13 Reasons Why You Need a Blog

Blogging: You're Missing Out!

So here you are. On the internet.

Are you online to make money? If yes, then you most definitely need a niche blog. Most definitely.

I have many blogs for many different things, and here are the top 13 reasons why you need to get a blog to compliment your money-making efforts.

Enjoy!

Your Niche Blog - The Productive Internet Marketer's Dream!

 

Your Niche Blog - (Your very own auto-promoting Niche Blog)

If you have a website and are looking for a way to get more visitors... If you have affiliate products you want to sell... If you have an MLM downline to build... If...

   

Reason #1: You Get to Earn AdSense Income!

You know those Google ads you see on some web pages - including this Squidoo lens at the top? Well, those ads have the ability to earn you money!

Having a blog that doesn't have Ads on it is like turning up to your Prom with no clothes on - it just doesn't make sense.

Signing up for AdSense is too easy. Then you just choose what size ad blocks you want your blog to display. When visitors land on your blog and click on an ad you'll hear "ka-ching" every time they do!

Reason #2: You Get to Call Yourself an Expert

What do you picture when I say: Coke, Nike, McDonald's, or Jack Sparrow?

You immediately saw:

A red and white can containing a cola drink
A swoosh on running shoes
Cheap hamburgers and golden arches
A goofy, quirky pirate of some popular Disney movie

For instance, when someone wants to learn something edgy about permission marketing, the image of a bald Seth Godin springs to mind. What do they do? They Google his name and stop by his blog to learn what his most recent insight is.

Here is where different is better because it helps you stand apart from the crowd. What are you known for? Add your personality or character to your blog and let it help you build a brand for yourself. Who hasn't heard of the Rich Jerk or Seth Godin? You have if you've been in Internet Marketing very long.

Reason #3: Google SEO Hearts Blogs

It's no secret to most of you that the way you get good ranking in the Google is to write fresh, original content on a regular basis. That goes for all types of sites.

Well, isn't that what blogs are best at? Write something newsy, thoughtful, controversial, or opinionated and you'll get noticed in the search engines more easily. This is the secret to having a profitable blog, too!

Reason #4: People Subscribe - an Audience to Pander to!

Blogs are easy to subscribe to - if your blog theme doesn't have RSS built-in, then it's easy to download the plug-in to make it work. Feedburner Feedsmith is one that comes to mind. Too technical for you? If you have a blog set up for you, then your blog will definitely come RSS-ready. RSS is used for many things besides subscriptions, so make sure your blog has an RSS feed!

With RSS your followers can get your regular posts sent to their favorite RSS reader or even sent directly to their email. Best of both worlds! Put your readers in your niche pipeline and make them remember you, love you, and buy from you.

Reason #5: You Can Automate Your Blog Posts If You Want To!

What's better than a static website? A self-posting blog! Did you know there's a super sneaky way you can queue up months of blog posts that post themselves for you - and then even bookmark themselves on the web?

You can write a 'Merry Christmas' message in January and set it to autopost in December... and completely forget about it! It'll be like having your own little robot employee.

It might make you feel like you're no longer needed on your blog, and maybe you won't be if you queue up enough posts - but it'll be a wonderful relief knowing your blog's left the nest and is able to care for itself - you raised it well - be proud!

Reason #6: You Don't Have to Be a Tech Genius to Update Your Blog

Once your blog is set up you won't need any outside help to keep it going!

Blogs are so newbie friendly, really. The typical Internet klutz can keep up with a blog and make changes without any headaches. You have the control like a webmaster without all of the head knowledge of a tech geek. Once set up, you can basically just fill in the blanks and press Publish!

Reason #7: You'll Enjoy More Sales from Your Blog

Make your own (or other people's) products available for sale on your blog. Do reviews of your favorites as they come to mind. Plug your own goods. Of course, you'll need to stick to stuff that's in your niche. Trying to sell dog training tips on an Internet Marketing blog just won't work!

