How often do you write about new products you received a press release about? What about top 10 lists of things your readers must have? Fashion? Home and garden? Movies and books? Why aren't you selling what you're talking about? Bloggers do it all the time.
You can link from your stories to your own online store like The Guardian, or go through a third party as an affiliate, like Amazon Associates.
Sure, it might now be millions of dollars, but something is better than nothing.
June 30, 2009
June 16, 2009
Create an elite niche product
Why do people spend $400 on Jimmy Choo shoes? I don't know, but I do know that people will pay big bucks for something they percieve as elite. Have you heard about what they're doing at Worth magazine? They have created a smaller, higher-quality version of the magazine with thicker-stock paper, more photography, and a matte finish and they're mailing it free to carefully selected high-net-worth households (i.e. rich folks who like read about money). They've also decided to be more picky about advertisers, selecting only top performing wealth advisers.
What if you're not rich and want to read Worth? Pick it up for $20 at the newsstand. Will this new approach work? We'll keep our eyes on it.
What if you're not rich and want to read Worth? Pick it up for $20 at the newsstand. Will this new approach work? We'll keep our eyes on it.
June 11, 2009
Get your editorial and marketing teams on the same page.
Do you really know what your readers like to read about? Just ask them. A Chicago Tribune collaboration surveyed "would-be readers" about general news topics and previous story coverage. You could do this in your own market and even get reader opinions on different story angles. This kind of information can be useful in so many ways. Read on: http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=31&aid=162884.
June 5, 2009
Using Flickr to add value, traffic
(This picture was taken by Rachel Sian.)
Having a Flickr account is good for promoting your community events and company awards, but it can be used in ways you never thought about.
For example: Say you're putting together a theme issue or a special section or a microsite and your budget is nil. Flickr to the rescue. Get free photo of the location you're writing about, the product you're trying to sell or special events you're promoting. Not only that, but if you post the photo on your website (and link back to Flickr) and notify the owner of the photo that you featured them, you get a little traffic from them sending their peeps over to you to check out the photo.
Flickr is a free service, but there are many advantages to upgrading to the "pro", plus it's a cheap $25/year to upgrade. You'll want to search for Creative Commons-licensed content that is available for commercial use.
Read Getting Links and Content From Flickr for some really great ideas on how to use Flickr to your advantage.
For more information on copyright and Creative Commons, check out these links:
Having a Flickr account is good for promoting your community events and company awards, but it can be used in ways you never thought about.
For example: Say you're putting together a theme issue or a special section or a microsite and your budget is nil. Flickr to the rescue. Get free photo of the location you're writing about, the product you're trying to sell or special events you're promoting. Not only that, but if you post the photo on your website (and link back to Flickr) and notify the owner of the photo that you featured them, you get a little traffic from them sending their peeps over to you to check out the photo.
Flickr is a free service, but there are many advantages to upgrading to the "pro", plus it's a cheap $25/year to upgrade. You'll want to search for Creative Commons-licensed content that is available for commercial use.
Read Getting Links and Content From Flickr for some really great ideas on how to use Flickr to your advantage.
For more information on copyright and Creative Commons, check out these links:
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