Jun 02 2009
For Bloggers
I blog professionally full time on a freelance and for contract basis, so I always like to keep some resources handy for fellow bloggers. Come back to this page often to see what I’ve added for the blogging community.
The Blogging Business Plan
The blogging business plan is always my first step. Here is an informal template that I use for creating blogging templates. FYI, you can also use this template if you are creating a minisite with a few simple replaces of “blog” with “minisite”.
Blog Business Plan of [Blog Name]
– Executive Summary –
In the year of [year], [blog name] was formed as a [entity classification such as sole proprietorship, partnership, etc.].
The purpose of the blog is to: [YOUR purpose goes here (such as successfully monetize blog content indirectly to sell freelance writing services)]
The mission statement of the blog is as follows: This blog is dedicated to providing the highest quality [usually content will do, but maybe you are more specific; also, your mission is focused on your readers/target market now] to a target market of [tarket here]. Long-term plans are to: [an example is to turn the blog’s ideas into a published book or ebook].
– Niche Analysis –
The niche in which the blog will operate is: [niche/industry here]
The current interest in the [niche here again] niche can be described as: [use real facts and observations, not just what you are wishing for!]
– Unique Selling Proposition –
This blog provides: [content, advice, etc.]
It is uniquely valuable to my target market because: [back yourself up with credible information]
– Blog Operations –
[Provide a brief explanation of any administrative/management items as necessary as well as the content direction and what strategies are employed to establish the USP]
– Expertise Qualification –
[Blog name] is created and managed by [name of blogger]
[Provide your expertise credentials.]
– Market Strategy –
The target market for this blog is: [target market]
[Provide a brief analysis of market research’s findings and your strategies for competitive advantage
– Finances –
[Current income and expenses]
[Income and expense projection and explanations]
Evaluate, Keep Up With, and Promote Your Niche Blog with Google Alerts
Google Alerts is a valuable tool to my online writing business. I know that my residual income increases just by using them for my niche keywords. Here’s how Google Alerts can help you before, during, and after you write niche blog posts.
Before you write a blog post, or even choose a niche, you can evaluate your keywords or potential niche keywords by signing up for them in a Google Alert.
As you write a blog post, you can add valuable content and links by using the Google Alert results.
After you write a blog post, you can use the Google Alerts to find other similar topics as your blog posts and comment: you give all their readers the opportunity to see your site as well.
One final tip: choose to get the alerts in a feed, and they will be added to your Google Reader. Then, your email inbox won’t be bombarded!
