Experiments in Semi-Secrecy
It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s that I don’t want to tell you yet. And, that’s especially true since, as many of you are aware, I have a habit of changing my mind.
Experiments in Viral Stories
At any rate, I am trying different things. For example, instead of doing viral links where you just post a list of different links, I do viral stories. It all started with the “Drunken Virals,” which I believe is still pretty much the most popular of my viral stories.
I followed up with “Pirate Links” (and “Lost Links” for those I left out). Next was “Web Trek,” which was followed most recently by “Web Trek II: The Wrath of the Single Blogolope.”
Since I started doing these viral stories last year, the use of viral links has largely fallen out of favor, likely because the search engines were catching on. But, really, what most people were after was the Technorati rank.
Since there was a six month gap between “Web Trek” and “Web Trek II,” I was concerned that even my viral stories were taking a hit. On the first day of “Web Trek II,” the comments weren’t coming in as quickly as I expected. It was beginning to look like a bust…
But, the comments started coming in, and eventually they surpassed the number of comments on the original “Web Trek.” Thus, that tends to validate my notion that viral stories trump viral links.
Of course, viral links were all about Technorati rank. Few people read through those lists. They just copied them, added their links and posted them. We may skim and even check out a few blogs, but after a few rounds, you just pass them along without paying much attention to them. Sooner or later, you get tired of doing even that, which is another reason I think that you don’t see viral links being passed along as often anymore.
But, a viral story is more likely to be read. Plus, it’s more interesting than a list of links, so you get a few more backlinks from them too because people do read them and want to share the link with their readers.
Most importantly, people like to read about themselves, even if it is in a fictional way. Plus, they get a link out of the deal too, and, in my opinion, not a link that’s going to be as easily brushed aside as a basic list of links might be by the search engines.
The downside is that a viral story takes a lot longer to put together than a simple list. The upside is that viral stories still attract attention while not so many bloggers are excited about a viral links post anymore.
Experiments in Content
I’m also going to try some experiments in content. There are, as you know, many different ways of delivering and monetizing your content. Most people pick one. I am trying several.
One is, of course, this blog. Though I don’t expect this blog to be a big moneymaker (though one can hope!), I do have some ads and affiliate programs running, and I have seen a small (very small) amounts of revenue from that, but, while it is increasing, it’s nothing yet to get excited about.
Another experiment is Practical Points in Nursing, which I’ve neglected as of late (though I will have more stuff going up soon–I haven’t been completely neglecting it behind the scenes!). I’ll diversify the monetization on the site once I’ve added some additional content to the site (beyond the content of the book itself).
Another experiment is to do an eBook, which I do have in development. Speaking of which, how many pages do you think an eBook should be? I’m at a little over 150.
What I hope to answer is whether it’s better to give content away freely and hope to earn income through advertising and affiliate programs, or to package the content and sell it to earn income? I’m going to try both and see how things work out.
Mind you, the particular niche may be a larger factor in determining the best way to monetize something than the distribution and monetization factors.
At any rate, once I finish the eBook and start selling it, I can start sharing more information on how things are going and how the content site compares against the eBook site.
And, I’ll expect all of you to buy the eBook and sign up for the affiliate (maybe) program. 
Regarding you changing your mind, Darnella is all I have to say.
I’d probably balk at reading 150 pages on a monitor. Is it something you can break out into a series of e-books? That might be a good way to maximize traffic.
Regarding you changing your mind, Darnella is all I have to say.
That’s nothing to do with changing my mind. That’s just been on the backburner. Now, if a few grand shows up in my PayPal account, I may be motivated to finish it and post it.
I’d probably balk at reading 150 pages on a monitor. Is it something you can break out into a series of e-books? That might be a good way to maximize traffic.
If you make it too short, then it becomes a report.
Those pages include worksheets and illustrations. Maybe I can add an option to receive a printed and bound copy for an additional fee.
The balance in my Paypal account is $2.82. I got nothin’.
Lots of pictures and worksheets changes the game. Go with it as one piece then, I agree. I’m liking the printed copy thing, I’d bet you would have some takers if reasonably priced.
My wife is a writer - when I hear book, I immediately think long, pictureless prose.
I wonder when illustrated books went out of fashion. Seems that with a lot of older books, there were at least occasional illustrations. Nowadays, that seems rare.
I’m curious what’s the e-book about? Let me guess-
you wrote an e-book on
How to be creepy?
With worksheets, charts, and illustrations - oh wait that’s your blog.
I would love to be one of your creepy affiliates! YAY!
I’d like to sell at least 250 books, or 500 books if done through affiliates. How many do you think you will be able to sell?
If the book’s cost is $5.00 and I get a $2.50 referral fee for each deal, I’ll be happy to participate. As you know, I am making a fortune blogging. I made $9.72 this week alone. Soon I’ll be too rich to blog