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My last article "Why I Develop Every Domain Name Investment" generated several questions revolving around how I deal with monetization and content creation. So, I decided to write this article about how I like to monetize my domains and create content. Let's skip the small talk and jump right in the deep end of the pool, shall we?
My top choices for monetizing (Bearing in mind I develop everything):
1. Downloadable Products
Everyone has a different favorite: mine is related to my passionate service niche. My primary downloadable product is design related and comes in the form of vector packs, brand designs, and stock illustrations.
(Note: Once I start traveling more I'll be adding Stock Photo's to the list of downloadables as I take more pictures.)
This ones my primary bread and butter winner. I provide vector based design services that range from branding corporations with a creative Logo/Mascot to illustrations, coins, t-shirts, business cards, cartoons, comic strips, caricatures, icons, banners, flyers, magnetic car door signs, and much more. Services vary in price and can range anywhere from $30 to $500 on average depending on complexity / time invested.
I generally try to stick to pre-packaged service options with a flat rate to make it easier for both the client and myself. However, there are times when an hourly rate may be needed and that's currently set at $25 per hour.
3. Lead generators
I love, love, love lead generators. In a nutshell, a lead generator is a small mini-site that has been optimized to target a specific service or product line. After some creative and targeted SEO/SEM strategy implementation, the mini-sites put a smack down on page #1 of google search within the top 3 to 8 listings. These are also referred to as Doorway sites/pages by some people.
My lead generators are a crucial contributing factor to my business. For instance, when someone visits one of my geo city targeted mini-sites geared for corporate identity, it provides them with the basic information they need to make an educated decision on whether or not I provide what they need. If they should decide they want more information or develop the uncontrollable impulse to make a purchase, they then click on a call to action button/link with instruction on how to proceed and introduced to my primary service/product brand so that they know who they will be dealing with moving forward.
Basically, a generic brand that refers to a primary trusted brand to do business with after educating them a bit on what they were looking for. A lead generator should educate, evaluate, establish trust, and then refer to an authorized brand that will take care of the purchase and support process.
4. Content Driven PPC
I think this one is probably where most bloggers and first time site developers land that don't already have a service or product of their own. Nothing wrong with it as long as you are creative and unique with it. Basically, don't rip others content or use any aggregated content feeds. Duplicate content will only hinder your potential and keep you in the depths of the pages in search nobody goes to.
That's the short and skinny version of how I monetize and create content. Naturally, I can't give away all my secrets, but I can assure you that with some hard work, dedication, creativity, and strategic campaign planning, you can turn any of your domains into a lucrative revenue source that not only pays its own yearly renewal fees, but also increases its value and brings in a profit until it sells.
Feel free to ask questions on this blog article. I'm happy to offer my opinion/insight.
Remember the 5 P's of development success: Proper, Preparation, Prevents, Poor, Performance!
My top choices for monetizing (Bearing in mind I develop everything):
- Downloadable Products
- Services
- Lead Generators
- Content driven PPC
1. Downloadable Products
Everyone has a different favorite: mine is related to my passionate service niche. My primary downloadable product is design related and comes in the form of vector packs, brand designs, and stock illustrations.
(Note: Once I start traveling more I'll be adding Stock Photo's to the list of downloadables as I take more pictures.)
- A. Vector Packs - These are pre-designed sets of creative images. Whether it’s a set of x50 silhouettes of dancing positions, a set of 30x dog poses, etc. All are done in 100% points/paths vector so that another designer can purchase usage rights from me to use them in their upcoming projects and edit them if needed. Such packs make it easier for a designer to create projects on the fly in less time. Packs range anywhere from Free to $15 each. The beauty of this product is that it has unlimited purchase potential. Set it up once, then leave it for life to keep selling over and over again to different designers.
- B. Brand Designs - These are a one-time sale product where all copyrights transfer to the buyer upon purchase. This is how I recycle my designs that are not chosen by clients who utilize my design service. In short, I generally provide 5 unique brand samples to a client, they choose 1 and I retain all copyrights as the designer to the 4 they didn't choose. Exercising my rights to the designs, rather than trash them and miss the opportunity to maximize my time/profits, I package each of them up for a 1 time TM sale with copyright transfer. I've now just turned 1 service sale into a potential 5 sales, instantly. Pre-made brands sell for anywhere from $15 to $99 each (one time purchase).
