Portland Bloggers Back to Blogging School Presentation
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Transcript of Portland Bloggers Back to Blogging School Presentation
Back to School with Portland Bloggers
Monetizing Your Blog
@pdxbloggers#makemoneyblogging #portlandbloggers
TWEET! SHARE!
@PDXBloggers
#MakeMoneyBlogging
#PortlandBloggers
@RainbowPDX
@Recomonk
@TCreativeBlogs
@WordSavant
Can I make money blogging?
• “Get paid to do what you love” is possible—but is only part of the picture
• Responsibility and professionalism
• You have something to sell!
–…to a specific audience
Am I ready to make money?
• Professionalism inspires trust
– Appearance
– Organization
– Tone
– Readership
• Look at your blog with an honest, outside eye
– Generic template vs. custom blog design
– Quality, edited photos vs. amateur photography
– Good, error-free writing vs. quick writing
• Invest time, money, or both
• Commit! (Legal responsibility, IRS, and Google)
Who will pay me?1. Readers/subscribers
– Instructional videos
– eCourses
– Recipes
– eBooks
2. Potential customers for your business outside of the blog
3. Companies who want to reach your readers
We will focus on the third group!
6
Jacolyn C Wheatley CPARainbow Tax & Accounting
(503) [email protected]
When is Blogging A Business in the Eyes of the IRS?
7
An activity qualifies as a business….– If it is carried on with the reasonable expectation of earning a
profit– The time and effort put into the activity indicates an intention to
make a profit– The taxpayer depends on income from the activity– Losses are due to circumstances beyond the taxpayer’s control
or they are from the start-up phase of the business– The taxpayer changes methods of operation to improve
profitability– The taxpayer or his/her advisors have the knowledge needed to
carry on the activity as a successful business– The taxpayer made a profit in similar activities in the past– The activity makes a profit in some years– The taxpayer expects to make a profit in the future from the
appreciation of assets used in the activity
8
• The IRS presumes that an activity is carried on for profit if it makes a profit during at least three of the last five tax years, including the current year — at least two of the last seven years for activities that consist primarily of breeding, showing, training or racing horses.
• If an activity is not for profit, losses from that activity may not be used to offset other income. An activity produces a loss when related expenses exceed income.
• Deductions for hobby activities are claimed as itemized deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040).
An activity qualifies as a business….
9
• Blogger received $300 from a blogging project– Is it income? - YES
• But I didn’t receive a Form 1099 for the project– It is still income!
• But I was paid in cash– Same – it is still income!
• Must I report it to the IRS– It depends…talk to a qualified tax professional
Blogging Income – Fact or Fiction…..
10
• Can I write off my new computer?– Yes, to the extent the computer is used for business
• What other things can I write off?– If your blogging is a business – many costs may be written
off– If your blogging is a hobby – costs are limited to the total
amount of income
• Must I report it to the IRS– It depends…talk to a qualified tax professional
Deducting Blogging Expenses – Fact or Fiction…..
11
• Treat it like a Business– Bloggers are “experimental entrepreneurs” but don’t
experiment
• Hire Staff: Visit the Human Cloud– Hire virtual assistants and freelancers
• Embrace Virtual Management– Virtual global resources
• Get Business Advice from a Professional
The Product is Your Blog
BREAKQuestions? Tweet us @PDXBloggers
#MakeMoneyBlogging
#MakeMoneyBlogging#PortlandBlogg
ers
How to Monetize a Free Blog
1. Sidebar Ads
2. Ad Networks
3. Affiliate Programs
4. Sponsored Posts/Reviews/Social Shares
5. Paid Blogging
1. Sidebar Ads
1. Sidebar Ads• Small ad buttons featured somewhere on your blog
• Common ways:
– Individual contact and sale/HTML/PayPal
– PassionFruit
– Adproval
– Skyscraper BuySellAds
– “Ad swaps” and buttons
– Ad networks (#2!)
• Most direct connection with shops/companies
• You set the price!
• Often include extras such as social promotions, posts, giveaways,
roundups…
• Not visible on mobile versions
2. Ad Networks
2. Ad Networks• Connect advertisers to blogs who will host their ads (“publishers”); links with tracking
codes
• Apply to network; apply to work with brands
• Some common ones:
– Google AdSense
– Lijit (owned by Federated Media)
– BlogAds
– BlogHer
– Glam Media
– Rivit – Crafty blogs
– FoodieBlogroll
– Technorati
– LinkShare, ShareASale, Commission Junction
• Tons. Just Google “blogger ad networks” for lists (but often have exclusivity policies)
• Often make it official with W-9s
3. Affiliate Programs
3. Affiliate Programs• Often cost per click (CPC) or cost per sale (CPS); link
with tracking
• Apply to join network
• Common ones
– Amazon
– RewardStyle and ShopStyle
– LinkShare, ShareASale, Commission Junction
– SkimLinks and VigLink (automatic)
– Individual retailers like Shabby Apple
• Payouts vary
• “NoFollow” links (FTC guidelines)
3. Affiliate Programs
Recomonk
One stop for all your reviewed and recommended products
Recommendations + Monk
Do you write product reviews?
