Comment posted Why All Your Make Money Blogging Efforts Will Fail Without This by Gib@Gibson Goff-The Enlightened Traveler.
Thank you Ana. I appreciate the time you were able to spend on it! Any help is appreciated.
Gib@Gibson Goff-The Enlightened Traveler also commented
- I haven’t figured out the direct ratio yet (it’s very fluid) but I know that I know that I know you have to have lots of eyes on your blog to get accurate list results numbers. 10 people on your list all buying may-or-may-not be as true as 80 out of 100, or 650 out of a thousand.
There’s a lot to balance to get results. I don’t think I can really read a lot into my low starting numbers. BUT I AM OPEN TO SUGGESTION. *hint-hint, Ana*.
Recent comments by Gib@Gibson Goff-The Enlightened Traveler
- Blog Audit Friday: Lend a Helping Hand to Traffic Generation Cafe
Here’s another prime example of a blog where the comments are as important, if not more important than the post itself. I learn every time I visit your blog. And all the great tips from the commenters! I actually feel pretty good right now - my blog isn’t the only one that suffers from technical glitches.I am of course not versed enough in blogging to critique your blog but I will offer my impressions, what I would change -if it was my blog.
It is immediately obvious that this is a professional blog. The header is professionally done, top notch. The coffee cups really class the coffee/cafe theme
up. I remember the time you gave someone the info on where to find them, how-to use them. I like them so much I tried to figure out a way to use them on my blog. But they just didn’t fit.
Layout, sidebars, it all looks great.
The ONLY things I would change would be the sidebar colors and the ‘font balance’, the ‘perception balance’ for lack of a better term.
The colors are easy reading, classy, but the upper area of the left sidebar looks kinda blah to me. It’s OK, but it’s not strong, it doesn’t pop. And maybe you don’t want it to pop, but the background blue and the coffee brown just sits there.
The other thing - and the thing I noticed right away is I think your post font is actually smaller than any other font. Especially the sidebars. And the footer. To me, that says the information in the sidebars is more important than the post itself. Well, of course it isn’t, especially your great info you always put out. So why downplay it?
That’s the ‘balance’ consideration I mentioned. The frame of the blog - this size, this font. The actual informational post, the meat of the blog - a smaller font.
Maybe boost/balance the colors of the overall blog, and boost the post fonts, or all fonts . . .make it all a little stronger? I think it will still be as inviting as ever, your friendly picture and the coffee theme insures that.
I can’t wait to see your final product, Ana!
- Your Ultimate Anchor Text Tutorial - from Basic to Advanced
It also proves the power of ‘buzzwords’ in your writing. If I only used a phrase - for example: “It’s over the top!” on a couple of links, but everyone started saying it, linking with it to my site I would get the PR.Our society loves buzzwords, and initials. Orange County=OC, etc. Now include them in the normal course of writing and someone will pick them up.
And that’s “Over The Top!” - How to Make Twitter More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys
Well put! - How to Make Twitter More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys
Thanks fer askin’, Ana! Here’s the link to ‘I Can’t Tell You How To Be Social, I Can Only Tell You To Be Yourself’:http://www.gibsongoff-theenlightenedtraveler.com/?p=18
I’m working on the whole ‘slug’ thingy (by your direction) but it’s quirky. Can’t get WP or the plug-in to work right. But enough of that! Hope you enjoy the read, and I’d appreciate any and all feedback.
~Gib
- How to Make Twitter More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys
Thanks for the insight, Ana. I gotta tell you, your video proved to be my exception - when I go to a webpage or blog and the first thing that happens is a vid opens requiring me to hang for however many minutes I hit *close*.But because you are so trustworthy and constantly deliver help to others I even put on my headphones and watched the video.
I wrote a blog piece entitled ‘I Can’t Tell You How to be Social . .’ where I examine both sides of the numbers/social/friend issue. I’m not trying to plug myself here, I’m mentioning it because I could see the ‘social only’s’ quickly forming little cliques. “I only talk to or follow [whatever] and delete everyone else”, blah blah blah. And exactly as you say, that doesn’t put new eyes on your blog.
The flip [good] side is that being very careful to not sound like a commercial, out of the blue I’ve gotten some very well know, heavy hitters following me. So that phase of networking is working great! And yes, branding is hard!!
