Hi Brain and Happy Monday!
As you can see... this is not Friday (when my newsletter is normally delivered).
I decided I would much prefer to get the week off with a BANG than just review
what already happened... so from now on Monday mornings you can expect
the Wahm Way Newsletter in your in box. :)
This week I'd like to talk about monetizing your website.
I've recently gotten some emails with questions about monetizing. Here's some
things I think are important to note.
1. You've got to have content on your site if you're going to monetize.
Your content is the foundation of your business. Without a foundation you can't expect
to build something solid. I'm not saying you have to have 500 posts on your blog before
you can monetize, but there's got to be some meaty stuff for people to dig into ~ to
get a feel for who you are, and give them a reason to want to come back.
Whatever type of monetization you do... chances are they aren't going to buy the
very first time they hit your site... so good content keeps them coming back and
giving them exposure to whatever it is you're doing to make money.
2. You CAN monetize your passion, no matter what the topic. (and I think you should)
Your time, energy, expertise, knowledge... they're all worth money. I personally think
it's silly to spend time and energy on a site without thinking about getting a return on
your investment...
No matter what your passion is, there's always some way to offer something in
return for some dollars. Someone made a comment on my recent interview with
Lisa Leake from 100 Days of Real Food, asking if she was making money, or if it
was just a passion project... I think they should be one in the same.
3. Sometimes you have to think outside the box to come up with ideas
Depending on your passion or niche you may have to think outside the box to come
up with monetization strategies. Clickbank info product just might not be a good fit
for you if you're talking about eating real food. However, I recently found a program
that helps people earn free groceries and that would be an EXCELLENT fit. In fact,
I think it's going to be a great fit for It's a Wahm Life, and some of my recipe sites. I
think it would be an excellent fit for anyone in the cooking, money saving, coupon,
"mom blogger" niche.
While it's not just a one off sale I get commission for, I foresee it being a very
lucrative new income stream. In the past I may have blown this idea off,
because I was looking for something simple I could just stick on the sites and
walk away from. However, I'm starting to identify some of my beliefs around the
"passive income" myth and that's helping me open up to new/bigger possibilities.
4. Make sure your monetization is an exact match to what you're doing on your site.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure you're offering services, products, ads that are
an exact fit for what you're people come to your site to read. If you're talking about
eating real food, don't advertise about 5 minute dinners from a box ~ it isn't congruent
and your readers will feel "off" about your monetization and they may question you, and
your credibility.
5. Sometimes making money happens OFF your site as well.
Sometimes we get so focused on monetizing our sites, that we forget there are other
opportunities to bring in some cash from places other than our blogs. :) I had a
great guest post last week from Allie of Ramblings of a Wahm explaining
just what the heck is Swag Bucks.
I'd been hearing a lot about it, and wanted to know more. It looks like it would
be a perfect way to make a little money ~ especially for those people who end
up spending a bunch of time playing "bejeweled blitz". :) I hear on Swag Bucks
you can play games to earn points... which translates into dollars. ;)
If you have questions about how to monetize your site, or want to brainstorm about
how you can start or start to do it more effectively please stop by the Fanpage, and we'll
talk about it!
If you'd like more intensive (personal and private) help... you're in luck there too.
New "Coaching" Program!
I'm opening a new "coaching" program ~ I hate the term coaching program, but at this
point I haven't come up with more appropriate terminology. Anyway...
It's going to be a 5 week program... We'll meet the first week to brainstorm together
and create YOUR personalized program around whatever it is you want to work on.
Then each week we'll meet on skype or the phone for 45 minutes to work on a
specific element of your business. I've kept it intentionally open so we can design
a program that works for what YOU want to work on at this point in your business.
The program is going to open next month (and will be quite affordable).
I'm looking for 2 highly motivated people to do a test run with me. It won't be free,
but it will be at a discounted rate (around $150). So if you think that's you... please
hit the reply button and send me an email so we can get started.
I'm seriously only taking 2 people for this test run so I can work the kinks out before
I open this program to the public.
Another new thing...
Community Blog Reviews.
Yep, I'm going to be offering personalized video blog reviews (soon) but I am going
to also start a community blog review post twice a month on the blog. I will of course
give my input, but it will be open to the community for their input as well.
This is going to be a HUGE opportunity to see how other people see your site.
What they think when they get there, and what they think you might be able
to do differently to better meet your goals.
If you'd like your blog to be featured (which could mean a lot of traffic) :) please
send me an email with the link to your blog, and one or two goals you're working
on that we, the community, could focus on for suggestions. :)
woo hoo... lots of new and exciting things coming!
It's funny because last week I felt "off". I wasn't having a great week. I ended up
watching way to much bad TV, and was just fighting the inevitably "ebbs" that
happen in online business. I finally realized you can't fight the ebb to get into
the flow... and with that realization a big space opened up. (which was almost
immediately filled with some great ideas!) YAY.
It's so important to listen to your inspiration... to do things your way, to take
advice from "gurus" or people who are a little farther along in their journey but
do NOT take it as gospel. You have to do what works for YOU... it's your
business. You don't want to become another cookie cutter blog by following
someone else's blueprint. Sometimes you gotta look at what other people are
doing and just do the opposite. :)
Get out there and BE yourself this week... Be Bold, and Fun and Crazy.
Try to do one thing this week you never would have thought you would do!
Have an awesome week, and if you need anything, just hit the reply button.
Jackie Lee
www.ItsaWahmLife.com
www.InternetMarketingforMommies.com
648 W 90th St South , Wellington, Kansas 67152, United States
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