Your Cheddar host Tim Stenovec spent the day at FinCon in Dallas, Texas and had the chance to sit down with me.
We talk about the growing trend in digital finance. i.e. personal finance has become more “DIY” with the new technology available to individuals. Read more from Cheddar.tv…
The post Talking “The Evolution of FinCon” with Cheddar TV appeared first on FinCon Media.
Ever wonder if you aren’t getting the return on investment that you hoped for with your blog? Are you maximizing not only your time but also seeing the results you’re hoping for? How can focusing your efforts pay off?
Today we speak with Rosemarie Groner from The Busy Budgeter about her strategy to get her maximum ROI when it comes to her time and energy.
Intro – Rosemarie Groner – Wife, Mom, Blogger, ROI Ninja
2:50 Where is your highest ROI going to come from?
4:25 The ROI Roadmap – Where to focus your attention
4:35 Foundation
8:25 Getting Traffic
11:50 Stop wasting your time and focus on what matters + how to do Pinterest
15:30 What should I write about?
17:00 How Rosemarie built her sales funnels
23:00 Cold subscribers–should you delete them?
Rosemarie started her blog about 3 years ago and she currently has around 120K people on her email list. Income wise, she is making an average of $100K per month from the blog.
You heard that right, folks. 100 grand per month. And some months, it’s way over that amount. The Busy Budgeter sees her highest ROI from her email list, Facebook ads, and funnels. Rosemarie stresses though, that ROI changes as your business changes.
When you first start blogging, your ROI may come solely from writing posts. There was a time for Rosemarie when her highest ROI was from sponsored posts or affiliate launches. She now sees a pretty great ROI from SEO but when you are a beginning or fairly new blogger, SEO won’t get you anywhere and it won’t get you there pretty fast.
You need content, and a lot of it, to start ranking for Google searches. The most important thing, according to Rosemarie, is to know your own business. Pay attention to where your money is coming from and where potential money could be coming from. If writing posts is all you can do right now, then optimize those posts. Build up a library of content that you can later use to rank for SEO.
How do you determine where your highest ROI will come from? Rosemarie has something to help. Her ROI Roadmap takes you step-by-step through how to move from beginning blogger to money-making machine. It all starts with the foundation-
Foundation.The first thing you have to do is understand how bloggers make money. If you can’t get that, you won’t be able to do it yourself. You have to understand things like how to write to your audience, avatars, etc.
If you don’t, you need to listen to the full episode to get this down. It’s crucial to know exactly who your people are and how they identify with you. You aren’t writing to everyone so figure out from the very beginning who wants to hear what you have to say.
Getting traffic. It’s very hard to monetize a blog with no traffic so you must get traffic from some source. There are 2 possibilities when it comes to traffic; user-to-user sources and user-to-content sources. Rosemarie is a huge believer in focusing your time on user-to-content traffic sources.
What are these user-to-content sources? There are 2; Google and Pinterest. People go to Pinterest or Google to look for blog posts or websites. This is where you want to put the majority of your time. Facebook and other social media platforms are user-to-user sources.
When is the last time you went to Facebook to look for a new blog post to read? Never, right? Exactly. That’s Rosemarie’s point. We need to focus on the sources that will actually drive traffic to our site. Google and Pinterest would fail as platforms if they stopped promoting content because that is what the platform itself is built on.
The takeaway here is to stop wasting time on things that aren’t going to give you any kind of ROI. Don’t keep spending time on Facebook thinking that it is driving traffic to your site. Spend your time on Pinterest at first while you build your library of content and then start to focus on SEO and getting found on Google.
Later on, you can start to work on Facebook ads but when you’re just getting started, you need to focus your attention on the things that bring you a better ROI. You start with your business model and you go on from there. That business model determines everything you do in the future with your blog. For example, Rosemarie’s business model is-
“To help as many people as possible, make as much money as possible, and do the least amount of work as possible.”
Whoa, you might say. This woman is lazy. And Rosemarie would say you are dead wrong. She isn’t lazy; she just knows what she wants. And what she wants is to spend as much time with her kids as she can. That means never working more than 20 hours a week and preferably less.
She has a passion for helping people but in a way that allows her to be the mom she wants to be. For her, there is another choice besides being a CEO who works 80 hours a week or being a stay-at-home mom. Her business model decides what she spends her time on and which avenues of growth she focuses on.
We hear so much conflicting information about how to choose our blog post topics. Should we write about our passions? Should we write based on keyword searches? Or should we just focus on SEO and leave the rest?
Rosemarie writes about her passions and uses SEO for those posts but she also uses keywords. You have to start by knowing your avatar and what their needs are. For every problem that they face, there are infinite post ideas to offer answers.
So start with those answers to get post ideas and then look for keywords that are going to rank well. Rosemarie uses a tool called Ahrefs for keyword research. Once she has keywords that she knows she can rank highest for, she goes for long-form content.
Why long-form? When it comes to competition, Rosemarie wants to have the most in-depth, best piece of content for whatever her topic is. She wants her post to stand head and shoulders above any competing posts.
A cold subscriber is someone who is not opening your emails. Once you hit a certain number of people on your list you have to start paying for them, so most bloggers delete their cold subscribers. Rosemarie has found a better solution for her cold subscribers. She makes money off of them.
How in the world do you make money off of people who don’t open your emails? First, Rosemarie segments them out of her main list into their own list. She then emails them separate flash sales. This allows her to know exactly how much money she makes from them. And the ROI? She’s seeing a 22% conversion rate from these cold subscribers which is absolutely crazy high.
Before you delete your cold subscribers, maybe you want to try segmenting them out and offering them their own flash sale or affiliate deal. You’ll never know unless you try what your ROI will be.
Subscribe through Apple Podcasts and new episodes will show up every month.
Never subscribed to a podcast before? Here’s Apple’s easy tutorial.
Would you rather listen on your smartphone? Try Stitcher, the iPP app for Android, or the iPhone podcast app. We’re available on each of these platforms.
Joe Saul-Sehy is the co-host of the Stacking Benjamins personal finance podcast and operates the Stacking Benjamins blog.
Hear from over 200 speakers, like Rosemarie Groner, at FinCon18 September 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. Register for your pass today!
#FinCon18 take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel where we have a discounted block rate. This block tends to sell out so don’t wait to make your reservation.
The post M&M 50: ROI and Focusing Your Efforts appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
Is sharing income reports on your blog necessarily a good thing? Joe and Michelle Schroeder-Gardner make a combined 6-figure income from blogging, affiliate marketing, and course sales. They have been consistently reporting their income for years and their readers love it.
Today we speak with Michelle from Making Sense of Cents about:
• Posting income reports on your blog
• Important first steps for first time bloggers
• Focusing on affiliate links instead of display ads as a part of your income strategy
Intro – Michelle Schroeder-Gardner–blogger, full-time traveler, affiliate marketing expert
1:35 Living the dream–full-time RV and sailboat living
4:40 How Making Sense of Cents got started
6:22 Making the decision to share income reports
10:35 Tips for beginning bloggers
12:30 Michelle’s earliest income streams
13:50 Pricing sponsored posts and freelance work
16:40 Breaking down the income streams
20:45 Making Sense of affiliate marketing, the course
Michelle began her blog in the summer of 2011 as a hobby. She had never heard the term “side-hustle” and had no clue that a blog could actually be a business. She was on a personal finance journey and she used the blog to connect with others who were also on that same journey.
About 6 months in, she discovered that other bloggers were sharing income reports and she got her first introduction to working with ads on her site. She made her first $100 on her blog 6 months after she began it.
Michelle’s goal when she began blogging was to be involved in the personal finance community for her own benefit. Once she had built that community though, they taught her about side hustling and just making more money in general. Before she got involved with blogging, Michelle thought that people just went to work every day from 9-5, went home, and started all over the next day.
Michelle started her blog in order to have a journal of her own personal finance journey so it made sense to her to begin sharing income reports since that was a part of the journey. Sharing the income information publicly was not only a way to prove to others that it could be done but also to prove it to herself.
She not only shares her income in her reports; she also shares her goals for the next month. This has allowed her income reports to be more than just financial information for her. They also provide her with accountability. It’s easy to see what she set as her goals and whether she met them. Having over 5 years of reports is a great incentive for her as she sees where she has come from and the things she still hopes to accomplish.
Sharing income reports has also given Michelle a place to talk about blogging. She made the decision early on not to talk about blogging on her blog except in the income reports.
Michelle actually considered stopping with the income reports a while back and asked her readers what they thought about it. Why would she stop? Well, she wondered if maybe sharing month after month how she was making over $100K a month was actually helping anybody. Her readers quickly let her know that they definitely didn’t want the reports to stop. They feel motivated to keep working on their own blogs when they see what Michelle has been able to accomplish with hers.
Because Michelle has been at this for over 5 years now and because she has grown her income to over $100K per month, she has some great insight on what to do if you’re just getting started and some potholes to look out for.
Michelle receives tons of emails from people who want to start a blog but they’re facing a few hurdles: what to blog about, how to get people to read it, getting comfortable with putting themselves “out there”, and how to be successful with it.
Michelle has just 2 words for those people–just start! You’ll never know if you like blogging if you never try. Everybody has to start at the same place–the beginning. You won’t know if people want to read your content until you have content. Starting a blog is super affordable so if you start it and decide you don’t like it, you haven’t invested a huge amount of money.
Once you’ve started your blog, it’s important to not view other bloggers as competition. Not only is it bad for business, it’s harmful to look at the world in general with a “me vs. them” attitude. See those bloggers as people to learn from and friends to make, not as people who are trying to “steal your secrets.”
When Michelle started blogging, she was making the majority of her income through sponsored posts and freelance work. She did social media and blog management for other bloggers. This is the type of work that allowed her to leave her day job and come home to work full-time.
Around a year and a half in, Michelle decided to fire all of the clients she was working for and work only for herself. This was a scary jump, as you can imagine, but the very next month her income tripled due simply to the fact that she could dedicate all of her working hours to her own blog.
Previously, she had spent the majority of her time helping other people grow their business; now she was focusing on growing her own business. And it felt good.
One of the hardest things about doing sponsored work or freelancing for others is knowing what to charge. The rates can vary wildly depending on your audience and how long you’ve been blogging.
Michelle advises that you price yourself higher than you think you can get. If you think you can get $50, ask for $100. The worst that anyone can say is, “No.” Again, you have to start somewhere so pick a number and see what happens. As you do more and more sponsored work and you grow your audience, you can increase your rates for sponsored posts. You can also change the rate depending on what all you’re offering–a post vs. a post and social media mentions.
