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I ran across this headline recently in a popular online marketing forum. As I dug deeper I found similar comments posted by frustrated autobloggers. It prompted me to write this blog.There is a popular but false notion that autoblogging, that is automated blog software, will by itself make you loads of money online. As an avid autoblogger I know that no software by itself generates online profits. The software is merely a tool that automates manual process that are generally tedious; i.e. writing and posting scores of niche related articles.
Since time is money and most Internet marketers are managing multiple projects and multiple sites, the choice of automation is pragmatic. However, there is more to making money with automated blogs than uploading a plugin or pulling RSS feeds.
The focus of this blog post will be how to make autoblogging work in the real world.
First let’s take a close look at the definition of autoblogging (a.k.a. automatic blogging, automated blogging, auto-blogging).
Here is a recent definition I pulled from Blog Blueprint…
Generally speaking, auto-blogging refers to the process of creating blogs that are set up to have certain tasks done automatically. For instance, with auto-blogging you can publish focused content to your blog(s) as well as automate the task of creating back-links using services like bookmarking and RSS directories.
Here is another definition from Autoblogged.com, “Autoblogging is a great way to automate your WordPress posts so you can focus your efforts on earning money with your blog.”
And last, here is a quote from Auto Content Cash, “Many people will use these Auto Content Plugins… in combination with one another to easily create set-and-forget sites that can begin to increase daily cash flows.”
Suffice it to say that all autoblogging software programs do essentially the same thing, pull content from other sources. Some pull RSS feeds, others pull articles from popular article directories like Ezine Articles or ArticlesBase.com.
More advanced autoblogging software will even spin that content or translate it to another language and back to English creating unique content automatically.
But beyond these features, autoblogging software programs will not get your site top rankings in the search engines or drive traffic to your sites on their perse by themselves.
Keep in mind that all Sales Copy is designed to “Suspend Disbelief.”
Suspension of Disbelief is a formula for justifying the use of fantastic or non-realistic elements in literature.
According to Wikipedia, “The phrase “suspension of disbelief” came to be used more loosely in the later 20th century, often used to imply that the onus was on the reader, rather than the writer, to achieve it. It might be used to refer to the willingness of the audience to overlook the limitations of a medium, so that these do not interfere with the acceptance of those premises.
These fictional premises may also lend to the engagement of the mind and perhaps proposition of thoughts, ideas, art and theories.”
Here is an example of what I mean… 
Now according to the product creator, this software alone accounted for $45,833.37 in profits over the past 30 days.
The video caption reads, “”zero to $500 a day in 12 days…” Now the software is valued at $4997, but the next “X” purchasers can get it for just $37 ($27 on the exit downsell).
Also, there is a bold caveat soliciting “newbies” and “Beta Testers.”
Just to test the claims made by the creator, I purchased the software. It is in fact “beta” with lots of bugs.
In fact, I spent more time trying to get stuff to work than actually posting content. In theory the concept behind the software is sound, but the software just does not perform (at least at this point).
So the real question is, how would a newbie earn $5.00 let alone $500 using software that is still in the testing phase?
Furthermore, the creator doesn’t tell you that he has a list of over 40,000 subscribers!
Yet, if you check Clickbank for the gravity on this product, at the time of this writing, it’s over 300!
You see, most new marketers are quite frankly looking for a “magic bullet.” Let me tell you, it does not now exist and never has. It is a myth!
But check the back story of any successful online marketer and you will find it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to reach their level of success.
The problem is most online marketers are lazy. And those that are willing to work hard are overcome by information overload…
Autoblogging definitely works as a platform for earning money with blogs and there are several top-notch plugins that are incredible at pulling, posting, spinning content as well as those that optimize WP blogs for the search engines.
That being said, autoblogs are no different than ordinary blogs when it comes to getting them ranked in the search engines or driving traffic to your offers. That still requires some work on your part.
In order to profit with Autoblogs you still need to perform:
1. Onsite SEO
2. Offsite SEO
3. Keyword Research
4. Set up Traffic Triggers, etc.
It is these essential elements which are often overlooked or not mentioned by the experts (“gurus”) that cause folks to believe that “autoblogging sucks.”
Recently I wrote a short guide, 7 Reasons You Should Be Using Automatic Blogs.
In it I listed 7 practical reasons autoblogging makes sense if you are marketing online with blogs. You can download a copy here: http://automaticblog.info/automaticblog_lp2.php
As a follow-up I created a survey of my subscribers who downloaded the guide. What I found was really astounding and unexpected. Click here to take survey
The vast majority of respondents are “internet beginners” (78% are newbies). 50% use WordPress blogs, but have little experience with autoblogging.
Staying focused, building a list and driving traffic were top concerns; but traffic is their #1 concern.
And only a few have created an automated blog.
As a result of the survey, I will be releasing a series of video tutorials specifically addressing the issues uncovered in the survey (focus, list building and traffic generation) and how autoblogging can be a valuable tool in overcoming these challenges.
When you download my FREE guide, you will automatically be placed in the queue to get access to the videos when I make them available after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Until then,
Happy Thanksgiving
Bob C
P.S. Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts!
