The new year is here, and I am still toying with new year’s resolutions. Last time I made one, it worked! I actually resolved to floss every day, and I did it, and still do. So don’t let anyone tell you that a resolution made on the new year always fails. The new year is a time to evaluate the past and figure out where you intend to go in the future.
For me it has become clear that the business model I have used for the last five years or so is starting to show signs of strain. With the rise of Google Adsense, I thought I could simply create informational sites and derive revenue from readers clicking on Google ads. This worked quite well for a while. I like to think that the articles I have written are informative, and helpful. I could remain aloof and let other people try to sell their wares.
Unfortunately, ad revenue has declined steeply, in spite of the fact that my traffic is up. Yes, quality articles do bring traffic. But in order for them to be economically viable they must have a supporting revenue structure. This can no longer be simply conveying good information. It must also be helpful to the consumer in a way that helps him or her to make buying choices.
What is funny is that this change is actually a throwback to my original revenue model, which I developed before the advent of AdSense. Probably my site that best illustrates this idea is BreadInfo. It exemplifies all that is good (in my mind) about the internet. It is information intensive, well-written, with an attractive layout (which I worked many weeks on). The author (your humble blogger) is enthusiastic about the subject, plus it helps people make economic decisions. Of all my websites, this one has been one of the most successful. It is easy to see why.
So, what is my new year’s resolution? I still haven’t made up my mind, but it goes something like this: to beef up my current websites with even better information. To work on a revenue model that emphasizes helping people to make economic decisions, and to practice my Tae Kwon Do every Friday.
