Today I’d like to suggest an exercise to think about the future of your blog. It’s a brainstorming task to get you thinking about the types of products and services you might one day add to your blog.
I remember doing this for ProBlogger 4 or so years ago and coming up with a long list of potential things I could add to the blog including a job board, membership area, eBooks, ‘real’ book, events and more.
At the time I wasn’t ready to add any of these new products, services or featured – but having that list in the back of my mind enabled me to keep moving my blog forward towards achieving some of them.
The other benefit of identifying these potential income streams that you could one day develop is that others may already be developing them. This might feel a little like you’ve missed the boat but it could also be an opportunity as those with these products might be potential advertisers and/or might have affiliate programs that you could promote.
Once you’ve come up with your list of ideas feel free to share some of them in comments below – it’ll be great to see what everyone is thinking.
PS: stuck for ideas? I don’t blame you – it can be hard to think of how to add a product or service to your blog. Check out the list of products and services that other bloggers have added to their blogs in the results of a poll I ran here on ProBlogger exploring this very topic.
Good points Darren but shouldn’t traffic building come first before selling any services or products as an expert in any niche the blog is based on?
Best,
Admin
Brainstorming is a good step to initiate activity. I have done a lot of brainstorming activities in my office to see what should be done and how other colleagues think about this or that. It is very helpful and you will not miss any ideas. Thanks
I am currently trying to sell products on my website through an Amazon store. I have incorporated Amazon products on most of my blogs and plan on being a Babies R Us affiliate also. I just started, so I haven’t sold anything yet. We will see how it goes!
I am not one of those bloggers who is looking for the big payout. My blog is currently a hodge podge of link sharing, reflecting, a celebration of a good t-shirt design (which is my main source of income), and am currently dabbling in poetry.
The aim is to promote positivity, compassion, and creativity and see where it might lead. Definitely a journey, not a destination. I dream of having millions of readers but enjoy the process as I head in that direction.
My goal is to be a well financed warrior poet. We need more of them.
Brainstorming is a good activity to find objective and vision of our project
Great post – I thought the ratio of blogs selling something was higher, good to see there are some altruistic bloggers out there as well.
Hi Darren,
I love this whole concept! I am a professional organiser in Australia and realise with only 1 pair of hands and theoretically only 12 hours in the day to help clients declutter and get organised, I needed another source of income. So I have just started a blog based around the theme of an Agony Aunt type column – tell me your problem and I will answer it.
I will then turn these into ebooks, one day into a printed book, have a DIY kit, videos, CDs, travel the world speaking on the topic – the world is my oyster! Well it will be in a year or two as you mentioned…
Thanks so much for the great advice. Am just about to buy the Kindle version of your Pro Blogger book for my iPhone!
Cheers from sunny Brisbane!
Blogging for me is turning out to be a big challenge… maybe I’m not taking it seriously. Any advice from people reading this is appreciated. And would love to link or comment your blogs as well. And Darren…great post as usual.
Great post, thanks for the ideas. I just started my first blog as a way to educate others on the importance of eating organic, natural foods. I hope to put together an eBook eventually about my journey. I was able to get out of a wheelchair, off oxygen, and off all medications for a host of disorders, and lost 85 lbs. My primary goal is to help others but I am also in need of income so I appreciate this article. It has made me think about my blog in a whole new light.
I could sell my ideas, and my ebooks!
I actually require to do all those things you mention in the video: generate at least 1 training coursework, ebook, & set up a consulting service. I’ve been steadily building up the following of my weblog for the past few months, & have been seriously thinking about the content of my coursework offering & ebook, so I hope to launch at least one of those things within the next few months.
Great post there Darren!
I appreciate this good advice and your list of ideas really
gets the neurons clicking.
Charlie Seymour Jr
http://PersonalSuccessMarketing.com
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My blog is only in use for adsense ads. maybe I need a little creative