Michelle got started doing freelance work when others would see her blog and enjoy her writing. Some of those folks reached out to her and asked to hire her to write for them. She also answered a few ads for freelancers. She especially found conferences like FinCon helpful for finding freelance jobs.
The whole reason that Michelle stopped working for others was so she could focus more on her own business and blog. There were a few key things she did that made her income absolutely skyrocket in a fairly short amount of time.
The main thing that changed for Michelle is that previously, she was busy working in her business but not on it. Getting back the time she had been spending working for others allowed her to really focus on the things that would help her to grow.
Because Michelle makes her income public, you can see for yourself how the previous month’s income breaks down. In May of 2018, she earned $136,807.97. Let’s see how her income streams play out.
The most interesting part about those numbers is the fact that the display advertising amount is so low. Wouldn’t you expect it to be much higher for a blogger making over $100K every month? The thing is, Michelle doesn’t like display ads and she especially doesn’t like them distracting her readers from her affiliate links.
For the past couple of years, Michelle has really wanted to launch a couple of new products. That hasn’t happened yet but she’s hopeful that 2018 will be the year to launch her course on sponsored campaigns.
Michelle’s course teaches her exact strategies for affiliate marketing and currently has over 5K students. She launched the course a little over two years ago and she’s received so many testimonials on how helpful the course has been.
You can find out more about the course at Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing.
Subscribe through Apple Podcasts and new episodes will show up every month.
Never subscribed to a podcast before? Here’s Apple’s easy tutorial.
Would you rather listen on your smartphone? Try Stitcher, the iPP app for Android, or the iPhone podcast app. We’re available on each of these platforms.
Joe Saul-Sehy is the co-host of the Stacking Benjamins personal finance podcast and operates the Stacking Benjamins blog.
Hear from over 200 speakers, like Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, at FinCon18 September 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. Register for your pass today!
#FinCon18 take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel where we have a discounted block rate. This block tends to sell out so don’t wait to make your reservation.
The post M&M 51: Sharing Income Reports on Your Blog a Good Thing? appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
We had over 600 speaker proposals for #FinCon18! There were so many great submissions! One of the reasons we love the FinCon community so much is that people are always willing to share their ideas, successes, failures, and everything in between.
That said, there are only so many breakout session slots that we have available for #FinCon18 and we’re excited to announce this final round of 35+ speakers who will be presenting September 26-29 in Orlando, Florida!
Miss the previous speaker announcements? Check out our #FinCon18 Speaker page for a full listing of all keynotes, Big Ideas speakers, and all breakout session presenters.
The post Announcing the Final Round of #FinCon18 Breakout Session Speakers appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
Do you have a relatively large number of email subscribers but not sure how to clean up your email marketing list? Cold subscribers can negatively affect your email campaigns and also your wallet. We recently handed the FinCon email list over to an email nerd and it is really starting to pay off.
In this episode sponsored by The Rich Miser, we speak with Pete McPherson from Do You Even Blog about:
• Importance of breakup emails to get rid of cold subscribers on your list
• Segmenting email lists into categories to ensure only relevant information is being sent
• Leveraging your best content to warm up your cold subscribers
Subscribe through Apple Podcasts and new episodes will show up every month.
Never subscribed to a podcast before? Here’s Apple’s easy tutorial.
Would you rather listen on your smartphone? Try Stitcher, the iPP app for Android, or the iPhone podcast app. We’re available on each of these platforms.
Joe Saul-Sehy is the co-host of the Stacking Benjamins personal finance podcast and operates the Stacking Benjamins blog.
Hear from over 200 speakers, like Pete McPherson, at FinCon18 September 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. Register for your pass today!
#FinCon18 take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel where we have a discounted block rate. This block tends to sell out so don’t wait to make your reservation.
The post M&M 52: How He Cleaned Up the FinCon Email Marketing appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
For years Deacon was frustrated that he was making little to no money with his site. Then he decided to study what other people were doing that was successful and learned some valuable information on growing your blog. Through a combination of affiliates, courses and ad networks, he now makes over $6,000 per month with his blog.
Deacon Hayes, the founder of Well Kept Wallet, is best known for paying off $52,000 in consumer debt in 18 months. He has helped thousands of people develop a financial game plan so they can achieve their financial goals in life. He has been featured in the US News & World Report, MSN Money, Yahoo Finance and more.
In his talk at #FinCon17, Deacon shares how he grew his blog from $942 to $6,089 per month in just one year:
1. Understanding the power of focus
2. Learning the benefit and importance of tracking
3. Fine tuning your process
4. Create systems to scale
5. Using paid advertising to increase revenue
6. Figuring out the value of a visitor
7. Optimizing your paid traffic
Want to relive every moment of FinCon17? The #FinCon17 Virtual Pass includes live recordings of the 90+ sessions presented at FinCon 2017, including Keynote Presentations, Big Idea Talks, and Breakout Sessions.
The post How I Grew from $942 to $6,089 Per Month in One Year with My Blog appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
With over a billion active users worldwide, Instagram continues to be a dynamic social media outlet. Are you scratching your head wondering how you can stand out and make great content on Instagram? We’ve got some practical tips in this episode to help you get started.
In this episode sponsored by The Rich Miser, we speak with Eric Patrick from Black Market Exchange about:
Intro – Eric Patrick- Hip-hop lover, investor, teacher, Instagrammer
1:00 Creating a unique brand
2:20 Building a business from a social media platform
5:15 Stop trying to sell stuff
9:50 Sharing more of your personal life through photos
11:10 Branding your images
13:00 Mistakes to avoid when using Instagram
14:20 Consistency in posting
Eric has a definite presence and style with his brand, Black Market Exchange. It all began back in 2014 when Eric and his wife were expecting their first child and he wanted to start investing to bring in some extra cash.
Over the summer of 2014, Eric began sharing what he was learning about investing, which went far beyond stocks and bonds, on Instagram. The response blew him away. Not only were family and friends responding, but he was hearing from people he had never met.
He decided to create a platform to share all the information he was learning with young people who didn’t want to learn from a dude in a suit scrolling through a slide deck. He combined his love of money and hip-hop to create a brand unique to his message. His desire to offer something that wasn’t being offered led to the thought, “Where do you get something you can’t find anywhere else? The black market.” And the Black Market Exchange was formed.
I don’t know if you noticed the order in which Eric built his online business; he built his Instagram first and a website later. The website actually didn’t come along until December of 2014. This is the opposite order from what most people in online business follow. Typically, someone starts with a website and follows it up with social media channels.
When Eric first started sharing about investing and finance on Instagram, he was using his personal page. As he got more and more responses and his following grew, he decided to start a new page and solidify his brand. Eric calls himself a latecomer to the social media game, always falling a year or more behind joining the newest platform.
One of the things that Eric does really well is that he knows his audience. He doesn’t talk about budgeting and cutting your spending because you can find everything you need to know about those topics in a thousand other places. But nobody is talking about investing to his specific audience.
If you look at Eric’s Instagram feed, you immediately notice the lack of sales posts. For a brand that needs to sell items in order to be successful, you might wonder how he manages to get those sales without more outright ad posts.
When Eric was in the beginning stages of his business, someone told him, “People don’t want you to sell them anything but they do want to buy stuff.” He’s tried to follow that thinking ever since by asking for opinions on his products and offering a coupon for participants rather than trying to sell his products outright.
Eric’s swag has a definite “look” just like his overall brand. The origin, though, might not be what you expect. Take a look at this t-shirt that he designed. Yes indeed, he got the idea from the nutrition facts on food items. Another one takes terms that most people are at least slightly familiar with and simply packages them in a fresh way to get attention.
Because Eric’s swag speaks for itself, he can put photos of them either alone or being worn on his Instagram and they tend to sell themselves.
When Eric first started the Instagram channel, he was adamant about keeping his business and his personal life separate. He kept it that way until he started realizing that people didn’t know anything about who was behind the company and who he was.
One thing that Eric stresses to anyone wanting to get started on Instagram is that Instagram favors pictures of people. Keep that in mind if you have a product-based business. Share photos of people wearing or using your product, not just the product itself.
Along with sharing personal stories through your photos, you also need to consider having a cohesive look to your feed. Color plays a huge role in that cohesion.
Think about some of the major brands you could recognize by color. What is McDonald’s signature color? How about Best Buy? Mountain Dew? Coca-Cola? I’ll bet you could answer every one of those. You want people to be able to recognize your brand by deciding on colors and using them consistently.
When Eric was choosing colors for his brand, the first choice was a no-brainer. Green is the color of money and so it’s his signature color. One quick look at his Instagram feed and the green pops out at you.
Eric is a huge fan of Canva and finds their templates very helpful when creating his images. He also looks for inspiration in the Instagram feeds of other people he follows.
The number one thing that Eric recommends is not doing images that are text only. He did that when he first started but he’s had to work his way out of it. Quotes are great but find a way to include some type of photo with the text for the best results.
Video is everywhere, including Instagram. If you ignore video, you won’t see the growth you want in your business. You can include video in your Stories, in the newly released IGTV, and you can also upload audio clips to your Stories. If you have a podcast and you aren’t using Stories to upload clips from it, you are missing out.
If you look at Eric’s Instagram feed, you will notice a few things. First of all, you notice the colors. You may also notice the people he has in some of his photos and the quotes. The other thing that is obvious in his feed are the hip-hop lyrics. He uses the theme of hip-hop to get his message about investing across to a certain audience. If you want to see more engagement on IG, choose colors and a theme for your feed that will speak to your specific audience.
The main thing to remember about Instagram is that it’s like any other social media platform; you have to be consistent to see results.
You want to post at least once per day when you are getting started. If you post too little, people don’t have a chance to learn your brand and decide to follow you. If you post too often, you’ll drive people crazy. Once you are a bit more established, you can post just 3-4 times per week and be okay.
Until recently, Instagram hasn’t allowed schedulers to post to the platform. You could create your posts and save them but the scheduler would only alert you when it was time to post it. That has changed and Instagram has opened up to schedulers. Eric’s favorite scheduler to use is Buffer simply because of its ease of use and the ability to manage your other social media platforms as well.
Subscribe through Apple Podcasts and new episodes will show up every month.
Never subscribed to a podcast before? Here’s Apple’s easy tutorial.
Would you rather listen on your smartphone? Try Stitcher, the iPP app for Android, or the iPhone podcast app. We’re available on each of these platforms.
Joe Saul-Sehy is the co-host of the Stacking Benjamins personal finance podcast and operates the Stacking Benjamins blog.
