The Proof Is In The Pudding
The truth is out! If you ever doubted that blogging was more than a social media experience, think again. In fact, blogging is only one of two things:
- A social media experience
- A search engine driven medium
Unless you visit other blogs and spend some time commenting, nobody will ever show up on yours in return. I know because I have purposely experimented with that over the last month. As you can see, my last two posts have next to no comments, while previously I received dozens on each posts.
This goes to show that search engine traffic is your bread & butter if you ever intend to:
- Get decent traffic without having to lift a finger after you published your posts.
- Earn income through your blog.
The truth is that most of us want either of this, if not both. So unless you have hours to invest each day to go visit other blogs and do the social media circus, your own readership will diminish.
On the other hand, if you rank well for many related keywords on search engines, your traffic will always be stable and that is why you should always try to optimize your blog for SEO and SEM.
I have a confession to make
First off, I’m pissed off at Google. For some reasons, when I changed my blog theme my PR dropped from a healthy 4 to 0. But not only that. Up until then I was ranking well for my target keyword on Google. The last time I checked I sat on number 16 in the global rankings which is close to first page.
Now I can’t even find my blog in the top 100 of this keyword search which to me indicates that I might have been penalized. Trouble is what for. I do everything by the books so what in the heck is going on?
This was he result of 18 months of effort and hard work, building my blog step by step, doing the right things (no black hat) to get my blog ranked well naturally.
Imagine the surprise I had when I discovered what happened. Upon talking to some friends who are technically a little more talented than me, even they are puzzled as to what happened.
To my knowledge, I have done nothing wrong and if I could contact Google I would, but the problem is I can’t seem to find any contact details on the Webmaster’s site to do so. Some people told me not to bother as they don’t get back to you anyway. Go figure!
If you wonder why I am pissed off it is because I was so close to attract good paying advertisers to this blog. People usually don’t want to advertise unless a blog has decent PR and search engine rankings.
I even left a comment on Matt Cutt’s blog and asked for help but he simply deleted it and never got back to me. I don’t mind him deleting the comment, because I told him he could, but I expected him to have more backbone and at least point me in the right direction by email or even here with a short comment. This just shows they really don’t give a rats ass about us, unless our name is CNN or some other big named site.
I’m sure he is busy as hell, but so am I and I always help my readers or those who send me an email asking for help.
The reason I did go to Matt’s blog is because Google is so stingy with their contact information that unless you probably dig 10 layers down you will never see it. I can understand this in some ways, but if you are desperate like me, you want answers fast.
The worst thing is not knowing why something happened to you. It sucks!
Is it too much to try to monetize our blogs?
Up until now I have provided readers with a ton of helpful content to help them get started with their own freelance writing career. I hardly ever bothered with affiliate links and such, always thinking that once my blog has a PR 5 I could attract corporate businesses who can pay me for adds instead.
But now this has happened I wonder why I even bother to be honest. It is OK to try help people, but eventually everybody likes to make some money with their blogs.
After 18 months of helping others I don’t think it is too much to try place some ads on the site (naturally with the nofollow link attribute).
In closing
So my question to you is this: are you a social blogger, not interested to make money with it at all, or do you hope to make a few dollars here and there with your blog?
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
Brett Legree | Nov 26, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika,
About your PR – that also happened to Men with Pens (Men, if you’re listening, you had listed on one of your pages that your PR is 5, but if you check it now it is 0 – I used the free checker at Blogflux, believe me I was surprised).
But I really don’t know what is up with that, just because you changed your theme. That does not make sense or seem fair, as you’ve worked hard to get here.
To answer your question, I don’t think there is anything wrong with monetizing our blogs. My current blog started out as an experiment and is very much still that way, though I’ve added some affiliate links and a “Hire Me” page just recently – hey, why not?
I’m not sure if I will put up adverts there, but as you know from our other chats I do plan some niche blogging and that *will* be monetized.
Hey, we all need to make money to eat!
Other than that – I hope you are well, my friend, and having a wonderful day – your weather looks gorgeous over there! Meanwhile, my snowblower got some use today…
Ah well, in time… in time… until then, here’s a virtual flat white.
-Brett
Leanne Magraith | Forever Change | Nov 26, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika
My blog is a part time hobby for me and a creative outlet, however when I first started my blog, I thought I might be able to make a small amount of money (emphasis on small). Now I have no intention of doing anything to make money on my blog, plus I don’t get the traffic to make it worthwhile.
