Team member Q & A - Do I fix dead links in an old blog post or re-write the whole post?

[dishfunctionldesigns]

Hi guys! Team member Joanne recently asked what I thought about whether she should fix broken links in one of her old blog posts or re-write a new post on the same subject and I am going to share her question here so that you may give your advice too!

I have a question about blog content. My blog is for (vintage) Etsy sellers. I have a post that is still getting activity, but many of the linked Etsy's help pages are no longer working. Wondering if I should make another post or fix this one.

This is the post in question for the record:

vintage.vintagemaineia.com/2016/11/improving-etsy-sales-30-ways-with.html

I didn’t see any appropriate thread discussion for that, or anything regarding blogging except reading each other's...

I have more questions, like how/when to monetize it... I am up over 100 followers : )

Or is there another blog team that you recommend more for discussion about blogging?

Thanks so much!

Joanne

[dishfunctionldesigns]

Hi Joanne!
I would go and correct the broken links - either replace them with active/working links, or remove them.

Since past blog posts are kind of like a library - they're always there, and people can stop by and "check them out" any time - you are already generating views with that blog post, so I would just spruce it up. You can always do a second, "update" blog post - but don't underestimate the value that that old post still has! Remember that folks visit blog posts and bookmark them and pin them to Pinterest—to return to them later on.

[rolanddesigns]

I would agree with Laura, if you have the time then update the links. It makes your blog more relevant and up-to-date.

I know I get turned off when I find a wonderful blog post online, or on pinterest and all the links are out-of-date.

As for monetizing, you can use adsence:
https://www.google.com/intl/en/adsense/start/get-started/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campa...

You can also 'rent out' spots on your blog.

[VintageMaineia]

Thanks so much!!

When I found the dead links I was on my iPad. (We were traveling for the day.)

Blogger works much better on the PC. I went to fix the links at home, but some of them still worked. Perhaps it is to do with Etsy switching me over to the app when reading help articles on the iPad.

I’ve seen AdSense. I turned it off when I set up the blog 18 months ago. (I didn’t want to turn off anyone lol.) I’ll consider turning it on.

I was also wondering about Amazon. I have read that you can promote their products (I have one or two in mind.) They have a vetting process. Is it hard to get approved?

Monetizing is a huge step for me. I don’t want to lose my audience. Am I over thinking this and no one really notices because ads are everywhere??

Thanks again!

[VintageMaineia]

Amazon is asking how I build links?

Via Blogger's editor I guess.

I am not a blogging expert by any means.

: )

[dishfunctionldesigns]

I honestly forget how I got started with Amazon & Adsense... I think I just went to the sites and signed up - lots of info on this if you google it, I'm sure. They allow you a certain number of ads - I think with Adsense it's 3. The amazon still confuses me when I go to change an ad or create a new one. It just takes time and patience for sure. I keep all my ads on the one sidebar and I avoid video ads. I have my blog through Blogger/Blogspot (they are the same thing), so it's easy to add Adsense to it, you go to DESIGN then you go to LAYOUT and then you click to ADD A GADGET...they might need to approve you first. They do direct deposit to my bank with payments. Good luck!

[VintageMaineia]

Thanks for the instructions on how Adsense works - I wasn't sure if I could find it again, ha ha.

Amazon I tried today twice. They want a phone confirmation... I provided the information but I never got a call or message back from them.

Ah, well, tomorrow is another day : )

[rolanddesigns]

I have used adsense for years, and I really do not remember either how I got it started.

I don't want to turn off readers with adds either, so I keep it to a minimum. Of course, the less adds you run, the less you get paid.

[VintageMaineia]

If you use Blogger, you will want to do this:

support.google.com/blogger/answer/6284029?hl=en

[VintageMaineia]

Wordpress has a big update coming...

https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/18784524/