How Well Do You Know What You Sell?


When I tell people I write or manage blogs for a living they tend to ask me, and I am sure this sounds awfully familiar, what do I actually do? What do I write? Who’s helping me? Why do I do it and when will I get a real job? Am I making money off it? Is it just a big Internet scheme that I am carefully running?

There are a zillion bloggers out there that blog for fun but wouldn’t mind making some money on the side from their talent. Sure you don’t have to go to writing school to be able to manage a blog for a living. But remember, as much as the artist in you hates the concept, a blogger is a seller. Your shop is your blog and your words are the merchandise. You attract readers which become faithful customers. They can agree or disagree with your opinions and they will be coming back as long as you give them a reason to come back.

If you are just starting out your Internet Entrepreneurial venture, and remember I am not claiming to be the expert here, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Sure you think that diabetes is a hot topic but will that be enough for you to invest in a blog, both money and lots of free time, and eventually make any money out of it? Your customers will be the first ones to know that you don’t know what you’re doing if, in fact, you have absolutely no idea about diabetes and what actually happens with sugar once it enters your body.

You simply have to back up that passion for a product/niche with some solid knowledge. Know your product and you will know what your next step is. I am not saying fall in love with it but find out what your chosen subject/product/niche is all about. Soon you will know how to drive traffic towards it, how to get more links and grow within Google’s ranks. You will know when it’s time to upgrade and when it’s the time to sign up with those particular affiliate programs that better suit your site.

When it comes to covering a certain topic of taking on a new challenge I am always thinking ahead. Do I have what it takes to be on top of that niche? Am I well prepared? Am I willing to ask for help if needed? Don’t embark on silly quests however profitable they might seem. Instead try to see what you’re good at and how you can turn that into an important asset. Again, you don’t have to be an expert. Perfection is a concept meant to make us want to be better at what we are doing and ultimately happier. On the long run, knowing exactly what you are selling will get you places.

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  1. #1 by tv on December 18, 2008 - 5:23 pm

    Nice to hear these insights from someone who is walking the walk, vs someone who may only blog an hour/week.

  2. #2 by Research Papers on December 19, 2008 - 2:38 am

    I'm sure this post is and will be of great value to numerous readers on your blog :)
    Thanks Paul

    Guy

  3. #3 by Paul on December 19, 2008 - 6:01 am

    Thx Guys i do this 24/7 most days, the amount of site i have now takes up alot of time lol. On another subject yesterday some of my sites were majoraly hacked into, I strongly suggest people to update to wordpress 2.7 asap, 2.6 has some flaws hackers can take advantage of.

  4. #4 by Leo dimilo on December 19, 2008 - 9:09 am

    I have to agree here. If you don't know the niche, then your competitors who do will eat you alive.

    <abbr>Leo dimilo’s last blog post..Why Internet Marketers and Make Money Bloggers Fail</abbr>

  5. #5 by Shirley on December 20, 2008 - 6:23 am

    Great article. You've hit on something really good here.

    The reason that many new bloggers or web entrepreneurs fail is because they don't have a solid business plan. They think of what they want to achieve, but don't realize what it'll take to get there. ie. I might want to have a great blog on hot new electronics, but the only think I know about are computers. So it'd probably be best if I narrowed my scope…

    <abbr>Shirley’s last blog post..Recession Special: How to Advertise on a Shoestring</abbr>

  6. #6 by Bryan on February 16, 2009 - 8:07 am

    Paul - I completely agree with you on this point. However, I also suspect that a number of would-be bloggers are hesitant to start blogging in fear of someone challenging them on their content or knowledge level. You do need to be well versed in the area that you want to focus in, but don't have to be an "expert". If that were the case, there would be far fewer blogs online. Personally, I think you can be well versed on a topic and still make money.

    <abbr>Bryan’s last blog post..Know of any ergonomic desk chairs?</abbr>

  7. #7 by John on March 5, 2009 - 2:29 pm

    I rarely comment on blogs but yours I had to stop and say Great Blog!!

  8. #8 by peter on March 18, 2009 - 11:58 pm

    That is useful tip I believe. I agree, before selling a product or anything, you need to be an expert. Good example of diabetes.

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