When Brian Clark from CopyBlogger releases a free report – you know it’s going to be something you want to read. So when he emailed me a draft copy last week I put everything else aside and immediately devoured it.
The report is titled ‘Teaching Sells‘ and having chatted to many of you about your frustrations with making money online lately I just know that this is going to connect with a lot of you.
You can download it here (both as a PDF and MP3 audio file).
“Forget About Blogging for Bucks and Make Some Real Money”
Some of you will read that section heading in Brian’s report and wonder why a blog about making money online would be promoting something that seems to undermine the idea of making money from blogging.
I’ve long said that making money from blogging is possible on two fronts:
- Making money directly from your blog (usually through advertising or affiliate programs)
- Making money indirectly because of your blog.
Most bloggers take option one, thinking that they’ll become rich from earnings directly from the blog – but I’ve long held the belief that it’s actually option two that has the biggest potential – ie using the blog as an attention grabber and a point of leverage that can open up bigger things for a blogger.
This report will help those wanting to explore the second option through selling content – and more specifically through selling ‘teaching’ content.
I could write a lot more about the report – but really it’s something I’d encourage you to download and read for yourself. Then perhaps I’ll write a follow up post where we can discuss it more fully once you’ve had a read.
PS: Brian’s told me a bit about where all of this is heading, and he’ll be offering training for people who want to get on the fast track to acting on the content of the report. There’s more free articles coming as well as some paid training later on.
Whether you go for the paid options or not I think this initial report is a great read and give you lots of food for thought.
Interesting…
I’ll have to look into that.
Thanks for the heads up Darren!
But in addition to teaching, you could use your blog to launch something of yours. Adnan of Blogtrepreneur.com did that with his blog consulting service – blogLOUDER. Since then, blogLOUDER has done very well.
I am actually planning on doing something similar in the future…
But I shall definately have to check out that Teaching Sells article.
Nice. Thanks for sharing.
I definitely can see option 2 working better for me as far as making money online. I’ve already had more work opportunities since I started my blog than I ever could have thought about before starting it. As for option one, I’ve yet to make any money with option one. One because I just don’t receive enough traffic to sell advertising or see any returns from affiliate programs.
Darren,
How did you get the link out to this before either Brian at Copyblogger or Tony from Success From The Nest (the illustrator of the report) unleashed it?
REALLY looking forward to reading this report, and have been eagerly awaiting its release, thanks for the link!
I wrote something similar how to make about $2.000 in one month with brand new blog. I did an experiment and it works fine, there is about 5 bloggers doing it this month. So will see if it works for them it works for everybody!
I guess Brian likes me :-)
Just out of curiosity, why the affiliate links, since the report is free? Does Brian just want to keep close tabs on where the traffic is coming from, and choosing to use an affiliate setup to do so?
Travis – as I said in the post, he’s planning on releasing more free articles and then a paid program down the track.
Darren,
Everyone should take the 37 minutes to listen to the MP3!
I just finished listening to the MP3. That was really useful information. The most interesting thing is that I had this exact conversation with a contact of mine 3 weeks ago and last week I was speaking to someone from my master mind who just launched a membership site and was getting a lot of subscribers.
This is the way to go for bloggers. If you combine the teaching-sells angle + advertsement, then you should be able to make a very good living blogging.
Gisele
http://mybeautymatch.com
Thanks for this. I’m downloading it now and can’t wait to read it!
Thanks Darren, this is a great article/mp3. Funny to hear the contrast with some of the more common theories (like google’s adsense and long tail marketting). I definitely agree through as I’ve made more money selling content on websites than I ever have from advertising. I’ve even turned on and off some of the adverts on my sites and I’ve found my online sales go UP when there is no advertising (registered by sales per unique visit). Also have noticed that I get far more sales per unique visit from customers when I DON’T provide free content directly with any products for sale.
Now, this was not scientific, but was obvious tracking over several months using google analytics. So, I definitely believe the concepts of the article since good content sold many times is a great way to make money!
Great heads up Darren. As a blogger who is just kinda starting up, this should be really helpful to me.
I really trust Brian and CopyBlogger should be required reading for anyone who is serious about this business.
What a waste of time… nothing new and no information offered. If you want an honest feedback please post this comment.
sorry you think that terra – I thought it was a well written and insightful article. It might not contain completely new information – but it’s a mindshift for many bloggers.
Darren, cheers for this info, always good to get a free report :-). I read Brian’s Copyblogger blog, so leaped at the chance to get this – think he’s a great writer. I think the report was informative, and did cover some old ground, but had really good info.
Tera, there are follow-up articles to the report that get more specific. I promise you’ll learn something new. :)
This would be interesting, the first time I’d read a free report from Brian. :D
hey Darren,
thanks for the link for free report. i have downloaded it and sure am gonna go through it.
cheers.
Interesting, I think this is a report I need for what I am doing with my Blogging for a specific business niche I am in….
if i may respond to terra, if i read correctly, brian wasn’t promoting ‘new’ ideas as much as new packaging. And you got to admit, brian+tony are pretty slick.
