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New fashion blog. I'm open for suggestions

by phantom47c
8 replies
After several attempts of building successful websites, I decided I want to do a blog as it was a lot easier for me to write posts on a niche I'm interested in. This is one site that's bound to keep my motivation alive and running, so I'm really determined to keep my fashion blog going, and hopefully, helping me to earn some money.

Most of my visitors come from all the right countries, the blog is quickly becoming populated with exciting new posts on current topics, I'm already doing affiliate marketing with Amazon, the social network marketing is doing ok, now I need ways to monetize my site. Amazon is really not enough, and Adsense is not in my top lists due to more than one reason.

Fellow warriors, can you please take a look at my Amazing Fashion website and share a few opinions and monetizing suggestions with me? I've read a lot on website monetizing, but I still need some genuine advice on how to proceed from now on.
#blog #fashion #fashion blog #monetizing a blog #open #suggestions
  • Profile picture of the author LilBlackDress
    The site is really smart. I love the vibe there. It is obvious you are putting a lot of work into it.

    One big omission, unless I missed it, I did not see a disclosure which is required by the FTC. And btw if you ad Adsense, you will need a privacy policy.

    Really you can make a lot more money there with Amazon, but you are not optimizing to do so. You can optimize better by having the pictures link to Amazon. Also include a plug in so you serve up the appropriate Amazon links to different countries. You will not get paid for sales made to other countries unless you do.

    Nice job!
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    Pen Name + 8 eBooks + social media sites 4 SALE - PM me (evergreen beauty niche)

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    • Profile picture of the author JRCarson
      How's the traffic? Are you getting a lot? More traffic will always give you more earnings...

      And yes, ALL your pictures need to link to the products!

      How about checking out Commission Junction also?
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    • Profile picture of the author phantom47c
      Originally Posted by LilBlackDress View Post


      One big omission, unless I missed it, I did not see a disclosure which is required by the FTC. And btw if you ad Adsense, you will need a privacy policy.
      Excuse my ignorance, but I'm not sure what is a FTC required disclosure. Does this has to do with copyrighted images on my site and that sort of things?


      @JRCarson: I've started posting less than a month ago, and I currently get about 100 visitors, out of which 80% is organic traffic. My traffic is rising, and I'm pretty optimistic about it even though 100 visitors is not really significant these days. But that number will rise, I have no doubt about it.
      Thanks for the tip, I'll have a look at Commission Junction as suggested.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by phantom47c View Post

        Excuse my ignorance, but I'm not sure what is a FTC required disclosure. Does this has to do with copyrighted images on my site and that sort of things?
        No, that would be a "disclaimer". This is a disclosure ... you have to tell people that you're an affiliate and that if they buy anything by clicking on a link on your site, you'll earn a commission on that. (You'd want to know that, too, if someone was "reviewing stuff" that you might buy? ).

        You don't necessarily have to use "exact words" for it, but you have to "not hide it".

        As it happens, I have at the moment a page with almost nothing on it but an affiliate disclosure (note to Mods - there's nothing for sale there and no opt-in and no other content!) which you can have a look at, if it helps: Alexa Writes

        I've made that one long-winded and slightly light-hearted (you probably wouldn't want the last part of it), but something like that, anyway, that discloses your financial incentive.

        You don't have to have it at the top of the landing-page, of course - it's just there on mine because at the moment it's the only content.

        I always stress, in my affiliate disclosures, that it's not costing the customer any more, that way, otherwise many will imagine it is!

        Exactly as BloggingPro says above, you need to build a list. After making your site legal with an affiliate disclosure, this is clearly the single most important thing you need to do, and he's 100% right that ideally you need to do it "today, and not tomorrow". Good luck!

        Originally Posted by JRCarson View Post

        More traffic will always give you more earnings...
        Oh, how I wish that were true. More targeted traffic, on the other hand ...
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        • Profile picture of the author Martin Luxton
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          As it happens, I have at the moment a page with almost nothing on it but an affiliate disclosure (note to Mods - there's nothing for sale there and no opt-in and no other content!) which you can have a look at, if it helps: Alexa Writes
          Naughty Alexa!

          you'd be better off finding the vendor's web site through Google or in some other way
          You didn't tell them to clear their cookies before going to Google. Now, where's the FTC's phone number?

          Martin
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          • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
            Banned
            Originally Posted by Martin Luxton View Post

            You didn't tell them to clear their cookies before going to Google.
            Oooh, the perils of taking (or offering) anything approaching 'legal advice' in a forum! :p
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  • Profile picture of the author BloggingPro
    I run several sites in the fashion niche. Mostly shoes, but there are other fashion niches plopped in there sparingly. If this post is overly long, I do apologize ahead of time.

    First things first. Head on over to both CJ and ShareASale and sign up for affiliate accounts. Once signed up head into the merchant section (especially CJ) and prepare to have your mind blown. 18% on lingerie? 10% on hundred dollar shoes? 16% on jeggings and leggings? 15% on Halloween Costumes?

    More importantly look to see what kind of coupons each merchant is offering. The bigger the discount the better. I especially like FREE Shipping codes as well, if ordering over a certain amount. Not only does it mean I'll get a bigger commission, the customer get's FREE shipping (something many seek) and my numbers look good to the merchant.

    Once you've found some products that you feel are in line with what you are talking about, you will want to link to them from your articles. This is a no-brainer. But where your potential BIG money is going to be is in a list.

    If you don't have one, get one now. Today. Not tomorrow. Today. I use Aweber, but there are plenty of others. Find one that works within your budget and sign up.

    On your website I see you are running a 300x250 add in the upper right hand corner. Remove that. Focus on ONE product in an advertisement that basically states, "Do you LOVE Bags? Well then you NEED these Discount Codes!"

    Terrible copy, I know, but you get the idea. The advertisement should also contain opt-in fields. Essentially what you are doing is creating a list of people who are definitely interested in the product (why would they sign up otherwise?) and you are providing them with something extremely specific--discount codes.

    Next month offer an opt-in for discount codes on something else. You don't need another auto-responder, you just need to segregate your list. Keep track of who signed up for what--if you have a loyal reader-base you'll probably have the same people on multiple lists.

    Now, just because you are creating a new list, don't forget to foster relationships with the others. So if next month you do discount codes on Shoes don't forget to email your Bags list with the discount codes you promised them. Of course those codes will be linked up via affiliate codes and the rest, as they say, will be history.

    Use the lists and the article links to drive sales to the merchant. When you numbers look good, contact the affiliate managers and tell them you sent $XXXX amount of sales and ask what they can do for you--specifically ask for an EXCLUSIVE COUPON CODE.

    It could be offering the same promotion as every other one, but with an EXCLUSIVE code created just for your site, you can now tell your list that by signing up they will be getting an exclusive code that nobody else can offer!

    Finally, it is my recommendation that you drop Amazon and Endless immediately and promote products from CJ, SAS, PepperJam and even LinkShare. If you have any questions feel free to PM me. Sorry again for such a long post.
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    You're going to fail. If you're afraid of failure then you do not belong in the Internet Marketing Business. Period.
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  • Profile picture of the author sweetyfergosan
    Your site is very nice , how much traffic at ur site
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