Hear from over 200 speakers, like Eric Patrick, at FinCon18 September 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. Register for your pass today!
#FinCon18 take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel where we have a discounted block rate. This block is close to selling out so don’t wait to make your reservation.
The post M&M 54: How to Stand Out and Make Great Content on Instagram appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
#FinCon18 is just ten weeks away. I hope you are getting excited like me! As the event starts to take shape, I decided it was time to share what was new for the 2018 version of the annual event. Pay attention, old-timers and newbies, alike.
We’re in our 8th year as a conference. Our mission as a company is to help financial influencers and brands create better content, reach their audience, and make more money.
Our event aims to meet this mission through high-level keynotes, breakout sessions, Big Idea talks, FinTech Competition, roundtables, Freelancer Marketplace, parties, Pro Networking, community-led events, One-On-One Mentoring, live podcasting and video booths, FinCon Central (expo hall), community service project, and much more.
Even with all that we already offer, we never stop adding something new! These eight new initiatives are aimed at helping to further achieve that mission:
This year we’ll be having the 2018 event in Orlando, FL. More specifically, all conference sessions will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek resort hotel. It’s a great hotel and really the nicest hotel we’ve ever used to house the conference.
We move the conference location each year. This isn’t easy from a planning perspective but it’s been rewarding as new people across the U.S. get to experience the event in their region, and our community gets to experience a fresh city to explore outside of the hotel.
Our opening keynote and opening party will be Wednesday 5 PM and 7 PM, respectively, this year as opposed to Thursday. This allows us to expand the agenda for the event and ensure adequate time is devoted to FinCon Central and the overall networking experience. See the full schedule here.
Plan to arrive Wednesday early (or even the night before) to ensure you get to experience all of the major aspects of the event. We’ll also be kicking off our annual Community Service project around noon on Wednesday.
This year’s event will feature several new speakers and a new emcee. Youtube star Rachel Cruze will kick off the event with the opening keynote. Author and podcaster Chris Hogan will be our closing keynote speaker.
Other notable fresh faces to look forward to in the breakout sessions: Roberto Blake (Youtube), Kate Ahl (Pinterest), Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa (podcasting) to name a few. See all the speakers listed here.
Joe Saul-Sehy did fantastic work as the emcee for the past three FinCons, but he’s turning over the duties to new emcee, Bethany Bayless (co-host of The Money Millhouse podcast).
We have one new content track entirely designed by you, the attendee – our “People’s Choice” track includes sessions chosen from an attendee survey. We’ve also split the Podcast/Video track into two separate tracks, providing more room for podcasting and Youtube/video content.
Lastly, we’ve created two Solution Center tracks running concurrently during FinCon Central (our expo hall) to ensure we have plenty of room to take in sessions. See the entire 2018 schedule (by track) here.
We have rebranded our expo hall to FinCon Central to more accurately describe the experience we’re trying to create. FinCon Central is where all the action takes place during the main part of the conference. We know our attendees want time to connect with other influencers and brands, create content, do business, share ideas, learn, have fun, and connect over a meal or drinks.
FinCon Central brings all of this together under one roof and runs from 1pm Thursday to 5pm Friday. Download the FinCon Central Map.
#FinCon18 (including the keynote address by Jean Chatzky) is presented by AARP! Be sure to follow them on Twitter and connect with them on-site at their booth.
The conference hotel has a few restaurants onsite, but it’s quite a hike from FinCon Central (our expo hall) and meeting rooms. To save time and energy, and to help you set your food budget, we’ve created add-on food packages (includes breakfast, lunch, coffee, and snacks on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).
You can purchase food add-ons when you buy your pass. If you’ve already purchased your pass and want to activate the add-on visit this link.
If you’re a long-time FinConners then you know about our incredible Facebook Group community. Over the past year, we’ve thrown our support behind two new groups: FinCon Podcast Network and FinCon Youtoobers. If you have a podcast or Youtube channel (or want to start one soon), be sure to tap into these great resources and connect with fellow attendees before the event. Look for more ways to connect with fellow attendees as the event gets closer.
Whether it’s your first time or eighth time to attend FinCon, it’s important to understand all of the opportunities involved with the event so you can plan your strategy for attending. In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more: tips for first-timers, how to make money from the event, how to connect with other attendees, etc. Stay tuned.
The post 8 New Things You Can Expect for #FinCon18 appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
What do innovation pioneers like Apple and Tesla leverage daily – a cult of loyal fans spreading their message. When it comes to marketing success, building loyal fans with your audience just works.
Mr. Money Mustache, a successful blogger with 500+ articles reaching over 30 million unique lifetime visitors, has created a cult following around his money message. We are excited to present this new episode of the Money and Media podcast sponsored by Stash. In this episode you will hear Mr. Money Mustache discuss:
Subscribe through Apple Podcasts and new episodes will show up every month.
Never subscribed to a podcast before? Here’s Apple’s easy tutorial.
Would you rather listen on your smartphone? Try Stitcher, the iPP app for Android, or the iPhone podcast app. We’re available on each of these platforms.
Joe Saul-Sehy is the co-host of the Stacking Benjamins personal finance podcast and operates the Stacking Benjamins blog.
Hear from over 200 speakers, like Mr. Money Mustache, at FinCon18 September 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. Register for your pass today!
#FinCon18 take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel where we have a discounted block rate. This block is close to selling out so don’t wait to make your reservation.
The post M&M 55: Mr. Money Mustache – Building Loyal Fans with Your Audience appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
Podcasting is an essential part of #FinCon18. The 4-day #FinCon18 schedule is jam-packed and helping you get the most out of your experience is extremely important to us. So we created this Podcaster’s Guide to help you navigate the event for podcasting-specific opportunities and learning experiences.
The following 10 things should help podcasters squeeze the most out of #FinCon18:
Sign up for a Pro Pass and participate in Pro Networking to connect with brands for advertising deals. It’s kinda like Speed Dating…but there’s no dating involved. With a Pro Pass, you’re able to schedule 10-minute one-on-one meetings with brands so you have the potential to come to #FinCon18 with at least 18 appointments already booked.
And if you run out of time to meet with all of the brands, you can network with the remaining ones during the Speaker/Pro Mixer that evening. Attendees tell us the Pro Pass pretty much pays for itself in relationships made during Pro Networking.
Plus, you can meet more potential advertising partners in FinCon Central (the expo hall) as you strike up conversations with key brands that could turn into future revenue for your show.
We set up your mics, provide a digital recorder, and give you the chance to record your podcast LIVE at the conference. All you’ve gotta do is show up to the Ally Podcasting Stage and start recording. Special thanks to Ally for sponsoring this area.
Spots are limited, so get your application in as soon as possible. Submit here.
Money Nerd Podcasters UNITE! There are some great podcast-focused groups on Facebook, but none are as niche as the FinCon Podcast Network Facebook Group. It’s also a great way to connect with other podcasters both before and after the event. You’ll also find help on other podcasting-specific questions like, “What new mic should I buy?” or “Where can I find a guest to cover a specific topic?”
Join the community and get your questions answered by people just like you.
Professional speaker, best-selling author, and host of the Retired Inspired podcast, Chris Hogan has been working under the Ramsey Solutions brand for more than a decade. Often referred to as “the guy with the booming Darth Vader voice,” Chris has coached highly-paid professional athletes and musicians, trained other financial coaches, and now travels around the United States to speak in large venues.
Chris will be our Closing Keynote, speaking the afternoon of Saturday, September 29th. For more about Chris Hogan, or any of our Keynote speakers, go here
We have an entire track of breakout sessions dedicated to podcasting topics. Learn from the experts on the Podcasting Track who will cover topics like “How Smaller Shows Can Profit” led by Julie of Fire Drill, “Unconventional Tactics to 3 Million Downloads in 16 Months” taught by Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa of Choose FI, or “How to Create a Podcast that Stands Out and Gets Noticed” with Rich Jones and Marcus Garrett of Paychecks and Balances and more!
By attending Anatomy of a Podcast Launch, the 1.5 hour workshop on Wednesday afternoon led by Bobbi Rebell, CFP and podcast pro Steve Stewart, you’ll have the opportunity to gather creative ideas that will help you think through your podcast launch and have an actual plan to move forward after #FinCon18.
Bobbi Rebell wrote the book, “How to Be a Financial Grownup” and wanted to create a podcast to support the brand. She didn’t want a traditional interview podcast so she looked for help from friends in the FinCon Community. Steve Stewart heads up the FinCon Podcast Network and edits some of the top podcast shows in our community.
Then, once you’ve attended that workshop, stop by Pete McPherson’s breakout session to learn a dead simple podcast production system for newbies. Pete from Do You Even Blog? will help you walk away with additional tools to add to your beginner podcasting arsenal.
Now in its fifth season, the Money & Media Podcast helps you stay up-to-date on all things related to the conference. You’ll hear about exciting opportunities inside FinCon Central (formerly known as the Expo Hall) and exclusive interviews with FinCon speakers and influencers in the community.
Recent episodes include “Growing Your Instagram Following with Eric Patrick,” “ROI and Focusing Your Efforts with Rosemarie Groner,” and “Mr. Money Mustache’s Building Loyal Fans.”
You can find all episodes of the Money & Media Podcast on our blog, or subscribe in Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts
So, I can meet a virtual assistant in person before I even hire them? YES! The Freelancer Marketplace will help you create business relationships that will carry your podcast show to the next level. Find niche-specific professionals that already understand your needs and our community.
Get paired with seasoned podcasters that will keep you reinventing the wheel when it comes to podcasting. Go to lunch with them on Saturday and spend time learning from their mistakes and successes as you discuss the goals of your show with someone who has been where you are.
Discover new podcasters from the FinCon community! A conversation in the hallway at could turn into a future podcast episode on your show. Create key relationships that will potentially get your foot in the door as a guest on other shows.
The post The Podcaster’s Guide to #FinCon18 appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
Are you a financial advisor, planner, or coach? Good news! If you’re coming to FinCon, you won’t be alone.
Roughly 20% of all FinCon attendees maintain some type of financial certification and serve clients with advice and/or investment management services.
In this guide, I’m going to be sharing the financial advisor’s personalized game plan for making the most out of the FinCon experience–before, during, and after the annual event.
Noted financial planner and blogger Michael Kitces said this when asked, “Who should attend FinCon?”
“Financial advisors who are looking to get started with advisor blogging and social media, or those who are a few years down the digital marketing path and want to find colleagues to learn from and share best practices.”
