Blogs work because its like word of mouth advertising. You have been reading someone’s blog and getting to know them. Then when they recommend something you are more likely to buy it. Just like when your friend tells you about this great deal they got on something.

It works so well affiliate marketers started making fake blogs (aka flogs) which make it look like someone is recommending a Google Money Tree system, or weight loss product or whatever. I am sure you have ran into a flog. The FTC is hot after them now though.

So my point really is that you cant just start up a blog and in a few months (even years) expect to earn the respect of your readers to start selling them products. You need to actually give value.. and do it consistently over time.

I am going into my 6th year of blogging and like many other bloggers who are considered “experts” I never intended to make money at it and actually didn’t until only a few years ago.

In 2009 this blog will make more money then I did in the first 30 years of my life (before running my own company full time) …. combined.

That’s kind of crazy!

But its a good time to be an authority in the “make money online” space. Even if I hate that association =P.

Jeremy Schoemaker at ShoeMoney.com