Why are Blogs That Make Money so Rare?

There are far more people that don’t make money (or much money) on their blogs than people who do. I am a believer that it doesn’t have to be this way. There is plenty to go around for all of us. Yet I also see clearly why many blogs aren’t making money.

We at Pajama Affiliate recently offered a service of a mini blog evaluation.  We uncovered a lot of reasons as to why so many blogs aren’t making money.

It comes down to a lack of knowledge and people just doing what other people tell them to do without any thought as to if it will actually apply to and work for them.

So what is it that bloggers aren’t knowledgeable about?

Blogs that Don’t Target an Audience Don’t Make Money

There are far more blogs out there that haven’t succeeded in targeting their audience than those that do.

They blog about so many different topics, that they fail to capture any particular audience.

This results in a wide variety of visitors interested in a wide variety of things and no specific audience to capture.  If you haven’t targeted a specific audience people will click off.

While the Walmart type of business works well in the real world, it doesn’t work so well in the online world.  I will go to Walmart if I need a wide variety of stuff.

Your typical online browser people don’t need a wide variety of stuff!  Hear what I’m saying right now –  YOUR READER IS LOOKING FOR ONE SPECIFIC THING or information about one specific topic.

If they need wide variety, they just go straight to Amazon.  Statistics say that over 70% of product buyers just go directly to Amazon.

So if I am looking for a chocolate mint cream cupcake recipe and I also find star wars action figures, baby diapers, makeup tips and cat grooming tips, you just lost me.  You have targeted bakers, action figure collectors, mothers and cat people.  I am 55, wear little makeup and I don’t have babies.

Who is your audience?  Do you know?

Think about reading a book.  Let’s say it’s a novel by Stephen King Novel.  You get into it good, then all of a sudden the next few pages are from War and Peace or Gone with the Wind.

Note also that if you blog on a wide variety of topics, Google nor your reader will consider you an expert.  You are shooting in the dark.

Blogs That Don’t Offer up The Right Solutions Make Little Money!

The products that you offer to your audience need to be relevant and I have found that there is often not much thought into this.

I like to use my faithful Crockpot analogy.  Why? Because a lot of bloggers are able to relate to this analogy, that’s why! I’ve seen more light bulbs go off with this analogy than any other!

If I am searching for a Crockpot (slow cooker) recipe, I already have a Crockpot!   Please do not link me to a crockpot because I have one if I am searching for a recipe!

You can’t make a lot of crockpot sales on a crockpot recipe.

There are better suggestions ….

You can increase your blogging income by knowing how to choose products that will actually convert to sales on your blog. Products that are relevant, products that solve a problem, products that just flat out scream “must have!”  I did not know I must have a vegetable spiral thingy until I saw a demonstration video in a blog post.  Before that, I didn’t even know it existed. Way easier than a potato peeler.

Are Product Reviews Dead?

Many are still doing product reviews.  The thought here is if someone is searching for a specific product, they are ready to buy.  While this is true, statistics say over 70% of product searches start on Amazon.  That number is only going to grow.  Amazon is a giant and growing.  Something to think about if you are building your empire on product reviews.  Problems and solutions seems to be a smarter route now.

Itchy Nose Video Below!

Bloggers That Make the Most Money Know Their Audience!

Bloggers that make the most money are in tune with their market and know their audience.  They keep up with the changes in the market and adapt accordingly.  When they find something is not working, they tweak things and check out what others are doing….

Real bloggers that make money blaze their own path and they do things because they are inspired too, not because everyone else is doing it.

Are you thinking before you implement the latest advice? Are you asking yourself, “will this work for me? why?”

I was on a thread in a group last week with a blogger asking how to get more page views?  Pageviews?  Why Pageviews?

She was give some pretty crappy advice by other bloggers… all I could think to myself is, “I sure hope this girl knows her target audience and can think for herself!”

What works for others may not work for you and how do you even know it’s working for them?

 Consider the source of the advice and always consider whether or not it’s going to work for your target audience.  Do you even know who your target audience is?

There is no one way to blogging, it’s a lifestyle that is not set in stone by any one set of criteria.

Bloggers that make the most money are the ones targeting their audience, not chasing page views.  The quality of your audience is where you’re going to find the most money – not the quantity of your audience.   You will naturally acquire a quality readership base when you target an audience in one specific area of their interest.

I have barely scratched the surface here.  It would be an entire book to continue why blogs do or do not make money.

If you have struggled for a year or more, allow us do a Blog Evaluation for you so we can save you time and tell you what areas you need to improve.

Stop spinning your wheels and get some professional help!