We agree. FinCon is a great place for advisors to grow their business. Let’s dig into these nine things you should consider when planning your FinCon experience:
Learn from the advisors and experts on the Advisor Track with eight educational sessions on topics like…(add session names from “How I Grew My YouTube Channel from 9k to 200k in 9 Months” with Jeff Rose, “Canned Content is Crap: How to Grow Your Business Online with Original Content” with Roger Whitney, and “Why Bloggers Beat Financial Advisors at Giving Financial Advice (and What Advisors Need to Do to Catch Up and Win Back Their Audience)” with Kali Roberge. See the entire schedule of sessions here.
Need to meet some attendees before heading to the event? Look no further than the famous FinCon Community Facebook group. This group is a special place filled with resourceful conversation, helpful links from conference staff, and collaborative people looking to make the world a better place for people and their money. It’s free. There’s no self-promotion or spam either.
Be inspired by the keynote with Retirement Planning Expert, Author, and Radio Host Chris Hogan. Chris has mastered the craft of providing financial planning advice and education over the airwaves. You won’t want to miss this exciting and inspiring keynote from one of Ramsey Financial Solutions’s brightest stars.
Leave the suit at home. FinCon is a t-shirt and jeans kind of event. Certainly dress in what’s comfortable for you, but know that you’ll be just fine if you leave the tie at home. Not only that, but you’ll find that other attendees and brands are energetic, excited to connect, and easy to approach.
Get energized for the event by listening to episodes of the Money & Media Podcast to learn from speakers and get event updates. Be sure to listen to the latest episode with noted author, artist, and planner, Carl Richards.
Meet writers, assistants, and more digital marketing freelancers at our Freelancer Marketplace. This free event on the agenda is a can’t miss for any advisor looking to hire a content production team, writer, social media manager, or general VA. Look for a sign up form in the conference app.
Want to make more money from your online platform in ways other than client services? FinCon attendees monetize their content in a wide variety of ways: sponsors, ads, affiliate marketing, endorsements, etc. And brands come to FinCon to connect with content creators. Use this event (and specifically the Pro Pass opportunity) to make connections with brands, and discover new ways to monetize from speakers and other attendees.
At FinCon, you’ll have the chance to meet with financial product and service partners, as well as digital marketing service providers, in FinCon Central (our expo hall). Plus, we have a FinTech competition.
Podcasting is one of the best digital marketing tools at your disposal as an advisor. At FinCon, we have workshops, sessions, and even a full-stocked podcast booth with gear where you can record your first show live at the event.
2017 FinCon Conference Review with Chad Smith
FinCon17 by Sherrill St. Germain
13 Best Conferences for Top Advisors to Choose From in 2018 by Michael Kitces
Why Financial Planning Conferences Don’t Attract Young Advisors – and How FinCon Can Save Them by XY Planning Network
The post The Advisor’s Guide to #FinCon18 appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
How much value do you bring to the table as a freelancer? What if you could launch small, local events to help educate, build credibility and identify the perfect clients that could benefit from your services.
Brennan Dunn of doubleyourfreelancing.com has a mission to help freelancers align better with the needs of their clients. In the mid-2000’s he began freelancing and scaled it into an agency of 11 employees. Brennan is now a freelance developer and helps other freelancers and side hustlers to not make the same mistakes he made early on.
Subscribe through Apple Podcasts and new episodes will show up every month.
Never subscribed to a podcast before? Here’s Apple’s easy tutorial.
Would you rather listen on your smartphone? Try Stitcher, the iPP app for Android, or the iPhone podcast app. We’re available on each of these platforms.
Joe Saul-Sehy is the co-host of the Stacking Benjamins personal finance podcast and operates the Stacking Benjamins blog.
Hear from over 200 speakers, like Brennan Dunn, at FinCon18 September 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. Register for your pass today!
#FinCon18 take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel where we have a discounted block rate. This block is close to selling out so don’t wait to make your reservation.
The post M&M 56: How to Charge What You Are Worth appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
We can probably all agree that paid Facebook ads can have a great ROI as part of a comprehensive marketing strategy. Have you taken a moment to step back and evaluate your Facebook campaign goals?
Chenell Tull of Conversion Owl Marketing shares some insights on how to get our targeted Facebook ads in front of the perfect customer. In episode 57 of the Money & Media podcast she helps demystify some of these common Facebook ad questions:
Subscribe through Apple Podcasts and new episodes will show up every month.
Never subscribed to a podcast before? Here’s Apple’s easy tutorial.
Would you rather listen on your smartphone? Try Stitcher, the iPP app for Android, or the iPhone podcast app. We’re available on each of these platforms.
Joe Saul-Sehy is the co-host of the Stacking Benjamins personal finance podcast and operates the Stacking Benjamins blog.
Hear from over 200 speakers, like Chenell Tull, at FinCon18 September 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. Register for your pass today!
#FinCon18 take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel where we have a discounted block rate. This block is close to selling out so don’t wait to make your reservation.
The post M&M 57: How to Get Started with Facebook Ads appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
Sponsored posts—have you heard of them? I really hope you have, but if you haven’t, I am here to help!
My name is Kelan Kline. My wife Brittany and I run the popular personal finance and lifestyle blog The Savvy Couple. Over the past year, we have been able to land more than a dozen sponsored posts and partnerships ranging anywhere from $500 to $5,000+. The crazy part is that our blog has only hit the infamous 100k monthly reader mark once since we started in July 2016.
So yes, you can land large sponsored content deals with major brands even when your blog is fairly new. This is incredible news for you newer bloggers! The immediate ROI (Return on Investment) from a sponsored post is almost unmatched. Quickly earning hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a couple hours of work sounds pretty good, right?
Since there is so much confusion when it comes to sponsored posts, I put together a guide with everything you need to know to start making money from sponsored posts.
Here’s what this sponsored post guide contains:
By the end of reading this article, you should be more confident than ever to start working with brands and getting paid!
So let’s get started!
Simply put, they are a way for brands and companies to partner with influencers to promote and market their products and services.
Sponsored posts are designed to educate, inspire, and provide brand awareness.
The format of these marketing partnerships will vary. They can consist of a single blog post, but sponsored content can be multiple blog posts too. They might also include social media shares, email marketing, Facebook ads, videos, and more.
As a blogger with a monthly following of readers—no matter how few—you are also an influencer. Now you can provide value to brands, in addition to your readers.
The best part is that you get paid.
Yes and no. It really depends on what your revenue model is for your blog.
Do you want to make most of your income through ads, affiliates, courses, products, or sponsored posts? Your income model will determine if it is worth your time to go after sponsored posts.
In most cases, when you are first starting out with your blog, landing a few sponsored posts is a great idea. The additional income can be reinvested into your blog to help it grow quickly.
Still, I recommend that you NEVER work with a company that does not align with your blog and brand. It can be very tempting to jump on anything that makes money as a new blogger, but TRUST between you and your readers is the most important asset you have.
You should only promote brands, products, and services that you truly believe in 110%.
The most important aspect you want to focus on when it comes to landing sponsored blog posts is looking professional. Companies want to work with professional influencers who have their stuff together.
The more professional you look, the more money you will make. That means you need to focus on your website theme, your media kit, and your advertising page.
Professional Theme – Make sure your website looks and feels professional. Get inspired by others in your niche and look for a nice free or premium theme. Companies like StudioPress, Theme Forest, and Elegant Themes are all good places to start.
Media Kit – Creating a media kit is an absolute must! It’s a summary of website analytics, demographics, social followers, and reach. It also includes your bio and testimonials. This kit will be sent out during initial outreach and brand communication. You can create a media kit with templates found in places like Canva, PicMonkey, and Blogger Kit Co.
One of the most important aspects of your media kit is the numbers that you showcase. We recommend using Google Analytics because it is the most accurate. You will also want to track how many followers you have on each social media platform.
We actually partnered with Blogger Kit Co to bring you a FREE Ultimate Personal Finance Media Kit Template. It’s absolutely amazing! Feel free to grab your FREE copy now!
Advertising Page – The information on your advertising page is similar to a media kit. The difference is that companies can access it at any time because it is a permanent page on your blog. I have found many brands will reach out to us after finding our Advertise with Us page. You can create a simple page or you can also use a page builder like Elementor to customize it any way you would like.
There are three different ways that you can land your first sponsored post. Sponsored post opportunities come from inbound inquiries, outbound inquiries, and influencer websites.
Inbound – The easiest way to land sponsored posts on your blog is to have your email address easily visible on your site. Believe it or not, companies do a bunch of outreach by themselves, so make it easy for them to contact you.
Most of our sponsored post partnerships have come through inbound emails we randomly get from month to month. The secret is to make sure they are legitimate; not someone just looking for a cheap backlink. That means when you research the company, they should be trustworthy and well known. If you don’t recognize them, you will want to do more research or reach out to the company directly for more information.
Outbound – It’s a good habit to closely follow 5-10 blogs in your niche. Once I see one of these blogs publish a sponsored post, I research the company to see if it would make sense to have them on our site. If they are a reputable company, I will move forward with sending over an advertising email.
This is a template that my advertising email might follow:
Hey [Company Name]!
My name is Kelan Kline. My wife Brittany and I run the popular personal finance & lifestyle blog called The Savvy Couple. I noticed you recently worked with our good friend (blogger’s name) over at (blog name). I loved what they put together for you and wanted to reach out to see if you are open to a partnership with us as well.
Below, I have attached our media kit for review. You can also head right over to our Advertise with Us page on our site for more information.
I am very excited about the possibility of working together and know we can come up with a very successful marketing campaign for you.
Looking forward to hearing back from you.
Cheers,
Kelan & Brittany
Influencer Websites – Lastly, there are a plethora of influencer websites you can join. These sites exist to link bloggers and brands. We have not found these to be ultra successful, but it doesn’t hurt to create an account on a few and see what happens. Websites to consider creating a profile on include:
Value!
Of course, you already knew that. So what does value actually mean?
When companies are looking for marketing partners, they will focus on things like social engagement, brand awareness, conversions, new followers, and most importantly sales.
Essentially, they are looking to you to help them drive traffic and sales.
A good practice is to ask the brand directly about their goals for the partnership. After you understand their needs, you will be able to craft a proposal that exceeds those needs.
Now that you know how much value you can bring, I know you are probably wondering how much you should charge for a sponsored post. Keep reading. I have you covered!
When starting out, it is SO hard to know how much to charge for a sponsored post. Trust me, I know firsthand!
Here is a quick story. We were about 6 months into blogging part-time as a hobby. Then, we received an email asking for a sponsored post on our site for $100 out of nowhere. We were ecstatic. We had actually figured out how to make money online!
