What is the difference between a blog and a subscription website?
This is a question we are often asked.
There are some similarities and many differences between blogs
Let us start with the similarities:
1. The majority of blogs and subscription websites focus on a narrow specialization. For example, fly fishing in Scotland or beer distribution in the US
2. Both are usually driven by an individual's passion and expertise for their specialization
3. Both questions and answers about this specialization and a timely way
Now the differences:
1. Blogs are usually written by people wishing to share their opinion and expertise
2. Very few blogs make money
3. Even less allow their editors to do a full time job
4. Subscription websites are usually set up as commercial businesses. Their intention from the outset is to generate income from providing access to unique and expert knowledge
5. The single owner is usually full-time
6. Blogs give all their content away for free. Any revenues are generated by advertising or other business activity. Subscription websites usually require membership to their premium content.
Today there are around 50 million active blogs.
There are probably more than 30,000 subscribers on the internet, but we would estimate that over 80% of these are generating a full time income for their owner or company. Some are making millions of dollars.
For the more internet savvy, it is worth putting some numbers around the different income generation methods. Subscription.
Assume a website publisher wanted to make $ 100,000 per year from their specialist content website. These are the rough sums:
A Blog With Advertising
The average revenue from advertising is $ 3 for every 1,000 pages viewed ($ 3 per CPM). To achieve $ 100,000 revenue a visit to a page (2.7m pageviews / month).
A Subscription Website
they would need to have 834 subscribers each paying $ 9.95 a month
19659002 The type of content also tends to differ
Blogs generally provide highly sensitive news and opinions about their niche subject. Successful bloggers often post multiple times every day. Their goal is to get a little reading.
o Directories
o How-to articles
o Applications (eg online investment portfolio management )
o Forums
o Calendar Events
o News and Views
The objective of the subscription website is to ensure their members renew their subscription every year. As a result is a much longer shelf life. It encourages members to interact with one another, and it is important to remember that they have a role to play
Blogs tend to have just one stream of content in the form of a daily diary available to all visitors. This page is often scrolled on the home page. Subscription websites tend to have multiple areas of content and free, articles and news, forums and directories, etc.
Which is Right for You?
At the end of the day only you can decide.
Blogs succeeding by creating a daily content driven by news and opinion. They rely on the volume of their advertising revenue
. The content tends to be more detailed and re-usable, and the sites rely on interaction with and between members to create loyalty.
Ask for yourself which is more achievable for you; attracting half a million visitors a month, or recruiting a thousand paying members?
The post Making Money Online: Blogs vs. Subscription Websites appeared first on Tica Tica Boom.
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