How To Host Your Own Paid Blogging Network
Posted by Jim in agreda blogs, Internet on May 14, 2012
As we finalize the development of our infrastructure to host better business blogs for you here at Team Agreda, I thought I’d share how you can host your own paid WordPress blog network.
One of the many methods for earning an income online that we use ourselves – and discuss in our home based business e-book – is utilizing the WordPress multisite network functionality to host free blogs.
Yes, free. For our rather niche market of three legged dog lovers at Tripawds, we follow the Freemium business model.
Why We Offer Free Tripawds Blogs
Our mission at Tripawds is to provide a platform for the discussion of canine cancer and amputation for dogs. The community we have grown is a labor of love, not a business venture. But by offering free three legged dog blogs to our members, we are fulfilling our mission while developing loyalty and trust that any paid upgrades we offer will be worth the expense.
After all, hosting a WordPress network is not cheap. And for those who wish to contribute financially to our user-supported community in exchange for enhanced blog features, we make it simple.
How We Automate Premium Blog Subcriptions
The same method we use to offer premium blog features can be applied to any niche network or commercial WordPress hosting enterprise. With the Pro Sites plugin from WPMU Dev, we are able to automate the process of site registration, upgrades, ad removal, plugin activation and much more. Whether or not you offer basic blogs for free, Pro Sites can be used to create subscription plans for various levels of enhanced functionality.
The plugin includes various modules for easily charging network users to access enhanced functionality for their sites. Below are just a few that we use. See the full list of Pro Sites plugin features for more.
- Advertising – Disable ads for a Pro Site level, or give a Pro Site level the ability to disable ads on other sites throughout your network.
- Premium Plugins – Create packages of specific plugins only available to selected Pro Site levels.
- Premium Themes – Enable selected themes only to be used for a certain Pro Site level.
- Premium Support – Provide a premium direct to email support page for selected Pro Site levels.
- Upload Quota – Automatically increase the upload space quota for Pro Sites.
See Pro Sites in action with this brief overview video
or check out all the features here.
The best thing about Pro Sites is its ease of use. For being so massively configurable, it really was quite simple to set up. After upload and network-activation of the plugin, configuration is as easy as:
- Specify your account levels and fees.
- Enable the modules you wish to use for the different levels you offer.
- Select your payment gateway.
A number of other settings are available for customizing notification emails, creating coupon codes or re-branding Pro Sites to whatever you wish. We use “Supporter” since our network is a user supported community, and that’s what the plugin was originally called.
Technically, any site created on a WordPress multisite network is free. So if you don’t want to use the freemium method, you can enable the Pay To Blog module. If you just plan to offer one level of functionality for all sites you host, then the Pay To Blog plugin may be all you need.
Once configured, users are presented with a stylish table presenting all Pro Sites subscription levels. You have the option to show this upon site creation, and it is always available from the upgrade button in each user’s dashboard.
The latest version of Pro Sites even includes simple Google Analytics ecommerce tracking, and it just keeps getting better. So check out Pro Sites today if you’re looking for an easy and effective way to make money with your WordPress blog network. The help you’ll find from developers in the support forums can’t be beat. Just another reason I’m a happy WPMU Dev member!
How To Profit From Free Products Or Services
How come everybody want to keep it like the kaiser?
Give it away, give it away, give it away now!
— Red Hot Chili Peppers
Before we get into details about how we monetize the Tripawds community and RVblogz network by offering free blogs to members, an explanation of the “freemium” business model is in order.
- Freemium: A business model where you give away a quality core product for free and earn revenue by offering complimentary products and/or advanced features for a fee to a small percentage of your free users.
The slide presentation below, courtesy of The Freemium Blog, helps explain how the freemium model works, with examples of businesses making millions of dollars by giving away their products for free.
Freemium Business Model Explained:
Another Successful Freemium Business Example
When it comes to blogging, WordPress.com is a perfect example of the freemium business model in action. In fact, WordPress.com parent company profits are projected to exceed $45 Million this year. Not bad for hosting a bunch of free blogs. Granted, profits from paid upgrades to free WordPress.com blogs are a fraction of the company’s total earnings. But you get the point, it’s what the company is known for and the foundation upon which Automattic has built an empire from premium subscription services and “VIP” enterprise publishing solutions.
Stay tuned for details about how you can host your own freemium blog network like we do!
Implement Freemium Tactics For Your Business
We’ll get into more detail about how we’ve built a successful niche community using the freemium business model for Tripawds blogs at a later date. For now, consider how you might benefit by giving away your products or services.
I’m not talking about offering a free sample chapter to encourage readers to purchase a complete e-book like we do with our home based business resource, Income Anywhere!
I’m talking about identifying a need your customers have that you can fulfill for free. Give away a product they actually use, and a number of them will be willing to pay for enhanced features or related goods. The free product must have intrinsic value itself and be useful on its own. This develops customer loyalty and trust that any paid upgrade or related fee for service will be worth the expense.
