How to make money from your blog: 5 tips

Many people who write blogs today simply want to share their opinion on something. But then there are the business-minded folks, who have found a way to use blogs, or Web logs, to bring in a little extra cash too.
If you're interested in taking it further — blogging for bucks, if you will — here are five strategies that could turn your blog into a moneymaker.

1. Sell advertising. This is likely the most common means of leveraging a blog to generate income. If yours happens to become a well-known blog, or one that is well-received in a particular niche, it's always possible to sell ad space on your own. For Bing Blogs and services such as Google's AdSense or BlogAds, bloggers can establish ad programs. AdSense's — which lets you select several ads that are consistent with the content of your blog — pays you based on how many readers click on the ads for further information. Even better, it's free. BlogAds, on the other hand, hooks bloggers up with would-be advertisers and levies a commission in return for any ad placements that result. "The nice thing, too, is that the ads are relatively unobtrusive," says Scott Allen, co-author of The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online.

2. Help sell others' products. Here is another click-through opportunity. Affiliate programs enable your blog to serve as a conduit between readers and online sites offering various goods and services. One popular choice is Amazon.com. If, for instance, you offer book reviews or even just mention a book in passing in your blog, an affiliate program provides a means for your readers to click directly from your blog to Amazon to obtain further information about the book.
If they break out the checkbook or charge card, you get paid as well.

3. Solicit contributions. Not every blog-related income opportunity involves hawking goods or services. As Blanche DuBois said in A Streetcar Named Desire, consider relying on the kindness of strangers. Ask for contributions. If, for instance, your small-business blog supports a cause or issue in some fashion — say you repeatedly mention tax reform, health care or some other topic — you can always ask for reader support. Even if you've attracted a group of regular followers who simply enjoy reading what you have to say, they may be willing to underwrite their loyalty with a little financial help. Programs such as PayPal make it easy to establish a simple on-site contribution collection button. "There are lots of worthy 'cause' blogs that would qualify for donations from grateful members of the blog community," says Las Vegas communications consultant Ned Barnett.

4. Market your services in your blog. Many people associate blogs exclusively with a cyberspace-based soapbox — a place to shout your opinions and little more than that. Granted, blogs are an ideal venue to share your thoughts with others, but don't overlook their capacity to generate new business as well. When appropriate, work in references to what you do and, in turn, what you may be able to offer any would-be client or customer who may be reading your blog. That can spread your opinion and your business moxie at the same time."Instead of short commentaries that begin a dialogue with readers, as many blogs do, I write the equivalent of journal articles that demonstrate my abilities, strategies and perspectives on specific issues," Barnett says. "When it resonates, it means money. Since starting this approach, I have generated three new paying clients and brought in about $10,000 on revenue — directly attributable to specific blogs."

5. Use a blog to deepen your existing customer relations. Nor does any marketing material inserted in blog content have to be limited to bringing in completely new business. By using a blog to regularly communicate with existing clients as well as other readers, you can take advantage of the opportunity to fully inform them about everything your business does. That may expand your readers' understanding of the full scope of your products or services."My blog has helped existing clients determine the range of my skills and services," says Ted Demopoulos of Demopoulos Associates, a Durham, N.H. consulting and training concern. "One client who had only used me for training in the past was surprised at my range of expertise and is now using me for a consulting project. Another who only used me on technical projects is now considering me for a more business-oriented project."

Source : www.microsoft.com

F1 will gradually match cricket's popularity in India: Ecclestone

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone Sunday said the sport will gradually match the popularity of cricket in India, adding he was satisfied with the organization of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix.
'F1 is as popular in India as cricket in France but things will improve drastically in the years to come. The media coverage has been overwhelming and people here want to know more about the sport,' Ecclestone told IANS at the paddock area of the Buddh International Circuit.


Ecclestone, who celebrated his 81st birthday Friday, said there are bound to be a few first time glitches but the oganisers of the Indian Grand Prix have done a decent job

'There will always be issues for the first time but Jaypee has done a great job in building this fantastic circuit,' said Eccletsone.

When asked about a stray dog coming on the track while the Friday practice session was underway, Ecclestone said: 'It should not have happened but it is not a big thing. It happened in Turkey as well.'

England finally register a win in India

England finished a tough tour of India on an upbeat note, as they preserved their world No. 1 ranking in Twenty20 cricket with a hard-earned six-wicket victory in Kolkata. Steven Finn, with 3 for 22 in four fast and accurate overs, was England's inspiration with the ball as they limited India's powerful line-up to 120 for 9 after MS Dhoni had won the toss. Then it was over to Kevin Pietersen, who overcame an anxious start, and a fourth-ball life, to silence a raucous and expectant crowd with a blistering 53 from 39 balls.
Given how poorly England had fared in their 5-0 whitewash in the ODI series, they began the match on a hiding to nothing.

