it’s not hard to see why they would do what you requested for.
  3. Using my University – As I have said before I am an officer of an organization in our university. And not that just I am an officer, I also have a huge influence all throughout the org. So the thing would be simple, you’ll ask everyone in the IT and CS department as well as the students to subscribe.
  4. Giving away free stuffs! – Here in Philippines, people hold a lot of bloggers party. And I have a lots of giveaway cards printed that has my feed address at the back asking to subscribe. Now what do I say about Filipino people?

Right now, as the contest goes on I am seeing how little, I mean very little, a bloggers chance are. But this does not stop me from getting motivated! This is a great challenge for me and on how can I improve things that I am not really an expert in. So far I only had a 20+ increase in my feed count but I am very optimistic. How about you? How motivated are you? Well, if you are, then you may like to subscribe to my feed. 🙂

Your Face In Your Blog!

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So today I was reading doshdosh and again I have noticed Maki still not putting his face in his blog. Actually I know so much that Maki loves anime and have nothing against it. However I always feel that having your picture in your blog helps. Well I think I have said last time that blogs represent yourself and most of the times, the content, picture reflects to ourselves. Having your own picture in your blog specifically in the about page helps the readers value your blog more. I think one of the first pages that a visitor would read in your blog is your about page and what would you think he will think upon seeing a cartoon or no picture? Hmm..

I can’t argue with DoshDosh. It’s an established site that has given everyone a great help. In fact it’s one of my favorite blogs (a blog I read every morning). With Maki, he already had set his own standard of putting anime girls (sexy & yummy) and anime pictures in his blog and you can see that the readers don’t bother about it. For smaller blogs, it’s really important to have your face there. In case you’re trying to imitate him or just wanting to be anonymous, I’m very sure you’ll not duplicate Maki’s success. I really really do not see reason/s why you should not put a picture of you on your blog. Just look around, Chow being evil is being punctuated by his picture, Shoemoney has his every friday and almost everyone is proud of their face. And i’m not even talking about being gorgeous or ugly 😉

If you do not have a face in your blog, then how can you interact face to face with them? Or could you tell me why you don’t have a picture of yours and maybe explain your side.

What I Think About Comments

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Another busy week for me. I had to rush everything because I feel so behind with all the projects that we we’re doing and the affiliate products this month had a pretty bad ROI and some mistakes about Adwords. This month by far is the worst month as far as affiliate marketing is concern. So now I am going to share with you what I think about Comments.

As you can see, my blog has been getting some decent number of comments (even though the form was all white before). But what many people do not know is that comments are not usually like the number shown. Oftentimes I reply two to three times to other comments so to say I got 6 comments on a post, the real number only is three. So being a blogger for not so long time I have seen comments that are pretty ugly. Many are just lame, Some look spammy, and few make sense. I don’t really have anything against those comments in fact I am even accepting comments that contain 2-4 words only. But of course I don’t tolerate trolls.

So what about the comments? Most of the time people are forgetting that the real value of comments reflect on the person and/or site itself. Let’s say about 85% of your comments say “nice post”. The common effect here is that you just comment because you want to get commented to and that’s awful! Most bloggers will see it and despise it. And because they don’t like it, the IMAGE of your blog will not be good to those 85% of the blogs you commented! Maybe for others, it’s ok but I’m sure a large percentage will not like it. You are giving your blog a bad name around the blogoshpere. Sure it’s not wrong to say “nice post” but if you do it all the time, then wtf! I see a lot of blogs these days complaining about lame comments and this is just a message that I want to get across everyone. Comments = Your Blog = You!

How about you? Have you established a great presence in the blogging world because of you adding value to other blogs? I want to get your view about this.

Monetization Scheme That Doesn’t Make You Sweat

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Well in my entire life I have always been hearing people complaining that they are not making money with their blogs. In my own opinion that is incredibly impossible. While one may not make a lot of money from his blog, sure he can make even some cents or dollars. So getting back to monetizing, I can agree it’s hard to make a consistent income from blog but then I’m also sure that making money is very possible.

So if you have a blog that exists for a decade now and still haven’t made any money, my dear this one is for you. I’m surprised that many people do not know this things so I’m sharing it. Remember this will make you money but don’t expect this to make you money consistently. Here we go:

  1. Matched.co.uk –> You’ve probably have heard it already, maybe not. Matched.co.uk is a site that pays you 3 pounds per ad (where’s the pound sign on keyboard?). They oftentimes give up to 5 ads. The ads just look like an adsense ad and you can place it everywhere. The ugly thing is they pay monthly, so you will have to wait, and I know waiting sucks!
  2. Money4banners –> Almost exactly works the same way as the former. It gives a banner and pays you $5 for it. It’s different because the ads are a little lively but is not intrusive. As of now they are very picky with the applicants. If you have a blog as great as mine then you would probably get accepted also. Btw, I am planning to add it after the 468×60 ad from dp expires.
  3. Money4Blogs –> Well this is my favorite one. The only thing you need to do is put a link on your site/blogroll and they will pay you for that. They pay on a yearly basis. The great thing here is the link can be nofollowed. I have tested it in my basketball blog twice. The first link costs $50 for one year. The other one costs $120 for a year mainly because when I applied again my site is a pr3 and 600,000 in alexa. After putting the link they would pay you immediately, I mean really immediately. After I placed the link I went to defecate for maybe 5-10 minutes and then upon opening my paypal account it’s already there.
  4. PayPerPost –> This one sucks I believe. But this is an easy $20 to you my dear! When a blog gets accepted at PayPerPost (even if it’s a pr0 and over 3 m in alexa) you are eligible for the $20 review about payperpost.

So that are the ways to do it. Let me make it clear, I have tried all of those programs and made money from them and I can guarantee it’s very possible you can too. Why do I need to do this? For startup cost. Jason of the University Kid always emphasizes the importance of working for startup costs. And it depends to you on where and how to use it.