Read the article below and summarize it, using the following format.
Paragraph 1: Summarize the article.
Paragraph 2: According to the article, what makes for the "right topic" on a successful blog? Then explain the other requirements for a successful blog. At the end of this paragraph, identify a particular product that is fairly expensive that you would be willing to write and research on.
Paragraph 3: The author then lists what you should do to create a successful blog. What does he recommend? Comment on each requirement. If you have questions, then ask them in that paragraph.
Paragraph 4: Make this article actionable. Here is what I mean. Create a plan for yourself using the recommendations in this article. Today is June 2nd. Under "Notes" the author provides you with 5 things your should do. Do them. Even if you don't like computers, technology, or blogging, follow his steps. See how far the instruction will take you. You have little to lose. The cost is minimal. The cost in time is a little greater. You've got time. You've got a whole summer to work the steps the author posts. Create a plan today with dates, goals, and steps. Get started in class today. Right now. Don't let $100 bills flow in the streets right past your feet. It's time to start picking up those bills.
.
Here is the article:
In the world of blogs, a lot of bloggers dream of making money, but only a very small handful actually do.
Most blogs never make a penny, and are eventually abandoned by their owners.
Still, some blogs do make money. In some cases, a lot of money.
For example, there are two blogs which are estimated be generating over a million a year in revenue.
According to ComScore, these two blogs are the worlds most popular blogs, and are read by more than 10 million people each day.
Both of these blogs follow the same model of success, have almost identical page layouts, cover the same topic, and generate revenue the same way.
Knowing what they do, and how they do it, can be a pretty good 'model of success' for your own blog.
The two most popular blogs
According to ComScore, the two most popular blogs in the world are:
Both of these blogs are highly successful, attract millions of unique visitors each day, and generate hundreds of thousands in revenue each month.
So, how do they do it?
The Model of Success
Both of these highly successful blogs follow the same model of success, which is:
Basically you create a web site which targets people with money to spend, and write about cool things to spend money on (to attract the visitors and keep them coming back).
Then get advertisers to pay you, so they can reach the audience you have attracted.
Notes:
To be successful with this business model and blogs, you will want to:
Starting your own blog, on your own hosted site, can cost under $30 to start - which can include registering the domain name, setting up the hosting account, acquiring and installing the blog software, and installing themes and plug-ins.
Once installed, your blog can have an ongoing monthly cost of under $15 a month.
Success Potential
There are well over 10 million blogs on the internet, but less than 1% (probably 5,000) that are able turn a profit.
Most of these blogs use the same tools, use similar page layouts, and have similar features, so why do most not make a profit?
My opinion is most of these blogs either aren't trying to make a profit (probably the vast majority), or aren't following the business model shown above.
If you want to create a blog with high revenue potential, start by targeting an audience which advertisers are willing to pay you to reach. Then build the blog that the target audience wants to read.
To read more about the two blogs mentioned above, see http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/16-04/mf_gadgetblogs?currentPage=1
Paragraph 1: Summarize the article.
Paragraph 2: According to the article, what makes for the "right topic" on a successful blog? Then explain the other requirements for a successful blog. At the end of this paragraph, identify a particular product that is fairly expensive that you would be willing to write and research on.
Paragraph 3: The author then lists what you should do to create a successful blog. What does he recommend? Comment on each requirement. If you have questions, then ask them in that paragraph.
Paragraph 4: Make this article actionable. Here is what I mean. Create a plan for yourself using the recommendations in this article. Today is June 2nd. Under "Notes" the author provides you with 5 things your should do. Do them. Even if you don't like computers, technology, or blogging, follow his steps. See how far the instruction will take you. You have little to lose. The cost is minimal. The cost in time is a little greater. You've got time. You've got a whole summer to work the steps the author posts. Create a plan today with dates, goals, and steps. Get started in class today. Right now. Don't let $100 bills flow in the streets right past your feet. It's time to start picking up those bills.
.
Here is the article:
Profits from Blogs: What you can learn from two of the most profitable blogs in the world
Want to generate a lot of revenue from a blog? Use either of these two blogs as your 'model of success', and you'll have a better chance of success. Read this article and you'll understand why.
Most blogs never make a penny, and are eventually abandoned by their owners.
Still, some blogs do make money. In some cases, a lot of money.
For example, there are two blogs which are estimated be generating over a million a year in revenue.
According to ComScore, these two blogs are the worlds most popular blogs, and are read by more than 10 million people each day.
Both of these blogs follow the same model of success, have almost identical page layouts, cover the same topic, and generate revenue the same way.
Knowing what they do, and how they do it, can be a pretty good 'model of success' for your own blog.
The two most popular blogs
According to ComScore, the two most popular blogs in the world are:
Both of these blogs are highly successful, attract millions of unique visitors each day, and generate hundreds of thousands in revenue each month.
So, how do they do it?
The Model of Success
Both of these highly successful blogs follow the same model of success, which is:
- Start with the right topic - Both of the top blogs write about new (and usually expensive) products which appeal to people with money and who are most likely to buy those kinds of products.
By appealing to people who want to spend money on the products written about in the blog, they have a built-in home-run for potential advertisers.
- Make it easy and fun to read - both of the above blogs keep it fun and interesting to read by following a simple layout, including an interesting photo for each blog post, and keeping it post short (usually 3 paragraphs or less). Their mantra appears to be, "Keep it short, interesting, and entertaining"
- Build a Community - each of the above blogs has built a community of dedicated readers by giving them what they want and by allowing readers to participate by posting comments below each blog post
- Update the blog often - to keep the blogs interesting, and to keep visitors coming back, both of the above blogs are updated several times a day.
- Generate Revenue through ads - by choosing to blog on a topic which attracts people eager to spend money on the items being blogged about, each site has no problem attracting high paying advertisers
Basically you create a web site which targets people with money to spend, and write about cool things to spend money on (to attract the visitors and keep them coming back).
Then get advertisers to pay you, so they can reach the audience you have attracted.
Notes:
To be successful with this business model and blogs, you will want to:
- Host the blog yourself - avoid the free blog hosting sites as they will restrict your freedom, your search engine optimization, and your ability to run ads. If you host the blog yourself, you control your own destiny. Expect hosting costs to run under $20 a month.
- Use proven blog software - look for blog software that has been tested over time, has built in search engine optimization, and has plenty of free themes and plug-ins (ie http://wordpress.org/download/)
- Optimize the blog software for success - install the 'must have' plug-ins to help the blog grow faster (ie http://ithemes.com/seven/)
- Use social bookmarking to get the blog 'found' - create blog posts which are designed to attract a crowd, and use social bookmarking to get those posts noticed by the world
- Update the blog often - at least once a day
Starting your own blog, on your own hosted site, can cost under $30 to start - which can include registering the domain name, setting up the hosting account, acquiring and installing the blog software, and installing themes and plug-ins.
Once installed, your blog can have an ongoing monthly cost of under $15 a month.
Success Potential
There are well over 10 million blogs on the internet, but less than 1% (probably 5,000) that are able turn a profit.
Most of these blogs use the same tools, use similar page layouts, and have similar features, so why do most not make a profit?
My opinion is most of these blogs either aren't trying to make a profit (probably the vast majority), or aren't following the business model shown above.
If you want to create a blog with high revenue potential, start by targeting an audience which advertisers are willing to pay you to reach. Then build the blog that the target audience wants to read.
To read more about the two blogs mentioned above, see http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/16-04/mf_gadgetblogs?currentPage=1
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