Blogging for money is a business and goes beyond fresh daily content on your blog. Latching on early to trends is a sure way to grow your blog income. Taking full advantage of those trends may actually require an investment – the hard dollar type. Here are some of my random thoughts on the internet, blogging and trends.
We are fortunate that in the world of the internet you can actually start a business with the most affordable investment currency of all: time. But time is helped along immensely when it’s given tools to work with and good tools often come with a price tag.
To that end, I’ve been watching to see if I can spot some trends that are happening in the blog world and which tools might best aid you and me in our blog income business. I base my observations from the daily offers that flood my inbox, newsletters and other blogs on blogging. Here are five of the most obvious trends I have noted:
1. Pre-built Niche Sites:
This is not a new trend but it seems to be the business model of the year and still picking up speed. There are variables but essentially what you buy into is a researched niche that has income potential. For a fee the supplier will set up a site, fill it with content, monetize it for you and run it on their platform which includes access to their proprietary software program loaded with SEO. The initial cost is usually around the $250 – $450 mark and then there is an ongoing monthly fee of about $97. It is important to remember that although this is a “done for you” system, it is not a done for you business. Once it is all set up, you need to work at it on an ongoing basis.
2. Membership Programs:
Again not a new model but as with pre-built niche sites this one seems to be gathering steam. Usually this is a continuity program after you have bought the main course/system. The premise behind membership programs is that the author/expert of the main product will continue to give important business building secrets to those who opt in for the membership option. This can be in the form of newsletters, password protected entry to new online material as well as the opportunity to interact with your colleagues on password protected forums. The cost of belonging to membership programs swings wildly, from as low as $1.95 to typically $97 per month. Financial membership programs are significantly higher.
3. Software Programs:
Seems to me like this one is a biggie. There are plenty of good “systems” courses available on the market to help you get started in internet marketing. The challenge we all face once we have our online business up and running is to implement efficiencies, to spend less time in the business and bank more money. One solution is software programs. I personally know of several high profiled internet marketing gurus who are in the throes of developing software that cuts time while increasing performance.
Unlike systems for success, software for success takes much longer to develop, often years. I think that the new year will usher in many software program launches – newer versions of existing ones or something completely new. Typically, access to software programs is either a one time purchase or via a membership monthly fee. Again the fees vary.
Some software programs are released while still in beta. The advantage is that these are offered at an introductory price. If you like what the program does then you can purchase or subscribe at the initial price which is bound to increase as the product progresses. Purchases typically include all upgrades, while subscription based programs are locked in at the introductory price.
4. Big Sites:
I am beginning to see hints that we’re going to see more and more big sites. As niche sites are going to become increasingly competitive due to the daily thousands who flock to their computers and the internet with the purpose of making an online income, the big site will take on a newly prominent profile and importance.
Big companies already have these and those with the capital will be able to throw these up in little to no time. What this means for people like you and me though, is that we will have to rely on that good old currency called time and put in a lot of sweat equity to boot. Suggestion: continue with your small niche marketing, and start a long term project with a big site in mind.
Ewen Chia who does offer built-for-you niche sites also alludes to selecting more competitive topics and marketing the living daylights out of them. John Reese too has some strong thoughts and ideas on this very topic. Do I smell “launch?” You bet I do.
5. Good Content:
The concept of purely publishing search engine directed content on your blog is passé. Well written, informative content is going to win hands down every time over keyword stuffed content with little thought of its value to the reader. Those bots are getting smarter all the time and may even penalize you for obvious keyword stuffing with no redeeming value to your readers.
I am sure there are other trends out there. What have you spotted in your daily rounds on the internet world? What trends are you planning to implement into your blog income business? Post your thoughts and comments below.
To Your Awesome Blog Income Life!
Valentina
Are trends cheesy?
