Blogging for Bucks: How Your Startup's Blog Can Bring in Cash

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

Blogging brings in a lot of benefit.  Not only do blogs direct potential customers to a startup’s site, but they can also help sell a product, inform readers about a service, or act as a megaphone for thoughts and opinions. 

But did you know that blogging can bring in the bucks too?

It’s true.  If done effectively, blogging can generate extra cash for your startup.  And when you’re first starting out, any money is better than no money at all!

Many startups may already have an established blog (but if you don’t, be sure to read this article before you get started: The Blog Brawl: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Enter the Blogosphere).  Blogs can be easily set up through sites like Blogger, Wordpress or even Joomla. 

Once your blog has been created, generating interesting and consistent content is key.  When you write about topics that people are interested in reading, more users will visit your blog.  And when more users visit your blog, you have more potential customers in your market.  With patience, a blog can bring in thousands and thousands of viewers a month (or even a week!)—and that’s a lot of potential new customers. 

Once your blog has built a strong readership and is well-received by the public, it may be time to look into generating blog bucks.  But how?

1.  Blog Ads

Blogs can make money through the display of advertisements.  Many bloggers use Google AdSense, a service that pays based on how many readers have clicked on a blog’s advertisements (and it’s free!).  Other bloggers use CPM-driven tools that pay by the total number of impressions the advertisements receive.  For this, a startup can use ContextWeb, AdClickMedia, Adbrite or Adify. 

If you’re interested in taking your blog advertisements a step further, look into BlogAds.  BlogAds hook bloggers up with would-be advertisers and levies a commission in return for ad placements. 

The biggest concern that most startups have about advertising on a blog is that the advertisements will not match up with the blog’s theme or topic.  But tools such as AdSense account—the service pinpoints certain words in the blog so that the content matches the advertisements. 

2.  Direct Ad Sales

Selling space directly to advertisers can be a challenge, but it is possible!  With a highly-accredited blog, many advertisers may want to “buy” space on your blog, much like a newspaper or magazine.  Find services and products that tie into your niche market in order to place direct ad sales on your blog.

3.  Affiliate Programs

Blogs can serve as a conduit between readers and online sites that offer goods and services.  One of the best affiliate programs out there today comes from Amazon.com (Amazon Associates on Blogger).

When a blog mentions or reviews a book, it can link to the Amazon.com page so that readers can buy the book with a few clicks of the mouse.  When people find the book on your blog and then purchase them from Amazon.com, you get paid!

Other companies with great blogging affiliate programs include FlexOffers, LinkConnector, Commission Junction, Shareasale, E-Junkie, LinkShare, ING Direct, Ebates, Perkstreet Financial, Mint.com and Sharebuilder.

4.  Inbound Marketing

Many blogs exist just so that users can shout their opinions and thoughts to the world.  But what about using your blog to generate business?  That’s what inbound marketing is all about.

A startup can expand blog thoughts and opinions by talking about how a particular service or product can create solution or solve a problem.  By providing a call-to-action at the bottom of the blog, readers may feel a sense of urgency to look at your website or call your new startup.  Use effective search engine optimization, link building and keywording to bring more people to your blog—you never know; this could produce more customers! 

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Blogging Issues and the Entrepreneur

WRITTEN BY DONALD R. SIMON, CEO of Simon Business Consulting

For entrepreneurs, social media (which includes blogging) is an innovative way to promote one’s business.  Unfortunately, more and more stories are popping up about bloggers getting in trouble for what they post.  Just recently, a $2.5 million dollar judgment was handed down against one so-called “citizen journalist” for defamatory remarks posted on her blog.  Across the nation, courts have seen a spike in lawsuits associated with social media activities.

Like all journalists and publishers, bloggers sometimes post information that others may not want published.  These may include observations about a competitor’s products, services, management style, quality of work, etc.  Some such remarks are being increasingly looked at as potential violations of defamation laws, infringements of intellectual property, or invasions of privacy.

Defamation is a false allegation of fact that is disseminated about a person and tends to injure that person’s reputation.  The good news is is that truth is an absolute defense to defamation, but it may be difficult and expensive to prove.  And typically, fair comment and criticism is protected, but merely labeling a statement as one’s “opinion” does not necessarily make it so.

Unlike a reporter at a local newspaper, social media enthusiasts may not have the benefit of training or resources to determine the legality of their online activities.  Further complicating matters, most of our nation’s media laws were written for traditional journalists and courts haven’t yet decided how those laws apply to the blogosphere.

In a legal action, courts will look at whether a reasonable reader could understand the accused statement as asserting a statement of verifiable fact.  This means that context is critical!  When examining the blog, a court would likely start with its general tenor, setting, and format.  Next, a court would look at the specific context and content of the blog entry, analyzing the extent of figurative or hyperbolic language used.

But this is what happens after the lawsuit is filed.  The best strategy for an entrepreneur is to avoid costly and embarrassing litigation all together.  Steer clear of potentially defamatory utterances in the first place.  Do not rely on information from anonymous sources.  Finally, provide the targets of defamatory allegations an opportunity to respond.

Don’t let concerns about defamation stop you from blogging.  Freedom of speech is the foundation of a functioning democracy.  But before posting information, observations, or accusations about someone’s products, services, or business, make sure that your comments are grounded in fair and balanced observations based on personal experiences.  Don’t let blogging legal problems sidetrack you from Thinking Big!

 

Written by Donald R. Simon, J.D./LL.M., is president and CEO of Simon Business Consulting, Inc., a firm providing consulting services such as business and marketing plan development, incorporations, intellectual property advising, media relations, franchising regulatory assistance, and presentations on the basics of starting a small business.  Send questions or comments to don@simonbizconsulting.com.  This blog is provided as a source of information and is not to be construed as legal advice or opinion, or to form an attorney-client relationship.  For legal advice, please consult an attorney.

On the 7th Day of Coworking bizperc Gave To Me...

This holiday, bizperc is hosting the 12 Days of Coworking.  For the next 12 business days, bizperc will be giving away awesome prizes in order to encourage entrepreneurs to celebrate the holiday season.  Watch the video above to learn about the 7th day of coworking...and win a free blog post about you and your company!

"Like" bizperc on Facebook and share this video with your friends.  Seven lucky people will be randomly selected to each win a free blog post about their business (a $90 value!).  Think Big Partners has a strong following on its entrepreneurial blog.  If you're looking to get more exposure on the web, this is the Facebook contest for you! 

Want to amp up your new business this year?  Enter into the bizperc Facebook contest and win a free blog post from bizperc and Think Big Partners! 

Good luck and Think Big!

Follow bizperc! @bizperc

bizperc Rewards Entrepreneurs with the 12 Days of Coworking

Whoa.  Now that's collaboration!

WRITTEN BY SARAH SNYDER, MANAGER OF BIZPERC 

Maybe it's the newly fallen snow or perhaps it's the Christmas songs taking over the radio.  Whatever the reason may be, we're in the mood to give.  

So this year, we decided to host the 12 Days of Coworking just for you entrepreneurs looking for a little extra collaboration during the holiday season.

On Thurdsay, December 8, we will start The 12 Days of Coworking.  On that day, our coworking space, bizperc, will be rewarding special holiday give-aways for our biggest social media followers.  Follow bizperc on Twitter, "Like" the coworking space on Facebook and read up on our blog to find out what you can win during the next 12 days!  And keep in touch with us from December 8 until December 23 (business days only) so you have a better chance of winning big!

Follow me! @SarahThinkBIG