Joining affiliate programs was once the most popular way of making an incoming through blogging, until targeted ads came along. Now affiliate ads are still very much widely used as is just as profitable, if you join the right program and get the traffic you need to make a profit.

When choosing an affiliate program to join here are some factors you should always take into consideration:

• Reputation – What is the reputation of the affiliate program you are considering to join? There are plenty of affiliate programs boasting an incredible amount of revenue but if they are not reputable then don’t believe their promises. The amount they are stating is not incredible but incredulous.
• Commission – After weeding out the non-reputable ones it is time to look at the figures. Which program offers a good commission rate? Compare the commission rates and compute how much you are likely to make in each program.
• Costumer Base – Sure the commission rates may be high but if their target customers is different from your readers then more likely than not you won’t be making any money for them or for you. Some affiliate programs have a variety of products and different commission rates depending on the product you help them sell. Compare the commission you get with the kind of readers you have in mind.
• Statistics – Checkout the statistics they provide. Opt for an affiliate program that gives you the actual numbers. Not only will the statistics provide you with more information as to the probability of success with that affiliate program but it also shows that they do know what they are doing.

to be continued…

It is somewhat ironic that after contextual advertising took off giving businesses an alternative to the traditional way of advertising (renting ad space from websites) it was then that businesses, both large and small, came to realize the power of blogs in advertising and thus became more willing to rent ad space. The difference this time though is that advertisers have become more picky in the websites and blogs they choose to “rent ad space” from.

Renting ad space is really profitable. However, not all blogs will be able to really profit from this scheme. To be able to make a profit after all you need to be able to attract advertisers and prove to them that the space you are offering them will be worth the money they fork out. To be able to do this your blog must be/have:

• Really popular. Big companies (meaning big bucks) will only sponsor blogs that have high volume of traffic. This means that if your blog is really new and you’re still building readership then you’d better forget about this for the moment.
• Updated regularly and frequently. Advertisers want a constant stream of traffic for more ad exposure. While you might have tons of readers, if you only post once a week then your regular readers will only be visiting that frequently as well. Advertisers prefer blogs that are updated daily.
• A very good reputation. Some blogs may be popular but if they’re popular for all the wrong reasons then most advertisers will shy away from being linked to that blog. After all, your blog’s reputation will reflect on theirs.
• A solid theme. Businesses with the same target audience as you will be the ones attracted to your site. Without a solid theme your blog will not be as attractive since the ads might not be as effective.

Profiting through ads is no new concept. When targeted ads entered the scene though ads became a whole lot more profitable both for the advertisers and publishers. What’s even better is that anyone can now become a “publisher”. Bloggers are a prime example of ordinary people cashing in on ads. There are lots of opportunities out there for bloggers but only if you know where to look or at least how to look for them.

To help you get started making cash here are some ad opportunities you might want to check out.

Advertising Programs

• Google Adsense – They paved the way for contextual ads. Since veryone knows about Google Adsense there really isn’t any need to say more. You can also try Yahoo! Publisher Network and MSN Adcenter, which are both still in Beta.
• BlogAds – BlogAds blggers realy do make money. Right now the average blogger earns $50 a month although there are some that do earn up to $5000 a month! The problem with joining BlogAds is that it is by invite only. Of course, you can squeeze out an invite from one of your online friends.

Consumer Generated Ads

Consumer generated ads are ads made by the bloggers. Instead of depending on the advertiser to make a pitch, YOU will be the one to make the pitch and add a link to the website of the company or product you are promoting. If you are interested in this highly controversial ad technique then the best place to start is PayPerPost. Other consumer generated ad sites include LoudLaunch, Blogitive, and Blogsvertise.

The previous week I discussed the three traits that I have observed among people who earn a substantial profit through their blogs. Aside from being great writers, web savvy, and updated though blog earners are also…

Adaptable – The internet is such a volatile medium and its users evolve rapidly. Anyone who wants to make a nice profit should not only be able to detect the shift in their readers’ needs but also adapt and develop new strategies. Successful bloggers should not only be able to adapt to change but should thrive on change. If you drag you feet when it comes to embracing new internet trends you will probably be able to make money by simply being a copycat but the early adapters will be the ones that will make the most money out of anything.

Statistics Conscious - Successful bloggers keep track of their statistics, analyze them, and USE the findings to IMPROVE on their blogs. This is where being web savvy again comes in since gathering and analyzing statistical data requires knowledge of existing analytics software available on the net. The pitfall of many bloggers though is that thought they may be aware of the statistics but do not really do anything to understand what it means for their blog and what they can do to to make it better. It is such a waste since there are so many free analytical software that will not only churn out number but have help sections to explain the importance of each and every metric they analyzed.

