« The paid-for podcast | Main | Ambient losability »
February 22, 2006
Blogs and business models
Over at Pro Blogger, Bleeding Edge's efforts to come up with a business model have inspired Darren Rowse - one of the genuine experts in earning money from blogs - to consider some of the ways we might make a buck from blogging.
You'll find it particularly interesting if you're a blogger, or even if you're a dedicated reader who'd like to help your favourite blogs survive.
He's concerned about the possibility that in withdrawing from newspapers, we'll lose the public attention that's built our audience over the years. We're still writing the Bleeding Edge column in the Green Guide, however, and that's always been the major source of our readership, and our radio listener base. We never managed to get more than about 4 per cent of our readership from Razor, which amazed us, because it was pretty popular. Perhaps the link from there to Bleeding Edge wasn't all that prominent.
The other thing is that we've continued to average more than $150 a day from the blog since we started the subscriptions, and the percentage of $50 contributions has actually increased. The number of $15 contributions is now only about 10 per cent. That's remarkable, and while it would be unrealistic to think that we could continue to earn that much on a daily basis, we're pretty sure there is room for growth, if we can come up with other premium content.
In other ways, we've been thinking along the same lines as Darren. E-books are definitely on the cards, and in fact we've been trying for months now to inspire Terry Lane to get one out on using digital cameras. He's a genuine expert on the topic, and an inspired photographer, and we'd LOVE to read his book. And, of course, sell it. So stay tuned.
Posted by cw at February 22, 2006 04:40 PM
Comments
thanks for the update. Glad to see you'll still be in the Green Guide - that's a great opportunity and it's no wonder it converts well.
Good also that the subscriptions are still coming in.
On the e-book front - if you ever do get Terry to write an e-book PLEASE let me know as I'd like to sell it to. If you produce an e-book with an affiliate program that is generous to your affiliates you can make some very good money. I know of two digital photography e-book writers (both in Melbourne) who make very good money from e-books. I think if Terry did one he and you could do quite well.
Posted by: Darren at February 22, 2006 05:35 PM
"we've been so successful at warning our readers about the dangers of clicking on random pop-up ads that they don't dare to click on anything!"
You've done worse than that Charles. In one of your links re Firefox extensions was a link to the excellent ad block. It removed all the google ads from your page. You'll be pleased to know I used the toolbar to exclude the blocking from your front page and subpages!
CW: THANK GOD, Tony!! Yes, we have a commercial death wish. We are suffering from seriously over-active ethics.
Posted by: tflip at February 22, 2006 09:07 PM
One problem with Google's targetted ads is that sometimes they not only miss the target but shoot themselves in the foot. Take this gratuitous plug as an example. In it, I rail about how bad mobile phones are. So what do Google's ads come with? Mobile Phone ads.
Because a significant portion of what you do is cut through the nonsense we are being fed by companies such as Telstra or Apple, Google picks up those words and plugs them!
Posted by: Alex at February 22, 2006 09:50 PM
Sigh!! You're SOOOooo right, Alex. As I've written here previously, those Google PhDs are spending too much time doing their laundry in the company washing machines, and eating all that restaurant quality food.
Posted by: cw at February 22, 2006 10:44 PM
Hello Charles,
I agree with you that Terry should be pushed into writing a book. By the way, you have a link to his web site, why doesnt he have one to your site?
Posted by: Barry at February 23, 2006 09:18 AM
Interestingly when you click on the Hot Mac Deal ad it takes you to a page where the special is "No longer available".
Now I know you can't control which ads appear, but that is ridiculous.
Posted by: Cal at February 23, 2006 09:55 AM
Hi Charles,
Was surfing tonight, saw this article and thought of you and your cash flow dilemma... perhaps there is some inspiration here?
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/01/how-to-build-a-high-traffic-web-site-or-blog/#comments
I think your website passes the test in terms of providing original content and a genuine desire to help others. Keep it up and the eyeballs/subscribers will come.
PS - please send me account details to become a paid up patron/subscriber.
Cheers,
Luke P
Posted by: pengers at February 24, 2006 12:59 AM
It's all clear to me now. It came to me whilst just reading the online version of the HS and seeing the omnipresent visage of 'Super Journo'
Forget about business models and all that stuff
C.W. The way to journalistic fortune is simple. Write extreme right wing diatribe [no research required], do paid personal appearances, then write a book about yourself. Go for it C.W!!!!!!
Posted by: Stuart at February 25, 2006 11:29 AM