Confessions of a Six Figure Professional Blogger

Six Figure Blogger Blueprint – Grab Your’s Now

January 15, 2010 | Project Updates

I’ve written something for you. And I want you to have it. For free.

Some of you may have a copy and already read it. If so, you might want to read it again because you might be reminded of some things.

bookcover_3dBack in July of 2009, I released the Six Figure Blogger Blueprint. This is an in-depth, 47-page blueprint to the business of professional blogging. I’m very proud of this report. It is meaty and contains a lot of solid, actionable information.

More importantly, though, I wrote it in order to play my part in bringing bloggers back to the basics of business. Too many bloggers are out there trying to figure out how to make money with their blogs. Yet, consistently and routinely, they seemingly fail to think about the basics of how you make money.

Banner ads aren’t dependable. The economy has led to many companies and ad networks reducing their budgets. Adsense is essentially the welfare program for bloggers – anybody can use it but the payout generally sucks. That is, unless you have a LOT of traffic. But, this business is getting more competitive by the day and building up those kinds of traffic levels isn’t exactly easy anymore.

The simple facts are these:

  • Bloggers are in the right business, and if they don’t realize just how powerful the blog is as a business platform, they soon will.
  • Now is the time to get this game right. The world is about to beat down our doorstep. You can’t mess around and dilly-dally with the idea of creating an online business if you want to beat the coming wave. You’ve got to make it happen now.
  • Most bloggers are thinking about monetization ALL WRONG. Banner ads typically lead to frustration and nothing more (for most bloggers).

In my Blueprint report, I really do provide the Blueprint to how I’ve managed to generate over $204,000 in 2009 with only 2 blogs. And a majority of that, as my long-time readers know, had nothing at all to do with the “make money” niche. I’ve been making six figures annually as a blogger ever since 2004.

I’ve thrown my take on it, and the story of how I got there, into the Blueprint. You can read the 47-page book, or you can listen to the audio version, narrated by your’s truly. :)

Click Here To Grab Your FREE Copy Of The Six-Figure Blogger Blueprint (Plus Audio)

January 26th, 2010

Mark this day on your calendar.

This is the day that I am reopening the doors to the Blog Masters Club.

This is my 6-month training program for bloggers. 16 modules, totaling over 30 hours of training videos. Recorded by me personally… with the aim of being a total “brain drain” of over a decade of my experience in this business. It is extremely thorough, and I look forward to telling you more about it in the coming days.

But, for now, I encourage you to set aside an hour or so over the weekend and read the Blueprint report. If it helps you to print it out, go ahead and do that.

I look forward to hearing what you thought of the report. After you have read it, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Let’s rock it! :)

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like...

  1. NEW: Six Figure Blogger Blueprint
  2. My Evolution Into a Six Figure Blogger
  3. Blogger Roadmap In Audio Format
  4. If You Could Go Full-Time With Your Blog, Would You?
  5. How A Blogger Makes Money Without Being a Slimeball

Learn The Real Story On Blogging As a Business...

  • Get immediate FREE access to the Six Figure Blogger Blueprint
  • Get exclusive stuff NOT available on this blog.
  • Get the latest updates from the weird Risley man who runs this site.

Enter email:

  • David,

    Read the Blueprint cover to cover...a very engaging writing style (not very many authors seem to focus on engaging their reader).

    Both sides of the fence should read this, IM'ers who want to blog...and bloggers that want to monetize. While it doesn't contain a revelation, it DOES contain the stuff you MUST be doing (all of it) to succeed as a problogger.

    Nicely done David.
  • Ann
    Personally I would like to know how many hours a week we're talking about. Realistically, I imagine that you must work far more than 40 hours a week for a 6 figure income.
  • mkakan
    i read the blueprint and was ...wowed....in fact it is one of the most elaborate free material on making money with blogs..i am going to blog about it on my blog...love it.
    you are now on my rss feed...thank you
  • So
    Ive been blogger since 2004, I started to think about making money on 2008. And I think Im in a good track, but man! I LOVED your report!!! I highly recommend it. It makes me sad to have to build up a mailing list (I have it with feedburner) but that is my fault :)
    Thanks a lot!!
  • The Blueprint has useful and actionable information for those of us just getting started blogging. Thank you.

