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So. why DON'T cities buy websites from bloggers?

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Started 2 years ago by lisathewaitress
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10sun
Columbus, OH
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JimL2 wrote >>
I agree with Drew, in that blogs about the city are usually read by people who already live in the city, whereas a campaign like "not everyone who lives in Columbus is soul-sappingly bland" might actually impress people who've never actually been here.
Even better would be if the Chamber was able to sponsor the art itself, because that stuff stays around forever. For instance, "KOMPRESSOR CRUSHING ALL OF COLUMBUS" probably would have been a good buy.
Pimp Daddy Welfare is still inexplicably popular in some pockets, if they could somehow monetize fourteen year-old girls using Limewire they'd make a mint...
Greenhouse Effect's Columbus or Bust is a pretty solid album, but what if it had been named something more like "Columbus is a Fine City for Young Artists and Professionals to Live in Featuring Ample Greenspace, A Vibrant Art Scene, Nationally-Recognized Restaurants, and a Low Cost of Living?" Cha-ching!!
...of course, the city chamber didn't really appreciate my submissions for their viral video contest so I might be wrong about this too.

This reminds me that I need the new PDW mp3s to burn onto the blank disc he left me for just that purpose.

Posted 1 year ago #
JonMyers
HCMC ✈
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drewtoothpaste wrote >>
It's been my experience people won't pay for content

I held that view for a long time and a lot of things have changed my mind. Mainly, I've gotten to know a lot of people who make a living selling content online.

I don't think people will pay for content they're used to getting for free online, and I don't think people will ever pay for commodity content, meaning content, reporting that everyone else is covering like news.

As an example of those selling content, check out what Chris Brogan, Brian Clark of CopyBlogger, and Darren Rowse of ProBlogger created. They formed a membership website called The Third Tribe.

The site contains information on blogging, internet marketing and access to experts. There is also a community that is focused on bloggers and blogging.

When it first launched it was $27/ month and over 3,000 people joined. I joined then just to see what was going on, on the inside. Now it costs $97 up front then $47 a month to join and I'm told there are over 6,500 people inside. This is over the course of 6 months. Launching a $3 million business out of nowhere isn't bad.

You might think this is a fluke because these guys have a following, and they're A-List bloggers. Well, then there's a site called Fuzzy Yellow Balls. This guy teaches tennis lessons online. He's making over a million bucks a year doing it.

I could go on and on, and give many examples.

In my opinion, both of these successful sites, which I mentioned above are crude as a mofo, just downright fucking ugly, their look and feel pains me, but they serve niches and they serve a passionate following who is more than willing to pay for deeper content and a connection to an expert.

Anyhow, my point is that I wouldn't overlook paid content or paid information, you just have to rethink the standard approach most have used and failed using.

You're not going to all of the sudden password protect blog posts and charge people to access them.

Also, the wrong question to be asking yourself is "would I pay for content online?". You may not, but enough people might. It depends on the quality of your offering and niche.

In general, I run into a lot of entrepreneurs who look at their business through the "this is what I would pay for x" set of eyes, rather than this is what the market will actually tolerate. It's not always about what you would do.

Test, test, test, because you never know.

Posted 1 year ago #
JimL2

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@10sun: http://www.pimpdaddywelfare.biz/

Posted 1 year ago #
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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@JonMyers - I have long thought of trying to invent a system whereby people could micro donate with one click. I think a lot of people don't realize what a tiny contribution from a large group of people would mean for people who provide *quality* information.

It's sort of like that sign at the Dairy Queen drive-through (I eat a lot of ice-cream-like products) that says "if every other car gave a quarter, this store could raise $5K a week for children's cancer or whatever they're collecting money for.

If every other visitor I had last year donated one quarter, I'd have made $45K. Just to put it in perspective.

I do see a future for a model like this, but I think someone like Google or Amazon would have to pick it up. It would have to be incredibly easy, safe, secure, and have a huge marketing hit. i might not send someone $100, but i could click one button - without leaving a page, without entering a password, without going to a website, and donate small amounts, I would. Especially if I were well-educated on how a tiny amount could go a long way. Also, it could be seen as a more "fair trade" way for quality content to be supported. If you have adsense, you get a tiny fraction of a fee for something no one wants to see on your website anyway.

Posted 1 year ago #
JonMyers
HCMC ✈
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Lisa, I'm not sure that the donation thing converts all that well. I remember back in 2005 when Kottke went the donation route to monetize his blog.

Even he seems to have veered from the donation model of monetization, and now serves up ads by The Deck, and has a job board via an affiliate relationship with 37 Signals.

If you have a specific product or offering that is relevant to your audience, which solves a pain point they have or addresses pleasure they desire, then you're on to something.

Do a lot of people in the restaurant industry read your blog? Why wouldn't you have a job board on your site? Charge to post. I'm just throwing ideas out there. You'd have to dig into your audience, and ask some questions.

Even then you can't just ask them - what can I sell you, you have to be a keen observer, test, refine and test.

If you're really getting 30,000 unique visitors a month, then there is no reason why with a redesign, and more focused approach to monetization that you can't be pulling in at least $40,000 - $60,000 a year from that site at a minimum.

The hardest part of making money online isn't creating a product, it's driving traffic, building an audience and getting them to return. You have the hard part out of the way, you just have to have a product pipeline lined up to give your audience good value and the right pieces in place to monetize that audience.

Lastly, I'd add that if you have a product that is somehow created around money, love or health, in that order you are much more likely to sell something.

Posted 1 year ago #
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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how do you know if it's what you're "really getting?" I used google analytics and statcounter; i know they do differ greatly from the free, untagged information out there (alexa, compete, etc).

I don't really care to make money from my site these days; there was a time and place when I wanted to, but I am a horrible salesperson and self-promoter, so I know it won't happen. But I would help others figure it out.

That's funny you said a product designed around love - I've often thought about writing a realistic dating advice site! lol

Posted 1 year ago #
JonMyers
HCMC ✈
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Google Analytics would probably the best measure. Compete usually low balls unique numbers.

I don't think you have to be a salesperson or self-promoter to make money from a site.

There is Barry, a sometime CU visitor who makes a nice living teaching bar and restaurant owners how to manage their bar online. His blog upsells into his membership site and his members get a lot of value from his experience and digital products.

Yeah, love and relationship products sell. There is that dude David Deangelo (not even the dude's real name, as he also goes by Eben Pagen) who sells a "how to meet women" information product and makes $30 million/ year doing it.

Cheesy, but then again I'm not the audience for 99% of this stuff, but that doesn't matter.

Posted 1 year ago #
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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cool. google and statcounter actually give me matching numbers (within 1K).

Oh man, that "how to meet women" dude is a douchebag!!

i mostly give out really old fashioned advice to girls such as:

don't even think about touching that phone!

and

if he doesn't want to talk about it, don't!

and some other stuff that isn't appropriate for this venue. My advice is more like "how to recognize and keep your great man."

Posted 1 year ago #

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