If you are a professional consultant, give away a podcast and sell your on-site presentation services.
If you are a digital artist, give away a screensaver and sell original prints.
If you are a musician, give away your music and sell concert tickets.
If you are crafty, give away how-to videos and sell handmade gift items.
If you are like me, give away a free home based business consultation and sell a resourceful e-book!
More Inspiration from Mr. Jobs and Master Lee
Every once in a while we stumble upon poignant words of wisdom from both masters of business…
“
The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.
Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know it when you find it”
— Steve Jobs
And champions of personal development …
“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life.
There are no limits, there are only plateaus, and you must not stay there. You must go beyond them.”
— Bruce Lee
All of which can be applied to keep you on your own path to success.
Never settle, and never give up.
Want help finding that special something to be passionate about that can help you reach your financial goals? Need assistance following through on your business plan? Team up with Agreda today! Let us show you a proven business model based upon superior products you will love. We can then coach you with proven practices to help you succeed.
We first shared these quotes on our Live Work Dream Facebook Page. Like us to download the free sample chapter from our home based business e-book and get a coupon for $5.00 Off Income Anywhere! Then contact us for details about how we can help you help yourself.
How To Not Get Scammed In A Home Based Business
While updating our Income Anywhere! e-book with more helpful resources for starting a home based business, we stumbled upon an interesting book that should help anyone decide what business is right for them. Or more importantly, which home based businesses we should all steer clear of.
I Got Scammed So You Don’t Have To!
Learn how to find legitimate work at home businesses and random jobs in a scamming economy.
Bethany Mooradian is the “Queen of the Random Job”. In this resourceful book she shares the hard lessons she’s learned during this tough economy with more than 300 helpful home based business ideas, and information about legitimate companies that can help you bridge the income gap. As an internet marketing expert, she reveals the most common tricks of online scammers and MLM schemers. With plenty of resources for researching companies and job offers, Mooradian makes sure so you will never have to ask, “Is this job for real?”
Take a behind-the-scenes look at Internet marketing to learn common techniques of scammers and essential tips for anyone who uses the Web and email. Review more than 180 companies, ideas, and resources to create your own business or side income based on your talents and skills. Discover 140 legitimate companies that offer flexible work environments, or hire at-home-workers.
It is concise, to the point, and contains a wealth of information – from how to understand and grasp the vocabulary and use of internet marketing, to what to look for when navigating the pros and cons of starting your own business… Read All Reviews
A must-read for non-entrepreneurs I Got Scammed can help anyone develop a new mindset about the joy of small business ownership or working from home. Brainstorming, resources, marketing tips, as well as over 100 mini-franchise opportunities are also included.
For more helpful tips about how to identify the warning signs of common home based business scams and schemes, download the Free Sample Chapter of our e-book that discusses how to identify legitimate revenue sharing businesses.
Or, contact us today for a free consultation with complete details about the smartest business decision we’ve ever made about a proven model that offers reliable income with absolutely no risk.
How To Find Drop Shippers for Anything
One of the smartest – and most lucrative – ways for operating an online store that we discuss in our home based business e-book is to work directly with manufacturers who will drop-ship products for you.
If you have tried to develop such relationships, but are tired of trying to find a drop-ship supplier for your online store, then this supplier directory is for you…
The Dropship Blueprint Supplier Directory is now:
Store Coach’s Supplier Directory
Store Coach’s Supplier Directory provides immediate access to thousands of dropshippers & wholesalers eager for your business.
This online directory of product suppliers is perfect for would-be e-commerce store owners who are actively searching for a dropshipper or wholesaler. Free Store Coach membership not only provides access to the supplier directory, but also includes training videos and other resources to help you make the most of your online store.
How To Find Drop-Shippers On Your Own
If you serve a narrow niche market like we do with our Tripawds Gear Shop, it may be more challenging to find a supplier to meet your needs. We recommend doing what we did – find a product you’re passionate about! When we first considered selling the harness we used to help our three legged dog Jerry get in and out of our truck, we knew we didn’t want to stock inventory. We also had no idea what to expect in terms of projected sales. So we contacted the manufacturer and asked to speak with the product manager in charge of the product line we wanted to carry.
It turned out getting set up as a reseller was simple. We have since expanded our offerings to include other products they make. And after seeing consistent sales, it was easy to negotiate a reduced drop-ship fee. After receiving payment from our customers via PayPal, we place orders with the manufacturer online or by phone. It doesn’t get any easier than that! Or does it?
The Best Drop Ship Business
Why place orders or deal with customers at all? Please contact us directly for complete details about the best U.S. based manufacturer we have found that drop-ships products people use every day with a 95% reorder rate!
Download Income Anywhere! for proven home based business tips.Fewer than half of all Americans have calculated how much they need to save for retirement.
— U.S. Department of LaborWe did it. You can too!
We are debt-free snowbirds who own our dream home in the Rocky Mountains and travel during the winter. Read our story.
Read our RV Snowbird Blog to find out where we are now or contact us today for free home-based business advice.