    I agree about keeping an idea file. While reading or browsing or watching TV, jot down thoughts on how the news or info relates to your topic. Record ideas and angles whenever they come to you. Draw on your file of ideas when writing posts. It really helps with never running out of ideas.
  • David,
    I've read the eBook and I'm pleased to know that I am on the right track. I've spent my first year of blogging building up my reputation in my little niche. I know I need to get busy writing eBooks, etc. and have already started working on some other ideas before I had read your eBook. You have reinforced my ideas and have given me the confidence to continue on with my plans. Thank you.
  • lorenmickelson
    I like your style of writing. You feel as though you are writing from a place of knowledge and experience. At this point in time I am in the process of reading your information and and am in the state of wonder. Is this our next step or not?
  • Worth downloading for the writing alone. I LOL-ed a few times as I made many notes of what I could be doing WAY better. Thanks, David.
  • Hi David,

    I checked out the Blogger Blueprint and it really added to all the existing research I'm doing into digital market for my own web presence that I manage myself. Hope to keep reading your tips and applying them to my creative projects

    Cheers!
  • Thank you David! This was a great gift and I am making my way through it.

    Thanks.

    Iyabo
  • Overall, the Blueprint is decent. Better than decent, really.

    My only complaint (and I have this complaint about almost all content marketing content) is the glaring lack of specifics. The broad strategic strokes become fairly clear after reading 2 or 3 "free reports" from professional bloggers or content marketers. I think a lot of people really need nitty gritty specifics: what technology to use, how to find a niche, how to research keywords on Google, how to use search engine marketing, how to optimize for search, how to set up a newsletter (not just what to put in it, but how to actually manage subscriptions), how to use Web analytics, how to set up an RSS feed...

    As I have ventures further and further into the world of content marketing and thought leadership, I have had to be like a tropical lizard with my eyes going in different directions. One eyeball darts around looking at information from the content marketers/Thought Leadership marketers/permission marketers/attraction marketers/professional bloggers/social media gurus. The other eyeball darts around looking at geek blogs, technology blogs, web design blogs, tutorials on HTML and CSS, blogs from the WordPress community and the larger PHP community...

    I have tried to contribute a little bit to solving this problem over on my blog (socialbootstrap.com/blog), but I haven't quite yet found the exact right mix of all the different types of information that would-be content marketers and Thought Leaders need. I am planning on launching a new website and blog soon which I hope will do a better job of exactly that.

    Which brings me to a big thank you. While my complaint stands (not enough specifics), your Blogger Blueprint layed out one of the best complete strategies I have seen for how to structure a blog. In fact, it was exactly what I was looking for as I plan my new venture. If I'm lucky, you will be one of the giants upon whose shoulder I'll be standing.

    Thank you so much for your contribution to my future success
  • Thanks for SFBB, David. It's an excellent read, Well-written too. I particularly like the business focus and the fact that you refer to your experiences with PCMech. Too often it's easy to get caught up in the cycle of writing, link building,a nd social networking without stepping back to look at the stratgic picture.
  • David, first I'd like to say thank you for offering your blueprint. I read it the first night and have already implemented some of the things you talked about. I plan on reading it again and doing everything you say step-by-step. I am so thankful that you have shared this with me.

    Thanks again,
    Brandi
  • Leon Noone
    G'day David,
    Michael Martine recommended "Six Figure Blogger Blueprint" to me. Frankly, it's wonderful. I've read it once and I'm about to read it again. It contains loads of straightforward, helpful advice. i'm so impressed I've subscribed to your blog.
    I'm in the process of setting up a business blog."Six Figure" will help me in a whole lot of ways

    Thanks,

    Leon Noone
  • Josephine
    Great, I read it last night... plenty to digest there and lots for me do now. What software do you recommend for writing PDF's?
  • What a fantastic piece of work. I've read several such free downloads -- and even a few I bought -- over the past two months. Your free download was probably the best of them all. I found myself wondering what you could possibly sell after giving away such excellent information.
    Thanks again.
  • gjduke
    Excellent Report:
    - Important Info
    - Prioritized
    - Summarized at the end...