I equate using Twitter as stepping out onto the freeway and trying to get your message heard over all the honking horns. After your review of Lisa’s Blog I started pointing my comments to more LOA blogs. (They could use your help, Ana).
Now I’ll implement your multiple account, bulk postings and ramp up my automation a little more to get eyes to my blog. I remember my excitement when I received your ‘promote yourself’ message. That was very generous.
I’ll pass that generosity along from here on.
Thank you, Ana! I truly appreciate all you do to help others.
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I am a wife to a great husband of 13 years (here ya go, now I have to make changes to this sentence once a year), a mother to a beautiful and, no doubt, genius little girl, and a successful internet entrepreneur. I also devoted my life to Jesus Christ many years ago, and He remains my true priority, focus, and hope.
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I actually have not started with List building yet and to tell you honestly I don’t know where to start. Please help! Thanks!
Emily from Video Avatar´s last blog ..Using Avatars in the Enterprise
OMG I can’t believe the percentages of people who haven’t build a list yet. What’s with all the talk about list building and not everyone doing it? Hmm, food for thought I guess. But anyway, I don’t belong to the category of my list growing in leaps and bounds. Just wish it had grown faster. Now that MBP is here, I’m seriously considering it.
Bryan@Work From Home´s last blog ..Premium Squeeze Page Templates – An Alternative to OptimizePress
I know - isn’t it incredible? We know to do it, yet we don’t..
Let’s see if we can change that in the next couple of weeks.
Tweeted! I’ll blog it too.
Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..73 Posts Published – Have I Seen Your Smile On All Of Them
Thanks, darling, much appreciated!
Hi Ana, I am yet to start my list building campaign and I think it is very important that I should start it ASAP if I want to make money blogging. Thanks for the tips.
Sathish @ TechieMania´s last blog ..Are You Attracting The Right Customers
Now that you are convinced you need a list, Sathish, all you need to do is START!
Ana´s last blog ..Got Traffic So What
Hi Anna!!!
Found you on twitter and I LOVE the solid advice you’re giving bloggers. I’m a SAHM and I’m desperate to provide some income in this “lovely” economy. I have a lot of expertise in things Natural/Organic/Holistic and I’m trying to capitalize on that. I think I found my niche, with my natural parenting blog…but I need to stand out from the crowd. I’m going to continue reading your amazing posts and tweets for assistance in the growth of my business!!
Have a wonderful day, Anna!
Jessica @ Cloth diapering mama .com´s last blog ..This Year in “Love”…
Glad you got to my blog, Jessica - I can definitely share lots of goodies to help you with your business. Stay tuned!
Ana´s last blog ..Got Traffic So What
Hi Ana,
This is a great idea. You’re so right, without a list you have no business! So, this will help a lot of marketers who are struggling with growing their lists.
My list building efforts improved when I started offering my own product and when I started using the Subscribers Magnet plugin.
All the best,
Mavis
P.S. You have a lot of catching up with replying to comments on your blog, Ana
Mavis Nong @ Attraction Marketing´s last blog ..Is Your Blog Repelling or Attracting Visitors It’s Time For Reality Check…
My next post is all about Subscribers Magnet, Mavis
- I love it that much!
Yes, I have about 120 comments to answer as of right now - vacation is a painful thing to do when you run your own business.
any possibility to have subscribers magnet on other platforms (not only wordpress)?
))
Elena´s last blog ..Ricettina con gli oli essenziali per San Valentino!
Sorry, hon - it’s only for WP. Time to migrate to Wordpress?
Hi Ana
Just did the survey and look forward to some helpful hints in getting the list growing faster than what it is. Have only been list building a short time and so far no-one has opted out so those who have signed up must like the information I am providing. However not enough people signing up to maike a huge difference to my fledgling business.
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia@lavender oil´s last blog ..Collaboration- the new buzz word
We all had a fledgling business at one point or another, Patricia.
Sounds like I stuck a painful cord with many bloggers, so I will definitely run with the topic of list building and try to help as much as I can.
I have to admit. I began 3 days ago
))) and put the opt in forms on my sites. And must say: it works. I have seen people signing in from the first day…But I think the real “mastery” is how to use what you write: I have subscribed to some newsletters that are absolutely “unreadable”…people writing long long letters…maybe they think we have two hours a day only to read them.
