Over the next few days we are working on how to polish up your blog and utilize your space (not content which is your writing  but space and layout)  to help monetize your blog and present a more professional  blog or website. Your blog can be fun, and suit your unique style while still ensuring the ads that pay you perform well.

Yesterday I discussed Blog awards, today we are going to cover those’ top blog or top site directories’ and vote for me links and banners.

Just like the awards …. ‘That award Top site banner provides THEM with traffic to their site at the expense of you keeping a visitor on YOUR SITE.’

A few things to consider with Top Sites.

• Make it easier for your visitors to help you. If a visitor is going to take that time to vote for you, having all the links on one page will increase the number of places any one visitor might vote for you. Once created, you can make a habit of asking visitors on your blog posts to take a moment to vote for you and link to the page.
• If a top site requires you to link on your main page, then you need to really look at that particular top site to see if the volume of visitors they will send your way is worth giving them that space.  Check the other participants to see how many clicks they are receiving.
• If you decide to put their button or banner on your side bar – look at the banner the blog top site provided. If it does not clearly say ‘click here to vote for me’,  use a text link instead.

Today’s Task  Create a Vote for me page

This blog page  is where you move all of those top blog links, buttons, and banners.

The link for your blog’s vote for me page should NOT be in your header’s navigation bar. Instead, create a button for the page, or list the link under Pages in your side bar.

Pick one or two relative top blog or directory links for your main page – but make sure they are relevant to your content  and check to see if they are sending traffic to you. Placing buttons on your page that do not provide you with something in a rather well – questionable decision ;)

It’s like opening a bank account and then just giving them your money. With no return or service provided why would you keep giving them money ? You wouldn’t – you would go to the bank with the higher interest rate and better services right ? Your blog ad inventory space is your money.

Blog top sites are a free way to generate some organic traffic and visitors to your site.  I am not suggesting you don’t use them. Just put some planning into how you will display them on your blog.

Good luck !

Don’t forget to check out our contest – win a custom header, banners, and twitter background for your blog.