    Thank you.
  • The part where you mentioned "that blogging is mainly for personal journals and not for me" is the same mistake that I made.

    Here's how silly it was for me. I had always thought that blogs and blogging are for celebrities and famous people. I was under the impression that people write only personal stuffs on blogs and if you're nobody, who would want to read your personal stuffs?

    How wrong I was. I wish I had started blogging very much earlier. I deserve the kick in the butt. Reading your blog and blueprint really helped. Thanks.
  • Glad I could help. :-)
  • cnuicu
    Yes I read it and was extremely helpful. I will use your suggestions.
  • Erel Blinn
    David,I read The Six Figure Blogger Blueprint. i found the article very helpful. I've been jumping around trying different things on my blogs. You have helped me to direct my enery in the right direction. Thanks.
  • Awesome. Glad I could help.
  • vanae
    hey david,
    as i am morphing my site and coaching into a business, i was seeking the right advice & business coach... i found your blueprint. not that i haven't heard these tips before but you organized them well and made good points. very helpful.

    plus, your voice made it easy for me to finish the blueprint in one sitting.
    thanks a bunch david,

    Life & Dating Coach,
    Vanae
  • Coming from a dating coach, you saying my voice is good is a complement. I'll go tell my wife now. ;-)
  • haha. i'm sure she'll appreciate it.

    have you considered being a business mentor? i might have more advanced & personalized needs than the 'blog masters' program can offer.

    :)
  • Hi David, thanks for sharing your experience! As some have said, for those of us who have researched and followed the most successful "non-celebrity" internet entrepreneurs, the information in the blueprint isn't revelation, just reinforcement.

    But it's a welcome reminder that there are no silver bullets, no "lazy man's way to make a million." It takes passion, tenacity and at least a small measure of creativity.

    Thanks also for the reminder that it can be done with integrity. Cheers!
  • Thanks, and yeah, lazy people just won't make big bucks online. Never gonna happen.
  • Hey David,

    Great content- as always!
    I've been a subscriber for a while now, but as my business has grown & evolved I've realized I'm missing some crucial steps with my blog- so am going back to some of the fundamentals to take things to the next level.
    Couple things that really struck a nerve were the 'First Things First' (pillar content- which although my blog isn't new, feel I can implement), write in batches and of course BUILD A LIST NOW!

    On a side note....about a year ago spent a LARGE sum of money on a 'guru's' mentoring program...big learning lesson! I've learned more about traffic from your blog than that program.
    Looking forward to your coaching program.
    Kim Doyal
  • Wow. Thanks. Guess some people like to extract money for little value. When I charge for something, I intend you'll get something for it. Blog Masters Club will fulfill that promise in spades. You'll see. :-)
  • David, Thanks for putting this together and re-launching it. I can tell this comes from "blood, sweat and tears. I am committed this year to making my blog more active, prominent and yes monetized. I spent some time Saturday reading through it. This really gave me the "BIG Picture" as well as the steps that make it up. I am definitely on my way which was encouraging, but have a lots of work to do. This will help me as I grow through the process with this as a guide and reminder. I highly recommend David and his expertise, if you are serious about blogging and making some money at it.
  • Thanks, Deborah.
  • David,

    I've tried and tried to download the Six Figure Blogger Blueprint, but keep getting an error message that the PDF file is damaged and can't be repaired. Help!
  • Yah,, gotta figure that out. Only a few people have mentioned it, and I'm not sure what its happening. Perhaps your version of PDF reader?
  • Dominic
    Great report!

    After reading your report, I was wondering if it's useless to pursue a blog in the programming or software development niche; that's where my passion lies, but according to your report, that niche doesn't fall in one of the four areas with high demand. I've also thought about starting a blog on worry or anxiety, but I'm not sure if I would have enough energy to stick with it, even though that niche falls in the health area.