I had no idea what my page rank was so I checked it out. I have a PR of 2 which surprised me as my weekly visitors are in the 100′s not 1,000′s.
Google – who can work them out? I hope your PR goes back up soon Monika.
Medic | Nov 26, 2008 | Reply
Monika,
Sorry to hear about your PR and frustrations. I am not much into social blogging. Outside of Grizz and Court I really don’t read many blogs. Yours just happens to be one of ones I do read
Hang in there and I think you should advertise. I do appreciate the information, but you have a right to reap benefits besides us patting you on the back for a job well done. You gotta eat ya know!
Writer Dad | Nov 26, 2008 | Reply
My blog started out as an exercise in voice, but I’ve always intended to monetize at some point. Don’t ever feel the need to apologize Monkia. You are awesome.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome | Nov 26, 2008 | Reply
Wow, that’s frustrating!
Since I don’t know any of my google metrics, I can’t say what my status is and whether it’s gone up for down recently.
Maybe it’s a case of your google sitemap being different because of the new theme and therefore to Google you’re starting over (at 0). Maybe you’ll climb back up quickly.
BTW, I love the new theme!
Cheers,
Alex
Terry Didcott | Nov 26, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika,
Yeah, I know what its like to be ignored!
I just had two PR4 niche blogs slapped down to zero for doing nothing wrong. No black hat, no dup content, no ads, no bad links nothing. As you might have noticed my honestway site and blog got put down to PR2 for no good reason as well.
I think the geeks at goog are, how shall I say this… mmm ok, I better not LMAO!!!
But you’re right about getting organic traffic to your site if you want to make any money from it. Therein lies the rub. When you’re doing everything by the book and G is still being a horses arse, its enough to make you tear your hair out. Especially when there are many obviously black hat sites out there doing very nicely from them thank you very much.
Hate to say it but if you can’t beat ‘em…
lissie | Nov 26, 2008 | Reply
I hear horror stories like this from people who create much better sites than I could in a million years and I guess I just feel like I need to diversify, diversify, diversify! Also I feel that a site has to start paying sooner rather than later because who knows what G will change tomorrow?
I have just started blogging on a regular basis, apart from my flagship blog which is hardly regularly updated, and I have two blogs going on the same site: one focussed on trends blogging which is doing fine with G for a new blog; the other one has gone *shock horror* social to the point I have even added entrecard to it and “buzzed” some posts! As its a revenue site which pays me on traffic I am having some fun working out which takes longer to build a consistent traffic with! I thnk the art of combining search traffic AND social is really difficult in one site: Grizz is the only one I’ve seen do that really well
Tumblemoose | Nov 27, 2008 | Reply
Well Monika that just plain sucks. I imagine it’s like trying to get something accomplished through a government agency and having to wade through layer upon layer of bureaucracy. I hope you’re able to get it straightened out. If any of your readership is able to help I’m sure we’d be glad to do so.
My goal is to build traffic through helpful blog posting in order to grow what I am able to do with my blog. More traffic means more ability to add features and attract more clients. All of these things adds credibility and therefore opportunity.
Cheers
George
zania | Nov 27, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika,
)
sorry I haven’t commented here for a while, but I’ve been pretty busy myself (I still read your posts though
As to your PR and search engine ranking, all over the net it seems people are complaining about losing page rank and placings at the moment. Hopefully things will rearrange themselves soon.
But have you looked at your page source? I know that search engine spiders are supposed to head on in for the h1 tags, but if they don’t, there is an awful lot of stuff in your header for them to get by first (okay they are not supposed to be able to read java script but…).
But when they get to your h1 tag, you have it set up to be the post title, which is great if your title is well optimised, but, giving this post as an example, your h1 tag is ‘the proof is in the pudding’ – have you tried searching to see if you are ranking for puddings?
Monika | Nov 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Brett: I also checked the Pen Men but they still show a PR 5 in my status bar. Hmmm…maybe it was temporary or your checker didn’t show accurate results or mine is stuffed. Who knows.
I think it is great you added a hire me page to your blog. Every little bit helps right. Your flat white went down well yesterday and let me tell you, I did need it. LOL.
