You set out to make money blogging, learned everything you could about it, set up a blog, and started writing. And writing some more.

One day you look up and realize you've been blogging for eight years straight. Blog, blog, blog, blog, blog.

What happens to the blog post you wrote last year. Or for that matter, the blog post you wrote last week?

Are there cobwebs on your Blog Archives?

I actively use my Blog Archives in a number of ways. Why? Because it's easier to work with something that's already created, than it is to create something new.

Creating fresh blog content consistently is important of course, but don't discount how much easier it is to increase your revenue by working with what you already have. And I'm going to show you 8 simple ways to do just that...

Perhaps you're wondering HOW there's "a goldmine in your blog archives." In my recent post on how to make money creating content, I discussed the value of each individual blog post you publish. But the revenue you earn from each post doesn't stop once the initial buzz dies down. Not if you really want to make money blogging...

Your blog content can continue being a consistent source of income for years!

8 Ways to Make the MOST of Your Blog Archives

1. Analyze & Update Keyword Optimization

You likely understand Keyword Strategy and Web Page Optimization better now than when you first started blogging. If they need updating, go back and re-optimize your archived posts appropriately.

Depending on how long you've been blogging, this could seem like a big job. But the results will be worth it when you achieve better rankings and an increase in traffic! Simply set aside time each day, or once a week, to analyze and optimize your archives. Tip: Focus on your best posts, and those with a strong call-to-action.

2. Improve the Call-to-Action

Make sure each post has a very clear call to action and gives your reader the "next best click." Start by looking over your site stats, and analyze the top blog posts that get the most views each month. Do they have a call to action? If not, add one! How well is that post converting, and how could you improve that conversion rate?

3. Get Fresh Inbound Links

Have great posts hiding in your blog archives that aren't getting any traffic? Improve the rankings of those posts by making sure they are properly optimized (see Tip One) - and getting fresh, high quality inbound links to them.

4. Reference Blog Archives in New Posts

Internal links from within your own blog are important too. Not only for SEO, but so that new readers can find some of your best archived content. Reference your older posts in new posts that you write, as a resource for your readers.

You'll notice I've done that in THIS post.

You can also create a new "best of" or "top x tutorials on abc" type blog post that lists your best content, or all of your posts on a certain topic.

5. Content for Your Autoresponder & Mailing List

Your best posts can be used as resourceful links in your autoresponders, or as content for your newsletter. This is a great way to introduce some of your best content to your email subscribers. As an example, I just shared one of my posts with my mailing list this week in an email titled New to Online Business?

6. Social Media Content

In addition to sharing your best posts with your email subscribers, you can also use them for content across your Social Media channels.

Here's an example where I did that just this week:

Here's another example on my Low Carb Facebook Page where I shared an older post. When I originally wrote that post, I had far less Facebook friends - so many of my newer connections may have never seen that post!

7. Create a Resource Page or Sidebar Feature

You'll notice that I have a section in my sidebar labeled "Hot Topics." I created that list manually, and update it when I want to add a new post there that I want to get more exposure. I also set up a Hot Topics page, and a page specifically for Internet Marketing Reviews. Not only does this give those "top posts" more exposure, it gives them more quality internal links.

8. Turn Your Blog Archives Into Info Products

Another way to make money blogging that many blogger's haven't even considered, is to repurpose some of your best content into Info Products. You might create checklists for your readers, or turn a series of posts on the same topic into a valuable short report. Have great recipes on your blog? Compile them into a cookbook!

If you can blog, you can write reports or create info products. And if you're not, you're leaving some serious money and traffic on the table...

* * * * * * * * * *

Sure, it's extra work. But why let your Blog Archives go to waste? You have time and energy invested in that content, and it's well worth it to make sure it's yielding the absolute best return on investment for you.

Besides, working with what you already have... is much easier than creating something new. So while you want to continue putting out fresh content and new blog posts, always consider how you can make the absolute most of it - long term.

So make sure your best content has a strong call to action, is displayed prominently on your blog, targets a specific keyword phrase that your market is searching, is ranking well in the search engines for that phrase - and is getting the most traffic and the best conversions it possibly can!

Best,

p.s. This fabulous post (which is completely unique content, of course) was inspired by Peggy Baron's Easy Article Starters. Worth checking out!