Our Readers Trust In Us. What Are We Doing To Them?
03. Jun, 2008 
9 Comments - Leave your comment
One of the most controversial topics in the blogging world is making money online. Actually not exactly making the money, but talking about how to make it. All kind of “experts” are raising their heads from the dark, claiming they have the absolute secret to the treasure chest, and giving it away for a measly amount of $47, or $97, or $147. What’s one second, compared to the Eternity? What’s one hundred bucks, compared to the millions you’d make if you read that book, or if you joined that membership program?
The Simple Theory Of Making Money Online
When I used to work in advertising, before developing a campaign, we always used to depict our target audience: we attached a persona to it, we gave that persona a name, a face, needs, desires… weaknesses… it was almost like we became friends. The dialog got much easier after we knew who we were talking to. Our campaigns were selling like crazy, the clients were happy, so that seemed to be a good formula for success. Was it really?
Since the summer of 2006 I’m playing with blogs. I like it. Whenever I manage to reach the top position in Google for some competitive keyword, I’m happy like a child who’s just got a new toy. However, in the beginning of this year, I’ve started a make money online project which was supposed to go on like this: write some beautiful posts to resonate with people willing to make money online, then create products (namely ebooks) which those people would either buy from me, or get them for free but stuffed with affiliate links all over the place.
How To Apply The Theory When Readers Are Looking Into Your Eyes?
My first ebook is almost ready. I’ve written it a couple of months ago. It is a decent read, but I’ll never release it to my readers. To make you understand what made me feel this way, I’m going to give you a quote from Grizzly, not the bear, but a guy who teaches people how to make money online, and who put this feeling into words I wouldn’t be able to express better myself:
Somewhere along the line I got sidetracked. I quite unexpectedly started getting readers – real people asking me questions. This threw me off a bit. It’s one thing for the conscience to slap up a page of links and collect commissions off of a nameless click. It’s another thing to make money off of “Bob” who has sent me an email asking for my opinion on the product I am flogging. At least to me it is. It turns out that Bob is down to his last dime, out of work, heard you can make money online and is willing to buy the product on my page if I say it’s a good deal. He trusts me. Oh man…
Please follow the above link and read the whole post: you’ll discover what reader appreciation really means. Reader appreciation means to be able to look your readers in the eyes. Readers are more than figures on a daily chart. Readers are those Bobs, and Johns and Janes whom you’ve just impersonated for your next marketing campaign.
Always impersonate your target. Then re-evaluate your ways. You might find a better one.
P.S.: my money making project has turned into a resources consuming one, but I’m feeling much better and so does Diana, my partner in this enterprise.
Related Articles
Author Info
Simonne,
Thanks for that and love the concept. I’m beginning to get the impression you are a very busy and dedicated blogger. Just how many sites have you got going? Impressive to say the least and you are certainly prolific – wish I had your drive. I’ve become a big fan and if I can do anything to give you a hand don’t be shy.
Thanks for that very good ideas that you’ve shared! Giving importance to the readers is very vital. Without the readers, one could not make money online.
Grizzly,
You are welcome. I’ve also become a big fan of yours lately, so it was my pleasure to introduce you to the Reader Appreciation Project’s readers.
My sites? I have quite a few, but the ones I’d show people are only the tip of the iceberg. The rest are just more or less failed projects floating around me. I’m mostly driven by fun, so it’s not so hard to keep things going. Whenever I don’t like something anymore, I just stop doing it. This is how I get the time for the things I like.
Thank you for your offer, it means a lot to me.
Guy, I’m glad we are on the same wavelength here. Probably all of us are also readers, not only writers, so we know how a reader feels when not treated properly.
Your site is very nice and good. It gives the good information about e book. In this book how to deal the customer and how to get the money from online marketing. Thank you for giving this information.
I would like to obtain those organization working in poverty reduction program in USA.
Simonne,
Thanks for the info. Great info. This was a breath of fresh air!
Jordan
I agree, Blogging is not about making money, like any other business you’ve to make sure you follow the ethics and don’t hurt the trust of your customers or readers. Each reader can be treated as a customer, you’ve to make sure you give them respect and don’t break their trust because on Internet it’s the hardest thing to gain. You’ve to look from their eyes. I still have to learn this technique though, thanks for making me think again!