I posted my April 2008 Earnings And a Few Questions?

[hart]

I posted my April 2008 Earnings ...
http://www.hart-empire.com/2008/05/h...pril-released/
(Ps... I'm not asking for stumbles btw)

I've been doing posting my monthly earnings for a while now, since Jan/2007.

I've been hiring writers for my Battling For Health sites .. offering $125/month minimum base, to increase by $25/month every quarter .. and starting the 4th month be eligible for shared income. I plan to hire a few more before July 1st to fill a few blogs.

But the reality of this is .. is that my PetLvr blog has been supporting the writing staff of the Battling Series along with the other sites that do not have hired staff. I figured it would, or I would have to support the growth and hiring for writers for at least 6 months per blog .. but I think it is going to take longer than this, since I started hiring last October 2007 and reached 6 month mark on a few blogs, and had turn-over on a few others.

What I really want is to hire writing staff for PetLvr blog that will help boost those earnings to help finance the growth of writers on new blogs (since it's doing it anyway) and then concentrate on building up Part #2 of my network .. the D-I-Y "AndYouWill.com" series.

So - here is my scenario for the HIVE group..

I do not want to offer same deal with writers for PetLvr and any revenue sharing at this time but I want to get really good writers and really good content that can be stumbled, dugg, earn links, and grow.

So .. What would be a good mix of writers? 1? more than 1?

What would be a reasonable (or better) price to offer writers?

Where can I find decent pet writing bloggers - that know how to promote themselves too? The problem with pet blogs, is that everybody with a pet can blog about something. I can't tell you how many emails I receive a week from people forwarding me "cute" pictures of the day or something like that - and I can easily find it elsewhere on the 'net (which I don't want).

My archives are more of the kind where I have believed the type of content people want (and I get a lot of search engine enquiries) is .. e.g. nobody is an expert..., and I don't promote any single way to do things .. like stop barking - there may be 20 different theories behind that .. So, I don't think I am looking for any 'special trainor' or anything. I used to have more time in keeping up with the dog shows, and current events in the news, and would like to get more into that. All my health posts were always the best traffic and sought out entries. I think there is a real demand for the 'other' pets out there .. horses, ferets, bunnies, turtles and birds that I do want to get a rounded topical blog covering it all.

I'm asking a lot, eh? Probably, over the summer I have to ask myself where I really want to take PetLvr in the future .. right now - it's immediate success and growth - and, I don't really know what I should be doing.

I think I should be looking for writers. What do you think? Where do I find them?

Oh well .. thanks for listening.

HART

[christew]

I only skim read but you are missing some revenue opportunities in CPM and affiliate marketing.

There's so many people buying pet products and there's no reason why you can't monetize on that by reviewing popular pet products and mixing it with good SEO.

I do this in other niches and get a 2-10% conversion and it outstrips Adsense in product focused niches - I would consider pets a very product focused niche - the trick is to review products so you can get targeted SE traffic for people looking to buy these products. This method works - dumping un-targeted affiliate links at the end of posts, in banners etc. don't work - they need to be laser targeted affiliate links relevant to what you are discussing or reviewing.

With regards to writers you can get a good quality writer who will work for $5-$10 a post for a 200 word article.

Trick is advertising everywhere for writers, getting them to do a little task to test if they can follow simple instructions, hire a few and see how they do and keep the best ones. You will find a a good writer this way - you just have to go through 50+ applications.

online-writing-jobs.com and craigslist is a good source for writers.

[candyaddict]

There's so many people buying pet products and there's no reason why you can't monetize on that by reviewing popular pet products and mixing it with good SEO.

I do this in other niches and get a 2-10% conversion and it outstrips Adsense in product focused niches - I would consider pets a very product focused niche - the trick is to review products so you can get targeted SE traffic for people looking to buy these products. This method works - dumping un-targeted affiliate links at the end of posts, in banners etc. don't work - they need to be laser targeted affiliate links relevant to what you are discussing or reviewing.

I agree completely. I put affiliate links to buy the candy at the bottom of every review and I make a lot (well, I consider it a lot) in affiliate money. With candy though, it's easy to go to the store and buy a 50 cent piece of candy then review it. Not so easy to go and buy a $10 or $20 pet product (unless they have a generous return policy.

Have you ever contacted any pet product makers and asked for a review sample? That's what I did when I first started my site (but with candy companies, of course). Even back then when I had no traffic I got a good response. Now, the companies come to me.

With regards to writers you can get a good quality writer who will work for $5-$10 a post for a 200 word article.

Trick is advertising everywhere for writers, getting them to do a little task to test if they can follow simple instructions, hire a few and see how they do and keep the best ones. You will find a a good writer this way - you just have to go through 50+ applications.

online-writing-jobs.com and craigslist is a good source for writers.

I really need to post my "How to hire writers for your blog"

[hart]

I've tried to stay away from the reviews, at least the PPP types of reviews. I might have to rething.

