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I think Google kinda likes me. How do I get focused and capitalize?

by MusicMinCoach
7 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hey guys,

As you all know I have a pretty specific niche. One that doesn't have a lot of players in it. That also makes it a challenge because I think people have gotten used to searching and not finding much info on Google.

But I also think that's why Google seems to have me on their radar as a trusted site. I've noticed new blogs often get indexed very quickly. Sometimes within hours. A short blog I wrote just Wednesday is on the first page, though near the bottom.

My sales page for the 6 month course, which I just released a week ago, is also on the first page. And that's just for a very general search term like "Music Ministry". When someone asks a pretty specific question regarding something in that niche one of my blogs will often be the first response. But it still doesn't add up to a lot of traffic per month yet. So there's work to do there. But I think I could really own this niche guys. But I'm so green, lol! And with so much info and so many ideas of my own it's hard to nail down a solid plan.

For example, from the inception of the idea for the home study course I knew I wanted to offer an affiliate program. As far as these kinds of courses go I think mine has a pretty unique angle for the Christian market. I've been asked a couple of times already in fact.

Looking at what's out there for the Christian/ Gospel community to promote (almost nothing) I think it could be a hit if done right. But the thought of putting an affiliate program together with all the pages and sales tools needed is overwhelming.

Then there's Clickbank and all it's controversy and confusion. I've had a Clickbank account for years and have actually made some sales, apparently. But I guess it was never enough to pay out, or they were eaten up in fees or something. And then so many members here either love it or hate it.

I'm also confused about the best way to monitize the site. I read a lot here about that but it's hard to sort out because there is so much varying advice. My fear here is making my site look like one of those blogs with flashing banners and stuff all over the side-bars.

I don't want that, and I don't want google ads on my page that take my visitors other places that I have no connection to. I want people funneling into products I created or products I'm promoting as an affiliate. Even in this tough niche I know I can make a nice income if I can get this thing all organized and mapped out with a clear, concise funnel.I do think I have a lot of good information that's leading me in the right direction. I just need to get some kind of step-by-step plan organized so I'm a little less all over the place.

I've done some searches on all this stuff but came up with mostly conversations where these concepts were casually mentioned in passing. Any such training product or article you guys can point me to would be great. Otherwise I'll read and take notes on the great advice I always get from you all.
#capitalize #focused #google #kinda #likes
  • Profile picture of the author Stuart Walker
    You mention your site often comes up first for your keywords but your traffic is very low still. If you're number one on Google for lots of different search terms and still getting no traffic that could suggest that not many people are searching for your topics / keywords / niche. Did you do your keyword research before hand and check the local monthly search volumes with the Google keyword tool?

    It's all well and good being #1 on Google but if no one is searching for the information you're providing then it doesn't really matter.

    As for Clickbank swallowing up your sales, from what I remember you need to get 5 sales from different credit cards before they'll pay out (security reasons apparently) and if you make no sales for 90 days they'll start charging you a daily amount for the money in the account until it's all gone. So maybe it was lost that way.
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  • Profile picture of the author MusicMinCoach
    Hey Rocking,

    Thanks for the response. You're right. I did do some keyword research and I saw that not many people were searching for it. And I started to give up then, but I wasn't given that option. Faith is only faith in the absence of proof. But I digress.

    It's not the easiest niche to serve but I think there's a need for what I'm doing and a serious lack of people providing it. Every niche was started by somebody right? I'm not expecting to become a millionaire here. But I was called to do this so it's as much ministry as it is business; perhaps more.

    That doesn't mean I want to half-do it though. Nor do I want to fail to do everything in my power to make sure I'm doing my part. So before I start doing targeted advertising on the major sites, forums and venues that cater to the niche (they get thousands of hits monthly, that much I did check) I just want to be sure I have my site set up properly to take full advantage of it. Proper funnels, opt-in's, exit pop-ups, etc.

    Getting organized with all that and coming up with a step by step plan is what I'm asking for advice on, as well as advice on resources to learn about setting up an affiliate program for my course.
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    Ron Cross
    http://www.TheMusicMinistryCoach.com
    http://www.Facebook.com/TheMusicMinistryCoach

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    • Profile picture of the author KenJ
      Hi Ron,

      I think your site is well targeted but there are not many people who aspire to do what you. There are even fewer who want to pay for it - which is a shame.

      But you do have the opportunity to broaden the site to include other related topics.

      A few that come to mind...

      How to write a gospel song.
      How to sing a performance song.
      How to lead worship in a contemporary style.
      How to write lyrics.
      How to record and produce a music CD/download.
      Playing gospel Keyboard.
      Playing gospel guitar.

      To make money you could expand your niche focus.

      KenJ
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      • Profile picture of the author MusicMinCoach
        Originally Posted by KenJ View Post

        Hi Ron,

        I think your site is well targeted but there are not many people who aspire to do what you. There are even fewer who want to pay for it - which is a shame.

        But you do have the opportunity to broaden the site to include other related topics.

        A few that come to mind...

        How to write a gospel song.
        How to sing a performance song.
        How to lead worship in a contemporary style.
        How to write lyrics.
        How to record and produce a music CD/download.
        Playing gospel Keyboard.
        Playing gospel guitar.

        To make money you could expand your niche focus.

        KenJ
        Absolutely Ken, right on both accounts. I knew that going in, and really didn't want to pursue the niche for that reason. But as I said I was pushed in this direction.