    Any advice for someone in my category?

    Thanks,
    Dominic
  • Follow your heart and follow solid advise from David RIsley and people he tells you to follow.Your success is their success. They offer solid help and they are real people that believe in dreams.Go for it.write,write,write.
    Pierre & Pierrette
  • I replied to your email, too, Dominic. But, essentially, your niche CAN work. It is just a matter of ironing down the focus audience (i.e. career programmers?) and then figuring out what they need and want. There is likely an angle to programming that will perform very well.
  • juliegerlach
    Way to go on the Blue Print! It is wonderful and most helpful!!! Thank you so much for writing it and giving it out for free...It has made a huge difference to me.
    Thanks again!
  • David, I got your Blueprint. Took 2 days to read it in it's entirety - one of the joys associated with being a single parent! I am just entering the blogging universe - I have my own domain, Wordpress installed, my son is designing my logo - but my first post is not yet up. The Blueprint provides tons of great info on how to set this up right from the beginning - Aweber, ClickBack, etc. I've put my name on your list for the Blog Masters Club; looking forward to it. Thanks for all you do!
  • Thank you, and make sure to get that first post up soon! :-)
  • I read the document last night. Have to say that, for my situation, it is the best peice of literature that i've read.

    It's very valuable reading, and best of all, it's FREE.
  • David, thank you very much for your bleuprint. I got a copy from MikeCJ and was offered another by Darren Rowse.They are truly your friends and friends of mine also.Your bleuprint is a dream come true for new bloggers. It will save them a lot of time.It has taken Pierrette & I 4 years to put it all together. We have all the pieces and we still learned from you.Imagine 4 years and you tell it all in your bleuprint.Lucky people out there!!
    We thank MikeCJ and Darren for being there.
    Thank you very much.
  • Both Mike and Darren are awesome. Hope to meet Mike some day.
  • Hi David,

    I read your e-book and somehow you've summarized almost all your notes, post and added a few extra lessons about how to actually earn some cash over blogging. I guess the way you see it is a simple e-commerce business. I agree! Would definitely recommend some friends to read your e-book! Thanks a bunch!
  • On the ecommerce biz, sorta kinda. More of a relationship marketing approach, which isn't what most ecom businesses do. But, they should. :-)
  • patrickgallagher
    David,
    Read the ebook. Excellent job, and thank you.
  • Very Useful information.
    The most useful parts of the book to me were: 4 great blogging niches, pillar articles, email lists, guest posts, the power of selling your own product, and commenting on others blogs.
    Its not that i haven't heard these things before, but you have really reinforced them into my head.
    Thanks and Sincerely,
    David
  • Hi David,

    Thanks for taking the time to put together such a great report. I thought it was full of some really great information. If this is the quality of information that you are willing to give away, your paid content must be incredible. There are many strategies that I can incorporate just from the free report. I can't wait to see what else you have to offer.
  • The paid stuff blows the Blueprint away. Just saying. ;-)
  • Hi David

    I am new to your list, I signed up through Pro Blogger referall. I thoroughly enjoyed the report, and it has given me the incentive to be more pro active in making my own blogging business a success. So thank you!

    I have read it once and listened to the audio version twice so I dont miss anything. I'm looking forward to the 26th Jan when the booking opens for the Blog Masters Club.
  • Cool. Thanks for the complement.
  • Hi David

    I am new to your list and just wanted to say how impressed I was with your report, I have read it once AND listened to the audio twice SO FAR! The content is nothing short of brilliant and I am really excited about the Blog Masters Club which I will definately be joining.