I have since calmed down a little and there is not much I can really do anyway but to just keep going, right.?
@ Leanne: Thanks for your supportive words. It is great to see you had a lovely surprise about your own PR. I’m usually not really fussed about PR anyway, but this blog is my baby and seeing it go down like that not only sucks, but hurts too for all the sweat that has gone into it.
@ Medic: You certainly honored me with what you said. Both Griz and Court are top marketers as well as friends and little me fitting in along the lines is indeed a privilege.
I certainly appreciate your supportive words.
@ WD: Thanks buddy, that helps for sure. I’m sure your blog will continue to do very well indeed. Keep up your awesome work Sean.
@ Alex: Your blog is a PR 3. If you use Firefox to broswe the Internet you can download an addon called “Search Status”. You will find this by going to tools – addons – browse all addons and then search for this addon.
I actually like your suggestion re. the sitemap. Could well be and this is something I haven’t taken into account. I’m glad you like the new theme as well.
@ Terry: Thanks my friend, I know exactly what you mean and like you, I have seen plenty of black hatters with their crappy sites and high PR. It is indeed enough to commit murder. LOL. I am sorry to hear you got slapped as well.
Maybe we have to become BH ourselves if that is what it takes. Move over to the dark side you know.
Hahahaha….
…be afraid…be VERY afraid!
@ Lissie: I think you got the right idea. Getting a sirte up to build fast income rather than slow is key if we want to pay our bills and have food on the table. It seem G is doing whatever they want, changing their damn rhythms every half hour while conveniently giving themselves all the nice PR rankings.
They REALLY need competition that is strong enough to kick them up the butt.
@ George: Thanks for sharing your target in regards to blogs. I saw you on the new “fun blog” and it looks cool. I’m sure you’ll do very well with them.
@ Zania: LOL, maybe I should setup a pudding website instead. No, I haven’t checked my h1 tag and will have to look into that for sure. I appreciate your pointer.
Good to see you around anyway.
Brett Legree | Nov 27, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika,
There’s a good chance it was the one I used. I don’t use the Google Toolbar in any of my browsers (but it does PR, right?) – likely it is more accurate than the one I used, as I used a non-Google site.
Or maybe it was temporary and hopefully this is just hiccup for you too!
Glad you enjoyed the flat white… right now I need a fourex
but as you say, we must keep on going.
-Brett
Lawrence Miller | Nov 27, 2008 | Reply
Monika, you tell it like you see it, and you usually see it in the right light, and that’s just one of the things that is so good about you. I reckon your charity is the only greater attribute you have that characterizes who you are.
So, here we go again with another mystery of the internet. For unknown reasons, you now find that the boys at Google are upset at you for no known reason and they are acting more like goo-gooing babies than the responsible guardians of the internet they would have us see them as. Maybe there is a reason for this penalty, but you would hope they would step up and tell you what the heck it is that you have done to get their hackles up, instead of seemingly, petulantly hiding in their Mountain View lair and sipping their lattes while you boil.
Hopefully, you will get a git-outta- jail card in a little while that shows all is forgiven.
I am with you on the best way to build and keep internet traffic. If going the social media route; including, visiting a multitude of blogs to leave comments, where the best of the best ways to build traffic, I am afraid would end up going no where on the internet. I ain’t gonna do it, no matter who says it is the way to go.
Just keep on doing what you do best. It will come to you in due course. It will come to you big time.
Monika | Nov 27, 2008 | Reply
@ Brett: Oh well, it is what it is (oops that sounds like a guy I know).
Here is your XXXX. Enjoy!
@ Lawrence: Thanks for your getting out of jail card buddy. Hahaha… I might need that soon. As for that mountain view with the latte, hmmm…maybe I should join the petulant ways myself.
Brett Legree | Nov 27, 2008 | Reply
@Monika,
(raising my XXXX to you, though it’s only 7:30 am now – my my, I’m off to a good start today!)
I always say that too – it is what it is – but I don’t know if guys have licence on that alone. I think it’s a good saying!
Vered - MomGrind | Nov 28, 2008 | Reply
“Unless you visit other blogs and spend some time commenting, nobody will ever show up on yours in return.” Very true. People may still read your blog, but commenting takes time and energy and will only happen if there’s a mutual commenting relationship.
