It’s been a while, so it’s time to open the Revenue reader mailbag (or in this case email bag) and answer some questions from our devoted audience.

Question: I hear having a blog to go along with my affiliate site will help me make more money. I’m not sure what to write about. Since you have a blog you must have some ideas?

LP: You’ve already taken a big step by realizing that a blog is another great tool in your marketing arsenal. A blog, per say, is not going to make you more money, but it can help you reach out to customers, establish a connection with them and hopefully, increase loyalty to your site.

Since you didn’t include information about your site, I can’t give you specific topics to cover, but there are some general things that blogs can help you communicate to visitors. Use the blog to update visitors about items that might be new or to inform customers about the benefits of new items.

If you have a site devoted to a specific topic, mountain biking for example, then you can blog about your personal adventures, recent rides you’ve taken, the best trails in certain regions for riding, the latest technology developments in mountain bikes, and perhaps even product recalls or product reviews.

Don’t forget to include the ability for visitors to subscribe to an RSS feed. This way, all your blog updates will automatically be pushed out to those subscribing to the feed and serve as a great reminder for customers to return to your site.

Question: How do I get one of those Revenue makeovers?

LP: I’m assuming your site needs a makeover. Otherwise, you’re talking to the wrong person. Actually, it’s really simple and it’s free. Our design guru and columnist Pedro Sostre is always looking for candidates for his next Revenue By Design Makeover. You can get your site in the running by following these easy steps.

1. Send an email to ByDesign@Sostreassoc.com.
2. Put “Revenue’s By Design Makeover” in the subject header.
3. Include your name, company and contact information (phone, email, etc.).
4. