20 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
20 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Monetizing Once You Have an Audience...

by gixxer
17 replies
Hey Everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted here - I've been busy

Thanks, in large part, to many on THIS forum, I now have:

  • A blog that get's up to 1000 hits daily (average is about 200+)
  • A Facebook Group that is gaining about 100 members per day and is over 5000 now.
  • A TRUE visibility and personal brand online
  • People who actually CARE about what I have to say
  • Maybe best of all, I'm changing things in the world and talking about what I believe in
THANK YOU for all the help this summer that led me to this point!

Now, here's my question:

How would you monetize this traffic and visibility in ways that benefit the audience? The ideas I promote aren't really "packageable" as an eBook or whatever and I'm not sure affiliate links are lucrative enough with the "low" traffic. (Maybe the RIGHT links would have a high enough CTR?)

SEO really isn't a factor in my success - I've done it all on Facebook and by interacting with a group who is passionate about my message - think Seth Godin and "Tribes"

The biggest factor now is that I want to keep leading the movement I've created and NOT get spammy or look like I'm monetizing in a "self-serving" way. I've built a lot of trust and won't lose it by getting "spammy" or "markety" now.

Any suggestions? Any "out of the box" ideas? Books I should read?

I've been following Gary Vaynerchuck's advice and building a personal brand and a following by caring and Seth Godin's about leading people where they want to go.

I have visibility, now how do I monetize in an AUTHENTIC way?

Thanks!

Adam
#audience #monetizing
  • Profile picture of the author gixxer
    Oh, yeah, I have a forum too, but it SUCKS as far as getting used and a lot of that is my not-so-awesome administration of it. It's new and I don't have it off the ground yet.

    Adam
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740963].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Adam, you may have put the cart before the horse here. here's some 20/20 hindsight for the future...

      Have your monetization methods in mind when you start out. Create the expectation from the beginning that, while you genuinely care and want to 'lead the tribe', you have bills to pay so you will be making offers or recommendations that might put money in your pocket.

      In this case, the horse has already bolted from the barn.

      You have your tribe moving in a certain direction. Your best bet to change that direction (to one you can profit from) is to do it gradually. That's how cowboys used to deal with stampedes - get the leaders to slightly alter their paths until the herd was headed where the cowboys wanted to go.

      You might want to try floating a small offer, say a book on Amazon related to your subject. Disclose up front that you're using an affiliate link, and stress that the buying decision is theirs. You might even offer a bit of 'lagniappe', a little something extra for free for buyers. It creates good will. (And it's why bakeries offer the kids a free cookie when Mom comes to buy bread and other stuff.)

      Best of luck to you...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2741548].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author gixxer
        Hey John,

        I HAD a lot planned out. What happened is I wrote a single blog post - somewhat off topic, but related - and it went viral.

        I was building a blog, writing articles, working on SEO, writing an ebook, etc. and then BANG! Traffic and exposure like crazy.

        So, yes, I did - and do - have the long term plan laid out, but had the surprise of all this traffic and the "personal brand" thing come out of nowhere..

        Make sense?

        Thanks for the reply!

        Adam
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2744813].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
        Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

        Adam, you may have put the cart before the horse here. here's some 20/20 hindsight for the future...

        Have your monetization methods in mind when you start out. Create the expectation from the beginning that, while you genuinely care and want to 'lead the tribe', you have bills to pay so you will be making offers or recommendations that might put money in your pocket.

        In this case, the horse has already bolted from the barn.

        You have your tribe moving in a certain direction. Your best bet to change that direction (to one you can profit from) is to do it gradually. That's how cowboys used to deal with stampedes - get the leaders to slightly alter their paths until the herd was headed where the cowboys wanted to go.

        You might want to try floating a small offer, say a book on Amazon related to your subject. Disclose up front that you're using an affiliate link, and stress that the buying decision is theirs. You might even offer a bit of 'lagniappe', a little something extra for free for buyers. It creates good will. (And it's why bakeries offer the kids a free cookie when Mom comes to buy bread and other stuff.)

        Best of luck to you...
        Amen Brotha!

        Nuff said *but* let me add my .02

        It sounds like you've had plans to monetize this all along but after your blog post you've developed a following and you're wary about floating an offer because they might take offense.

        As I like to say... "no plan survives first contact with the market".

        I really like what John says about gently nudging them in the direction you want to go and setting the tone from the beginning that you do generally care and will be offering valuable advice but you too need to pay the bills.

        Ultimately, you want people to follow you, but if they won't buy from you are they really the followers you want.

        And be wary of the give it all up for free and they'll buy from you later model.

        It can work but there are pitfalls.

        Kevin

        P.S.--I'm a gear head and just wondering if Gixxer refers to the bike?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2744879].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author gixxer
          It does, in fact, refer to a bike, Kevin - 2003 GSX-R750

          Adam
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2744900].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author gixxer
            BTW, guys, the following I have is the same GENERAL market but of a different nature than the one I originally set out to have.

            So, what happened is, basically, I created good content and a somewhat different market than I thought I was writing for found me and LOVED what I was doing. From there, I got busy making my connection with THAT market more solid because I had obviously hit on a market that was looking for a leader and a place to gather.