BCCI Grade A contract includes Kohli,Yuvraj

Yuvraj Singh has been rewarded for his stellar World Cup with a Grade A contract from the BCCI for 2011-12, a year after being demoted to Grade B, while Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma have both been given Grade A contracts for the first time. Rohit Sharma moves up from Grade C to B, as does R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, but Ashish Nehra, who had a Grade B contract, does not make the list of contacted players at all. 

The contracts were awarded at the BCCI's Working Committee meeting, held in Kolkata today. The committee also voted to classify the IPL as List A cricket, and registered their opposition to the new sports bill being promulgated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport.

Sachin, Sehwag and Yuvraj back in squad, Harbhajan ignored

Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh are back into the Indian squad for the first Test against the West Indies starting Nov 6th.

Harbhajan Singh has been ignored yet again by the selectors and has not been picked for the first Test.

Yuvraj Singh who was ruled out of the home series against England due to a broken finger he suffered during the second cricket Test at Trent Bridge has recovered from the injury. Tendulkar also had missed the series against England due to a toe injury.

Squad: M S Dhoni (capt & wk), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, R Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Virat Kohli, Varun Aaron, Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Sharma

SA, Oz hungry to finish on high

The third match at Kingsmead is a series decider, and also a chance for one side or the other to carry useful momentum into the Test series. Both sides will have the benefit of significant reinforcements for the five-day matches, but there will also be those in the ODI teams pressing to be included or retained.

Australia have a headache surrounding the fitness of Shane Watson, who is yet to bowl in training after suffering from back spasms at St George's Park. The flair-up followed a hip complaint that kept him out of the first ODI, and Watson's history of suffering injuries in bunches will be at the back of Clarke's mind, even though his vice-captain has been far more durable over the past two years. Clarke will also want more from his pace bowlers, who were taken for plenty of new-ball runs at the hands of Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith. 

Morne Morkel's hostile and intelligent bowling was perhaps the most ominous performance from a South Africa player in the second ODI, and took him top he top of the ICC rankings. The stand-in captain Hashim Amla will want more of the same from Morkel and Dale Steyn as they build to a peak for the Tests. JP Duminy can push for a Test batting spot with more runs in Durban, while Amla himself would appreciate a better day out than the last - a first-ball duck at the hands of Doug Bollinger.

World champs look to kill T20 champs

Reigning Twenty20 world champions England will take on the 50 over world champions India on Saturday to salvage some pride after their 0-5 whitewash in the ODI series.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India would love to continue their stranglehold over the shorter version of the game in the series as the two sides play the first Twenty20 International at the hallowed Eden Gardens here.

After the nightmarish 0-4 loss in Tests, 0-3 in One-Day Internationals and also in the only Twenty20 international in England, the Indians have staged a remarkable turnaround at home to put it across the visitors. And victory on the morrow would complete India's resurgence in what is being dubbed the "payback series".

As everyone who got an opportunity in the ODI series has come good, the Indian team management has no dearth of options. Two among Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa and Manoj Tiwary would fill up the batting slots after the certainties Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja walk into the team.

In bowling, Rahul Sharma is a hot contender for a berth in the eleven, having seen the Englishmen's vulnerability against spin in the ODIs with left-arm orthodox Ravindra Jadeja and offie Ravichandran Ashwin leading the tally with 11 and 10 wickets.


England have recently topped the ICC's inaugural rankings for the format with 127 points -- one ahead of Sri Lanka -- and would extend their lead to four points if they win here. But a defeat would see the visitors drop to third behind the two sub-continental teams.

However, the visitors may have to go into the match without their batting mainstay Kevin Pietersen, who missed the final ODI, having broken his thumb in the fourth game in Mumbai. Petersen's fate depends on the results of a fitness test conducted Friday, and his absence would deplete England's strength to a great extent as he is their best bet against spin.

Offie Graeme Swann, who would lead the side in the absence of injured regular skipper Stuart Broad, has to deliver the goods in bowling alongside his left arm spin partner Samit Patel in what is likely to be another slow surface, like the one seen Tuesday.

One-day skipper Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott have returned home, big hitting Jos Buttler - the youngest member of the side now - and 6'5" tall top order batsman Alex Hales joining the squad for this game.

After the embarrassment of a mere 27,000 turnout Tuesday - the lowest ever at the historic ground in ODI matches involving India - the local organisers have something to cheer for with reports of ticket sales having picked up for Saturday's tie.

"We are expecting a crowd of at least 50,000," said Cricket Association of Bengal Joint Secretary Biswarup Dey, on the eve of the maiden Twenty20 International here. After the massive renovation during the World Cup earlier this year, Eden now has a reduced capacity of only 67,300 spectators.