portland bloggers back to blogging school presentation

Back to School with Portland Bloggers

Monetizing Your Blog

@pdxbloggers#makemoneyblogging #portlandbloggers

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@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!

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Jacolyn C Wheatley CPARainbow Tax & Accounting

(503) 482-8298Jackie@rainbowpdx.com

When is Blogging A Business in the Eyes of the IRS?

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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

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• 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….

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• 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…..

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• 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…..

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• 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

Thanks!

Recomonk@gmail.com

Recomonk.com

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!