Content has finally become a commodity in its own right. Industrious marketers are able to make good money publishing content and using it to drive visitors to their partners by presenting display and text ads that are relevant to the topics covered on their website(s).
The first step to generating revenue from content is to ensure you publish material that people are actually interested in, which isn't always easy. At the end of the day, ideas are the foundation of any exceptional content marketing strategy, and the amount of money you bring in will be directly correlated with the value of your content. In other words, better ideas equal more money.
Your best bet will always be to take some time to sit down and brainstorm new content topics regularly, allowing yourself to compile an ever-growing list of ideas to turn to when it's time to put something up on your website. With that in mind, it's important to be aware of proven tactics that resonate with consumers and can help drive traffic to your site and establish yourself as an industry authority.
Here are a few ideas to help get your creative juices flowing:
Don't reinvent content.
Keep tabs on what similar sites and publishers are saying. Often, your best ideas will come to fruition as a result of being inspired by something someone else says or does, so try to always be aware of what some of the top authorities in your niche are publishing. This will help you realize what your audience is interested in, and exposed to, and also provide you with ideas for your own original work. Mostly, make sure your content is helpful and worth the time your readers spend with it by providing actionable and, preferably, new or unique insights they can use. This not only makes for engaging content, but also increases your own credibility as an authority in your niche. If you play your cards right, this can bring in more visitors through word-of-mouth and inbound links.
Lists are all the rage.
Like it or not, we live in a Twitter-influenced world, and as a result, people tend to prefer bite-sized content they can absorb quickly and without much effort. So, when in doubt, itemize your articles, blog posts, photo sets and videos. Break it down for them in a neat, easily organized list, and watch the hits roll in. (Another good choice is to publish a howto article or video that breaks down complex tasks in a series of simple steps to help your visitors accomplish a specific goal.)
Create content that lasts.
Some content may bring in a lot of traffic right after it's published, and that may, in turn, give you a big, immediate bounce in revenue. Its value is fleeting, however, if this material doesn't offer information that can be accessible or useful long-term. If you really want to consistently publish revenue-generating content, focus more on publishing information that doesn't lose relevancy over time, such as informational or reference material (sometimes referred to as "ever green" content). This can help get people to continually visit your site or blog to view the content, increasing the likelihood they will see and click on ads. This content provides revenue potential for as long as it's accessible. Also, don't be afraid of repurposing, repackaging or editing popular ever green content to give it a fresh look.
A good headline matters.
Any Web writer can tell you that even if you write the single greatest blog post in the history of weblogging, it probably isn't going to do very well without an equally-as-astonishing headline to pair it with. Headlines draw visitors in, and this is especially true if they come across your articles or blogs in search results.
When crafting the ideal title, make sure you specifically address the topic using relevant and interesting keywords. But the real trick is to not give them too much; just offer a taste of how they can benefit from your content. And if you took the earlier advice and wrote a list article, make sure you say that in the headline (e.g. "Five Ways to Secure a Boat to a Dock").
With all of the work it takes to be an affiliate marketer, it can be easy at times to overlook your content. But content is, and always will be, the best way to generate revenue as an online publisher. To be a successful affiliate, you must always be aware of your target audience and the trends that are driving the most traffic online. As long as you're able to adapt and publish valuable content that will resonate with consumers, you'll be able to keep the money coming in on a regular basis.
