Ex-PPC marketer, Mike Thomas, tried all kinds of money making models including PPC affiliate marketing, auto blogging and adsense niche sites. After a year of trial and error, he mastered Google AdSense and went from $66 a month to $6,000 a month in profit with niche relevant WordPress content blogs…
You can Google EMD update.
Due to the recent Google shifts in their algorithms, Mike’s sites suffered a big hit, and were de-indexed from the big search engine. He quickly realized that AdSense is not a stable revenue source (something I personally related with) and was looking for something he could better control or manage. That’s how he stumbled upon podcast interviews.
His now famous “Mike From Maine Show” already has 131 episodes in the archive and packs (video) interviews with known (and less known) business owners and entrepreneurs – including but not limited to… pro bloggers, affiliate super stars, software developers, online & offline coaches, marketing consultants, SEO/YouTube specialists, bestselling authors and even info product marketers.
Here are just some of the individuals that he had the privilege to pick their brains:
Pat Flynn, Yaro Starak, Alex Jeffreys, John Chow, Joe Magnotti, Anthony Tilley, Walt Bayliss, Jeremy Schoemaker, Clay Collins, Spencer Haws, Jim Kukral or Michel Fortin.
Mike’s Episode 74 details the investments he made to generate $1.571 in revenue from interviews alone.
I felt he has something unique to share about his experience with making money online, simply by talking with others (isn’t this fun?), so I went ahead and contacted Mike for an email interview. I wanted to learn more about this less practiced money-making model…
Since he loves sharing – I knew he’d accept my invitation for a mini interview by email. I hope you’ll find inspiration today with this article, and spread the love about it if you care.
Inside you’ll learn about:
- The 3 Blogging essentials
- The Google update that cut Mike’s AdSense revenue from $2k a month to $150 a month, overnight!
- The unfair advantage he had before starting his podcasting show
- How to run a podcast like nobody else
- The one sensible tool you cannot podcast without (and how to get yours for under $100)
- Mike’s favorite WP plugin
- Mike’s top popular 3 podcasts
You’re an experienced blogger and a person who loves interviewing other marketing specialists in their field. What is the drive that brought you here and what are the top 3 essential things you’ve learned about blogging after all these years?
My biggest reason for interviewing fellow online marketers is that I’m learning right along with my guests. I try not to ask questions that I think my guests want me to ask, but instead I ask the questions that I want to learn about. Those usually end up being the things that my audience wants to learn about as well.
The three things I’ve learned are to be patient, consistent, and to accept failure graciously.
Please explain how you went from building Adsense sites to podcasting for profit and exposure… what sets you apart?
I originally decided to do a show because I wanted to diversify my income. It’s a good thing I did because my Adsense income decreased from $2,000/month to around $150 overnight after the Troy Nantais. I think it might have been easier for me to start a show than others because I already had a following.
Yaro Starak of my show features Michael Cyger. I interviewed him on how to monetize your podcast or web show through STRATEGIC sponsorships. You might want to listen to it.
Recommended Reading: Just a Question: Who Else Want to Make Money Blogging?
How can one run a podcast show in a distinct way and what mistakes can they avoid along the way?
Just make sure you have a mission for your show. I think as long as you’re learning something from it and not bored by it then others will like it as well. If the topic is boring for you, it will be boring for your listeners.
Mistakes? Make sure you listen to your guests and don’t script out the interview too much
What is the one tool you cannot podcast without? Why?
You need a decent microphone. You can pick one up for under $100. Your computer mic won’t cut it.
What is the one plugin you cannot blog without? Why?
I think plugins in general are overrated. They are just tools. Sure, they can help out a little bit, but there’s no plugin that I need to have. If I had to name one, though, I’d say Clay Collins’ Leadplayer plugin
What are your top 3 podcasts to date in terms of traffic/exposure vs. revenue?
Pat Flynn – He gives a lot of credibility to my show.
Troy Nantais – Made over $300 in affiliate commissions
Yaro Starak – Linked back to mine from his PR 5 website
If you had to start again as a blogger and had no access to your relationships, social media profiles or assets, what would you do differently, why, and how often?
I would put something out at least every day. The reason why I put an episode out five days a week is not because I think everyone can consume every show, but because I want people to know that if they want something to watch that they can always come to my site. I want to be their go-to blog. So yes, be consistent. Even if you can’t blog every day, at least blog once a week. Don’t be sporadic.
If you have any further questions, let us know. Both Mike and myself will answer ASAP.
Please tweet and share this post with your friends and loved ones, they will also love it.
