Product Description

Want to make money from your creativity? Here's how

If you're a blogger or podcaster, an artist or musician, or someone who creates any other type of online content and dream of earning income from your creative efforts, you have endless options on the Internet. But to seize them, you must become part businessperson--a creative entrepreneur. If that thought intimidates you, you're not alone.

JD Frazer has been there, and he shares with you everything you must know about syndication, advertising, branding, merchandising, copyright protection, ethical considerations, how to attract consumers, and more. If you want to earn a living from what you create, here's what you need to do:
* Make wise decisions that protect your intellectual property and your interests
* Approach the subject of paying for content without alienating your audience
* Understand the realities of self-syndication
* Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of membership features on your Web site
* Learn how branding and merchandising apply to your art
* Be prepared for fame as well as anonymity, and the hazards of both
* Recognize the ethical balance that exists between creator and consumer
* Explore online resources that assist the creative entrepreneur


Visit our Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #746806 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

From the Back Cover
Want to make money from your creativity? Here's how

If you're a blogger or podcaster, an artist or musician, or someone who creates any other type of online content and dream of earning income from your creative efforts, you have endless options on the Internet. But to seize them, you must become part businessperson—a creative entrepreneur. If that thought intimidates you, you're not alone.

JD Frazer has been there, and he shares with you everything you must know about syndication, advertising, branding, merchandising, copyright protection, ethical considerations, how to attract consumers, and more. If you want to earn a living from what you create, here's what you need to do:

• Make wise decisions that protect your intellectual property and your interests
• Approach the subject of paying for content without alienating your audience
• Understand the realities of self-syndication
• Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of membership features on your Web site
• Learn how branding and merchandising apply to your art
• Be prepared for fame as well as anonymity, and the hazards of both
• Recognize the ethical balance that exists between creator and consumer
• Explore online resources that assist the creative entrepreneur

Visit our Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks

About the Author
JD Frazer (BC, Canada) is a cartoonist and writer who enjoys a readership in excess of 1.5 million fans internationally. His site, Userfriendly.org, is the first stop on the Web in the morning for a vast number of Information Technology professionals. He has spoken at more than 50 events as both keynote speaker and panelist, on topics related to the business of online content, intellectual property, and online communities. He has consulted for companies on online consumer trends, online community development, and content development. His popular books with O’Reilly and Associates have sold more than 100,000 copies.

Customer Reviews

Goes beyond the "Google AdSense" trend...
Seems like all kinds of books are coming out about how to make money off your website. Most have to do with Google AdSense and are repeats of what made it to market first. But this one's a bit different... JD Frazer's Money for Content and Your Clicks for Free - Turning Web Sites, Blogs, and Podcasts Into Cash.

Content: The Business of Creating Content; The Advertising Game; The Membership Game; To Gate or Not to Gate; Branding and Merchandising; Online Communities and Online Consumers; The Ethics of Creation and Consumption; Protecting Your Creation; Fame and Your Audience; Ready, Fire, Aim!; References and Resources; Index

Frazer is the cartoonist behind the tech cartoon User Friendly. As such, he does know a bit about running a site that draws major hit counts on a daily basis. But like most people in his position, he wasn't sure how he could turn a hobby and passion into dollars. Through trial and error, he figured out ways to monetize his site and make a living at it. But it's definitely work, and he makes sure the reader doesn't think that they can create a couple of cartoons (or short stories or podcasts) and make unlimited money...

Yes, he does talk about advertising, but he goes into areas that most smaller content creators aren't yet exploring. In addition to Google AdSense, he also works with media firms to run banner ads for set campaigns that draw consistent income for the advertisers and himself. He also goes into the pros and cons of selling memberships/sponsorships to his site, having "member only" areas available for a fee, and how merchandising your "brand" can also pay off. That assumes you've taken the time to *develop* a brand, of course. But it's a two-way street. If you've accepted money for your content, you're obliged to deliver value for that money. You no longer have the option to decide that you want to move on and play at something else. The paying audience has a right to expect something for what they paid, and you no longer have an excuse for not delivering. Wrap all this book material up with a dash of his quirky User Friendly humor, and you have a very good book that will make you think a bit more about content and reimbursement.

If you want to go beyond slapping an AdSense section on your site and you think you have content that people would pay for, you'll do well to get a copy of this book. You may not agree with everything, but you'll end up thinking about issues before you make the mistakes associated with them. A very good read...

Cash in your content
Money For Content and Your Clicks For Free : Turning Web Sites, Blogs, and Podcasts Into Cash (Paperback)
by J. D. Frazer
I picked up this book out of sheer curosity as I wanted to read what JD Frazer has to add to the already huge industry of internet marketers and guys who promise to make you millionaires in a few days. I have enjoyed Frazers cartoons on his website userfriendly dot org and he never dissapoints. Frazer shares a lot of valuable tips for people about advertising, branding and selling in general alongwith tips on copyright issues. For all those new breed of infoprenuers who hope to make a living from their website content this book is a must read. The book makes you think why your content is valuable and how to make people pay for it without grudging. And for those who have their content ready this book helps make a lot more money in ways you did not think about. On the whole well worth the money.
I give this book 5 stars on a scale of 5, 5 being the highest. I strongly recommend this book.
Niloufer Tamboly, CISSP

Just What I Needed
I write a blog that is accompanied by a lot of photography. I'm a storyteller of sorts, using visuals to help inspire my writing. I also would like to make some money in return for all of my work, which I love to do. As the author mentions, you can make just beer money or go really hard and make a living from your content. I think I'll start with beer money as my first goal.

The book is a very easy read, Frazer's style is excellent and clear. He gives excellent advice about business dealings and how to deal with ad networks and advertisers. He greatly dislikes affiliate deals which is ironic considering his book is on Amazon. Over all he appears to be a solid expert on the topic.

Something that struck me in his book is how he constantly emphasizes doing business ethically. And he stresses we should treat our audiences as community members rather than just consumers. Maybe some corporations could take a cue from him. I think he woud make a great CEO to work for.

This is the book you want if you have no idea how to do business as a content provider in the online world. Frazer assumes you know how to make and serve content, and concentrates on how to turn your hard work into money.