Unless you have a hugely popular blog – then people comment because they see it as free advertising, or because they are hoping to connect with you and get something from you.
In other words, people will only regularly comment on a blog if there’s something in it for them.
People are self-serving. It’s human nature and I’m not even sure it’s such a bad thing. It probably goes back to the beginning of time – being self serving is a great survival skill and after all, as much as we hate to admit it, now that we’ve become so sophisticated, life is still all about survival.
Monika | Nov 28, 2008 | Reply
@ Vered: You are so right and I know it is what it is. It is not bad either and like you said, it is only human. The relationship factor does play a huge role I think and blogs like yours and Brett’s are a testimony to this.
You guys do spend a good while every day commenting on other blogs and in return you get consistent traffic. I used to do this myself and spend 3 hours a day reading blogs and comment. But I just found it too tiring and non productive in the sense of making money (is that bad?) so I cut right back to concentrate more on the tasks that do grow my business.
Despite this, I do miss the frequent interaction with people like you, but unfortunately there is a price to pay for everything, don’t you think.
Kevin | Nov 28, 2008 | Reply
Hey Monika,
Sorry to hear about the Google PR problems. Wish I could offer some advice but that is far over my level at the moment!
As for monetizing and ads, I wish you would do more of that with your blog. I see you and your blog as a first-class example and you should be rewarded as such. You need to do what you need to do, no shame in that.
Just my two cents.
Cath Lawson | Nov 29, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika – I’ve been doing the same thing as you over the last couple of weeks. Don’t get me wrong – I like reading other blogs. But I can’t afford to be spending hours each week reading and commenting on flaming blogs. And like you, I want to make money.
I wonder what the hell is going on with your PR. This also happened to kimwoodbridge.com and she doesn’t have a clue what she’s done either.
Maybe it’s worth looking at her source code and comparing it with yours, incase you’re both making some stupid error? I think she also left a comment on Matt Cutts blog. It seems so unfair that they would penalize you like that.
I’m also working really hard to get more search traffic, so I can understand how you must be feeling. I only have PR3 right now – but I’ve deleted all my links to John Chow and I’m going to add “no follow” to my ads and see how that goes.
Monika | Nov 29, 2008 | Reply
@ Kevin: I have started to monetize this blog with several trials. See what will happen. I appreciate your concern about the PR but right now all I can do is wait and see.
@ Cath: Yep, I’m with you. I feel exactly the same way. I didn’t know that Kim had the same issues and just come back from her blog. Interesting to say the least.
Nofollow to ads is a must if you don’t want to fall into the bad books of G. Smart lady you.
Kim Woodbridge | (Anti) Social Development | Nov 29, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika – Just what I wanted to be famous for – a drop in page rank
And I have learned way more about this topic than I ever wanted to.
I didn’t leave a comment on Matt Cutt’s blog. The best thing to do is submit a Reconsideration Request. I’ve read that if you submit one and don’t hear anything for a couple of weeks to resubmit. You have to have a Webmaster’s Tools account to do this http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35843
I haven’t submitted one yet and I don’t know if I’m going to.
I don’t think your new theme is the cause. The 301 redirect is the more likely culprit. It will take google some time to reindex. I’ve read it can take 3 weeks to 3 months. But it probably won’t show anything until the next page rank update. I just moved a site to a new domain and it currently has no page rank – but I expected that to happen.
Are you still getting search engine traffic and have decent placement? I would be more concerned about that than the PR. I have not lost that.
I’m hoping the google is just shuffling things around and things get sorted soon.
Sire | Nov 29, 2008 | Reply
I had two PR4 blogs that got slapped to 0, and I know why, its because I did paid posts. I reckon Google wants to keep all the advertisers for himself the greedy bastard. The thing is that I still do paid posts, I just don’t get as many highly paid ops, though I did get a $20 one today.
So then, whilst keeping those other blogs, I decided to start some new ones, only this time by doing everything right. After getting it to PR3 one was slapped to PR0 and the only thing I could put it to was that Google didn’t like the name of the Blog which was loadofbullshit.co? The thing is why give me the PR in the first place? I know longer bother about Google. I blog the way I want and Google can go get stuffed.
Monika | Nov 30, 2008 | Reply
@ Kim: LOL, isn’t it funny, the same occurrence brings us all together, mulling what in the world could have happened. I do have a webmaster account but am not sure whether a reconsideration request will be answered in the first place.