Photo Credit: Freedigitalphotos.net
Harleena Singh says
Hi Jon – good to see here again at Theodore’s and this time with Mike’s interview 🙂
Well, though I’m not from the marketing niche, nor much into making money – but all of this sounds amazing and wonderful, both at the same time. To earn that much from Adsense and then get de-indexed surely seems shocking! I quite liked the idea of podcast interviews in place, especially as you hardly need much to invest in it, other than the microphone, and the people chosen are all great ones with something or the other to learn from.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Have a nice day, all of you 🙂
John Gibb says
Harleena
This time I wanted to introduce another specialist (on his topic)
Mike’s not the only/first marketer who got his sites de-indexed or buried into the SERPs.
I know of at least two other guys who made similar figures a month, and opened another AdSense account, after having their accounts banned all together. . Yes, I know one thing is to have your AdSense suspended/banned and another thing is to have traffic/SERPs issues… however, this teaches us one thing:
NEVER give up!
If I see someone struggle and get hit like that, it just tells me I have to be vigilant and never put all eggs into one basket.
What is Mike’s experience telling you?
Martin says
The title really draw my attention! The info is pretty good too. i feel a bit disspointed. not that i don’t like it, just it seems to me so unreal…
John Gibb says
hi Martin,
I wonder…
What do you think is so unreal about Mike’s story (wins and failures)?
Why do you feel a bit disappointed?
Please let us know, as you’ve made some affirmations, and you’d have to bring some arguments, isn’t it? 🙂
Chadrack says
Hi Theodore,
This is really an interesting topic to me. I’ve been researching this niche for some time now and hearing of someone making some dough in it is something that will spur me on. However, there is no hint on how he is monetizing the talk shows. Would have love to have something in that line. All the same, good interview from your end.
John Gibb says
hi Chadrack,
The article was written by me, not Theo. Actually, it was an interview conducted by email.
Which niche did you research lately – online marketing?
That’s one of the most competitive industries out there… thousands of beginners come and quit sooner after. That’s the main reason. I recommend my affiliates to stick with the health niche instead as it’s a lot wider and grows more rapidly than any other niche out there.
You’ve said… there’s no hint in how Mike is monetizing his shows?
You’d have to read closely.
Example:
Troy Nantais – Made over $300 in affiliate commissions
This gives you a hint that most if not all his podcasts are monetized via affiliate programs.
So Mike went from AdSense (pay per view/click program) to associate programs that pay per sale.
Does this answer your questions?
Chadrack says
Thanks for the reply John. But my question border on how the talkshows are being monetized. Is that the ads are shown on the video while it is running or those ads are shown on the site around the video? If they are shown on the video what suggestions do you have on doing this?
Will love to have answers to these questions.
John Gibb says
Ah, for that…
You should contact Mike directly, and before that, check his blog and video shows… reverse engineer his methods, it shouldn’t be that hard 🙂
I know he’s using affiliate programs (offers and links), not Adsense ads to monetize the shows…
Jennifer Cunningham says
I just started following Mike from Maine on twitter. I enjoyed the interview and will have to listen to some of your podcast. I hear so many horror stories about Adsense. That is not an option that I’m the least bit interested in. It’s great that you post 5 days a week. For me that is too frequent. I am consistent with once a week though. Thanks for the tips.
John Gibb says
hey Jennifer,
If someone gets banned or suspended from a program (in this case, AdSense) does it mean you’ll be banned as well?
I don’t understand why most people are paralyzed by fear… are you aware of this mindset in the first place?
You won’t reach far in the game of business playing like this…
The so-called horror stories are an examples for us to be vigilant and not put all eggs in the same basket. To me, this doesn’t tell me to avoid AdSense. There are niche marketers whos sole business model is Google AdSense — they make hundreds and thousands a month – and then sell their sites on Flippa (or other platforms) for 10x-30x times their average monthly revenue.
Example:
One site making $100 a month sold for $2k… it’s all a matter of how you turn fear into success/wins. To me, these niche case studies (some are public) give inspiration and motivation to explore new ways of getting traffic & monetizing sites. They don’t install fear instead.
What will you choose: let fear conquer you or vice-versa? 🙂
M Nirmal Anandh says
Hi John,
Nice and interesting post. I don’t think so, adsense is not a stable revenue source. Most of the indians earning more money from Google Adsense… Some of the bloggers earning more from adsense are, Amit Agarwal, Amit Bhawani, Harsh Agarwal etc…
For More Details, visit: http://merabheja.com/top-10-indian-bloggers/
John Gibb says
hi Nrimal,
I’m not here to brag about AdSense nor put it down.
you should read the response I gave to Jennifer (above your comment)
Regarding stable income… the only “stable” income would be the income generated from a regular job. That’s the only income that cannot be lost unless:
1. You quit the job
2. They fire you
Running a business is about diversifying your income sources and investing as much money as possible (the smart way, not blindly)
You know what? Most people run their business blindfolded… and when it comes to investing they barely invest money, or do it… you guessed it! Still blindfolded.