I quickly replied saying absolutely, but I added that $100 was too much and that we would be fine with $50. This actually happened! I am still embarrassed and I can’t believe I did this! I agreed to a sponsored post from a company that I did not know AND agreed to less than they originally offered. #DontDoThis
It may not have been the best start to sponsored posts, but I was still ecstatic about actually making money blogging. A few short months later I quit my job and became a full-time blogger.
The moral of the story is you can and will make mistakes as a blogger. You just have to learn and grow from them.
The best place I have found to understand how much to charge for a sponsored post is Social Blue Book. It is really easy to use and will provide you with a great starting point for what you should charge. Personally, I find their pricing is fairly low, so ask for more than what is suggested.
As a blogger, you should never charge less than $250. This includes brand new bloggers! I hate seeing companies take advantage of new bloggers. Believe it or not, even when you are first starting out, you are worth more than a $50 sponsored post.
You may also want to ask in a Facebook group, reach out to other bloggers, or simply make up your own price. Once you get your first couple of sponsored posts under your belt, you will have a better sense of what to charge.
You want to get paid what you are worth! The most important trick to making the most money with a sponsored post is to ask what the company’s budget is. In any negotiation, you never want to “show your cards first.”
Once you know their budget and what they expect to receive from the partnership, you can start to put together a proposal email. This will include a breakdown of the services you can provide, a timeframe for publication, and any other additional details.
We have found offering bundle packages always seem to work well. Most likely, you are already going to promote the article on social media and to your email list. So why not list those as additional services and charge more?
The more value you can bring to the table, the more money you can make, plain and simple. Show off the other companies you have worked with and treat this like a legitimate business negotiation. Because that’s exactly what it is.
Lastly, if you feel that you can charge more, you most likely can! There have been multiple times I have doubled our revenue from a sponsored post just by asking for more. #DontBeAfraid
Although many brands have deep pockets and money to spend on marketing, you want to make sure you always over deliver. Treat each brand as if they are your most valuable customer. At that moment, they are!
Not only does that increase the chances that they will become repeat customers. It also opens up opportunities for brands to promote your work to other companies and organizations, which means more potential revenue streams for you.
Above all, the goal of a sponsored post is to get paid for the value you bring to companies and brands. Make sure you get paid by signing a contract up front. You also need to invoice the company directly.
You can use platforms like Quickbooks, PayPal or Stripe to invoice clients and keep track of payments. All of these companies charge a small processing fee for the convenience of accepting credit card payments.
Snail mail is another option. It takes the longest. You also run the risk of losing the check. For that reason, I prefer this method the least.
All sponsored posts and marketing campaigns should include contracts because these contracts will clearly establish the guidelines of the partnership. Basically, it keeps both parties protected because it describes what you both intend to do.
If it is a small company and they do not have a contract, make sure you get paid ahead of time. You may also want to create a contract that you can send to smaller brands. I highly suggest you try to use a contract every time you partner with a brand.
The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) also has guidelines you must follow when being paid to promote other brands. You must have a disclosure policy that is clearly labeled and easy to find. Readers must also be able to tell that you are creating content through a brand or company sponsorship.
By reading this article, you gained a better understanding of how to make money with sponsored posts. Hopefully, you’re also ready to start running sponsored posts of your own. Whether it’s reaching out to brands, joining influencer websites, or responding to inbound inquiries, especially since you might even have some in your inbox right now, it’s time to find those partnerships.
I honestly love working with other brands!
This work is exciting. It’s rewarding. Since it’s also an incredible way to leverage your blog to make extra money, the blog ROI is normally very high.
Remember that even as a new blogger, you should never charge less than $250 for a sponsored post.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward and help other bloggers whenever I can. The blogging community is extremely friendly, kind, and helpful to one another. It is honestly incredible to be a part of it!
If you need help with anything blog related or you are looking to network with other bloggers, you should join our private Facebook group Blogging with Purpose. You can also shoot us a message on any of our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & Pinterest.
So what is one step that you will take with your blog today to land your first sponsored post?
The post The Ultimate Bloggers Guide to Sponsored Posts appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
One of the questions we get from brands the most is about making the most of their time at FinCon. There are so many beneficial ways to capitalize on your time in Orlando but it can be a little overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time representing your company at FinCon.
So we put together this guide of 12 things that might be helpful to think through before your plane touches down in Florida in September:
Most sponsorships come with a Pro Networking table. This 3-hour speed networking event on Thursday morning is a sponsor favorite, as it allows you to come to #FinCon18 with at least 18 one-on-one appointments already booked. We will begin sending out invitations to Meeting Mojo, our meeting scheduling software, around August 13th so you can start connecting with Pro Pass holders and setting up those appointments.
Not a sponsor yet and want to get in on the Pro Networking event, register here.
The Pro Networking sponsorship also comes with invitations for your team to attend the Speaker/Pro Mixer on Thursday evening. All speakers, sponsors, and Pro Pass holders are invited to attend so if there’s anyone you wanted to connect with during the Pro Networking event but did not get to, then the Mixer is a great opportunity to do so.
How can you tell all of the #FinCon18 attendees about what your brand’s latest initiative is or about some new product your launching? Showcase your offer in a booth at FinCon Central. This year we’ll have nearly 100 booths. We’ve already added a second round and we have less than 15 remaining, but there’s still time if you’d like to get on board! All 10’x10′ booths come with 2 passes and a Pro Networking table.
But even if you decide to not get a booth, there are options like a welcome bag insert where you can place some fun swag or an offer from your brand. (Pro Tip: FinCon is famous for good swag, so bring your A game! And if you do add something to the welcome bag, try to not add another sheet of paper or postcard. You want to stand out!) For more info on booth pricing as well as other remaining sponsorship options, check out our Sponsor Deck.
Not convinced you need a presence at FinCon Central? For starters, here’s a list of current sponsors for #FinCon18. But also, FinCon Central isn’t just a boring expo hall set off down a hall somewhere.
For 1/2 a day on Thursday and all day on Friday, it’s the hub of everything #FinCon18. There is nothing going on for attendees outside of FinCon Central. That means we have 3 content areas within the space, we have live podcasting going on at our podcasting stage, live video being produced at our video booths, a lounge area with roundtable speakers and niche meetups, a FinTech Competition, and FinCon Central talks being given on the main stage. We’re even serving lunch in there on Friday to all attendees. It’s a hopping, high-energy space, business deals are taking place, and it’s a great way to get your message out to attendees.
It’s important to come to Orlando with a plan, especially if you have a booth and/or a Pro Networking table. The biggest question might very well be: How are you going to collect email addresses? Unfortunately, we can’t give you contact info on attendees, so it’s up to you to determine how you’re going to keep up with all the people you met and want to connect with when you return home.
If attendees stop by your booth, do you have an email capture plan? Are you doing a giveaway? Are you asking for email in return for swag? If you don’t have a booth, you still need a plan. It can get overwhelming quickly! Make the most of your time and have this nailed down before you go.
What about the #FinCon18 attendees that you’re working with already? Orlando is a great time to re-connect with them and continue to solidify existing partnerships. Reach out to your current influencers via Meeting Mojo (Pro Networking tables only) or the #FinCon18 app (you can download it and log in after you have registered for your pass).
Also, find new potential influencer partnerships by filtering the app based on niches. We’ve encouraged attendees to add tags to their profile that will help identify their particular niches. Look for the tags that fit into areas that you work with and reach out to them via the app.
If you want to host a dinner, happy hour, or event in conjunction with FinCon for any of your VIP clients or potential partners, you can get a dinner/event license. We offer a limited number of these in order to protect the integrity of the event and the schedule but once you’ve secured the license, it’s your event and you’re free to host it wherever you want and invite as many or as few as your budget allows.
If you’re interested in securing a dinner or event license, email us at admin@finconexpo.com. [Be sure to read our policies about suitcasing and outboarding.]
We love it when attendees and brands create content on site at FinCon. You’re welcome to use your booth to record podcasts or conduct video interviews. You’re also welcome to have a mobile set up roaming around the event and recording in the hallways. Just keep in mind if it’s a mobile setup, it truly needs to be “mobile.” No lighting kits or anything that requires power or a stationery setup. Gotta keep the hallways clear!
Here are some past examples:
Cheddar conducted interviews in the Ally booth last year like this one with Talaat and Tai McNeely from His and Her Money.
Experian did man-on-the-street style interviews with community members and posted it on their Facebook page.
If you don’t want to have to worry about where your next meal is coming from at #FinCon18 because you’ll be too busy wheelin’ and dealin’, we have a food pass you can add onto your existing pass. The Food Pass add-on covers breakfast, lunch, snacks, and coffee for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday while we’re in Orlando. To add a food pass onto an existing pass, you can go here.
People often ask us what tools are available to get your message out to attendees. While sponsorships are certainly an option, feel free to also use the official #FinCon18 hashtag on Twitter. The closer we get to the event, the more and more it will be used.
We love our t-shirts and jeans in the FinCon Community, so don’t feel like you need to dress in your Sunday attire. We’re a relaxed crew. You’re more than welcome to wear the coat and tie or heels, but don’t feel like you need to. Save that for when you return to the office the next week!
A lot of brands check out after FinCon Central ends on Friday because they want to get home or because they think FinCon is winding down, but that could not be farther from the truth. Saturday is a full content day and there’s still a ton going on–breakout sessions, mentoring, our final keynote, and our fun Closing Party.
But the biggest Pro Tip we can offer is that since a lot of brands do leave on Friday, there are a lot of influencers available for good conversations for those who stick around. So extend the hotel reservation and book the flight home for Sunday and see if Saturday doesn’t pay off in enough partnerships and networking conversations to cover that extra night.
The post The Brand’s Guide to #FinCon18 appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
Starting a business can present many challenges. But have you considered building a business or brand with your spouse? Partnering with them could be one of the best decisions you could make.
In this episode of the Money & Media Podcast, Tai & Talaat McNeely talk about the dynamics of running His & Her Money when your business partner is also your spouse. The two of them had already begun 6 ventures together before starting His & Her Money. Tai & Talaat share insights and some cautions to consider when entering into business with your significant other.
Subscribe through Apple Podcasts and new episodes will show up every month.
Never subscribed to a podcast before? Here’s Apple’s easy tutorial.
Would you rather listen on your smartphone? Try Stitcher, the iPP app for Android, or the iPhone podcast app. We’re available on each of these platforms.
Joe Saul-Sehy is the co-host of the Stacking Benjamins personal finance podcast and operates the Stacking Benjamins blog.
Hear from over 200 speakers, like Tai & Talaat McNeely, at FinCon18 September 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. Register for your pass today!
