This post was most recently updated on July 31st, 2016
There are so many bloggers trying to make money. The problem is that too many of them are just chasing fast money, and give little thought to building a solid business.
Lets take a look at these two ways that bloggers are doing business online, and compare the two.
Chasing Fast Money
The “chasing fast money” crowd is made up of people who hop from one opportunity or business model to another. Usually, over time, the “chasers” fizzle out.
It is like being on a merry go round reaching for the brass ring. Each time you go around you stretch your hand out to get the brass ring to win another ride. So where does that get you? ‘Round and ’round in circles.
Here are some examples of what people do to chase fast money.
One of the first things they do is to put up many things on their blog’s side bar. Then they sit back and wait for blog visitors to click and join an opportunity or buy a product.
This is a real long shot, though.
Even if they succeed in getting click to offers, what are the chances that someone will be serious enough to actually buy when they click to a sales page, or join an opportunity at first sight.
After all there are probably about ten different banners to click on these bloggers’ side bars.
What does that say about these bloggers?
They are chasing money.
Obviously.
Everything about this approach tells visitors not to expect much real value from the blog, just a lot of sales hype.
The “fast cash” blogger may grab a few commissions and sign-ups here and there, but she certainly is not building a great online business.
Another thing the “fast cash” crowd attempts, is making some easy profits on social media. A person PM’s you on Facebook or worse, tags you to the newest shiny object that just came on the market.
Now, how many people hanging out on Facebook are really going to open a link like that, not to mention take action on it?
If you made any commissions from that approach, I can pretty much guarantee you it won’t be a lot, and it certainly won’t become the basis for a strong, long-term business
Yet another approach is to chase after pennies by going to Twitter, Facebook and other social sites, and sharing links to their blog posts.
When someone clicks to the blog post, they find an “article” that is little more than a sales page. In fact, it is very often written directly from the sales page of some affiliate offer being promoted.
What does that say about these bloggers?
To most readers and prospects, it says that they are pretty desperate.
This is not a good way to brand yourself as a serious blogger.
One of the most short-sighted methods I’ve seen is the “donate button” technique.
This is when bloggers ask their readers to donate to their blog or business.
Now, I’m not here to diss anyone, but really… come on now.
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Asking people to click a donate button on your site, only shows you are not a leader, but a beggar.
In my opinion (I know there are folks who disagree), putting a donate button on your blog makes you look like a street peddler waving a cup for passers-by to put change in.
If you want to give your content for free, as most blog posts do… just do it.
When it reaches a level of value that you can start selling it, then sell it.
That’s a serious, and scale-able business model.
How are you going to convince people that your content is valuable, if you can’t even put a price on it?
That’s not a business model at all, it’s just another way of chasing fast money, instant cash.
Yet another “fast cash” method is promoting an MLM (multi level marketing) or similar type of “business opportunity.”
Thees bloggers try to leverage their blogs into recruitment platforms for their business opportunity.
Very often, these folks jump from one network company to another before they ever make a dime!
They will shout out to the world how great a company or opportunity is, how wonderful the compensation plan is and all the rest.
A few people might actually join such an opportunity (“fast money” from the sign-up).
Shortly afterwards, though, these bloggers jump to something new that looks like it will be better and make them more money, faster.
Once they’ve signed on to the next opportunity, these fast money bloggers start telling their readers that the new company is now the best one.
This not only makes these bloggers look confused, but on a track for making fast money rather than building a business to help improve the lives of their readers.
Building A Solid Business
Now lets take a look at bloggers who are building a solid business.
Typically, they have these traits, and work hard to develop and enhance them.
Clarity: They have the clarity of what they want to accomplish.
Time: They know darn well it is going to take time and some monetary investment to start building a real business.
Learning is Earning: Those who are building a solid business always take a portion of their day to learn something new, and/or to improve themselves.
Goal achievement: This crowd realizes that success is a series of setting and attaining a series of goals. They spend a good portion of their time setting up the steps they know are necessary to achieve success.
Consistent Action: Once their clear goals and timelines are established, these bloggers get down to taking action.
Every single day they take a chunk of time to work on each of the steps they’ve mapped out for achievement, not worrying about when the money is going to roll in.
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They don’t second guess every little thing they are doing. They just trust that if they stick to the process of building a business, the results they want will follow, sooner or later.
Process, Not Results: While “fast money” bloggers focus purely on results (how much money did I make today?), the “business bloggers” focus on consistently and diligently working the process that they have laid out for themselves.
Giving, Not Taking: White “fast money” bloggers are always “on the take,” “business bloggers” are always “on the give.”
Building a solid business is ALL about giving to others, fulfilling their needs, adding value to their lives and improving them.
This pertains to any business, not just blogging.
It also pertains to offline as well as online business.
Just think of the clothing industry for example.
Every season there are new and wonderful fashion trends.
Fashion marketers know this as they keep pushing out new styles each season.
They know darn well their target market and if they are targeting women, they know how to bribe them into tossing their old clothing, and purchasing the latest trend.
Sorry guys… I’m a fashion freak and had a lot of experience in that industry some time ago.
The point is this.
No matter what you are marketing, you have to be able to satisfy the needs of others, get them excited and improve their lives.
There is always room for growth: Serious business bloggers never let down. They’re never satisfied with things as they are, knowing they can always be better.
Attaining goals and prioritizing the tasks that will get them there, are the blueprint for a solid business. Now, things may be all mapped out, but the savvy business blogger knows that things change.
Business bloggers don’t shy away from change, they embrace it. They know that there is ALWAYS room for the kind of growth that change stimulates.
Never stray from your niche: Business bloggers do not allow themselves to stray from their niche. A niche can encompass so many things, that it is often tempting to dart off into the margins of a niche.
Business bloggers stay on their primary track, and don’t allow themselves to get derailed by trying to be all things to all people. They know their target audience, and focus narrowly on it.
They are always looking for the best ways to improve the lives of their followers and readers.
So my friends, do you see the difference between chasing fast money and building a solid business?
There are definite traits you must develop when you are building a business.
Do you have those traits?
Are you working to develop them?
Have you designed your blueprint for success?
Or, do you find yourself being so busy chasing fast money, that you have no time or energy to spend on building a solid business?
I really would love your input.
-Donna
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