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Recently Guy Kawasaki interviewed Darren Rowse, publisher of Problogger. While I found Darren’s interview refreshing and direct. I have to take exception to a statement made by Guy in the very first paragraph of his interview.
For most small businesees, making money directly from the blog is unrealistic…
I have to disagree and I think Guy Kawasaki is wrong in making such a statement. And I firmly believe he does a disservice to those business considering a blog as a marketing tool by making such a statement.
Monetizing a blog with ads and other items is not the only way to make money with a blog. Providing a paid for membership site on the blog and charging for an e-Zine is also not the only way to make money directly from a blog. Business can actually make money from a blog.
Darren mentions 8 items that are a benefit of blogging to a blogger. And I and others have mentioned them numerous times too. They are:
All great benefits of blogging for a business. And they all can lead to making money for your business too. Blogging, if done right on a consistent basis. Where you provide relevant, up to date content to your readers. And maintain the blog and keep it up to date, will bring you direct income too. When I was working full time in my professional service firm, a law firm, I used a blog as my only print, Internet and targeted marketing. I made it a point to provide up-to-date, relevant content. I made it a point to engage my readers. And I encouraged them to get in the conversation about the topic. By doing that, and by taking advantage of all of the items listed above, I was able to get potential clients to contact me directly to hire my firm to handle their needs.
True, I was not receiving a check from Google Adsense or some other affiliate marketing firm. But, I was receiving fees as a direct result of my blogging efforts.
Don’t discount the impact you can have on your firm, home business, or small business’ bottom line by using a blog to market your business.
I am available to visit anytime about blogging. Drop me an email at grant@g2webmedia.com and we can set up a time to talk.
I am Grant Griffiths and I blog and co-own a blog consulting and design firm.
I started my first blog February of 2005. My first blog was a blog I used to market and promote my family law practice. And blogging soon became my only form of written advertising. What I also discovered was that blogging is one of the most effective marketing tools available for the small business, home business and professional service firm. In fact, I was am so sold on the effectiveness of blogging, that I am co-founder of G²WebMedia.
I think that when Guy is talking about blogs as money makers, he’s putting them in the category of the kinds of portal websites that were popular in the early days of the dotcom era. In that regard, he is right, because most blogs today will not experience the type of success (albeit fleeting) of an etoys.com or petfood.com
On the other hand, if you regard blogs as an alternative to marketing or advertising, well then yes, people will make money off them just as they make money off a Superbowl commercial or Yellow Pages ad. Do people make money off those forms of advertising? Yes - they get business or sell products, just as they may do with blogs.
Carolyn- While that may be true as to Guy’s position on blogs. His comment does not come out that way. That is why I felt it necessary to voice my concern. There are those who will listen to what he says and consider it gospel and for him to say a business can not make money with a blog is misleading. You can make money as I have shown by getting clients directly from blogging. Yes, I agree it is harder and harder to monetize a blog to make money off of ads and affiliate links. However, that is not the type of “making money” I am discussing. I wish Guy would have been more clear on his statement and not just come out and say what he did.