Hmm, he didn’t send me a draft copy. I’ll download it though.
Darren, thanks for the clarification – I missed that the first time through. I already knew the report was coming, so when I saw your post I jumped straight to the link!
Some good stuff, totally agree with the “History repeats itself” part.
Looking forward to the next report.
There are some truly intriguing concepts in here and it actually took me 18 pages of reading before the suspicion set in (I did read the whole thing, though ;)
I just can’t help but feel like this is a glorified “long copy sales letter” (albeit a well-written one) that’s part of a larger sales campaign that will lead no where but towards the paid program…but I guess that’s the point?
Blogging is not all about making money, it’s about establishing your brand name.
If Brian wrote it-it’ll be worth reading. Even if it is not new material. It is mastering the basics that makes the difference.
Awesome MP3. Sounds like most of the stuff I’ve learned at the Warrior Forum. The main advice is exactly the same.
hmmm.interesting….Brian is definitely a smart man with tips that can help many old and newbie bloggers alike….good stuff Darren!!
What report? Seems like a ploy to collect emails and information, especially when someone signs up and doesn’t receive an email or anything of the sort.
Thanks for sharing.
I’ll take a good look at it! ;)
I also feel like I just read a 24 page sales letter – it’s true what he says.. no one is going to help you unless there’s something in it for them.
Darren:
Thanks for the report; can’t wait to read it.
Just one observation – I’m always amazed by people who think it’s somehow a sin to make money from personal knowledge — as many Internet entrepreneurs do.
It’s almost like Internet entrepreneurs should give everything away for free — forget our mortgage, car payments and grocery bills. We only have time to serve the starving web surfer who wants information — but doesn’t want to pay a darn thing for it.
The web is the one place where many entrepreneurs share insightful, first-hand, useful info — freely (ie, your blog). And, in those cases where they choose to monetize some of their options, all they seem to get is backlash.
Could there be some type of jealousy?
I write a newsletter, a blog, and run a website for and about the business of freelance writing. And, I’d say 98-99% of my knowledge is freely given away in blog posts, article marketing and interviews.
BUT, I also have to make a living. So, why shouldn’t I want to capitalize on the 14+ years of experience I have as a freelance writer to make my living by publishing ebooks, e-courses, etc.
I write all this to say to those who rail against Internet entrepreneurs — especially those of us who sell information — need to realize that we are just trying to make an honest living to feed our families, pay our mortgages and pay our health insurance — just like you.
I’d argue that there are no other professionals on the planet who give away as much as we do (our time, knowledge, research and skills) to make a living.
Many “consultants” start at $125/hour. So, think of us in this vein — and count your blessings that the info we do choose to give away doesn’t come at such a steep price.
Just my 2 cents . . . okay, I’m a bit crabby, so off to bed for me :(
My blog income is from affiliate program. Never tried make money indirectly from blog.
Guys,
No matter it is new or not i guess we have to respect others for everything we’ve done especially Brian who had made such this article. I’m sure he’s spent quite longtime to complete this. And the point is it’s free, if you think you didn’t get anything useful from it just throw it away. But i’m sure there are a lot of people would need this.. So, thanks Brian..nice post Darren..
hi darren,
i want to thank you 4 the tip concerning brian clarks free report. i have asked for it and am excited to learn from him.
YOU were the man – the tip came from.
So thanks again :-))
Norbert Sczepanski
This is an update, as the report does come. While some may find it to be similar to what others have written, many can find the information in this report very useful. It is worth reading.
This is an update, as the report does arrive. While some may find it to be similar to what others have written, many can find the information in this report very useful. It is worth reading.
I agree with a lot of these replies. It doesn’t matter how regurgitated this information is. This report is like “the best of” the repackaged info.
Its so true. I make more money from my other websites which I promote on my blog than I actually do on my blog.
I am just trying to make the sales in cyber world that I use to make on ebay.
Sorry I did not read every comment here, but I don’t like entering my email address, even if this report is free.
I know I enter my email address in every comment I make. But this is somehow different. Looks like the site was created for the single purpose of collecting email addresses for commercial purposes.
I downloaded the MP3 file to my Ipod to hear it on my way home from work, I find it really interesting, I always wondered about some things this article brings on to light. thanks for sharing the info
Thanks for that Darren. I downloaded the MP3, listened to it twice, and read the article as well. It’s good to know that i am not normal hehe, and am also convicted that the medium is the message. I am very interested in this virtual learning environment, and am looking forward to learning more from Brian and you. Look forward to more MP3 and articles about teaching sells. I believe this will be a great way to diversify my income.
hi
I downloaded but pdf not opening.can anyone help.
Very nice. Thank you for sharing it!
I m going to read that.
———
http://paidforwritedown.blogspot.com
I downloaded and read this document…
I just have one problem….
I am 19 and I don’t know if I have anything to sell.
What can I teach people at my age and charge them for it?
I really do want to blog full time eventually…but at the moment I am only making about $0.20 per MONTH! time for someone to buy me a coffee
It’s an interesting book worth to read. I’m waiting for the next release. Thank you