Click for Nick

Are you running a sustainable business, or could the slightest change doom you to failure?  Many people are relying solely on one or two means if income for their blog, one which usually include Google Adsense.  This definately is not stable or sustainable.

Steve Mills put it well when he wrote:”Some online business’s rely entirely on Google adsense for revenue. Even if this does work for a time, the problem is that your business becomes reliant on the policies and politics of Google, and their continued support of the program. If Google changes their mind, or decides that they will half the advertising fees that get paid via adsense, then there is not a lot you can do about it. Unless you have an exit strategy or diversified income streams, this single point of failure could spell the end of your viable business in an instant.”

He also pointed out how Ebay changed their business strategy.  It used to cost 10 sents for listing an item on an EBay store, but when EBay realized they weren’t make much in comparison to these seller making loads of cash.  So EBay changed their strategy and well everyone was forced to either close shop or change their strategy.

The same could happen to Google Adsense.  All they have to do is raise their requirements or change their policies.  Would this doom your business? Can your business stay sustainable?

I was asked earlier by a reader how I got started in blogging and how to get started in blogging in general.  I started blogging sort of as a hobby.  Not as a business, probably also one of my biggest mistakes.  How did I get involved in blogging at all?  Well I read about how people were making tons of cash online using their blogs and like most others decided to join in the business.

At the beginning I did only make at most $1 per day.  But, I was happy with that.  I figured at least I enjoy what I write and get a little cash for that.  I spent the next few months figuring out the best ways to increase that traffic and come up with these tips:

1. Treat your Blog as a Business
If you expect to make money out of your blog, how do you expect to if you don’t treat it like a business?  Just like you probably work everyday at your job, why not post everyday?  Readers like a constant daily stream of new posts.  If you have to, post 7 posts on one day and scatter them throughout the week.  But whatever you do, post everyday. Would you read a magazine that has old content?  Watch a TV show that only shows reruns?

2. Make your blog a hobby
You won’t want to write your blog if you don’t find it fun.  I try to have fun on my blogs.  Over at sampleaday.com we gave away a postcard with a funny picture of ourselves on it.  It also helps that I am interesting in the topics of all the blogs I write.  Don’t write about something you yourself are not interested in.  Your readers are going to see right through your act.

3. Spend a Little Money to Grow Your Blog
If you want to grow your blog faster, don’t be afraid to spend a little money on google adwords.  At the begining I was spending $3 per day to gain subscribers. If you do decide to go this route, make sure to create a great landing page to direct your users to.   Check out my ClickforNick TV Online Landing page for a better idea.