Summary: In podcast episode 108 of Blogger Money Talk, we are going begin to pivot to an interactive model. We are going to start giving you some action steps, and build on them each week. But first, a comment from a reader: I think I'm going to scratch my schedule and listen to your podcasts all day. I definitely have some ideas of where I need to spend some time focusing and developing a more actionable plan. You mentioned investing in a negotiating course? Do you have one that you would recommend? Or do you plan to cover that in the future? Thank you for that! And YES, we will. This podcast covers Focus, having a Plan, and being Proactive Vs Reactive in your approach to making money with your blog. Reactive ways of making money with your blog: Waiting to be contacted by someone with an opportunity (typically how most bloggers work) Working from a point of desperation because you only know a limited number of advertising prospects Do a web search for how to make money online Ask other bloggers for how they make money (be careful of this, it might not be an accurate picture) Getting paid less than market rate No control over when you make money. Problems with the reactive approach: Inconsistent income Low income from advertising Accepting far less from advertisers than you should Feeling isolated, and taken advantage of Your desire doesn’t match the outcome Result? You’re a Vegetarian Lion. You Need: Focus & A Plan In order to avoid falling into the trap of being reactive you have to get focused, you have to have a plan, and you have to have a reason to follow through until your achieve your goals. You have to have a big enough WHY, a big enough reason to do this, so that when it gets hard, you push through. When we learned this, we didn’t have anyone giving us advice – we had to learn on the fly. You’re not going to have to do that – we’ve paved the way, so that the road is a lot smoother than when we traveled it. Review We’ve covered, in the last 7 podcasts, an introduction to the lucrative field of brand partnerships. We’ve talked about everything from why your blog has to make money to chief obstacles preventing you from making money with your blog; from the most popular ways bloggers have made money with their blog, to the six different types of brand partners, and the 18+ ways to work with brand partners. Next, we’re going to get into the mechanics and specifics of the very lucrative opportunities that are available for working with brands. We’re going to share with you everything that you need to know to be successful – but you have to do your part. You need to ask questions. You need to be involved. And most of all, you need to take action. We’re here for you! Come along for the ride. Here’s what we’re going to be covering in our future podcasts. It’s an A-Z, no-holds-barred, plan for being a successful blogging entrepreneur. We give you the language to use to negotiate advertising deals. The reason why advertisers won’t work with you, and how to fix it. The highest paying activity any blogger can do. How to stop a deal from slipping away. How to make up to $1200 per hour with your blog (no, that is not a typo). The biggest mistake bloggers make when working with advertisers. The one sentence I use in every reply to an advertiser (Note: this has doubled my income). How to make sure you always get paid. The one document that every blogger who wants to charge higher advertising fees should have right now. The one thing you should have in your media kit that most bloggers don’t put in. How advertisers decide which bloggers they will work with.