        I totally agree that there's a lot of room to expand the niche. My first product focued on vocal training but I have other ideals for products in other aspects of the niche. I've seen for example a lot of interest in blogs about praise teams, understanding harmony, leading songs, adlibing, etc. All of which I have enough knowledge in to create solid products that don't exist yet as far as I know.

        There's also a couple of specific subjects that actually do get a lot of people a month searching for them but I haven't see anyone do a really good training course on them yet. A few youtube videos but that's it.

        The thing about this niche is that it has the reputation for being one that's hard to sell in. So people avoid it and the few who do put something out there simply don't do it very well.

        But I know of one guy who started a piano/keyboard teaching company focused exclusively on learning to play gospel music by ear. Only he did something nobody else did. He went straight to one of the most successful internet marketing experts on line, Cory Rudel (rip).

        All of his marketing has that same polished, high end feel and that awesome copy on all his pages. He has a world-wide following in the niche, an extensive product line of products that all focus on Gospel style playing, and he makes a very very handsome living at it.

        He has single-handedly set a standard for pretty-much every other gospel musician who wants to sell a course now. All in a niche where you're not supposed to be able to do that.

        I've even thought about extending the site to other professionals who have other areas of expertise in music ministry-related niches. The site could become a hub for training in all aspects of music ministry. I think the potential is huge, actually.
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        Ron Cross
        http://www.TheMusicMinistryCoach.com
        http://www.Facebook.com/TheMusicMinistryCoach

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    • Profile picture of the author RogueOne
      You might be over thinking some things. For instance, setting up an affiliate program doesn't have to be a big deal. You can start out simply and build it as you go.

      The problem I see is traffic. If you have it all covered on Google and there isn't much to start with, then there is no incentive to promote. Where will affiliates get traffic unless they have it already.

      You might contact the sites you plan to advertise on and ask if they are interested in an affiliate relationship. You might be able to get traffic for free.
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      • Profile picture of the author MusicMinCoach
        Originally Posted by RogueOne View Post

        You might be over thinking some things. For instance, setting up an affiliate program doesn't have to be a big deal. You can start out simply and build it as you go.

        The problem I see is traffic. If you have it all covered on Google and there isn't much to start with, then there is no incentive to promote. Where will affiliates get traffic unless they have it already.

        You might contact the sites you plan to advertise on and ask if they are interested in an affiliate relationship. You might be able to get traffic for free.
        Hey rogueOne,

        That was exactly what I was thinking. I was already planning to approach the major Gospel and Christian sites about banner advertising, but I thought maybe if I had an affiliate program in place I could instead approach them with the offer to become an affiliate. They make money, I get free promotion and traffic.

        As far as creating the affiliate program I just don't know anything about creating one. My search here didn't turn up much. But I know that the better ones offer tools for their affiliates to use to promote them. I also know you need a sales page for your product. I also know setting up one for a monthly recurring product is different than a one time payment. I just need a course or training product of some kind there.

        I think I'm doing about as much as I can with organic traffic from the search engines but there are several sites, forums and popular blogs in the niche as well as individuals with large followings in the niche. I think there are opportunities there.
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        Ron Cross
        http://www.TheMusicMinistryCoach.com
        http://www.Facebook.com/TheMusicMinistryCoach

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  • Profile picture of the author tofrar
    Originally Posted by MusicMinCoach View Post

    Hey guys,

    As you all know I have a pretty specific niche. One that doesn't have a lot of players in it. That also makes it a challenge because I think people have gotten used to searching and not finding much info on Google.

    But I also think that's why Google seems to have me on their radar as a trusted site. I've noticed new blogs often get indexed very quickly. Sometimes within hours. A short blog I wrote just Wednesday is on the first page, though near the bottom.

    My sales page for the 6 month course, which I just released a week ago, is also on the first page. And that's just for a very general search term like "Music Ministry". When someone asks a pretty specific question regarding something in that niche one of my blogs will often be the first response. But it still doesn't add up to a lot of traffic per month yet. So there's work to do there. But I think I could really own this niche guys. But I'm so green, lol! And with so much info and so many ideas of my own it's hard to nail down a solid plan.

    For example, from the inception of the idea for the home study course I knew I wanted to offer an affiliate program. As far as these kinds of courses go I think mine has a pretty unique angle for the Christian market. I've been asked a couple of times already in fact.

    Looking at what's out there for the Christian/ Gospel community to promote (almost nothing) I think it could be a hit if done right. But the thought of putting an affiliate program together with all the pages and sales tools needed is overwhelming.

    Then there's Clickbank and all it's controversy and confusion. I've had a Clickbank account for years and have actually made some sales, apparently. But I guess it was never enough to pay out, or they were eaten up in fees or something. And then so many members here either love it or hate it.

    I'm also confused about the best way to monitize the site. I read a lot here about that but it's hard to sort out because there is so much varying advice. My fear here is making my site look like one of those blogs with flashing banners and stuff all over the side-bars.

    I don't want that, and I don't want google ads on my page that take my visitors other places that I have no connection to. I want people funneling into products I created or products I'm promoting as an affiliate. Even in this tough niche I know I can make a nice income if I can get this thing all organized and mapped out with a clear, concise funnel.I do think I have a lot of good information that's leading me in the right direction. I just need to get some kind of step-by-step plan organized so I'm a little less all over the place.

    I've done some searches on all this stuff but came up with mostly conversations where these concepts were casually mentioned in passing. Any such training product or article you guys can point me to would be great. Otherwise I'll read and take notes on the great advice I always get from you all.


    This keyword you mention "Music Ministry" does have 1000 local and global searches and CPS is more then 3 usd

    Competition is low..
    Should me nice keyword to go for
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