portland bloggers back to blogging school presentation
DESCRIPTION
The slides from Portland Bloggers' Back to Blogging School, an event held in Portland, OR on Sunday, September 29, 2013.TRANSCRIPT
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!