Also, don't forget Amazon.com. If you have some all-time favorite, "can't do without" books, DVDs or whatever, tell your readers about it. Then you put in a nifty Amazon widget.

You can have many sales elements on your blog - banner ads and text links to your products or those you're an affiliate for is just one of many money-making methods you can employ on your blog.

Reason #8: You Win the Congeniality Award!

Your customers trust you more when you have a blog - they say you're committed, consistent, and reachable. Take a bow and smile - you're loved by your loyal fans and followers!

As you post consistently, you'll build a following of people who bookmark your site and return day after day to see what you've said that's new. Or, if they're not stubborn with technical tools, they'll subscribe to the RSS feed and have your blog words of wisdom come to them!

Have a contact area on your blog and allow your fans to reach you if they want to. And be committed to regular updates. Don't post daily for 3 weeks and disappear for 5 days without warning. You'll break their hearts!

The key is: be consistent. Post once a day, once a week, or once a month. Whatever. Just be consistent about it!

Hint: See reason number 5 above ;)

Reason #9: Backlinks from Your Blog Boost Your PageRank on Google!

Backlinks - ah yes, the key to ranking well in Google. So, make sure to refer to your main site, if applicable, throughout your blog. Don't overdo this because Google frowns on this if it's forced and too frequent. Just be natural, and you'll notice the difference.

Hint: You can also link to all your related Squidoo lenses too!

Reason #10: Blogs Offer Online Reputation Management

Now, here again you're creating a sort of storefront - a place where people can get to know you better. Suppose someone stumbled over your name or a product you sell on some other website and they want to know more about you before they buy.

Having a blog lets you address rumors, false information, and other nonsense floating around that was put out there by your competitors to try to tarnish your reputation.

It also lets you be a do-gooder! Helping people in public through your blog aids you in building a stellar reputation on the Internet.

There is nothing that will brand you quicker than a comment on your blog from someone gushing about how much you've helped them out!

Reason #11: Visitors Can Post Comments on Blog Posts

There's just something about a blog that says, "I am here - talk to me."

Your blog is a place for you to share your thoughts, ideas and opinions and others can talk back, even if they disagree with you.

When you get feedback or comments left on your site, it all contributes to your rank in Google. Did you know that 77% of active Internet users read blogs (according to 'Universal McCann', March 2008) - you don't want to be left behind!

Think of the exposure you're missing if you don't have a blog.

Also, (and this is a golden nugget for you entrepreneurial types) one of your best sources for ideas and how to best serve your customer can show up in feedback in your comments section. If they have a problem, you find a solution. Isn't that what we're here for - to solve someone else's pressing, if not desperate problem?

Reason #12: Blogs Deliver Traffic to Your Main Website!

Let's say your main site sells an eBook or software program. If you have a blog, you can talk about aspects of your product and you can feature some benefits of your product and then promote your main URL via a link to the sales page.

Stick the 3D image of the ecover in your sidebar and make sure you hyperlink it. Add banners between blog posts that take them to your main site. And hyperlink anchor text from your blog posts to your main domain to keep visitors on the slippery sales slope you've cleverly created.

Don't have your own product? Doesn't matter! You can promote other people's products as an affiliate and get up to 75% of the cash. Affiliate marketing and blogs are a match made in heaven!

Reason #13: Remember - Your Target Audience Is Reading Blogs

Who's reading blogs to gain information?

The question should be, "Who isn't?!"

Check out these stats of blog readers, according to Technorati:

50% are above 35
44% are parents
70% have college degrees
Four in ten have an annual household income of $75K+
One in four have an annual household income of $100K+

If these people are in your target audience, and they probably are, then you need a blog! It's hard to think of many niches where at least one of those statistics doesn't apply. The fact is, every gender from teenagers to Baby Boomers (and above), of every financial classification are reading blogs!

If you don't have a blog, then you're saying it's perfectly okay with you that your competition is stealing your rightful income.