As I was formulating a plan to implement over the coming weeks, it struck me that others too might find this 'system' helpful. So this blueprint was created to share a step by step method to create a content site, grow it bigger and turn it into profits.
This will NOT happen overnight. Or even next month. But it will soon place you in a dominant position in your niche, and become one of the multiple streams of traffic to your 'money sites' that will be future-proof and search engine proof.
Did I also mention it will be FREE?!
Step #1 - Niche Research
Niche research can be a tough task.
One of the best ways to do this is to look for a problem many people are facing, and then offer a solution. Another is to follow hot trends and better still, be ahead of the curve. A third is to focus on 'timeless' niches like self improvement, dating, pregnancy or travel. One more way is to follow your passion or area of expertise - as long as enough others are interested in what you do.
Some resources that will help you are online discussion forums, chat groups, news websites, magazine sites, and trend watching sites.
After doing your niche research, the next step is to look for the top keywords in your chosen niche. Again, there are a wealth of resources, tools and services that will let you do this quickly and effectively.
Try and get a list of at least FIFTY keywords, popular ones, to build your content around.
Step #2 - Setting Up Your Framework
I like using an integrated framework that has a content management system, an interactive section and a convenient 'relationship building' vehicle - all working together seamlessly.
And surprisingly enough, setting this up is NOT very difficult!
First, set up a blog to be your content management system.
Why a blog?
1. It is easy to set up, even if you are not tech-savvy
2. It is naturally search engine optimized, with a structured linking pattern which ensures each section of your blog is connected so a spider can explore every nook and cranny.
3. It allows simple, effective keyword optimization
4. It does not require HTML coding or fancy programming to get going
5. It naturally encourages updating - on a regular schedule
6. Search engines love them - and so do other bloggers - giving you near instant traffic
7. They come with RSS feeds which allow another promotional vehicle and distribution channel for your content
Convinced? Good.
Next, integrate your blog with your forum/bulletin board. Sounds complex, doesn't it? Not really.
If you have a web host with Fantastico, you probably can install a choice of forums with a single click - not knowing anything about scripts or FTP. I use PHPBB boards, but have heard good things about other choices too. Pick one you are familiar with and like.
Now, how to integrate both your blog and forum together?
See an example of one way I've done it here:
Dr.Mani says... http://www.ezinemarketingcenter.com/drmani-says/
I got the idea (indeed, swiped a LOT of the stuff on it) from Mark Joyner:
http://www.MarkJoyner.name
Essentially, the link at the top of the blog points to your forum. In addition, I also place another link to the forum BELOW every blog post, with an invitation to discuss the article/post. You can set this into the template of your blog, if you know how. Otherwise, simply copy and paste the link into every blog post that you make.
Third, you set up an autoresponder account which you will integrate with the forum and blog.
I use Aweber, because it offers a cool new feature... it will automatically pull content from your blog and mail it out to your email list on a schedule you decide. You can choose to include 1, 2 or more posts, have them inserted into a template that you can customize, and have it mailed automatically or only when you approve it.
What you get, in essence, is an automated email newsletter created from the content you post on your blog!
Then, to encourage your site visitors, blog readers and forum members to join your autoresponder list and receive notifications, you place your opt-in form on the blog and forum - offering suitable inducements to encourage as many as you want to opt-in.
Step #3 - Creating Your Content
I could write a full book on this - indeed, I once did!
There are many different ways to get content. You can create it yourself. You can hire someone to do it for you. You can licence someone else's content. Or you can buy packs of pre-created content (with resale rights, or private label rights) and customize them.
Which route you go depends upon your available resources (time, skill, money) and how you prefer to run your business.
Good articles can be ghostwritten for around $5, if you order in bulk. Packs of articles with Private Label Rights (PLR) are going for varying rates - between $17 and $67 a month for the good ones. All you have to do is modify them, rewrite portions and use them.
Try and focus on creating 'chunks' of content that's optimized for each of your keywords. For instance, create 5 to 7 articles around the theme of your top keyword. Then another group of articles on your next keyword.
Then, put them into their own 'minisite' - and link to them from your blog, forum and ezine!
This way, you create multiple 'keyword rich zones' - each of which is tied in to your main content resource, giving you the best of both worlds... huge content resource on a specific theme, PLUS tiny segments laser focused tightly on specific keywords.
Step #4 - Optimizing Your Content & Blog
The key to profiting from online content is to make sure the resource you are building ranks high on search engines for your chosen keywords, offers valuable content for human visitors interested in your niche, and is regularly updated with fresh, useful content.