I think: don’t spam, don’t exaggerate…and it will works.
Elena´s last blog ..Ricettina con gli oli essenziali per San Valentino!
Very good point, Elena - getting subscribers is half the battle.
KEEPING them by providing them with beneficial information is the key.
I am trying to be a part time professional blogger! By that I mean I have a real world business and am also building an on line business since it interests me. This has resulted in a few blogs as of now.
And on one of those (not the one that I have mentioned here) I am trying to build a list. In the last year and a half I have been able to build a list of about 2000 subscribers on it (that is why I ticked the option - List isn’t growing as fast I’d like it to) and I send out one message every week. On second thoughts, I think I should be satisfied with the pace of list building on that blog because the traffic is not very high on it. But that brings me to the next issue - that of the responsiveness.
Some place I read that with a list you should be able to make a dollar per subscriber per month, but that seems a long way of (hence the selection of another option - Have list, but it’s unresponsive).
Some of the reasons for it could be:
1. I do not directly ask my readers to buy a product - the affiliate links are within the text (I don’t know if that is right or wrong - though my blog has a disclosure that the links are affiliate links and I may be paid for any purchase that they make).
2. My audience is not looking for solutions - but then why would they subscribe to the blog in the first place?
3. They do not have the money to buy - how do I get to know that?
4. Most of them are from one country - India - though I don’t know how it could result into an unresponsive audience. But having said that I find it intriguing that ALL purchases made through affiliate links have been made by readers who are outside India.
5. The niche is not good enough – I don’t think so – it is a blog on career and personal development.
6. And one very big reason could be - the percentage of people who open emails is very low (just about 5%). This is true of most emails – from the first in the sequence to the later ones. And thus quality of content may not be the issue.
I will be coming back here to read what you are your readers have to say about list building in general and about my issue in particular.
Best regards
Sanjeev
Sanjeev Sharma´s last blog ..Corruption of the every day variety is more dangerous
Hi, Sanjeev - I really appreciate you taking your time to go into details about the issues you are having with your list.
Your comment is a bit long to address here, but I’ve got a better idea - I will write a blog post based on it!
Thanks for reminding us that without a list of email subscribers, you really don’t have a chance to succeed at blogging/making $ online.
I have a nice giveaway (eBook), that I need to promote more. At present, the only places it’s featured is prominently in side bar, and nav bar.
I’m also guilty of not being proactive in terms of sending out monthly newsletters…I will get out my schedule and do this immediately.
Next newsletter going out Wednesday 2/16/11.
Thanks for them tips, Ana!
Linda @talktherapybiz.com´s last blog ..Hey Mom and Dad-I’m Gonna Be A Teen One Day!
Hi, Linda - just got back from you blog.
I think your book design and who it’s presented appears too much like an ad. I almost missed it and I was looking for it.
I think this is one of the reason you are not getting more subscribers - they are blind to it.
Something to look into.
Ana´s last blog ..Why All Your Make Money Blogging Efforts Will Fail Without This
Whoa-thanks for the advice, and for taking the time to check out my site.
I will have that changed, and I do appreciate the honesty.
I did follow 3 pieces of ur recent advice:
~Added a Twitter profile aimed at connecting w/#parents since I’m a bit double-niching on blog
~Wrote newsletter last night, and ready 2 send
~I have a more edgy topic coming out for this week’s post, which was inspired by “white glove” post of yours
Thanks, Ana!
Linda @talktherapybiz.com´s last blog ..Hey Mom and Dad-I’m Gonna Be A Teen One Day!
Hey Linda, I noticed your “click to learn more about it” button was very hard to see, and looked like part of your book cover. I went ahead and made you an ecover using your design on one of my action scripts. Maybe it will help increase conversions. Also, your book cover should also be clickable. Anyways, heres a link to both a .jpg and a .psd file for you to use (if you want). It’s ok if not. It only took me a couple minutes to make
Ana, I hope this is okay…
Both files are in this directory…
http://www.photoshopactionscripts.com/linda
-Ben
Wow, way to step up, Ben!
I do agree with your pointers - what do you think, Linda?
