Even if they are updating and writing lots of posts daily.

Even if they spend most of their time networking with other bloggers. Heck they are getting traffic, yet they are not making any money.

So where things went wrong?

This situation reminded me of this case by Daniel Lyons who started a blog called “The Secret Diary of Fake Steve Jobs”.

He toiled over his blog as a fake steve jobs for months. When the story leaked out about his blogs. Millions of readers melted down his web servers. The kind of traffic that went through this was staggering.

The funny thing about this situation was, he wasn’t making any money with that traffic. That’s why he made a statement in a press release saying “While blogs can do many wonderful things, making huge amounts of money isn’t one of them.”

When I found out about this. I was like “Whoa, Amazing idea, stupid execution”.

The major issue with his blog was “The traffic was not focused or targeted”. Millions of steve jobs fans flooded his website but it was only for the sake of curiosity.

There was nothing, he could promote, he could sell. There even wasn’t any kind of marketing strategy. How would he make money from that blog?

The idea was to find a “Most wanted Response”. When a visitor is on your blog or website, you want them to do something. You have to decided what actions they should take.

Then you have to decide what kind of strategy to implement to the designated action.

What are your readers going to do on your blog?

Are they going to read your content and check out the products you are promoting?

Are they going to come on to your blog and click on adsense ads?

Or are they going to check out your blog and leave comments?

Or are they coming to your blog for some time pass?

Decide what you want them to do and then guide them towards it. For example, When I started my first blog, I wanted them to buy the products I was promoting. Even with a 100 unique visitors per day I was making 20-30 dollars per day in affiliate commission.

Why? Because I was clear on what I wanted my readers to do? As my traffic started growing, I literally doubled my income from that blog.

Without the focus and direction, any blogger will only get overwhelmed and face hardships. Those who succeed often avoid this just by intuition.

So what you can do right now?

Sit down with pen and paper and find out what exactly do you want your readers to do. How are you going to achieve this target? Even if your are cooking these ideas from the top of the head, you are better off. As you grow your blog overtime, you’ll start noticing things which will direct you towards making money from your blog.

Why some bloggers struggle even after doing everything right? Ever wondered why some bloggers tend to do everything right from writing to making tons of money while other struggles to even pay  monthly hosting bills? Click here.

Most designers can build a great blog design, but they don’t have any idea about the marketing aspect of it. So as we discuss the design, we’ll be discussing it from both designer’s and marketer’s perspective.

Starting with Header

Most designer spend a lot of time with header to showcase their skills. Whereas marketers do not worry about header. They need something clean, simple and effective. If you look at it, you’ll need a header which consists of a simple logo and Tag line (or Elevator pitch).

The header is also very important real estate of your blog. You cannot just squander it with trying to make it pretty.

A Subscribe Now Section.

If you want to build your list, then you should put your subscribe now section in prime real estate of your blog design. You cannot just let this opportunity to go waste. If possible, make sure, this section is prominent in every blog page.

A Featured Post.

This is purely meant for branding purposes. If you have an article that gets high response/ high readership, then you should make it as featured post. Always showcase your best content.

These days, magazine style themes are very popular. In their blog page design, they always keep a featured post section in prominent areas (often on left hand side of your screen). If you are using this kind of theme, then use this feature.

Adding Images.

Now images can add to personality to your content. If you are not a photographer or cannot use photoshop, then I highly recommend you to take a subscription at few of free stock photography sites. You’ll be able to use high quality images legally.

These are few issues that you should deal with your blog design, before you get started. There are many more things that can be improved in almost any design. But then it’s more of a personalized issue and cannot be handled in a general “how to” article like this.

Blog design is just one issue that you need to understand in a marketing process. You also have to work on strategy, reach and content factors. Click Here for more blogging tips/advice

In this article, I am going to discuss few key point that will make you a full time blogger and generate regular monthly income. After reading this article, you’ll be able to immediately implement these strategies.

One of the most important difference between full time blogger and a hobbyist is how they treat blogging. If you want to make money with blogging, then you have to treat it as a business venture. You have to give respect, time and commitment and persist to make it succeed.

First thing you should do is to buy a domain and hosting as you should host your blog on its own server. That way, you’ll have complete control over it. Next you have to worry about what kind of design you are going to use.