#FinCon18 takes place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel where we have a discounted block rate. This block is close to selling out so don’t wait to make your reservation.
The post M&M 58: Tai & Talaat McNeely: Building a Business and Brand with Your Spouse appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
Attending a conference like FinCon can be a major expense. After you consider travel, registration, and food costs, you could be talking $1,000+ for the experience of the four-day event.
Instead of thinking of it as simply an expense for travel, education, and fun, try to look at FinCon as an investment in yourself, your relationships, and actual revenue-producing activities that come from having attended.
We intentionally designed it so that you’d get as much real value from the experience as you can.
Sure, many of these things could be done without the event itself, but FinCon gives you a chance to knock them all out over a four-day period. And nothing is better for partnerships than some good old-fashioned face time.
Alright, let’s make some money so you can keep doing that beautiful thing you do. Here are 10 ways you – as an influencer, blogger, podcaster, or vlogger – can make some money at FinCon.
Over 50% of FinCon attendees monetize their efforts using affiliate marketing (i.e. advertising relationships with brands where publishers/influencers are paid a commission or referral for bringing new customers to brands).
Brands – from banks to brokers to lenders – need a steady stream of new affiliate partnerships with publishers and influencers to reach their desired audience. And FinCon is a great place to establish new affiliate marketing arrangements or simply check-in on existing relationships.
As an attendee, you’ll want to come prepared with business cards and your media kit to make contact and use to discuss potential relationships, respectively.
Nervous about the pitch? Award-winning podcaster Joe Saul Sehy says this about talking with brands:
“Brands are looking for fresh faces to spread their message. Don’t feel like you’re selling when pitching a brand you respect and want to represent. Remember that you’re doing them a favor.”
Pro Tip: You could use the app and the time in FinCon Central to set up meetings with brands. Alternatively, you could utilize the Pro Pass and tap into the scheduling software to pre-book your meetings with up to 12 brands during our Pro Networking time (Thursday from 8:30 am to 11:30 am).
Sponsored posts and social campaigns are at an all-time high in terms of popularity with both brands and influencers. As a FinCon attendee, you’re in the perfect position to pitch your sponsored campaign ideas to the brands in attendance. Best practice would be to have a media kit or other document containing the various aspects of your potential campaigns.
Do your homework prior to attending and review all of the brands attending to see who you’d like to speak to onsite to present your ideas. Like affiliate relationships, it’s great to utilize the Pro Pass experience to make it easy to set these meetings up beforehand.
Nervous about meeting with brands? Here’s PT’s advice:
“Define your goals going in and don’t be afraid to share those in your Pro Networking (or app) profile. Also, share your goals as you message folks and as make meeting requests. Then, when you get to the meeting ask questions about the company and try to find out what their needs are. Then, pipe up with how you could help fill those needs. A media kit or rate sheet is a must, I think. And don’t forget to be personable and just get to know the person a bit.”
Freelancers attend FinCon to find gigs. Writers, editors, performers, assistants, consultants, and programmers all come to FinCon and find work. Many report finding enough clients to fill their roster for the year!
Many Pro Pass holders use their time in Pro Networking to meet with brands to establish freelance writing arrangements. Be sure to take advantage of the Freelancer Marketplace (held Thursday at Noon) where you can browse tables of editors and site owners looking for specific types of freelancers.
Listen to this episode of the Money & Media podcast with Jason Steele where he explains how he finds freelance gigs at FinCon.
Looking to represent a brand as an ambassador or get paid to speak? FinCon is a great place to connect with brands looking for people to represent them through media appearance, public speaking opportunities, and even using your own content.
Professional speaker, Grant Baldwin shares this advice for finding speaking gigs at FinCon:
“Start by identifying any potential people at FinCon that might be looking for a speaker like you (based on who you speak to and what problem you solve). If you’re already speaking, do whatever you can to get them to your session. Your best marketing is getting people to see you deliver a great presentation in person. Even if you’re not speaking, you still want to try to meet them in person. People do business with people they know, like and trust, and you can always build that connection in person way better than email or online.”
Do you have a podcast or video channel? Make use of the time at FinCon to connect with brands about establishing a sponsorship for your show. Joe Saul-Sehy finds sponsors to work with for his show Stacking Benjamins. This is what he says:
“We’ve always used FinCon as a platform to help us secure sponsorship from the brands we love. It’s easier to get deals done face-to-face, and our favorite companies are in the FinCon expo hall. I walk up and pitch grabbing a cup of coffee. It’s that easy.”
Turn this into an on-site opportunity by selling a sponsor spot for the show you actually produce live at FinCon.
Do you have your own product or service? Need other influencers to help you promote it? FinCon can be a great place to find fellow influencers who might want to partner as an affiliate for your offering.
Use the app to search through attendees (filter by niche) and connect with folks who you think create content related to your offer.
FinCon is a great place to actually make content and get paid for it! Brands who attend (or who may be sitting it out this year) would be willing to compensate you to attend the show and make content on their behalf – in the form of roundups, deep-dive interviews, podcasts, and videos.
Utilize the FinCon Podcast booth and FinCon Video booths to create your content onsite.
This one’s easy. Some brands actually give out money, gift cards, or offer prizes during FinCon Central (our expo hall). Be sure to visit each of the booths as soon as FinCon Central opens (Thursday at 1 PM) to take advantage of these offers before they run out.
Additionally, digital marketing solution providers often use the event to offer promotional offerings and discounts on their services. You could walk away from the event with free hosting, marketing services, and even some free advertising dollars for your next big project.
Finally, there’s no better way to discover what the community has to offer than to visit a breakout session where multiple speakers will be outlining how they do business and make money from their content.
The Success Stories track is especially focused on different revenue models. Consider those case studies and make plans to implement your own money making ideas in the future. Here are some sessions from just one day of the event.
View the full schedule of sessions taking place at #FinCon18.
There are likely many more ways to make money from the FinCon experience. If you have an idea, share it in the comments below.
Ready to take action? Sign up for FinCon or upgrade your pass to a Pro Pass.
The post 10 Ways to Make Money at #FinCon18 appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
One of my favorite ways to make money online is by selling websites or blogs. If you own a profitable website, you may be able to get two or more years worth of profit in a lump sum by selling your site! Two years worth of income can be life-changing for your finances.
If you decide that it may be time for you to move on from your website or blog, this article can help you through the process of selling websites.
If you haven’t sold a website before, you may find the subject to be a little intimidating or even overwhelming. Don’t worry. We’ll go through all of the details in this article. I’ve been through the process several times since 2010, and I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes. With this guide, you should be able to avoid my mistakes.
Probably the most difficult and confusing aspect of selling a website is determining its value. Before we get into the tips for determining your site’s value, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
The value of a website is whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
There are some calculations that you can use to help determine the value of a website, but all that matters is what a buyer is willing to pay. Just because a calculation says a site should be worth $X doesn’t mean that a buyer value it the same. This can work for and against you. You may be able to sell the site for more or for less than a certain calculation tells you the site is worth.
The same site’s value can vary greatly from one buyer to another.
Since there is no exact method for determining a site’s value or worth, each buyer will use his or her own method. Different buyers will value sites very differently. You may have one potential buyer who is willing to pay $10,000 and another who is willing to pay $50,000. This, of course, makes it a little bit difficult as a seller because you’ll have to decide if you should accept the offer or keep looking.
You’re likely to place a higher value on your own site than a buyer is willing to pay.
As the owner and seller of the site, it’s almost guaranteed that you will feel the site is worth more than the value a potential buyer wants to pay. I don’t say this to be negative or to tell you that you’re overestimating the value of your site. I say it out of personal experience.
I’ve also heard the same from friends and contacts who went through the process of selling a site. Be prepared for this. But remember, all you need is one buyer who is willing to pay your price.
Potential buyers may not be able or willing to pay the amount that they see as the true value of the site.
Just because a potential buyer’s offer is lower than your asking price doesn’t mean that the buyer feels your site isn’t worth more. There are lot of factors involved in a buyer’s offer, and some of them have little or nothing to do with you or your site. The buyer’s personal or business situation may limit what they can pay. They may also not feel comfortable spending more than a certain amount on any website, just because of the risk involved.
So if you get a lowball offer, try not to get discouraged or feel insulted. There may be plenty of other factors involved that simply limit the potential buyer’s ability or willingness to pay more.
Now, here are some things you can do to help as you try to determine what your site may be worth.
If you haven’t ever considered buying or selling a website you may be surprised to find that there are brokers who specialize in matching buyers and sellers of websites. If you work with a broker, his or her job will involve helping you find a buyer and leading you through the sale. Often times, this includes details like the contract and transferring ownership to the buyer.
Most brokers offer a free valuation or consultation in order to get in contact with people who are interested selling websites. Whether you chose to work with a broker or not, getting a professional’s opinion of the value of your site can be extremely helpful. The broker deals with website sales all the time, so they will have a pretty good idea of the value that you should look to get if you are going to sell.
I highly recommend getting at least one valuation or appraisal from a broker before selling a blog. Here are some brokers that offer these services: Empire Flippers, FE International, and Digital Exits.
If you’re not ready to talk to a broker, you can also use Empire Flippers’ valuation tool. It’s the best valuation calculator or tool that I’ve seen, and it should at least give you a ballpark idea of what your site might be worth.
The most common method used to determine a website’s value is to take the average monthly profit and multiply it by a set amount. Each buyer will have his or her own opinion about what they are willing to pay.
For example, one buyer may be willing to pay 12 times the average monthly profit, figuring that they can recover the cost of the website in one year.Another buyer may be willing to pay 18 or even 24 times the monthly profit for a site. In general, the value is usually somewhere 10 – 30 times the average monthly profit.
I know that is a big range, but each buyer is different and the details of your site will also influence this amount.
Sites that earn smaller amounts of money (for example, below $1,000 per month) will usually attract a multiple at the lower end of this range. If you are a breakout blogger, expect more. If your site is making $10,000+ per month in profit, you should be looking to be in the upper half of this range at 20 – 30 times the average monthly profit, or possibly more.
Other factors that will influence the value of the site include the age or earning history, diversity of income sources, specific income sources, diversity of traffic sources, and the brand reputation within the niche.
A site that has been around for three years with a track record of steady growth in profits will be less risky to a buyer than a site that is six months old and has been making money only for a few months. Likewise, a site with a few different sources of revenue and diverse traffic sources will be lower risk than a site with one source of revenue and all of its traffic from Google searches.