Ana´s last blog ..How To Write Titles With Teeth
I haven’t figured out the direct ratio yet (it’s very fluid) but I know that I know that I know you have to have lots of eyes on your blog to get accurate list results numbers. 10 people on your list all buying may-or-may-not be as true as 80 out of 100, or 650 out of a thousand.
There’s a lot to balance to get results. I don’t think I can really read a lot into my low starting numbers. BUT I AM OPEN TO SUGGESTION. *hint-hint, Ana*.
I am working on it, Gibson.
PS I did take a look at your blog a while ago, sorry forgot (or got too busy) to let you know; couldn’t figure it our either. I think you might also have a bigger problem than that. I’ll get you in touch with someone who can help you - will email you.
Thank you Ana. I appreciate the time you were able to spend on it! Any help is appreciated.
Great points, we will ALL get better results by working together as a team!!
Elle Billias´s last blog ..Does Your Online Marketing Blog Conform to The “Z” Layout
Definitely, Elle!
Ana´s last blog ..Blog Traffic Challenge- Did You See My Glove Laying Around Here
Hi Ana,
List building is relationship building so it stands near the top of Must-Do activities for a blogger. I neglected it to my detriment. First because I didn’t feel like paying for a service, then even after I found out about Mailchimp I didn’t feel the effort of learning how to set up my campaign was worth it. That was a No-No that I own.
If you’re a home based entrepreneur I suggest starting a list from day 1. Trust is generally established over a series of days, weeks, months. Building a list can shorten this time for most because your subscribers receive a steady flow of your top notch content delivered directly to their inbox. Seeing great supplied by someone on a consistent basis makes you say “I like that dude, or dudette” and that’s pretty much the beginning of the money making process.
1 - Like what person has to offer.
2 - See what they have to offer over a period of time.
3 The person grows on you, you decide you really like them.
4 - You are willing to pay for the person’s product or service because you trust them.
The real action verb here is “trust” and that’s what list building is all about.
Thanks for sharing your insight Ana. I look forward to the results of your post. Have a powerful week!
RB
Ryan Biddulph´s last blog ..Why the Need to Be Right Can Destroy Your Home Based Opportunity
So true, Ryan:
Like the person = like their stuff
But it all begins with “Hi, I am Ana and here’s how I can benefit your business”.
Ana´s last blog ..Why All Your Make Money Blogging Efforts Will Fail Without This
I soooo need help in building a list. I have a great book given away with sign up but seems like no one is interested, lol.
I am IN!!!
Brankica@How to build a blog´s last blog ..Amazon Kindle for bloggers Why you should have it
Great, Brankica - I already have a ton of idea brewing on how to make our list building work better.
Ana
Ana´s last blog ..Blog Traffic Challenge- Did You See My Glove Laying Around Here
Hi Anna
I am a little surprised at how many bloggers have not started building a list yet, but not that surprised if I am honest, because I find a lot of bloggers, and I dont mean this in a bad way, don’t have a good knowledge of marketing techniques such as list building.
My list was growing slowly and I worked on my conversions and with the same amount of traffic (which is not a huge amount I may add) I increased my optins from around 2 a day to 10, which was excellent I thought.
However I am not focused on the numbers on my list as such, but the relationship as you stated, providing value is MUCH more important than list size.
Alex.
Alex Neill @ super affiliate´s last blog ..Monetize Your Blog And Get Free Targeted Traffic – Part 2
Good morning, Alex:
I think the problem is that so many bloggers dive into blogging without having any idea why and what the purpose of it is. And you are right, they don’t take time to learn first.
I would go for slow and quality anytime over quick and unresponsive.
As a matter of fact, I need to make some changes in the way I build list and move more towards quality, like double opt-in.
Ana
Ana´s last blog ..Blog Traffic Challenge- Did You See My Glove Laying Around Here
Hi Ana
Yes double optin is a must, especially because of the can spam law, I know many people who use single optin because they feel they lose out on more subscribers, but really, if you use double optin you are doubly sure that people TRULY want to receive your emails.
Alex.
Alex Neill @ super affiliate´s last blog ..Monetize Your Blog And Get Free Targeted Traffic – Part 2
Is double opt in confirming the subscription? (yes, that is how much I don’t know about this)
Brankica@How to build a blog´s last blog ..Amazon Kindle for bloggers Why you should have it
And I actually have it set up on mine, lol….OK I am all ears about this list building action
Brankica@How to build a blog´s last blog ..Amazon Kindle for bloggers Why you should have it
Wow I just voted and can’t believe the stats on how many haven’t started building a list. Unreal.