    Looking forward to working with you David
  • And I you. :-)
  • Marlin Williams
    This report is a light shining in the dark. I could have spent the next several years wading through the trial and tribulations of uncertainty, but this information gave me the needed steps that I must take to establish a successful business. I do highly recommend this material as a "must read" for anyone who is serious about blogging sites. Thanks again for taking the time to put this information out.
    Sincerely,
    Marlin Williams
    Pro Fitness Trainer
  • David,

    I just downloaded and read the report. You should be proud of yourself... this is only the second 'ebook' I have ever read all the way through. I'm a real-book person and spending more time on the computer than I already do to work is never very exciting for me. haha

    Great motivator. I have a lot of changes coming up for my blog, and reading your blueprint helped me straighten out the steps and confirmed some of my decisions. I'm so excited about this year!
  • 2010 is going to be awesome.
  • Hello David,

    first off congrats to you and all that you do in the blogging world. I'm over at http://www.ProMomBlogger.com and I desperately want to make it a memberhsip site for my clients. I currently installed vBulletin and have a few eBooks coming soon. right now I enjoy blogging and came from this world.

    Does your Blog Mastermind cover Membership Sites? and setting them up? I have Wishlist and vBulletin and wanted to set something up.

    Help me please.

    thanks and I loved Six Figure Blueprint also. I will download the report right now and get started reading in the moring.

    Cheers to Your Success and your growing family!
  • Ricardo G.
    Hello David,

    I read the report and it was very good information. I've read several of these types of report in the past but the one you created had good information that will help a begginer. I took my time to read it and I'm glad I did.

    Ricardo
  • David; I downloaded your Blueprint book yesterday morning and read it cover to cover, twice, plus took notes along the way. I was so impressed with your unadorned logic and clear presentation that by yesterday evening I had created my blog theme, typed about four pages of outline material, and created my URL: TheArtOfTheEgg.Com. Yesterdays research showed me that there are volumes of sites about various aspects of egg art, but no unifying location to pull the information together. I have spent twenty eight years showing people the results of my work, now I am going to spend time telling they how to do what I do. With your help,I will see how rapidly I can achieve that six figure income, and in the process help you to achieve a seven figure income. www.vivianalexander.com
  • Hehe.... well, I'm not sure 7-figures is a prime goal of mine. But, thanks. :-)

    Egg art is certainly a niche I've never heard of. Are there people doing it?
  • Hello David,

    I already read your blueprint, thanks for the reminder via email, i got tell you that the info is pretty useful, i´m trying to increase my audience, in order to try to sell something, but it´s not easy, and for the moment with very few subscribers i´m not going to sell anything, i´ll have to wait.

    Thanks for the report.

    Regards.
  • Yeah, just build up some leverage at this point. I'd recommend guest posting and lots of networking with other bloggers and people in your market. Videos, too. Give away lots of free stuff, too, and build a list.

    It isn't easy, no, but certainly doable with the right tactics.
  • Your e-book is pretty good, I like the advice I got there. Thanks a lot! I will definitely talk about it on my blog.
  • Hello David,

    I'm new to your list and fairly new to blogging. The last 4 months I have been learning from some of the best when it comes to blogging and marketing. Your Blueprint was very well written, is an easy read and contains very valuable information for both new and more experienced bloggers. Thank you for providing such a great value to the community.
  • pj
    Thanks for the report. I've read it -- twice-- and have it saved on my desktop for easy reference. You've given us much to work on. Thanks again.
  • fitnessluz
    H Davidi-Got your reminder today..Yes, I read it and I totally love it. Thanks. I need to print it out to read it over again. I immediately set out to work on a new post and some of my WP blog app as I am still learning how to navigate around it.
    Also, I had to laugh at your quick follow up..great way to keep the momentum going. Good job :)
  • OK, I've read it and while I admit the content was very well written I am disappointed that I didn't learn anything earth shattering.

    In regards to banner ads, most of the bloggers that I know who display banner ads are promoting some affiliate or other. I reckon that there wouldn't be too many bloggers who are relying on the CPM banner ads.

    I agree whole heartedly that marketing is important and that to make it really big you have to market something that people want. Naturally it would be best to market your own product but most wouldn't have one and so are left with pushing someone else's. This may not be a problem once you've built up a trusting relationship, but even then it would be hard to actually crunch the sales.

    I know that I get hundreds of clicks but very few sales, and perhaps that is due to the lading pages, I don't know. Of the sales that I do regularly make it's because the products that I promote I use and people see this and therefore it helps to cinch the sale.

