Ahhhhh! I Detroyed My Site!!

[StephenT]

I suppose there is a good side to this. Starting all over has given me the chance to do stuff I wanted to do before. I don't quite have the theme I want on WP, but that's for another day!

[StephenT]

So, now that I am up and running again. I would like to know the best way to ad adsense to my blog in WP. I am all about asking for help before I screw things up (at least for now!).

Also, after reading some of problogger's stuff it said that there shouldn't be any monetization stuff until after the blog has some history or cred. Any thoughts on that?

[Lynn Terry]

There is a reason for that advice. What you need to rank well, and get traffic, is inbound links. If you have Adsense (or commercialization) all over your site/blog... people won't want to link to it. So the goal is to get set up, put up some great content, and get inbound links. Work on getting links & traffic, and building a readership (and list!) and then work in your monetization strategy.

[StephenT]

Thanks Lynn. Does this mean I won't be a bazillionaire this week?

[Lynn Terry]

Yeah, unfortunately

[StephenT]

TWork on getting links & traffic, and building a readership (and list!) and then work in your monetization strategy.

I keep hearing getting a list, but how am I going to get that list? I understand the whole opt-in thing, sort of, but if I am offering nothing, no reason for a person to give me their name and email, how do I get the list?

[Lynn Terry]

I think you just answered your own question

You offer something of value...

Think back to any email list you have subscribed to. Ever. And then ask yourself why. There is your answer.

[StephenT]

Usually, I do the opt-in to get something. I either get some offer, a free something or other, or a newsletter. I can't ever remember doing it for just a blog I followed.

By the way, I see I am now rated as a super active member. Does this mean I ask too many questions?? Is there an "over active member" rating?? A Duct tape over the mouth member?

[Lynn Terry]

Time will tell, eh? JK!

Since you're interested in list building, pay closer attention to list offers. It's like when you are just about to buy a neon green lexus - and then you see them everywhere.

I have a personal swipe file of every product I've purchased online, in the niches I work in. For example, I collect Elvis Bobbleheads, and I also have a website that sells them. So when setting up my bobblehead site, I went back to the pages that compelled me to buy and analyzed what it was that sold me.

disclaimer: that's an example.

[StephenT]

Perhaps you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I destroyed my other blog this time doing the same thing, moving from /blog to the root. The hosting Co. is working on it now! AAAhhhhh!!!