For a blog design, you can buy ready made templates or get them for free. You are not stripped of choices here. I highly recommend you to get a clean design without too much of clutter. The blogs where too many things are going on doesn’t succeed.

After design, you have to worry about content of your blog. One of the common mistake most blogger make is by not targeting their content properly. You should think of your target audience or readers who are going to read your article. You have to write stuff that they can read, interact and talk about. This is where all this content comes from. Remember without good content, your blog will probably will never shoot off.

Connect with other bloggers – Think of this as a community and connect with other in your niche market. Your blog cannot survive on it’s own. Find other blogs and leave comments to them. Find way to connect with these people.

As you can see, mindset, design, content and connection will go a long way to build a successful blog. You’ll be able to generate a monthly income following this simple formula.

I have a 9 step method which will help you make money blogging. Click Here to learn 9 steps of blogging.

Advice – Before you write – Set an Intention.

Joe’s advice was very simple. Before you sit down in front of your computer, you set an intention. The moment you set an intention, your mind start providing you with the information on what to write, how to write.

Just this creates an overflow of information in your mind and you have no way other than writing to let it out.

Since learning this lesson, I’ve used this advice in almost every situation where I have to write. In last 3–4 years I have yet to find this writer’s nightmare so called “White screen of death”.

I highly Recommend you to get a copy of Hypnotic writing from amazon.com

SIDE NOTE : Are you following on 100 articles challenge?

Right Now it’s 4 PM sunday and a thought came to my mind. Something that can help you build your website, your products and web traffic. On Nov 25,2009 I clocked my article writing speed at 300 words at 7 minutes 55 seconds. I know it’s surprisingly high speed and now you know it can be done.

I am calling this 100 Article Challenge.

The challenge is very simple. You are going to write 100 articles for your website (niche). It doesn’t matter in how many days you can do it. It’d great if you finish is as soon as possible.

With 100 articles written, you have content to promote for your website for next 3 months and 10 days. You can write 10 articles a day and finish this challenge in 10 days. You don’t have to worry about content and what to promote for next 3 months.

You can submit 1 article per day for 100 days (imagine how much it’ll help boost your traffic)

You can put together a few articles and create a PDF ebook to give away to your subscribers and build a list

You can expand few concepts taken from articles and create small reports (sellable at $10 – $30)

There are so many ways you can use these 100 articles.

You have 30 days to finish this challenge.

Post your results and effort on your blogs

UPDATE : Right now it’s 7 pm, and I decided to write few articles after making this challenge. I didn’t cared about how many words I am going to write and ended up 5 articles with varying length. I’ll start posting these articles (and promoting by morning).

Are you going to pull up your sleeves and take this challenge?

Blogging is far more mainstream than you might guess. But the best thing about blogging is about the way it creates a platform between you and your readers.

And that’s what I like best about blogging.

I’ll be updating my Power Up Blogging Website and keep posting new content here on this blog.

Ironic thing is I am not making it a blog instead a content site

You can already read tons of internet marketing content on this blog. I don’t want to make commitment which I cannot keep.   

Sept 7, 2004. I started my first blog without knowing anything about marketing, selling or creating content, designing. I knew nothing about blogging at all.. All I knew was what someone told me about it “Varun, its good for your site”. Yeah well.

For next 10 months life was pretty much like a roller coaster. I experienced more emotions in those 10 months than I ever did in my life. To me, succeeding with blogging was important. After failing in last 3 business, online business was my only hope.

And thank god for blogging, it changed my life.

So today, I am going to give you peeks into my experience and show you how to build a successful blog. I know there are many questions that might be in your mind right now. questions like

1. What kind of design should I go for?

2. How many times per week or per day should I post?

3. What should I sell on my blog (can I even sell?)

4. What about branding, building traffic etc?

5. I wonder how I’ll create content for the blog?

These are very common questions. And they are important factor that needs to be addressed. One of the difficult question I faced during my time was “how to sell using blogs?”. It took me many months and quite a few of sleepless nights to find answer.

2nd problem was “how to create content for my blog?”. Now if you know Content is Foundational stone for your blogs or website, then you understand how important it is for you to create content that brings reader, get them hooked and make them loyal reader.