Last time I discussed why not everyone can make a huge profit through blogging. This time, having supposedly weeded out the wishy washy, I will be focusing on those who CAN making a nice profit through blogging. I have found that the blogs that DO earn money are those of bloggers that are…

• Great writers - While blogs do not require impeccable grammar and a highly sophisticated writing style you will find that the blogs that DO make money are usually written by people who have a certain way with words. Whatever the blog theme may be, from mommy blogs to tech blogs, the blogger has found a way for their readers to really enjoy what they write and to be reeled into discussions.
• Web Savvy – No matter how great a writer a blogger might be a blog will not take off if the blogger does not understand the web technologies that will enable to make his blog earn. By web technologies I mean stuff like RSS feeds, blog analytics, SEO, tagging, social bookmarking, monetization schemes like affiliate programs and ads, etc. Basically a blogger should learn how to use the tools available on the internet to his advantage and put them into practice.
• Updated – These blogger knows the latest things going on in their field. It may be the fact that the iPhone is now really unlocked, or that Google has a hidden flight simulator on Google Earth, or that this and that is the new way to make money online. Whatever the news may be these bloggers are often among the first to blog about it. They are the kind of people that are blurring the line between news sites and blogs and are why people rely on blogs as much as news sites for the news.

to be continued…

If I wanted to write an entry just to make people feel good the answer to the question above would be a resounding “YES”. However, making people feel good is not my primary motive. My motive is to help people find a way to earn money through blogging and because of that I have to give an honest answer, which is a disappointing “MOST PROBABLY NOT”.

With the huge phenomenon blogging has become, millions of people flock on the web nowadays not just to check their emails but to check the blogs they subscribe to and read religiously. Blogs have become the morning paper of this generation. With such a large market it is no wonder many people fall into the trap of thinking that anyone can earn enough to make it as a full time blogger. The problem is that while there is a huge potential to earn big bucks, more often than not, the potential goes unrealized. Many bloggers earn enough extra money to making blogging worthwhile money-wise but not enough to quit their day jobs. Statistically speaking a vast majority of bloggers who try to earn serious income through blogs will not reach their target income.

The reason for this is simple. Like any line of business, many are just copycats who jump in on the bandwagon in hopes of getting rich fast but without any real notion of the work and skill it entails to be successful, and even worse, without any intention of DOING the work needed to make their blogs a success. So before you go quit your day job think about this and figure out whether you are ready to take on the challenge of blogging. If you know that you have the knowledge and skills to be a full time blogger then go ahead. If not I suggest you stick to your day job while learning the ropes until your blog starts earning and you can be pretty sure that you are ready to be a full time blogger.

I was watching two guys digging a hole to locate a pipe in my yard this morning. They were tossing the dirt out of the hole and directly onto the ground beside it. They went four feet down and dug a hole that was about 8 feet long by three feet across. Then, one of them found a pipe…and the elbow joining it to the pipe they really wanted to find. Anyone want to guess where the new pipe was? Under that massive pile of dirt. This brings me to a great business principle:

Don’t move the same dirt twice.

When you start a new task, take some time to plan things out so you can do the job right the first time. You don’t want to find that you’ve gone in the wrong direction and will have to re-do hours of work. I’m sure the guys in my side yard are wishing they would have tossed their dirt into a few wheelbarrows right about now. Then, they could have just dumped those wheelbarrows back into the old hole instead of slowly shoveling it back in.

If you’ve never taken the time to check out your local library, you may be really missing out. Most public libraries have a business librarian who can answer business related questions and has contacts in the business world. Even if your library system doesn’t have a librarian who is dedicated to business, you can find a selection of popular business books and business databases. While you can find the latest bestsellers, don’t forget to check the shelves for must read classics like Think and Grow Rich.

However, most libraries don’t stop there. Your library may also offer business workshops and networking opportunities. Our local library system even has a librarian who specializes in consulting with small business owners and people who want to start a business. She has helped over a dozen people start their own businesses in the last year.

So, the next time you have a business related question, pick up the phone and contact your local business librarian. If you’re afraid your question is too simple, don’t be. The librarian’s creed is “There is no such thing is a stupid question.”

Have you used your local library as a business resource? I’d love to hear if your business librarian is as useful and helpful as the librarians I’ve contacted.

After the celebrated resignation of former World Bank head Paul Wolfowitz who will be stepping down by June 30 due to his involvement in creating a compensation package for girlfriend Shaha Riza, US President Bush will be naming Robert Zoellick as his successor. His selection of Zoellick is expected to be approved by the World Bank’s 24 member board soon.

Zoellick is a logical choice, owing to the fact that has garnered the moniker of establishing contacts in most parts of the world as President Bush’ trade chief. Considering the situation that the World Bank is in right now, Zoellick has his work cut out for him.

But basing it on Zoellick’s credentials, he seems to be fit for the job. With his experience in building stronger ties and relations from all parts of the world, his designation is expected to be formalized soon so that the World Bank can get back on the right track.

[tags]world bank, president bush, robert zoellick, shaha riza, paul wolfowitz[/tags]

With nothing but war and combat on their minds, it is only fitting that the US soldiers should be looked after with care especially on the mental aspect of things. It is not surprising to note that most of the soldiers are being attacked mentally as well, seeing nothing but blood and mass destruction in their war plagued countries to which they were assigned.

Barack Obama has observed such a breach in the efforts to uphold the overall well-being of these soldiers and has vouched for such aid in an effort to help the US troops to enjoy some mental benefits rather than spending them on ammunition and other necessary things in line with the impending war in Iraq and Baghdad.

“We cannot expect our young men and women to serve in our armed forces, if we are not making sure they get the treatment they deserve,” Barack Obama, Obama: Improve mental health care