I received the following request this morning:
I am looking to start a blog that is free (or very cheap) to run, is easy to edit and write on and add photos etc.I want this blog to be fully search engine optimised, so it comes up close to the top of google for all relevant search terms as well. I also want some ad space on the site so I can start earning straight away.How much would you charge for this? I just want to be handed a blog that is at the top of google and is ready to go when you are finished…
I don’t even know where to begin with this one without seeming rude….
This person wants a free or cheap blog that is at the top of Google before they even do any work on it, for all the relevant search terms (without mentioning the niche or search terms they want) and wants to be earning ad money from it.
If anyone is handing these kind of blogs out, let me know please. If you have a spare Johnny Depp, I’ll have that too 
The simple facts are:
- blogs may be free or cheap, but they still need work
- a brand new blog won’t appear at the top of Google for ‘all releveant search terms’ until it has some content
- most ad revenue is earned on affiliate schemes or page views – a new blog needs traffic to provide either revenue
- starting a blog is not an eay way to financial freedom – it’s hard work and requires thought, planning and lots of attention
There are too many blogs languishing around with no visitors and no point – don’t make yours one of them!
Ooh that’s a good one, I like that
I keep getting lots of enquiries from people seeking “partners” – i.e. they don’t want to spend any money on marketing, just make money when it works. Grrr some people!
Me too me too. Not fancy doing it Nikki!
I’ll get them to the top for searches on the phrase ‘wjshdgflr’ but it’s quite niche.
Unbelievable! I can’t decide whether they are naive or just damn rude for asking.
Of course we all want our blogs to have great SEO, but they are a personal reflection of our lives, experiences and knowledge, you can’t simply pick one off the shelf.
You made it up!
Ah, maybe not. I’ve had a few conversations like that myself. Like people who want to put video or audio on their site but don’t seem to think that there’s this thing called, er.. ‘content’. Which is, er.. quite challenging.
Good post, though – makes the point delightfully bluntly. Everybody wants to get-rich-quick just like the always did, only more than ever in the online world.
If you get any more requests like this Nikki just send them this link (or make you own response!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfprIxNfCjk
Lots of swearing!
@Thomas Hallett You are making claims beyond your station. You should have checked, Nikki already ranks #1 for that term
Ann, brilliant video!!
Thanks for sharing that.
The perception of the internet is that everything is ‘Free’ and that you should have ‘Free’ access or rights to anything that you find there. Why is that?
If I go into Tesco and take stuff without paying I would get nicked.
Somebody has taken the trouble to create whatever is available on the ‘net and they are entitled to receive recompense and reward for their hard work. Unless I live on a different planet, that’s how this economy works.
Excellent post Nikki. I would love to be a fly on the wall when you open your mail in the mornings
Thanks everyone for your comments. I think the original email came from a lack of understanding rather than rudeness, but it just goes to show what thoughts are out there on blogging and the internet. When we’re involved in it on a day to day basis we know how hard it can be and how much work it takes – but from the outside it can look as if we’re ‘making money form nothing’.
If I didn’t get the emails I do, I wouldn’t have the rich source of blog fodder that keeps me smiling every day LOL
Oh and I am top for that phrase now
http://www.google.fr/search?hl=en-GB&q=wjshdgflr&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3MOZA_en-GBFR332FR332&ie=UTF-8
Very funny story for Monday morning.
At the same time, it is a serious indicator of how there are some genuinely misguided people out there, misled partly by the many get rich quick internet scams.
Thanks Ann for sharing that Youtube video – I have sent it on to a designer friend of mine who will be able to totally relate to it
Have a fabulous week everyone.