» March 31, 2008 in
What is the difference between a popular and unpopular blogger? They both say the same things, however the popular blogger dresses it up nicer with pictures, bullet points, and more useless text.
Sure that is a gross exaggeration and they also get an occasional scoop, but there is some truth to it. Even the top bloggers are saying mostly what's been said already.
Everything Said About Making Money Online Already?
Seriously, there are few original ideas coming out of this space, this blog included.
Not only that, but most make money online blogs have been around long enough that their collective archives contain almost any question you will ever have. (if not there a forum archive has the answer)
So where does that leave a make money blogger and reader?
I reckon a rehashing of old ideas is good for newbies but it's getting a bit stale for old heads.
Maybe joel was onto something with the next internet millionaire and so is Top Affiliate Challenge.
They might not be perfect, but maybe we should start switching towards being more entertainment outlets for topics instead of the boring howto's and do this that most are doing right now?
Also, I think bloggers might have some room to be more of themselves to make their blog unique. Give some opinions. Do some video ;) And get an edge still.
You Don't Need To Be Original (but nobody might notice you)
Of course you don't need to be original to blog, you can be however you want ;) Me too.
Don't get offended though, I'm talking about this place in the blogosphere as a whole. The make money online blogosphere.
Do we really need 10 blogs posting that wordpress updated to 2.5 today? Seriously? lol
Do we really need another blog post saying "write good content"?
Do we really need another blog post saying "what to write when you don't know what to write".
Do we really need another blog post saying "this is how to get traffic".
Do we really need another blog post claiming to know how to win with adsense?
Do we really need more seo nonsense advice when you can just go upload a few pages to google and get any feedback you could ever want?
etc.....
Vanilla Advice Is All You Get
If you are hanging around waiting on me to tell you exactly what search page doesn't have much competition and by simply writing on that topic you will get some easy traffic and some affiliate sales do you?
Do you think chad will tell you exactly what merchants he makes the most money with on what network and with what technique? Doubtful.
Do you think when ian gets a positive roi campaign that he will post a screen shot of it so everyone else can do the same thing and ruin it for him?
Sorry, but specifics are not gonna happen, anywhere. If you find a blog that gives that much detail show me and I'll be sure to duplicate the steps in video here.
Fact is, even the step by step tutorials are really lacking and only give you generic advice like pick an affiliate product (which one) advertise on adwords (how much, what keywords?) etc.
Everything Said About Making Money Online Already?
With all that said I'm curious your opinion. Which way would you like to see the make money online niche evolve into?
Do you agree it's pretty stale and repetitive?
Are we planning to wait until some other niche does something different and then jump on it like a bunch of followers or are we going to do something evolved from where we are now and let the others follow us?
I don't know. Just thinking out loud.
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Terry says on April 1, 2008
It's the result of our own making IMO. There wasn't enough support or acknowledgement given to those who were here and were providing the info. We get what we give. I've seen a lot of really good bloggers move up and away. And now this space is mostly stuck with the rockstars and gatekeepers who fall all over themselves mimicking each others content (and rehashed content and hijacked content without credit).
IMO, the question shouldn't be: Is this all there is to offer, has everything been said? It should be: How the hell do I find a space with a new, more sophisticated market and shuffle my blog over cleanly and without attracting the notice of those who need to be left behind?
And the next question after that should be: And would it be worth it? Would it be supported (both attention to propel the blog forward and monetization)? Because unless you're simply trying to build a name for yourself so you can get $5,000 conference gigs, sell a super jazzed DVD series or get job offers--why are you dishing out the goods?
My current thinking (out loud): I've long trimmed down the fat, I have a small handful of blogs I follow in this space, no A-listers are on it (I'm not at all into videos Mark, but I really like your blog and at least read the summaries). Gently eased my SuperAff blog away from affiliate marketing and currently holding still to wait things out for a bit--and taking time to consider how worthwhile it will be to continue blogging there.
IMO, the make money space for blogging, affiliate/internet marketing, money online space has dive bombed, seriously dive bombed, during the past two years. I'm not saying each and every blog, but the space as a majority. But when you look at what blogs are really hot and smoking (for diggs, links, comments, etc.), you realize what the current reader market is hungry for and is responding to, it really aint encouraging nor is it impressive.