Recommend products to your readers?
Prepare holiday gift guides?
Recomonk is not for everyone.
If YES – then you will surely benefit from Recomonk
What can Recomonk do
Makes it VERY EASY to:Organize and Discover your
recommended products
Plus, automatically adds Affiliate links (or use your own)
Giveaway/Contest: Win $500 !
Starts October 2nd, 2013
Install Recomonk widget on your blog1 Extra entry for every blogger friend you signup
+5 entries to bloggers who are here today
Lucky winners: $200 and $50Special Prize for most signups: $200 and $50
4. Sponsored Posts/Reviews/Social Shares
• Post format content about any topic written by you or a company
• Individual – with PR agencies for a particular company or with companies
• Through networks
– SITS Girls/Massive Sway
– SocialSpark
• You get paid AND get free product OR you get paid for an unrelated post (“Sponsored by Kleenex” or Sprint, e.g.)
• FTC disclosure guidelines, “NoFollow” links
• Disclosure—you don’t have to write about it if you don’t like it
4. Sponsored Posts/Reviews/Social Shares
5. Paid Blogging• When you are paid to blog on other sites as an
extension of your brand/blog
• Common ways
– Babble.com
– BlogHer (syndication or original material)
– Huffington Post
– Babyzone
– SheKnows
– Better Homes & Gardens
– Blogs in your content area that are hiring contributors
5. Paid Blogging
5. Paid Blogging
QUESTIONS?Tweet!
#makemoneyblogging @pdxbloggers
How do I start?• Professional blog?
– Appearance
– Organization
– Tone
Okay, great, then…
1. Information for potential sponsors (page)
2. Media kit
3. Join networks and programs, contact
companies
1. Sponsorship Page• Welcome
• Contact
• Optional:– Stats (Google Analytics)
– Shopping cart
– Disclosure/link to disclosure policy
2. Media KitShow sponsors what they’re getting, introduce you to them, and show them you’re professional
• Should contain:
– Site name
– Tag line
– Focus area
– What makes you original? Two sentences or less
2. Media KitsShow sponsors what they’re getting,
introduce you to them, and show them
you’re professional
• Should contain:
– Site name
– Sag line
– Focus area
– What makes you original? Two sentences
or less
2. Media KitsAlso should contain:
• Stats
– Google Analytics
– Social media reach
– Reader engagement
– Google Page Rank
• Reader demographics
– Age, gender, income
– Interests
– How you influence them
• Features
– How will you extend the brand’s reach?
– Print/web/audio/other awards and features
– What’s coming up
2. Media KitsAlso should contain:
• Rates and Options
– Cost per ad size
– Terms of ads, reviews
– Special campaign options, product integration ideas
– Discounts and incentives
• Call to action!
• Setting Rates
– Look at other blogs
– “Industry” standard formula:
– $0.01 per page view per day for a basic ad
– 10,000 views/day = $100 for a standard monthly ad
2. Media KitsMore tips:
• Good vs. acceptable
– Balance info and voice
– Be creative
– Be concise (low word count, one idea per paragraph, sub-
headings, emphasized keywords and paragraphs, bulleted
lists)
– Be clear (policy, disclosure statement)
• Ease
– DropBox link to PDF rather than attachment
– Put in canned response for Gmail?
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-in-labs-canned-
responses.html
2. Media Kits
• Help write summaries that concisely
and accurately describe your blog
• Work one-on-one with an
experienced writer to create content
for your media kit
• Receive guidance to present your
work clearly and persuasively
• Giveaway ($75 value!)
Jane Endacott, Word Savant
http://wordsavant.wordpress.com/
3. Join/Connect/Reach Out
• Research ad networks and apply for relevant ones
• Collaborate with companies who’ve contacted you (get contacted)
• Pitch yourself
Now what?• Try it out
• Establish your goals
– Business vs. hobby blogging
– Make money or get free stuff?
– Promote things you love?
• Assess
– Revenue from each source
– Page views and page rank
– Appearance, organization, and tone
Today’s Creative BlogKim Demmon
@TCreativeBlogs todayscreativeblog.net
Why I Started Blogging
HOW I MAKE MONEY!Side Bar Real Estate
Ads:BlogHerRivitLijitAdsenseTodaysMamaIZEAFederated Media
Media Agencies
Agent - SWAYSocial SparkTap InfluenceMom It ForwardBlue Print SocialOne2OnePollinate MediaCleverGirlsMom CentralGiveawaysAffiliatesAdvertise PalsCollectiveBias
Connect & Collaborate!
Indirect ways:• Facebook & Facebook Groups• Skype Tribes• Instagram• Twitter• Pinterest• Blog Theme Parties• Writing good content
EXPOSURE!
Write for others &Promote Others • Spoonful.com• Shutterfly• Treat.com• Matthew Mead
HOLIDAY
BePR-
FRIENDLY
THANK YOU!More Questions? Tweet us @PDXBloggers
#MakeMoneyBlogging
Thank you to our speakers!
Jackie, Tryon, Pepper, Jane, & Kim!