Specific monetization strategies can also be a factor. A site that sells its own established product may be seen as less risky than a site that makes all its income from Clickbank affiliate sales. Potential buyers consider all of these factors when they are determining how much they are willing to pay for your site.
The typical range for valuing a site isn’t a strict guideline that will always be followed, but be aware that unless your site is a one-in-a-million exception (like YouTube selling for 1.6 billion before it really had any profit), buyers are very unlikely to go much beyond this typical range. Highly profitable sites may be able to bring in higher multiples, but the vast majority of website sales will not fall into this category.
Since the average monthly profit of a website is the most significant factor for buyers to determine what they are willing to pay, potential doesn’t count for very much. Typically when a seller is explaining why they value their site at a certain amount, the word potential will eventually come up. While potential does count for how we value our own sites, it doesn’t play a large role in the amount that most buyers are willing to pay.
Your site may very well have huge potential, but if you want to maximize the amount that you get when you sell the site, you will need to reach at least some of that potential before selling. My advice is to not be in a rush when it comes to selling a site. Don’t take a short-term approach where you plan to sell the site shortly after starting it, or even shortly after becoming profitable. Take enough time to build it into something special before looking to sell.
Buyers will want to see some potential for growth and improvement, but they usually won’t want to be paying a premium based on what could happen.
There are 3 basic methods for selling websites. No method is right or wrong, it just depends on your specific situation.
The first option is to handle the sale yourself. This means that you will be looking for buyers, answering questions and providing information to potential buyers, negotiating the terms, and managing the sale and transfer of assets. The downside of this approach is that you may or may not have a network that allows you to find a buyer at the right price. Also, if you don’t have experience, it can be an intimidating process. You may also make a mistake with the contract or the terms of the sale if you don’t have some guidance.
The upside to selling a website on your own is that you’ll get to keep all of the money for yourself (except taxes, of course). You won’t have to pay a broker, a listing fee, or a success fee. Depending on the details, this can mean a big difference in the amount that you receive for the site. My biggest sales have all been handled on my own, although I do hire an attorney to review the contract and suggest that you do the same.
There are websites that exist specifically for the purpose of helping to match buyers and sellers. You’ll pay a fee to list your site, but in return, you’ll receive exposure to hundreds or thousands of potential buyers. Marketplaces offer loads of exposure to sell a site quickly. When it comes to marketplaces, Flippa is by far the leader.
As a seller, the downside is that marketplaces often don’t bring the highest selling price because most of the buyers are waiting for a site at a great price. This isn’t always the case, but marketplaces are notorious for bargain hunters. In some cases, they are better for buyers than for sellers. That being said, I do know some people who have gotten great prices on marketplaces when selling websites.
Another downside is the fees. At Flippa, you’ll have a success fee of 15% for any site that sells. I used Flippa in 2010 and 2011 and the fees back then were much lower, especially on larger sales because the success fee was capped at a certain amount.
The third approach is to hire a broker when selling a blog. The advantage of using a broker is that he or she will have solid connections to potential buyers. They will also handle much of the difficult work for you. The broker helps determine how much you should ask for the site. Additionally, they will market the site, communicate with potential buyers, and assist you throughout the process.
In many cases, the broker will also have the contract and any forms that need to be used, so you won’t have to worry about that. Nonetheless, I still recommend having your own attorney review the contract.
Earlier I mentioned Empire Flippers, FE International, and Digital Exits. There are many other brokers as well. I haven’t actually ever sold a site through a broker, but I’ve had communications with these three brokers. Therefore, they would be the first places I would consult.
Each broker works differently, but generally they will be working behind the scenes to find potential buyers. Additionally, they will probably weed out anyone that they don’t think is a serious possibility. When they have someone that is a good fit, they may arrange a conference call between you, the potential buyer, and the broker.
The downside to using a broker when selling websites is the cost and the exclusivity. Typically, the broker will charge a percentage of the sale price once the sale is completed. Broker commissions are typically in the 10-15% range. Some brokers, like Empire Flippers, will have a listing fee that you’ll pay regardless of whether the site sells or not.
Although there is a fee involved, you may still be able to wind up with more money in your pocket thanks to the help of a broker. If the broker can help you to find the right buyer, the services will be well worth the percentage that they will charge. Having a broker also helps with all of the nitty gritty details of the sales process, including the contract and transition.
For websites with very high earnings, a similar option may be to enlist the services of an investment banker. They would play a similar role to a broker, helping you to find buyers.
Most brokers will require you to sign an exclusivity agreement. That means that you won’t be able to list the site with another broker or sell it on your own until that exclusivity period ends. The length of exclusivity varies, but most brokers require three to six months of exclusivity.
For full disclosure, I used Flippa and sold sites on my own in the past. I never sold a site through a broker, although I consulted with brokers a few times.
Flippa is useful in two situations: 1) if the selling price of $10,000 or below, and 2) if you haven’t been able to sell after several months of trying.
The new fee structure at Flippa with the 15% success fee and no cap means that I would not list a site on Flippa if I was hoping to get $10,000 or more unless I was desperate to sell it quickly. I wouldn’t have a problem paying the fees if Flippa tended to generate higher prices, but from my experience, the sales prices tend to be on the lower side.
My first approach with any site that I want to sell is to contact people in my network and people I know have bought websites in the past. If that doesn’t lead to any interest, the next move is either to list it somewhere or to find new people to contact. If I couldn’t find a buyer on my own, I would look into listing the site with a broker. The fees for Flippa are similar to what you would pay a broker, if not more. Personally, I would choose a broker over Flippa for selling websites.
If you are selling a blog on your own, here are some tips that can help you to find a buyer.
If you’ve been building a profitable website for a few years, you’re probably well connected to a lot of people in the industry. This could include other blog and website owners, blog editors, social media influencers, service providers, and others. Make a list of everyone that you know who works in the industry. If you have an address book or email list, scan through everyone. Reach out to people that you think are well connected to others in the industry.
You don’t need to provide a lot of details in your email. At a minimum, say that you are considering selling your site. Then, ask them to get in touch with you if they know of anyone who might be an interested buyer. It’s not a bad idea to also give a description of your target audience.
In some cases, you may want to provide some additional details, like revenue, profits, and selling price. Only include those details for people that you know have experience buying or selling websites. The average person isn’t going to need to know those details at first.
When selling a website, my approach is to ask my contacts to let me know if they think of someone who might be interested in the site. I don’t email potential buyers directly unless I know that they have a history of buying sites. If someone is interested in buying the site, they will let you know, even if you’re only asking for them for a potential referral.
By asking for referrals, you multiply the size of your network. Your contacts know people that you don’t know, so ask them to think about who they know that might be interested in buying your site.
One of the most likely buyers is an individual or company that already owns other sites in the industry. In many cases, companies will buy a site to reach a new section of their target market. They may also want to provide a product or service that complements their current offerings. If you know of any companies that own multiple websites within your industry, reach out to them. In this case, a cold call or email would be fitting.
If you have sold any type of advertising on your site, contact those advertisers or sponsors. These people are clearly interested in reaching your audience, so they may be interested in taking ownership of the site. Use relationships you built with advertisers in the past to your advantage.
Along the same lines as the previous point, you could also reach out to companies who have not previously advertised on your site but would benefit from having access to your site’s audience. Think about your target audience and your typical readers. What types of products and services interest them? Companies who are offering these products and services could potentially benefit from owning your site and gaining exposure to your audience.
While determining the value of your website is difficult, so is negotiating with potential buyers. In most cases the price you are being offered at first will be lower than your asking price. Therefore, you will need to be able to meet somewhere in the middle or convince the buyer to come up to your asking price. Here are a few tips for negotiating when selling websites.
Before selling a blog, you really need to know what the site is worth to you. Know the minimum price that you will accept. If you have an minimum price in mind, you can avoid going too low in negotiations. If the buyer isn’t willing to pay a price at or above the minimum, be prepared to walk away.
Buyers are likely to take the average monthly profit and multiply it by a specific number in order to determine what your site is worth.
But the process of valuing your own website can be different. Consider things like the risk of holding onto the site versus the risk of selling it at a price that may be a little too low.
Also, I consider the possibility of outsourcing instead of selling. How much would it cost to be totally uninvolved, and how much profit would it make in that situation? Would I rather go that route or sell a little below my asking price?
Each situation is unique and you need to know what option is best for you.
It is important to know what a site is worth to you. It is also equally important to have a realistic idea of how potential buyers will value your site. You need to be realistic with your expectations to negotiate well. If five potential buyers all value your site lower than you, reconsider your asking price.
The same thing can be said about a broker. If you expect twice what a broker suggests, it could take a lot of time to find a buyer at your price, if it happens at all.
From my experience, brokers usually aren’t going to lowball your website. First of all, brokers earn a percentage of the selling price. Consequently, the better price they get for you, the more money they make. Plus, they know that most sellers are talking to multiple brokers before hiring one. If they give you a low estimate of your site’s value, you’re more likely to choose another broker. So keep that in mind.
Most offers will come in below your asking price, similar to selling a house. I would recommend accounting for this in your asking price. If the minimum price that you are willing to accept is $20,000, ask for $25,000 or $30,000. This gives room for negotiation.
Don’t go overboard. Overinflated asking prices discourage potential buyers from making an offer or even considering it.
Getting paid 100% of the sale up front is ideal when selling websites. This works well in may cases. However, it’s not unusual to have multiple payments over a period of time instead of 100% up front. Depending on the situation, you may structure it as a loan and charge interest.
If you’re close to an agreement with a buyer but you can’t quite agree on a price, consider offering a scenario where they will pay a smaller percentage of the price a few months or even a year down the road. That way they can use some of the profits from the site to cover the future payments.
If you go this route, be sure that the contract is clear about the details of any future payments. Future payments should not be contingent on site performance. You also want contract language to indicate a commitment to future payments. Have an attorney review the wording. A personal guarantee, which will hold someone personally responsible if the buyer is a corporation or LLC, is also a good idea.
As I have mentioned a few times in this guide, selling a website can take time. Don’t expect the negotiations to happen instantly.
If the buyer is a company, it can take even longer. There may be more steps or multiple people that need to approve the deal. Plan for a sale to take at least 3 months, possibly longer. If you need something to happen faster, a marketplace like Flippa is an option. However, I suggest that you plan ahead to avoid a time crunch.
When selling a blog, the most important part of any offer that you receive will be the price. Nonetheless, there is actually a lot more to it. You should consider factors like the buyer, their experience, and their plans for the future of your site. It’s not out of line for you to ask potential buyers about their plans for your site.