Homebizseo says on April 1, 2008
It may have all been said but I am knew to making money websites and blogs. I am reading hundreds of blogs trying to figure out what affiliate programs to go with. The info I read is not to concise with exact profits so I'm reading through muddied watered down info looking for answers.
Brandon says on April 1, 2008
Yea pretty much.
There's no hidden secret to making money online. Everything has been said. There are many different outlets spewing the same information. The truth is any blog can make money with a good viewer base. And.. the blog doesn't have to be about making money.
I think the best way to make money is to find a niche that really hasn't been tapped into yet. That way you are creating the standard for that type of blog.
I don't blog, but I do believe the most successful bloggers have live seminars that they get paid nicely for. That's where the real money is made. Not on clicks and impressions.
That's just what I think.
Carsten Cumbrowski says on April 1, 2008
Nope, by that standard would be a waste of time to make another movie or write another book, because everything there is about things that happen in life was already written about and a movie made. Right?!
Not really.. It's harder to produce something old/new compelling though, because you don't just have to worry about other writers and film makers today, but generations of them who already came before you.
Turnip says on April 1, 2008
New marketing programs are released daily and somebody has to review them. Reviewing one of them, Entrecard, I stumbled upon my main niche. Now my readers like to know "will this program work well with Entrecard"?
The one thing that separates my site from others in the same niche is trust combined with an honest opinion. Thanks to the millions of A-list imitators, nobody trusts marketing blogs anymore. My content would seem dumbed down to most of you, but non-marketers interested in making a few dollars really don't know where to turn anymore.
Just as there is room for multiple movie and book reviewers, there is a need for multiple marketing blogs. Some are simply schills, while others have built up a loyal following.
45n5 says on April 1, 2008
@terry - great summary, I think the space is still dive bombming ;(
@all - I'm not saying people should quit making blogs, I'm asking if it's all been said already.
by saying to keep writing the same comedy over and over again is basically making my point that all the content is already out there and it's just rehashing it with you own style.
however don't get me wrong, i'm not going anywhere, i can sit and chat all day ;) Just wondering how much of it is really original anymore.
Collin - Feed Flare says on April 1, 2008
Yes Mark everything has been said in some way shape or form. It is very hard to keep posting on the same things day after day so I think blogs now have to be more diverse and cover a wide range of topics.
Like I said in my post yesterday I think there is a huge market still open in video for blogs and the amount of money that can be made is very nice as I am sure you all ready know.
One thing to keep in mind though for the future is there are always more and more blogs starting up so even old conversations become new again. I would not ever suggest people to change anything there doing just find a new way to do it ie video or something else that makes you stand out.
CDFnetworks () says on April 1, 2008:
What a great post. Thought provoking. The new wordpress posts and write content posts do drive me crazy. I think blogs need to move more towards "infotainment" like you are doing. I do have to disagree that everything has been said. There are some topics I have never read about anywhere and plan on touching on eventually. Vinny Lingo says on April 1, 2008
I think a good metaphor for the incessant feedback loop in the world of MMO bloggers is the endless remakes being done in Hollywood. Kind of like what Carsten said above, does the large amount of remakes mean that there are no new movies to be made? No. The situation says more about the lack of creativity in these Rerun Bloggers or their willingness to delve into deeper, meatier topics.
Take a look at Vic from Blogger Unleashed. Granted, he may not be talking about anything new to those in the know. But what he talks about is more practical and more likely to be of immediate use to his readers. There have been a number of comments from people who went from $10 a day to $100 a day by implementing what he teaches. Anyway, I don't want to sound like a shill for Vic. I also appreciate what you do here at 45n5.com.
Tom Beaton says on April 1, 2008
There are always new bloggers and internet marketers popping up. You need to keep things updated and current. It is like dieting and exercise - we all know what to do, doesnt mean we do it. The same advice gets pumped out time and time again, and each time it reaches some new people and some of the old people.
thegeekboys.com says on April 2, 2008
well this is true the reason I choose to blog about makeing money online was because i love the people associaed with this niche even if all the content are not original as long as you make an original site theme and seem to pretty cool with your wording in your content in a sense don't seem boring i think you will do good
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