- C. Stock Illustrations - Much like the vector packs, these can be sold an unlimited amount of time or I can sell them once with exclusive copyrights. Most the buyers of these are using them for their book or magazine publications. Sometimes, even in eBooks (which is another downloadable revenue stream). These generally sell for anywhere from $1 to $99 depending on complexity / time invested.
- D. Stock Photos - This upcoming revenue stream will be photos I personally take during my travels and hold copyrights to as the photographer. Each photo can generally sell to developers / marketing agencies for anywhere from $1 to $30 each and have an unlimited purchase potential.
This ones my primary bread and butter winner. I provide vector based design services that range from branding corporations with a creative Logo/Mascot to illustrations, coins, t-shirts, business cards, cartoons, comic strips, caricatures, icons, banners, flyers, magnetic car door signs, and much more. Services vary in price and can range anywhere from $30 to $500 on average depending on complexity / time invested.
I generally try to stick to pre-packaged service options with a flat rate to make it easier for both the client and myself. However, there are times when an hourly rate may be needed and that's currently set at $25 per hour.
3. Lead generators
I love, love, love lead generators. In a nutshell, a lead generator is a small mini-site that has been optimized to target a specific service or product line. After some creative and targeted SEO/SEM strategy implementation, the mini-sites put a smack down on page #1 of google search within the top 3 to 8 listings. These are also referred to as Doorway sites/pages by some people.
My lead generators are a crucial contributing factor to my business. For instance, when someone visits one of my geo city targeted mini-sites geared for corporate identity, it provides them with the basic information they need to make an educated decision on whether or not I provide what they need. If they should decide they want more information or develop the uncontrollable impulse to make a purchase, they then click on a call to action button/link with instruction on how to proceed and introduced to my primary service/product brand so that they know who they will be dealing with moving forward.
Basically, a generic brand that refers to a primary trusted brand to do business with after educating them a bit on what they were looking for. A lead generator should educate, evaluate, establish trust, and then refer to an authorized brand that will take care of the purchase and support process.
4. Content Driven PPC
I think this one is probably where most bloggers and first time site developers land that don't already have a service or product of their own. Nothing wrong with it as long as you are creative and unique with it. Basically, don't rip others content or use any aggregated content feeds. Duplicate content will only hinder your potential and keep you in the depths of the pages in search nobody goes to.
- A. Unique content - Get creative, use your own words, don't be afraid to express yourself. If you have writers block, go for a walk outside, clear your mind, and take notes of things you see that inspire you. Take that inspiration & write about it. Or get targeted inspiration (E.g. if your sites about beer, visit a free tour of a beer brewery and then write about it)
- B. Optimizing - Make sure that you implement at least the basic on-page keyword/phrase SEO techniques (E.g. title, description, H1, deep linking anchors, 3 click from landing page rule, 250+ word min. per page, fast page load time, etc.)
- C. Ad Placement - It's important to note that the human eye has been trained to read from left to right. That means the very first thing they see is in the top left corner of the site/content area. It's also just as important to understand that many people now days avoid banner ads due to a built in fear of being sold, much like when a salesman at the store walks up to you as soon as you enter and asks if they can help you. (I’m sure the visualization you just had helped you understand what I mean). With that in mind, focus a bit on contextual links that are strategically placed within the meat of the content and targeted to the page topic.
That's the short and skinny version of how I monetize and create content. Naturally, I can't give away all my secrets, but I can assure you that with some hard work, dedication, creativity, and strategic campaign planning, you can turn any of your domains into a lucrative revenue source that not only pays its own yearly renewal fees, but also increases its value and brings in a profit until it sells.
Feel free to ask questions on this blog article. I'm happy to offer my opinion/insight.
Remember the 5 P's of development success: Proper, Preparation, Prevents, Poor, Performance!