            Adam
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2744920].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
            Originally Posted by gixxer View Post

            It does, in fact, refer to a bike, Kevin - 2003 GSX-R750

            Adam
            A man who has a gixxer can't be all bad.

            Good luck!!

            Kevin
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2748551].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author gixxer
              Originally Posted by Kevin AKA Hubcap View Post

              A man who has a gixxer can't be all bad.

              Good luck!!

              Kevin
              I'm not bad at all, man! Just happen to have had a niche FIND ME as opposed to the other way around

              What are you riding?

              Adam
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2749774].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
    Originally Posted by gixxer View Post

    I've been following Gary Vaynerchuck's advice and building a personal brand and a following by caring and Seth Godin's about leading people where they want to go.
    The sad fact is that this kind of traffic doesn't convert well. People are visiting you for infotainment, not to buy something. They'll go somewhere else to have their buying needs met and, in most cases, they probably won't look kindly at you trying to sell them something no matter how warm and cuddly you try to do it.

    My suggestion is to put aside the new age touchy-feelie stuff and read something like The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and The Power of Persuasion by Robert Levine instead so that you really understand what folks like Vaynerchuck and Godin are up to.
    Signature
    Product Reviews | Earn Online Cash | Free HTML Templates
    Free WordPress Themes: Boring Memo | Dateless Mini-Site | Info Magazine | 100 Twenty-Ten Niche Headers
    Discount Templates, Graphics and Scripts: Templates for Website
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2744912].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author gixxer
      Originally Posted by bgmacaw View Post

      The sad fact is that this kind of traffic doesn't convert well. People are visiting you for infotainment, not to buy something. They'll go somewhere else to have their buying needs met and, in most cases, they probably won't look kindly at you trying to sell them something no matter how warm and cuddly you try to do it.

      My suggestion is to put aside the new age touchy-feelie stuff and read something like The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and The Power of Persuasion by Robert Levine instead so that you really understand what folks like Vaynerchuck and Godin are up to.
      bg, what ARE they "up to" that they aren't talking about?

      Adam
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2744926].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
        Originally Posted by gixxer View Post

        bg, what ARE they "up to" that they aren't talking about?
        Greene and Levine say it a lot better than I can which is why I suggest them.

        Basically, a lot of it comes down to Greene's Law 27, "Play on people's need to believe to create a cultlike following." This is what Vaynerchuck and Godin do quite well although they also use a lot of the other persuasion and manipulation techniques.
        Signature
        Product Reviews | Earn Online Cash | Free HTML Templates
        Free WordPress Themes: Boring Memo | Dateless Mini-Site | Info Magazine | 100 Twenty-Ten Niche Headers
        Discount Templates, Graphics and Scripts: Templates for Website
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2745038].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author gixxer
          Originally Posted by bgmacaw View Post

          Greene and Levine say it a lot better than I can which is why I suggest them.

          Basically, a lot of it comes down to Greene's Law 27, "Play on people's need to believe to create a cultlike following." This is what Vaynerchuck and Godin do quite well although they also use a lot of the other persuasion and manipulation techniques.
          I have a SMALL "cultlike" following. And it came from a place I didn't expect. Now I want to leverage that...

          Adam
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2745071].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author redfoxseo
    I don't think you put the cart before the horse at all. I feel you are onto something now you just need to figure out how to plug the right tool in.
    Signature

    A great place to get Coupon Inserts

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2745087].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jazbo
    I monetized my main blog by writing great content and then charging a membership fee to access and read the best hints and tips posts. There are lost of plugins/scripts that will allow you to run membership onsite.
    Signature
    CONTENT WRITER. Reliable, UK-Based, 6 Years Experience - ANY NICHE
    Click Here For Writing Samples & Online Ordering
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2745089].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by gixxer View Post

      I have a SMALL "cultlike" following. And it came from a place I didn't expect. Now I want to leverage that...

      Adam
      Adam, given the new information you've presented, I take back what I said about putting the cart before the horse.

      I'd opine that, as the leader of a small cult-like following, you need a cause to lead them toward.

      Here's a really weird suggestion for you...

      Pick up a copy of "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert Heinlein. It's a fun read on its own merit, but my recommendation is to pay particular attention to the sections dealing with the "Fosterites", a religious cult that is also extremely profitable, and how they do business.

      Actually, it's a good marketing lesson for just about anyone trying to build a fanatical following.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2745448].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author gixxer
        Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

        Adam, given the new information you've presented, I take back what I said about putting the cart before the horse.

        I'd opine that, as the leader of a small cult-like following, you need a cause to lead them toward.

        Here's a really weird suggestion for you...

        Pick up a copy of "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert Heinlein. It's a fun read on its own merit, but my recommendation is to pay particular attention to the sections dealing with the "Fosterites", a religious cult that is also extremely profitable, and how they do business.

        Actually, it's a good marketing lesson for just about anyone trying to build a fanatical following.
        Checking it out on amazon now...

        Adam
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2745632].message }}

Trending Topics