Welcome Back To My DoFollow Blog! I’d Like to Extend a Big Thank You to You and Give You FREE Access to my “101 Ways to Connect for E-commerce” Report. Discover NEW Key Ways to Reach Your Audience! ~ Christine Brady
So you’ve set up your blog, optimized it in every way you know of and now you wait for the big bucks to roll in right?
Don’t hold your breath here, you might not like what you are about to hear…
Simply having a blog is not going to turn you into a millionaire or even a thousandaire. In all actuality, your blog costs you money, not makes you money. What, costs me money? Yes, it’s an expense! Let me explain -
Blogs and Real Estate
Blogs, in their entirety, are a lot like real estate. Actually they are real estate. (Spending 3 years as a writer and assistant to Realtors lends itself well to real estate references 
) This a point for any website owner though.
Your blog may be your little corner of the web. And if you own your domain, a point I’ve referenced here and here, then you own your “property.” What you do with it is your business. You can create a video game site or a porn site, the opportunities are endless.
But whatever you do with it, it still costs you money. Real, physical property follows the same principle – a house costs you money, no money is made until you sell it.
Fortunately, you don’t have to sell your blog to make money from it, though there is money in that as well, but that is for another time.
The key to making an income from your blog is to start thinking beyond the blog.
Your Front Door
Think of your blog as a house. You invite people over to your house by way of your marketing and promoting. Once they arrive, you offer refreshments in terms of your blog posts and other freebies on your site. You greet all your visitors warmly and invite them to stay and play a while.
They think you are a wonderful host. They want to come over again, but have so many other invitations to fulfill. Not to mention, work, family and other activites – but, they have indicated that they want to join you again.
So, what do you do?
You kindly direct them over to your guest book so they can give you their contact information so you two can keep in touch. You even give them a parting gift they can take with them.
What to do Next
Essentially, what you have done is taken your guests through the front door of your house. Only a few will stay and play. And even fewer will become a part of your intimate circle.
Once they become a part of your circle, you can rest assured that something you did impressed them. Something they discovered in your house made them want to meet you again. Think about this – you now have people you can reach out to anytime you want – keep being a gracious host and you may never have to market or promote your parties again. They will find YOU.
Along with that list of email addresses, you have also been given a business that has the potential of making you a lot of money.
What you do with it will determine how much you make.
If you get email happy and start bugging them, they may not find you as cool as they thought you were. If they only hear from you when you are trying to sell them something, again, they may not like you anymore.
A Sweet Spot
The trick is to find a happy medium, a sweet spot, with your list.
Learn more about them. Engage with them. Connect with them on social media. Find out what they want to know. Surveys are great for this.
Once you discover what your list wants, give it to them. If you don’t have it, then it’s a great opportunity to create it!
Think beyond the blog – your blog is just an opener. You’ll see from my last post that blogging is essential, but your actual business plan needs to focus on connecting with your guests, again and again and again!
Let me know what you do to think beyond the blog…
Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I think the relationship you build with your readers/subscribers is very important. The fact that you engage with them and answer their emails etc. only reinforces that bond…
And as you say – it’s very easy to then send out an email asking your subs what do they want to read about and you can oblige them by putting together a post/free report on the topic they desired.
I think when you start to see that kind of interaction going on you know your blog is headed in the right direction. Your readers enjoy your content, they open your emails, they may even anticipate and wait for your next post. All this puts you in a great position to receive a little back in return:)
Thanks Christine – Have a Great Weekend!
Hi Noel,
Oh yes, the relationship is crucial – and I do think bloggers should be compensated for what they do. And be not afraid to admit it either!
You hit the nail on the head – interaction!!!
Thanks!
Great Post Christine, I loved the way you guided me through your blog like visiting your house. It is a real gift to have people spending time reading your blog and giving comments and I agree it is just the beginning. If your readers subscribe to you blog it is a clear sign your content is giving them some value. To turn those contacts into real connections is the reason why you should keep blogging and always improve your content. Asking your readers about their opinion is a way to build such chemistry between you and your readers.Thnk you for sharing
Anne Egros recently posted..How To Network Like A Pro!
Thanks Anne!
You know, it took me a while to figure out that it is a gift to have readers come to your blog – pushing out content is great, but you have to be overjoyed (and show it) when visitors care enough to read the entire post AND comment.
Thank you very much
Christine I could completely visualize getting the tour of a house that was excellent.
I also like the idea of finding out what your visiters want from you. I am looking forward to the point in my business when I have many subscribers that can help me create products and information that will benefit them the most.
I am finding more as I go that people are looking for ansewers and I am so excited when I can share the knowledge thaat I have. It is awesome to be able to help someone that is where you use to be.
I look forwad to your next post with anticipation,
Brooklyn
Brooklyn recently posted..You Only Live Once?! Can You Believe This Crap?
Hey Brooklyn,
So true – seems like every day presents you with more and more knowledge and skills that can help others. Tapping in to that and actually gathering it all up to share your message is the hard part.
One step at a time though!
I like your house guest analogy. I see a blog as an information hub, and as a way to build credibility and humanize your business. Thinking of it as a home base will really help with the human element.
Karleen
Karleen Harp recently posted..Self-Sabotage: Are you hurting your own job search?
Hi Karleen,
Yes, I think you’re exactly right – credibility is super important – it’s basically all we’ve got!
Glad you stopped by!
You make some very interesting points. I’ll have to read this several times and work on one point at a time.
Jack V Sage recently posted..Orange-Cardamom Pork Chops and Fried Potatoes
Hi Jack,
Thanks!
Glad you liked it, let me know if I can help with anything!
Thanks for the great tips about networking. It is true that my blog is very much like my home…full of photos that i love the most and want to share.
Hi Rebecca,
Glad you enjoyed them!
Thanks so much for visiting
~Christine
Christine: As others have said I also like your graphics, house real estate, front door, house, property comparison to the Blog tips. Such an illustration makes it easier to remember the points made.I’ll share. Thank you.
Hi Joel,
Many thanks!
Glad to hear you enjoyed it – When you reference things you know well, you don’t know if everyone else will see it the same way.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing
~Christine
Very nice analogy Christine.
Coach Mi recently posted..Fear vs Comfort – Which is really holding you back?
Hi Mi,
Thank you, glad you liked it!
~Christine
Interesting and very helpful frame/definition for a blog. thanks for the idea.
Hey Peggy,
Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
~Christine
Your real estate analogy is a good one, Christine. But before they even get to the front door, they have to be at least mildly impressed with the curb appeal. Does the blog look well tended? Is it cluttered with too many sidebar widgets, gadgets and apps? Does the walkway actually lead you to that welcoming entrance, inviting the reader into that front door and into the new relationship with your blog?
Great post, as usual!
Mallie Dein recently posted..Come the Color…
Hi Mallie,
Very true!
I don’t think anyone wants to go to a scary-looking house, right?!
Glad you liked it!
~Christine
What a wonderful way to explain websites/blogs. You used something that everyone can understand to make a topic that (for some) can be confusing.
Good job!
Cindy recently posted..Number One Tip I Got From InfusionCon – YMU Update April 9th 2012
Hi Cindy,
Thanks – glad you liked it!
I like to keep it simple, and that’s a pretty simple explanation!
Thanks for stopping by!
~Christine