Each site I have (regardless of type), which now number 8, has an email list set up with some type of lead magnet (ebook or e-course) and up to a 30-day autoresponder.
I think it’s very important that no matter what type of site you have, as you mention, you gotta have a list.
Robert Dempsey´s last blog ..What Does It Take To Be A Full-Time Affiliate Marketer
What surprised me even more, Robert, is how many people said that their list is growing by leaps and bounds.
I think I should’ve defined that better. 
Yes, sounds like we’ll need to start with the basics of list building!
Ana
Ana´s last blog ..How I Generated 415 Clicks in 1 Day with Traffic Interviews
In the traditional sense my list isn’t growing by leaps and bounds (compared to the percentages that others claim) however it’s growing very nicely and the unsubscribe rate is very low. So that tells me my efforts are effective. I was torn in how to answer that one, but I agree it sounds like the basics are in order. Perhaps more videos? I do enjoy your videos.
Now get back to vacation!
I used to be for quantity, but now I realize how silly that was. Newbie mistake!
By the way, I was away from internet for 2 days and now have over 100 emails and 120 comments to answer. What would’ve happened had I taken the entire week?
Ana,
I think this is a great idea and will help out some who really don’t know how to build a list. I honestly think that most people especially if you have gone through the trouble of building a blog already know how to build a list.
I think the problem lies in actually doing it. Correct me if I’m wrong but list building via a blog requires finding out what your niche wants and then putting valuable, engaging content in front of them consistently, and I believe that this is where most of us struggle is with being consistent and engaging for long enough to establish trust within our niche.
Thanks for sharing,
Roger
Roger Holmes´s last blog ..What To Look For In A Home Based Business In 2011
Hi Roger - if you’re having trouble figuring out what people want do what Ana did and ask. The people that are really interested will respond. You can also try different lead magnets based on the comments that you’ve received on your posts.
Look at what people have responded to the most, expand it into an ebook, and offer that in exchange for the email.
The technical aspects of putting the thing together is the easy part.
Robert Dempsey´s last blog ..What Does It Take To Be A Full-Time Affiliate Marketer
Robert,
Thanks a million for your input, initially knowing what people want wasn’t my issue (or so I thought until I sat back and thought about your response). You have quite possibly solved a problem for me. Again thanks so much for the response. I really appreciate this community for all the value that’s often freely given to help others.
Roger
Roger Holmes´s last blog ..What To Look For In A Home Based Business In 2011
Good morning, Roger:
Actually you’d be surprised how many advanced bloggers have no idea how to build a list or are building one, thus the point of this post.
I actually know of many blogs that don’t offer anything of value for someone to sign up, just a promise of a newsletter.
The tricky part, as you rightly noted, is in staying in touch with your list and knowing what to say, how to mix in the offers and such.
I think that’s one of the reasons bloggers don’t do it - they don’t know if they can keep up with the list.
@Robert - great input, Robert; thanks for your help (do I see an ulterior motive here?
Ana´s last blog ..Website Traffic Generation- Practical Secrets To Getting A Lot Of Traffic
The success of your list mailing efforts depends on many facettes, for example also on the delivery date. If you are sending the mailing on weekends, where no one is home or shares time with their friends and family, chances are that your mail is hidden under a bunch if trash mails come monday morning.
I found the best delivery dates are during the week from tuesday to thursday.
I think this depends on the niche. On my freelancing site I get a ton of hits on Sundays. But you never know until you try.
Robert Dempsey´s last blog ..What Does It Take To Be A Full-Time Affiliate Marketer
I agree with Robert on this one, Andreas.
Sundays are usually the days when people “catch up” on things and sending a quick email with a great tip or even a quick inexpensive offer worked great for me.
My open rates on Sundays are the same as during the week.
Ana´s last blog ..Blog Audit Friday- Perfect Niche Needs Perfect Packaging
Alive and listening. Thanks for helping me kick the brain cells into gear on this Monday morning! Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day, too!
Thanks, Laura, any time!
And hope you had a great one as well…
Ana
Ana´s last blog ..Got Traffic So What
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