It’s not the fault of AdSense. It’s their fault. Until these folks recognize this truth, nothing will ever change in their life, or business.
Dare to argue? Let’s see your arguments…
Adrienne says
Hey John,
Great to see you here at Theodore’s blog and doing an interview eith Mike whom I’ve never heard of before. I’m not much into podcasting and really have limited time to listen to them. I think that’s the only reason I’m not real big on them. I do a lot of reading and we all know these types of interviews are fairly long. Chalked full of great info though and I know a lot of people love podcasts. They find time to listen to them as they travel to places but I just sit at my lonely little desk and work away every day.
I appreciate though hearing about how he went from Adsense success to changing directions with podcasting. See, we’re all different and we find different things we enjoy. I know that interviewing successful people is always recommended so sounds like we can all learn from him.
Appreciate the post, thank you so much and you, Theodore and Mike have a great weekend.
~Adrienne
John Gibb says
hi Adrienne,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on this post.
If the information you’re highly passionate about comes in podcast format, I bet you’ll do whatever it takes to listen to these podcasts. Why you’re not keen on them yet, is maybe because most of the tips or secrets shared inside can be found in written format as well, elsewhere?
I think for Mike, the AdSense challenge made him focus on his passion… interviewing others… for other individuals, such a challenge would stimulate them to open another AdSense account, and never look back.
While the most others will just quit the Internet all together. I’m not playing in this league though! I’m in to win and never give up. That’s the way of the warrior.
Which path do you guys decide to take?
Tony Nguyen says
Hi there, I think the article is very interesting but somehow I just do not understand that Mike kinda failed with his blog by using Adsense and he decided to talk about his experience but what if someone ask if they are in the same situation like him, what should they do, will he able to tell them.
John Gibb says
Tony,
I’d like to fail at $60k a month with AdSense (or whatever) as well…
Most people would love to call that a failure.
Did you make that much money in a month yourself?
Maybe you should read the response I gave to Adrienne (above your comment)
In short – any challenge is either a stimulus for you to continue on the same path (e.g. create another AdSense account and earn even more money), move forward with a different monetization/traffic strategy – or quit the Internet all together.
Sadly, most people will probably quit.
The question is not what others tell you to do. Don’t you have brains and guts yourself? Don’t you have will power yourself?
Why wait for others to tell you what to do? If you do what others tell you, instead of your own will and decision, then to me, it seems you’re a weak individual. I’m not referring to you personally but to anyone who’s thinking like this, and expects others think or act on their behalf.
Dare to argue? Share your counter-arguments. You better bring some solid stuff here… 🙂
Daniel Adetunji says
Hey John,
You here again? Wow! Thanks Theodore–this guy is my mentor
I really appreciate you interviewing him
Thanks
John Gibb says
yes Daniel
i’ll be here for awhile, and maybe (if Theo allows) bring new (and exciting) posts from time to time…
Is Mike your mentor? What did you learn from him?
Neamat Tawadrous says
Hi Jon,
It is a pleasure meeting you in Theodore’s blog.
I enjoyed the interview . I heard a lot about Adsense but I have never used it myself. Mike did a great job in seizing the opportunity and never gave up but used the challenge to his advantage. Challenges are sometimes good in opening other doors of opportunity.
Thanks Jon for a great inspiring interview and thanks Theodore for sharing value in your blog for all of us.
Be Blessed,
Neamat
Vijesh says
Hi John,
Nice share, I like this article it taught me on how important it is to podcast and how one can use their interview series in making few bucks, as adsense is not at all the stable source of making money online.
Thanks for the share…
John Gibb says
hi Vijesh
There are no stable money-making sources unless you work hard and diversify your income.
I took a look at your blog, and I like what I see… there’s an active community around your brand. Congrats!
I wished I could guest post there… do you plan to open up your site for such anytime soon?
Best!
Temilola Globalwalyy says
Hello John, This topic really draw my attention, and the post seem to deliver what the title says..
Hope to have you interview one day..
Kind regards and happy weekend to you and theodore also
Sergio Felix says
Hey John (and Theodore), this is exactly the reason why I love it so much when people do guest posting.
I did hear about Mike from Maine before but I guess it was a fly-by thing only, right now I’m watching his interview with Pat Flynn on YouTube and I’m enjoying every second of it.
I strongly agree that you need a decent microphone for podcasting, the most “expensive” I have is not even $100 but I think it does a good job for that (it’s an USB Blue Yeti).
Thanks for the connections guys and loved the tips too!
Sergio
Theodore Nwangene says
Thanks and welcome back Sergio,
Feels so good to have you here again, i know you’ve been so busy lately so, its not easy. Thanks a lot for your awesome contribution.
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