How should I sell on my blog? Affiliates?

Up-to-date, specialist legal advice is probably needed here, regarding commercial exploitation of celebrity names. It's a big and complex issue, and a potential legal minefield (as well as one which can have all sorts of other adverse consequences, quite apart from being sued).

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1.5 million searches and low competition tells me that it might be tough to make any money with your fan blog. If you're using the Google keyword tool for your research, "low" competition simply means that there are few advertisers willing to pay for Adwords.

That said, I'd look for outlets offering affiliate commissions for properly licensed merchandise. Even though your site is centered around a single player, the NFL can be almost as feisty as Disney when it comes to guarding the vault.

You think that will save you?

Amazon would certainly be a possibility. You might also want to check the NFL's shop to see if they have an affiliate program. Just don't be tempted to try to sell unlicensed merchandise.

You need to understand that the Google Keyword Tool is meant to assist Adwords buyers, not SEOs.

When it says 'low competition', all that means is that few people are bidding on that keyword. It has nothing to do with how hard or easy it might be to rank in organic search. It's not that hard to find keywords with high search numbers and low competition, only to find the front page dominated by sites with high authority.

If you're going to go after search traffic, look for high searches, high competition (which indicates commercial intent, albeit indirectly) and search results you could possibly knock off.

You can keep asking the question, but the answer isn't going to change.

This thread is really starting to look like it belongs in the SEO section, but what the heck...

When I worry about keywords at all, I use the GKT. I look for keywords that are three or more words, have a relatively high number of searches, and medium to high competition for Adwords (shows that people are at least trying to make money). I enter the term in Google proper and look at what pops up on the first 1-3 pages. If it's loaded with heavy hitters, I go back to looking. If I see something like EzineArticles, wikihow, or other once-powerful sites that have been devalued, I know I have a shot.

The other use I have is deciding between different variations of a keyword. For example, "leftover turkey recipes" vs. "Thanksgiving leftover recipes".

As an NFL fan for the past 35 years or so, I think you should open your view lens a bit wider. Your blog may pertain to a single individual player today BUT your READERS are likely as passionate about other players, teams, HoF members, etc.

SO... When adding sales content you should be allowing the reader to see other types of product besides your blog's subject's Jersey or Team.

I'm a Buccaneer fan going all the way back to 1977, I have been around the game since I was 7 years old and that was a L-O-N-G time ago! If I were on your page and you offered NFL Memorabilia for instance, I would click that link and see what that store offered. OR I may be in the mood for nostalgia and want to get a Throw back Jersey of your player's team... OR I may want to go to a game and a link to Stub-Hub was offered or Direct TV Sunday Ticket.

My point is your readers are not JUST fans of your subject, they are fans of the game... Widen your mind to think about the prospects for other merchandise. That's what I would recommend. That advice is worth every dime you paid for it but it could make you a helluva lot more in sales.