I think you might be right with the 301. Even though Google says to use them (opposed to 302s, it might have dropped me off the map when I swapped things around.)
So I guess I’m getting a little more relaxed about it right now and just wait and see what happens at the next update. I have enough incoming links to think I should go back to a PR3 at least, but maybe it is too late to account for them all as updates have probably already been calculated. If that happens and I’m still a 0 I might to the request after all.
I don’t want to wit another 3 months to attract good paying advertisers.
As for SE traffic, yes I still do get it, but my main keyword “freelance writing” has dropped into nowhere and that bugs me more than anything. However, I’m confident it’ll come back at some stage.
Thanks for peeking in, I’m glad to have discovered your blog (thanks to Cath Lawson), even though it was over unfortunate circumstances for us both. But hey, life goes on right!
@ Sire: I understand that you are not giving a rats … about Google anymore. I however do because it is Google that will ultimately pay my bills for ranking well and getting SE traffic.
Like you, I blog how I want to as well but I do try to stick to the guidelines they put down. I suppose we choose whatever is best for us, don’t we?
Anyway, I really appreciate you stopped by and shared your own PR experience with us.
tkada.com | Dec 2, 2008 | Reply
Sorry for coming to know your PR ranking backward and so going down with adds. Has you a success full blogger, I am sure you can sustain your niche back again.
I am not a social blogger, making money blogger but with social attitude.
Monika | Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
@ tdaka: Thank you, I appreciate your words and taking the time to comment. I am sure things will be better again with my PR over time.
Ricardo Bueno | Dec 15, 2008 | Reply
Re: Comments to Build Traffic
I have to agree that good ol’ fashioned commenting is one of the best ways to drive traffic to your blog! I’ve made some great relationships that way (especially having gotten outside of my niche). The problem with me though is that sometimes, I don’t get a chance to visit other blogs often. I read their posts through my feedreader but don’t get a chance to comment (when I can’t think of something to say, I opt to say nothing at all as opposed to saying “great post. Thanks!”).
Re: Monetizing Your Blog
I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with it. When I first started Ribeezie, it was nothing like what it is today. I didn’t promote any services through the site. I offered web designs off-site and got a few clients via good ol’ fashioned word-of-mouth but the site was just a place of reflection and sharing for me.
Fast forward a few months later though and I’m promoting what I do: consulting and web design. I have a few affiliate products on there but their products that I’ve purchased/used and from people I can account for.
Here’s the thing though, every time I did something to monetize my site, whether it was adding my services page or adding advertisements, I let my readers know of the change so that they weren’t caught off guard about it. I was being as transparent as possible in doing so and in the end, I think everyone appreciated me for that (or so I hope they did).
Anyway, hope some of that was helpful… Have a great week!
Friar | Dec 20, 2008 | Reply
Oh, I’m late for the party. Oh well.
Regarding commenting. It also has a lot to do whether you write about the “Flavor-of-the-Month” topic.
I’ve seen some posts that say almost nothing of any substance, but they’ll get 50-60 comments because a “Cool Kid” said it.
While other people might write excellent heart-felt original posts and they might not even get a dozen. Annoys the hell out of me. Such is Life in the Blogosphere.
I’m a social blogger. I do it for fun….I’m under no expectations that I’ll make any money off this. I really don’t think blogging will match my existing salary (or if it does, I’d certainly have to work more than 37.5 hours a week I currently put in….)
I do have a few ideas I’m working on. I think they’ll make some money. Mabye. But not serious money.
Maybe a bit extra to top up my vacation fund, or pay for some car repairs. But I’m going to be doing my artwork and writing anyway, regardless if I get paid. So like I said…any money I make is purely bonus.
I have to laugh about Google PR numbers. (I didnt’ even know what that meant a few months ago).
I was told I have a PR Number of 4. I guess that’s supposed to be a good. Though I did ASOLUTELY NOTHING to try to achieve that.
Christine | Dec 27, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika,
Same happened to me… I went from a nice PR4 to a PR0 on one of my websites, which has been online for over 5 years!! Go figure.. Frankly, I never made money with it. In part my fault, but the past year the low PR has not helped.
No, I’m not a social bloggers. Bloggers need to eat as well, and pay for an internet connection!