If you know anything about writing, you know its not easy at all. In fact if you can answer just the above 2 questions on (selling and content), you have already won 98% of the battle. 2 % is all about persistence.

Boy did I persist. I created over 300 posts in 10 months and took my blog from making peanuts to making $150 per day. The crazy thing was it was on free blog system at blogspot.com (Did I hear someone talk about bad branding?)

My first thought was may be I got lucky. But I talked to a friend to mine and shared my ideas. She turned her blog in just 22 days ( I was literally pulling my hair out with the surprise results).

Don’t forget Content is the foundation base that you’ll need to provide to create a selling platform. That’s the only way to do it. There are no secret tagging system or secret keyword strategies or link building tricks… Nope, none at all. All of these tricks should be added later.

Foundational content

When you are creating foundational base for your website or blog, your content will become a KEY factor in it. More important than keywords you use, any SEO techniques you may implement.

This is where you should focus on. While creating content there are few things you have to remember. You should ask these questions to yourself

1. What does my viewers like about _____ (put your niche)?

2. What does my viewers want to read about _______ ?

3. What things viewers hate in _______?

4. WHat kind of content can be called timeless?

5. How other bloggers are writing their content?

5a. Is there anyway I can improve the content or the service of the content?

5b. May be I can enhance the experience of content in anyway?

6. Does it matter if I provide current gossip?

6a. Do I need to worry about gossip at all?

The moment you start asking these questions, you’ll start seeing the kind of content your readers want from you. You’ll be able to build a foundation with content that’ll bring traffic automatically. Think

How can I get readers to consume more of my content?

The answer lies within the above questions.

In the above story about my friend, she started posting 2–3 times a day with short articles and notices. Because that’s what her readers wanted and her traffic and income more than trippled in 22 days.

If you need any help with your blog design, content formation or blog marketing, you can always check up with me.

Varun Pratap

Aim for that peak like mad
Shadow Such people and Cheer Them On.

Let me solve your Internet Marketing or Blog Marketing Problems & answer any questions you want.

You can Ask any questions. No question is too small or stupid for me. You can ask me things like.

How to get traffic to new blogs?

How to sell affiliate products?

Do you think product A B or C can help me?

How Can I use email marketing with my blogs?

Do you think blog can help me brand my product/myself?

Can you show me how can I use advanced techniques like blog farming?

I am thinking of starting with PPC, I don’t want to lose my shirt over this, can you show me how to play safe?

Not only that I’ll help you with 4 key areas

1. Content: Write great content over and over again. I’ll show you how to never run out of things to say…
2. Design : A good design is a must. But you should know when to say “that’s enough”
3. Reach : There’ll be no chance for your best design or content to sell your product or services without reach.
4. Action: You are not selling anything unless your visitors take action

Like I said, There is no small question. I’ll help you with your issues.

2. Here’s How it works.

Contact me at with email subject line “Blog Consultation”. I’ll contact you and chat with you discussing your problems.

Depending on your choice -

You can either get a written review from me.

Or a Video review where I discuss what you can implement on your stuff.

Oh btw I don’t work with everyone… Here are few things you should remember when communicating with me.

1. Your customers should be satisfied with your service or product. If you like “Bait and Switch” kind of guy, then please do not contact me.
   I only work with people who are honest, ethical and have high morals.You can make money without using “Hook or crook” methodology.
2. You must sell multiple services or products. If not, then you should be open to create new product or services. I can show you many ways to increase profits by leveraging and multiple products is one of the best way.
3. You must be open to new ideas and be ready to implement them. Only then you’ll succeed in any business.

If you are ready to get in touch with me then… Contact me Now.

Varun Pratap

Aim for that peak like mad
Shadow Such people and Cheer Them On.

I am often asked that question. You probably already know about blogging as a very effective tool for search engine optimization. To help you with structuring a traffic pulling blog, I decided to write this article.

Just how do you structure a “traffic generating blog”?

Basically, it consists of 2 simple things. Ability to index content and ability to reach and communicate with audience. If you remember, blogging was initially used by internet marketer as a indexing tool few years ago. Even then most marketer underestimated it’s ability and underused the tool. I wonder if you’ve already began to notice the fact how blogging has gone from just a fad to phenomenon.