You may also want to consider the details of the transaction. For example, how will they be paying you? Will it go through escrow.com? This option is safer, but there are fees involved. Will they pay by PayPal? Wire transfer? Will they pay before you transfer the site?
All of these details are things to consider as they will impact the process of selling a blog. You may want to accept a slightly lower price if you’re working with a trustworthy buyer who will make the transaction painless.
Don’t take a PayPal payment for a website sale unless it is a buyer that you know and trust. PayPal payments can be disputed. A wire transfer is my preference. Also, wait to transfer ownership until you receive payment.
Now that you have found a buyer and negotiated the price, you need to complete the sale. Here are some details to keep in mind.
Any time you are selling a website, use a legally-binding contract. If you are working with a broker, they will most likely provide one. You can also use a template if you are selling the site on your own.
Simply using a contract is probably not good enough if you are selling a higher-priced site. Hire an attorney to review the contract for any sale that is more than $25,000 or so. You can hire a local attorney, or if you want to save some money, you can hire someone through a site like Upwork.
I’ve done it both ways. Hiring someone on Upwork is cheaper, but be sure they know what they are doing.
To protect the safety of both the buyer and seller you can use an escrow service like escrow.com when selling websites. To start, they will collect the money from the buyer. You won’t transfer anything until you have confirmation that the money is in the escrow account. Once you transferred the assets, they release the money to you. The size of the transaction determines the fees. The buyer and seller split these fees.
To be honest, I prefer wire transfers when selling a blog. That way, I avoid escrow fees. Typically, I sell to people I know and trust or to people I got to know well through the process.
In almost every website sale, the buyer will need support or assistance after the sale. This can include everything from technical aspects of the site to insight into the audience. Include the details of your commitment in the contract to avoid a situation where the buyer expects something unreasonable.
For example, the contract could state that you agree to provide up to 5 hours of assistance per week for 4 weeks after the sale. You might also outline your availability. You could state that you will be available Monday – Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern time. This contract language shows your willingness to help and deters unreasonable expectations.
I always help buyers even if their request is beyond the window laid out in the contract. I’ve sold websites to some of the same people multiple times, so I like to give buyers a good experience. This increases the chance that they’ll buy another site from me in the future. However, I like to put the details in the contract to avoid a situation where a buyer wants more time than I can offer.
We’ve covered a lot of details already, but in this section I want to touch on a few things that can makes the sales process a little easier and help you to avoid some hassles.
One of the first things that every potential buyer will ask is why you are selling a website. If you have a profitable blog, why would you get rid of it? Prepare for this question in advance.
When I have sold sites, I give an honest reply: I am ready to move onto a new project. As a result, I am freeing up time in my schedule by getting selling the website.
If you plant to take the money and run, I would come up with a different response. If you’re not interested in the topic anymore, be honest. There is nothing wrong with telling a potential buyer that you would rather work on something else.
Every buyer will want to see details of your site. Their specific focus will be earnings and traffic, so it’s best to prepare this data in advance. Keep the information very general until you have some level of commitment from a buyer. List your revenue, expenses, and profits for each month over the past year.
You can also provide general numbers like website visitors and pageviews per month. Don’t worry about getting into the details of which pages of your site get the most traffic or which sources send traffic to your site. Competitors can use those details, so it’s important to be careful about who sees them. Some brokers require a non-disclosure agreement before any buyer sees detailed data.
This one is not completely necessary when selling a website, but I do recommend it. When selling websites, most buyers will want to you to transfer the website to their hosting at the time of sale. If your site is powered by WordPress or another CMS that uses a database, the process of moving the site can be a little more involved.
It is more complicated than simply uploading static HTML and CSS files to the new host. Fortunately for WordPress users, there are a number of plugins that can help move a site. Remember there is always the potential for issues to arise. If you are planning on selling a website, set it up on its own hosting account beforehand. As an added bonus, the host may even offer free migration.
If you have no other sites or files using the server, you can simply transfer ownership of the hosting account to the buyer rather than moving the site. The buyer can login to the hosting account and change the payment details to their own. This is much simpler than transferring a site. From my experience, buyers also like this because they don’t have to worry about any issues arising during a transfer.
You’re definitely interested in learning more about selling websites or blogs since you stuck with me this long! Selling a blog is never an easy decision to make. If that is the right option for you and your site, you have a big task at hand. From deciding to sell and finding potential buyers to negotiating a contract and completing the sale, following these steps will make the process of selling websites a lot smoother.
Now I’m curious, have you ever considered selling a website or blog?
Marc Andre has built successful blogs and websites in industries like web/graphic design, photography, and travel. He’s currently writing about personal finance at Vital Dollar. If you’d like to learn more about his approach to building successful blogs he’s offering a free 7-day Blogging Fundamentals email course.
The post A Comprehensive Guide to Selling Websites and Blogs appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
What exciting themes will emerge in the personal finance space over the next 10 years? Joe Saul-Sehy talks with expert Jean Chatzky, the financial editor for NBC’s TODAY show, AARP’s personal finance ambassador, and host of the podcast HerMoney with Jean Chatzky.
Jean is no stranger to FinCon or the Money & Media Podcast. (Check out her previous podcast before hitting the main stage at #FinCon13.) She’ll be returning again this year as one of the opening keynotes at #FinCon18.
In this episode, Jean Chatzky shares:
Subscribe through Apple Podcasts and new episodes will show up every month.
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Would you rather listen on your smartphone? Try Stitcher, the iPP app for Android, or the iPhone podcast app. We’re available on each of these platforms.
Joe Saul-Sehy is the co-host of the Stacking Benjamins personal finance podcast and operates the Stacking Benjamins blog.
Hear from over 200 speakers, like Jean Chatzky, at FinCon18 September 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. Register for your pass today!
#FinCon18 takes place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel where we have a discounted block rate. This block is close to selling out so don’t wait to make your reservation.
The post M&M 59: Jean Chatzky on Exciting Personal Finance Predictions for the Future appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
There’s no denying it: conferences cost money.
Though we do our best to make FinCon an accessible event, costs like airfare, housing, food and swaggy-brand-t-shirts can add up quickly.
Before you know you it, you could easily be $700-$1,000 in!
Ouch.
We thought it’d be a nice idea to compile a list of resources, travel hacks, and money-saving tips to make your #FinCon18—and all future FinCons—more affordable.
And let’s face it. You’re probably a money-saving #MoneyNerd just like us!
Some of these tips might be #FinCon18 specific for Orlando, but most of them can easily be applied to other conference travel!
Trying searching using apps like Parking Panda to find the best parking rates, or book a one-night hotel stay at a hotel that allows free parking for guests. Call the hotel before booking to confirm the free parking. ParkSleepFly.com can book the room for you.
Shoutout to Veteran FinCon attendee Lee Huffman from Bald Thoughts for this tip.
If you’re not already a travel hacker, this might not help a lot for this year’s conference in Orlando, but it’s certainly an incredible way to save money on future FinCons.
While the #FinCon18 conference hotel isn’t a part of any large hotel rewards programs, you can always use credit cards like the Capital One Venture Card to pay for your room with points.
In general, FinCon is always in cities with decent airport hubs, so booking flights in your favorite rewards program or with your preferred airline should never be an issue.
Did you know we’ve reserved a discounted rate for Orlando airport shuttles? Here’s the link with the discount built in, and you can also use the code M3JFU at https://www.supershuttle.com/.
Here’s the savings breakdown for Orlando travel with that code:
Don’t miss these two more details for scoring the shuttle discount:
RESERVATIONS: For special reservation questions, call 1-800 BLUE VAN (800-258-3826). If you call in your reservation instead of booking online with your discount code, a $3 call center fee applies.
DATES AVAILABLE: We have provided a few extra days of discount for those who arrive early or leave later. Your discount covers Sept 20th – Oct 1st. The code is live for booking now!
Sharing rides saves cash!
Uber, Lyft, airport shuttles—all of these can be split with fellow FinCon-ners, friends and strangers alike.
There are a few ways to make this happen:
“Hey! Is anybody else going to the meetup tonight from the Rosen and wants to split an Uber/Lyft?”
This post in Slack could save you $6 alone. Worth it.
Whether it’s at the Rosen Shingle Creek or at a local AirBnb, splitting the cost of housing is a no-brainer.
This list is accessible from the FinCon Community Facebook Group and will prove especially helpful if you don’t know a lot of other attendees yet.
Snagging a roomie is also just fun!
You gotta eat at conferences, but you don’t always have to go broke doing it.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner aside, you will need snacks. You’re going to be busy. Very busy.
These take energy.
Be sure to pack healthy, protein-rich snacks you can keep in your bag or pocket.
If you don’t have space in your luggage, you can likely find another FinCon-ner to carpool with to a local grocery store the day you arrive. Once you’re there, stock up for the rest of your stay.
Lee Huffman, FinCon veteran, from Bald Thoughts is back with more advice:
When mingling with a drink in hand, have a glass of water in between adult beverages. Not only will this save you money, but it will keep you hydrated, so you’ll be productive in the morning (aka #NoHangovers).
Money-saving aside, this is just a smart health tip.
Also, outside of avoiding hangovers, this tip allows you to stay connected at the party and also maintain a healthy focus on what you’re really going to FinCon for: having fun while learning and building relationships that’ll grow your business.
Yes, most people consider conferences a mini-vacation. Yes, we’d absolutely encourage you to “live it up” in Orlando.
However, there’s a strong chance you might be going to meetups and informal “Hey! Want to come with us to this restaurant?” get-togethers. The possibility of eating six meals a day isn’t entirely slim.
#puns!
Maintaining your regular eating schedule and diet (more or less) is a healthy choice both physically and financially.
This won’t be available for every meal, but several of our incredible sponsors are putting on evening dinner and party events, where there is usually at least some sort of free food.
If you prefer to not think about where your next meal is coming from, you can always upgrade to the Food Pass, which will provide breakfasts, lunches, and snacks on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Plus coffee. Lots of coffee. The Food Pass will also keep you caffeinated throughout the event.
Orlando is king of the “stuff to do” cities, so we’ve partnered with VisitOrlando to bring you a few discounts for FinCon attendees.
Say “hey” to the Mouse for us.
If you have a business—even a sole proprietorship—you can claim educational conferences like FinCon on your next tax return.
Just be sure to save receipts physically or digitally. You also want to pay for airfare or housing using your business account if you have one.
Here’s a great conference tip from Gwen over at Fiery Millennials:
Consider this part of your FinCon survival guide.
Please let us know in the comments!
The post 10 Handy Ways to Save Money on Your FinCon Trip appeared first on FinCon: Where Money and Media Meet.