    In regards to lists, I'm not interested in them and if that means I will never be a 6 figure blogger, that's fine with me.
  • Well, thanks for checking out the report, Sire.

    BTW, about not learning something new... that's fine, but if you actually APPLIED it, you'd see results. Things like flat-out refusing to have a mailing list.... well, you're right... you won't be a 6-figure blogger with that kind of stubbornness. But, that's fine. Like I've said, not all bloggers even want to make a bunch of money. No problem. For those who do, though, you have to be willing to do what it takes to make that happen.
  • Whilst I know mailing lists are an accepted form of marketing I find them distasteful and that being the case I can't see myself using them. That may be seen to be absurd by the bulk of bloggers out there to make a buck but as far as I'm concerned I'm not willing to take that path.
  • Yeah, it is absurd. Here's why.... even if you choose not to use the list for making any money, you can still use it as a way of reaching out and bringing people back into your blog. In other words, you can KEEP the relationship with more people that way, because the experience of the email inbox is far more personal than a blog or RSS reader.

    Without a list, your audience is going to be a small cadre of dedicated people. Most will come, go, and never come back.

    Building a list has a number of benefits, only one of which has to do with generating any revenue.
  • Yeah, that could be true, but the way I look at it is they will come back if I am writing well because they have subscribed to my blog and get notified anyway, there is no need to spam their mailbox with, 'hey guys, I've written another killer post, have you read it yet. Honestly, it's really good"

    If I don't write well they won't come back and that spurs me to greater efforts.
  • When you use a Feedburner list, though, you literally can't do anything else with it. Pretty limiting. Certainly not my recommendation. :-)
  • Im enjoying reading the exchange of insights here.. Anyways good post.. :D
  • Hi David, I've downloaded the ebook and will sit down when I have time to give it a good read. Will pop in once I've done that to let you know what I thought about it.
  • Amazing stuff David.. I will put your stuff in my recommendation list :)
  • It's a great read. I remember when it was first released. I think I'm going to re-read later today.
  • I just downloaded your blueprint and started to read, I read three pages and thought I would drop by your blog and see what you were about. I like your openness in your writing - what I have read so far. I shall read more and take from it what I can to implement and see what will work for me.
  • Hi David,

    I've read the e-book and it's great. Short (45 pages) and straight to the point. I totally agree with you, selling our own products is the best way to earn money online. Very clear and helpful your explanation about turning blogs into a sales funnel.

    Cheers! See you David :)
  • I did download the ebook. And I did read it.
    In all honesty I expected it to be pretty much the same information one sees all over the internet on making money.

    It's not.
    This information is beyond what I expected.
    It's easy to understand and would be easy to implement. Of course you would have to remain focused and put the proper effort into following the steps .

    Thanks so very much for this..
  • Hey Dude,

    I'll be watching this very closely, good luck
  • No, you don't have to do anything with the Club, you just enter your e-mail and you will have to confirm the subscription to the MAILING LIST, and then you will receive the ebook
  • the Mailing List is worth it though! I think David does a great job with his mailings
  • Well, I am subscribed to dozens of lists anyway, if I was about to unsubscribe I think it would take me the whole day to do it.

    So, one list more or less, doesn't make a difference.
  • I'm concerned about what I am getting myself into by downloading the ebook.
    Why do I have to sign up with the Blog Master's Club to read the ebook.
    And what is the Blog Master's Club..
  • You'll have an opportunity to enroll in the actual training program a little later. But, this thing is free. No obligation at all.
  • Don't worry, I've downloaded the e-book and haven't had to sign up with the Blog Master's Club.
  • Thank you, I am surely going to read this, since I know you have a lot to say
  • I've downloaded and read it..Gotta say it is one of the ebooks I'll be willing to pay. Thank you David.
  • I too thought it was great! I bought Probloggers e-book and would put this right next to it, being free was great and I plan on utilizing its lessons
  • Hello David

    I would love to spread the message of your this post. Certainly your success and your hard labour can be the inspiration for many people.

    Let me download this and would love to read on this weekend.
blog comments powered by Disqus