Master these 3 and you can't keep the traffic away if you wanted to!
Here are a few tips I use to optimize my blog:
- Create categories and name them with your keywords (Wordpress and Movable Type let you do this)
- Add Technorati tags to your blog posts, and sprinkle your best keywords (ones related to the blog post)
- Place a list of your top keywords somewhere on the blog as a navigation menu - and link each of them to the specific keyword-rich minisite you created (see Step #3)
- Make your blog username one of your top keywords. For example, if you set up your username to be '[Your Keyword] Guide', then every post will have 'Posted by [Your Keyword] Guide' below it - adding to your blog's keyword optimization
- To the end of every post, add descriptive links like:
"Discuss this [Keyword] post on the [Keyword] Forum"
"Share this [Keyword] article with your friend"
"Permalink to this [Keyword] post"
Get creative. There are many places you can insert your keywords for better optimization.
And after you've done this, go ahead and do the same with your content.
Make each post you make on the blog focus on one of your top keywords. By rotating posts around, you can ensure your blog gets listings of all your top keywords over time!
Step #5 - Throw In Money-Making Systems
There are so many ways to do this, it would be too difficult to list them all in this report. My ebook, Blog Profit Ideas Exposed, reveals thirty-three of them.
The most obvious is adding 'Pay per Click' links, like Google Adsense or one of the alternatives. Since your blog will be tightly themed, you'll see well targeted ads appearing across your blog.
Another proven system is to run ads for products or services. These can be your own, or ones you're promoting as an affiliate.
A critical way you can differentiate yourself from the crowd is to do a short 'advertorial' (or endorsement) instead of merely placing a link or banner for the product or service you're promoting. Use a picture, some bullet points highlighting the biggest benefits, end with a powerful call to action, and insert your affiliate link.
When you've created this endorsement box, insert it into the blog template so it shows up across your blog, getting your ad multiple exposures - giving you the highest chance of making a sale.
Step #6 - Kickstart The Marketing
Set up your blog to ping the major services every time you update your blog.
Promote your opt-in list everywhere - in email sig files, on forum signatures, on ezine directories, running paid ads, ad swaps, doing JV deals.
Submit your blog's RSS feed to all the major directories.
Use 'tag and ping' to get listed in social bookmarking sites.
Run your blog roll list - and start conversations with other bloggers.
Encourage visitors, subscribers and forum registrants to help spread the word.
Submit articles to various directories and ezines, linking back to your blog.
These are the most effective, least expensive methods I've used to drive the initial rush of traffic. They should work well to begin with - and then, you can take it as high as you wish.
How It All Synchronizes Together
Sure, it takes some time to set this all up correctly. But when you consider how easily and effortlessly you can continue to manage your 'system' once it's set up, you'll agree it's well worth the effort.
When your framework is in place, here's what you'll have to continue doing:
1. Post a short article or post to your blog regularly, often
2. Well, really, there is NOTHING further to do!
Yes!
Your post on your blog will link to your forum - inviting visitors to discuss it. If you allow comments to be posted, these visitors will also generate content for your own blog.
The discussions on the forum will generate a vibrant community - after some intiial nurturing and hand-holding, of course - which then becomes self-sustaining. (Think about how often you see Allen Says in here, and you'll get the idea!)
The autoresponder system will automatically pull content from your RSS feed and email it to your registered subscribers, providing them with the latest content, and maybe also enticing them back to the forum and blog.
As more and more visitors hit your blog and forum, your list will grow, and more folks see your ads - and soon you'll be making sales.
Throw in viral pass-along systems, and everything grows incrementally - hands off.
Your only 'expense' needs to be on content development (if you don't want to do it yourself). Everything else can be found for free, or at a very nominal cost (not counting your time and effort investment in learning and implementing the technology)... and will quickly become self-financing if your PPC and direct sales revenues grow.
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Just like my earlier 'Goldmine Report'...
THIS SHORT GUIDE IS "HELPWARE"
It's a term I first learned from the late Jim Wilson of www.JimWorld.com - a visionary and one of the most inspiring online marketers I've known and learned from.
It means this - if you liked what you just read, pay for it...
BY HELPING A FELLOW WARRIOR
Any way you like. Lend them cash. Help out with their sales copy. Offer your resources or experience. Whatever.
Jim taught me the principle of helping others first. It has stuck in my head since then, and done wonders for my success online. It will yours too!
All success
Dr.Mani
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11-15-2006, 04:16 PM
Your Blueprint To Profit From Content
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