Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

My blog Wine for Newbies (http://www.winefornewbies.com) has three basic functions:

1. To be informative to my visitors
2. To help me learn more about wine, as I am not a professional
3. To generate some extra income

I am using Wordpress.org and one of the free templates they offer.
I am also using Google Adsense and some affiliate programs (2 companies so far).

Can you guys help me figure out how to better utilize the blog to generate income? Any input is extremely welcome!

Thanks,

Andre
Wine for Newbies
www.WineforNewbies.com


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Andre Costa DaCosta Chocolates, LLC www.DaCostaChocolates.com

Are you getting visitors?  I see you`re not getting any comments.

"Wine for Newbies".  The name denotes something beginner-friendly and easy to understand.  I didn`t find that.  I was confused looking at the posts - everything from the headlines to the content.

Some posts said "terrior" and I had no idea what that means, though they seemed to be followed by a technical description of the wine.  But as a "newbie" I want to read what a `cabernet` is.  I want to be told that a merlot goes well with such-and-such a meal.  I want to be given a wine recommendation for bringing to a holiday party.  Speak to me on my "newbie" level.

Instead I`m seeing "guest posts" of high-brow wine speak that sound like a foreign language.  If you like the content of your blog as is, then rename it because "Wine for Newbies" doesn`t match.

You`re not going to make money on a blog unless you get steady visitors.  You won`t do that until you refine it.  I suggest reading some of the top blogs about blogging.  I tend to like CopyBlogger, and there are others.  Rather than just giving information, you need to learn how to engage in a relationship with your visitors.

Hi CampSteve,

You touched on something that I am clear about but could not quite figure out yet how to accomplish. I do know I am all over the place and I need to focus. I will keep your comments in mind.
Thank you for taking the time to check the site. I do appreciate it.


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Andre Costa DaCosta Chocolates, LLC www.DaCostaChocolates.com

Andy, I`m currently planning on reviving my stalled blog and have been putting a lot of thought into it, researching along the way.  So it`s on my mind and I`m happy to help.

So let me ask you, what is unique about your blog that other wine blogs don`t cover?

Tricky question.
Honestly, I don`t know. I started the blog as a way to learn about wine myself. Now I want to try to make some money. I don`t believe I am doing anything different, which does not mean I should not do it at all.

I am not sure how to differentiate a topic as banal as wine...so many people write about it and so much better than I will ever do.

That`s something else for me to think about. Thanks again!


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Andre Costa DaCosta Chocolates, LLC www.DaCostaChocolates.com

Hi homebased.
Thank you for the feedback.
I already started changing the focus of the blog. I just hope I can keep that in mind...lol

Thanks again!

Andre


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Andre Costa DaCosta Chocolates, LLC www.DaCostaChocolates.com

Choosing the words you`re choosin`
you want to influence a mind,
receive a response, you had hoped for
with the words you have chosen

Trying` to get your readers to think,
a mental state which is ready...
your reader will think something
they haven`t read already

OK ...

1) I hate black and white on a page. Startupnation hurts my eyes to no end ... but the white writing on black background on your page drives me nuts. Also, black looks really harsh there - it is not giving it the inviting look you need.

2) I agree with others about content. You need to get to the basics.

3) I`d like to see excerpts on the front page. Show me the start of 5-10 of your most recent articles or I`ll never make it past the first one if I don`t like it.

4) That tagline in the title is going to do you no favors with Google. It offers more questions than answers. "People like me"? Who are you? How much do I need to read to figure out who you are so that I can know if your content is relevant to me?

5) You need more space between images and the content for the in-content images.

6) Are you an amazon affiliate? I`m not sure you are linking the items correctly. And I`d like them displayed a whole lot neater.

7) Why is there a giant space between ads and the books on the right sidebar? Is it supposed to be there? I`m in Firefox for Mac OS X.

8) Most people, and certainly n00bs are not going to know what "Subscribe to RSS" means. Put it in plain English. Say "feed" or "subscribe with your browser" or whatever. Make it bigger. Use the traditional orange RSS icon.

9) How many writers do you have? Use their names. Don`t make posts from "admin".

10) Your tag cloud is awkward and doesn`t really match the site. Your categories and organization could be done better. Use tags on posts that show up on the posts so that I can easily click on a tag to bring up similarly-tagged items. Tags are also important for social bookmarking, and wine is nothing if but a social engagement and a love affair of sorts.

11) Nothing about the site really says "WINE" to me. You may consider purchasing a theme, or buying a custom one, something to get it going and get that feeling there. Think: inviting, non-threatening, easy-going, casual, friendly, WINE.

I did some blog planning myself last night.  Here was something I was thinking about that pertains to you.

No offense but your readers don`t care about you.  They care about themselves.  The latest post you wrote is a step in the right direction but it`s all about you.  "I" this and "I" that - me, me, me.  Don`t talk about yourself.  Write for and about your readers.  The value you can offer as a blogger is what your readers get out of it.  Put yourself in their shoes.

Remember, the most important word in blogging is you.

Nicole, thank you for being so specific on the nitty-gritty of things. That`s extremely helpful.
Basically what I did was to find a free Wordpress theme that would allow me to have 3 columns and that was widget-ready.
I do agree with you this is not the theme I want  to keep. I will keep on looking for something better.

Although while I was reading your comments about "who am I" (just like Steve`s comments as well) I felt a little "hurt", you guys are absolutely right. I need to change the focus from "me" to "you"

Do you mind rephrasing your item #5? I don`t quite get it.

I will check the Amazon affiliate link. Thanks for bringing it up.

That giant space should be displaying Google Adsense ads...not sure what happened. I see the same blank space on my browser.

Again, thanks for taking the time to review the blog. That`s invaluable!!

Andre Costa
Wine for Newbies
www.winefornewbies.com



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Andre Costa DaCosta Chocolates, LLC www.DaCostaChocolates.com