I'm actually signed up with about 50-60 affiliates in both Shareasale and Commission Junction and using http://DataFeedR.com service. I did purchase a few stores a while back, but they didn't work. This service is where I can create any store I want, by getting selected products (by me) and with the plugin and the service, can update the feed and prices and products periodically. That's the basis of http://PetCare.HARTmarket.com and will be for most stores. I've been tinkering with it in older sites, but I have to make major modifications. E.G. http://travel.AndYouWill.com/store/ is one that I've given up - until I get a new template installed.

@brian .. I'm sad to say that currently, I have 3 people/companies who actually sent me books to review - thinking I can do that review and link to an affiliate idea - but, I have not read any of them! I kept the books and just told them I am too busy to read and offered the books back, but they said it's okay and for me to think about it if I ever do read them (maybe I will if my wife reads them).

I will think about who and where I can ask for a "review sample" of products .. starting with some of the companies I am including in the PetCare @ HART Market store. Maybe they want to help with more than just samples, and perhaps some giveaways. Thanks for the idea!

@chistew .. I like that little test thing. I remember Ryan posted something like that last year on Fuzz .. a dog writer application questionairre .. I remember printing it out somewhere - but Hmmm Ryan! is your link still up?

As for advertising - I had a great success with Deb's FWJ site so I've never tried any other place. I wonder if Deb is mad at me? I promised her I would write a summary post of how I hired, and what to look for, what I looked for, or tried to avoid and all that from an employer's viewpoint etc etc. But, shortly after I promised this .. two writers quit on me, and after getting new ones going - my busy tax season arrived.

@brian - Please! Let me know when you post your 'how-to-hire' article! I somehow think our topics are similar - in their vagueness. Everybody has a pet. Everybody likes to eat candy. etc etc. It's a lot simpler say, with my Battling For Health sites when you like for a PhD or nurse or someone with specific experience, than finding someone who just is an engaging blogger.

[candyaddict]

@brian .. I'm sad to say that currently, I have 3 people/companies who actually sent me books to review - thinking I can do that review and link to an affiliate idea - but, I have not read any of them! I kept the books and just told them I am too busy to read and offered the books back, but they said it's okay and for me to think about it if I ever do read them (maybe I will if my wife reads them).

Yeah - I always have books sent to my writers. I don't have time to all I want to do, let alone read a book

@brian - Please! Let me know when you post your 'how-to-hire' article! I somehow think our topics are similar - in their vagueness. Everybody has a pet. Everybody likes to eat candy. etc etc. It's a lot simpler say, with my Battling For Health sites when you like for a PhD or nurse or someone with specific experience, than finding someone who just is an engaging blogger.

I will. I was going to write it for performancing at some point. If only I didn't need 6 hours of sleep each night. SIGH.

[hart]

Have you ever contacted any pet product makers and asked for a review sample? That's what I did when I first started my site (but with candy companies, of course). Even back then when I had no traffic I got a good response. Now, the companies come to me.

So far so good.. I sent off a quick email to 4 pet store companies that I am affiliated to (Shareasale/Comm.Junction) .. and the first reply came back:

Hi Hartley,
I am in the office working as usual and saw your email. Give me a call next week and let's discuss some ideas and see if we can come up with things that will be beneficial for both of us. I look forward to speaking with you. Have a nice weekend and you can reach me on my cell at XXX-XXX-XXXX.


For Better Pet HealthR,
Ray Floyd
CEO/Founder
Pet Nutrition Products, Inc.

My philosophy has always been "it never hurts to ask" and geesh .. I keep forgetting that philosophy and rarely ask. It should be interesting talking to the CEO next week.

Do you have any further suggestions for me?

Generally - I'm hoping for some product giveaways, promotion to my http://PetCare.HARTmarket.com store, and hopefully I can think of some twist they never thought of to help promote them // and maybe some general product information and/or reviews. Am I missing anything?

Thanks.
HART

[candyaddict]

Great news, Hart! GCongrats! Giveaways are so easy to get going - most companies love the chance to do one with a focused readership. Lats year for my 2nd site anniversary I asked a bunch of companies for candy for the giveaway and most said yes. I had over $1200 worth of candy to give away

[hart]

Thanks Brian I am excited and have been thinking of ideas all day to pitch. However, my brother had a pretty down-to-earth suggestion for me when I mentioned this to him..

"Just send me the product" - he thinks this is all that I should say - and keep my mouth shut about possible promotions. This way, I won't put my foot in the mouth at this early stage. Then, if I don't receive enough product .. I can always blame that for failed promotions etc.

But - I'll let everyone know how it goes after my phone call. I still plan to ask for the moon regardless.

[candyaddict]

Oh yeah, definitely. Don't start with promotions. Contact them, introduce yourself and mention that you'd be more than willing to review any of their (new) products (or ask about a specific one). If you do get something to review (and especially if it's a new product from them), maybe mention possible giveaways to create some buzz around their product.

[A.Edmund]

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