1. Setting up your blog

Before you start blogging, you have to set up/install your blog. The easiest way to install blog on your website is by using Fantastico and wordpress combination. Most hosting companies have cpanel and fantastico installed for their customer’s ease. Fantistco will help you install wordpress blog in 5 minutes.

2. Setting up bare bone SEO structure for the blog.

After installation, you have to start with basic setting. Things like Permalink structure, which will define the links generation by the blog. You should also install few good plugins like “All in one SEO”, “google sitemap” plugin.

3. Using indexing tool properly

Indexing is done by pinging different services all over the net. WordPress uses pingomatic.com to ping multiple services. What these pinging services do is that they let the search engines know of the updated content.

You’ll also find many websites, giving out a list of 60–80 different pinging services. Often you’ll find many blogger’s suggest you to add the list into pinging list of wordpress publishing. If you are dding that, then you should remove the pingomatic option and paste the links manually in it’s place.

Understand there’s 2 kinds of pinging used by wordpress. 1. The main ping when new content is posted. 2. Secondary ping whenever you do any kind of update on your blog (Editing existing post). If possible, you should check out few plugins (like ping optimizer) to avoid too many pinging possibilities. This will help you by not getting banned by ping services.

4. Ability to reach and communicate.

The most underused tool of blogging is it’s ability to communicate with others. People use blogging as indexing tool or ranting tool, but they tend to forget about the communication. Using blog will give you chance to connect with future prospects, readers and customers.

Think of it as tool to bridge gap of communication between you and your readers.

5. Promoting a blog.

If you’ve been blogging for some time, then you must have heard of one of the most popular myth that surrounds blogging is “Good content will bring readers”. Even with indexing tool and a great SEO tool, your blogging activities needs to be promoted to generate good traffic.

Connecting with others, article marketing and all the simple techniques can be used as promotion methods for blogging. Again, talking about promotion is bit out of scope of this article. We’ll discuss promotion in our future articles.

I’ll bet you’ll find it’s easier to promote a blog than a static website or a mini-site.

I call this template “hi buddy”. Why? because when I am using this template, I am imagining that I am talking to my best friend about the product/website.

Whenever you get stuck writing an article, Imagine you are calling your best friend.

Lead – in Paragraph -And start a conversation like this…

“hey buddy, You know, I was looking for X and came across this website.” This is your lead in paragraph or introduction for the article. You don’t need anything serious or special opening for the articles.

In this section you are going to talk about WHY? Why you were looking at X/Y/Z product or website. For example, if you are looking for a product on article writing, you’ll say something like this…

“Hey buddy, you know, I was having problems with writers block and For the life of me, I couldn’t just get anything to write. So I ended up doing search on landed on this great website, where the author suggests I can write articles in 10 minutes. Would you believe that?”

Be a skeptic – Next paragraph, you can act like a skeptic and write like you didn’t believe a word what the author suggested. Now if you want an example, it’ll go something like this…

“Sheesh, I don’t believe I can write an article in 10 minutes. How I am going to get ideas for the article? What about the research? What kind of article style I’d use? Heck I type at 20 words per minute. Do you really think I can think, research and finish an article in 10 minutes?”

Give a Reason – In this section I want you to give reason why you think X works. Now I know with my own example, I created a wall too high to climb, So I’ll give you another example.

“But you know for some reason I want to believe him. According to him, using a template can cut down your time to think and write. Moreover it forces and creates a habit which you can utilize to write articles fast. In fact according to the author, Your brain get accelerated when you put some kind of problem in front of it and it tries to give many possible solutions”

Support Your Reason – Now All you have to do is support your reason. If I have to support my above reason, then Here’s how I’d do this.

“Don’t believe me? here’s a simple exercise for you. I want to think of words starting with letter C. Now do this for next 10 minutes. You’ll notice you’ll be getting the words even after you’ve stopped thinking. Surprised how your brain works?”

Add examples – theories – stories – If you want you can add example, theories, stories to your articles to make them lengthy and interesting. I think I don’t give an example for this, right?

Finish with a simple conclusion – Conclusion is easy to write. All you have to do is talk about what you talked about in the article. So if you have “hi buddy” template, you can easily write an article in 10 minutes with proper lead in paragraphs, examples and stories to make it interesting read. I just finished writing a 560 words article with the same template.