Build Traffic

A common question I find on writers' forums and chatrooms is, "Can one really make big money with a blog?" Because a blog is a website, any advice in this direction applies to any website. Usually I respond, "Yes, BUT you don't begin to make real money until you have high traffic, especially if you're using AdSense. It takes many clicks to add up to a dollar in revenue." A useful article I found to help the process is on Steve Pavlina's "Personal Development for Smart People" blog. In How to Build a High-Traffic Web Site (or Blog), he expounds on ten practices leading toward success:

1. Create valuable content.
2. Create original content.
3. Create timeless content.
4. Write for human beings first, computers second.
5. Know why you want a high-traffic site.
6. Let your audience see the real you.
7. Write what is true for you, and learn to live with the consequences.
8. Treat your visitors like real human beings.
9. Keep money in its proper place.
10. If you forget the first nine suggestions, just focus on genuinely helping people, and the rest will take care of itself.

I was so glad to read #10, feeling a little abashed that I fall down on the job doing the first nine from time to time. And let me announce that in regard to #9, that BizRate has opted to continue to supporting this blog, and I've decided to accept other advertising. Send an email for more info to writerads [AT] att.net. [websites]

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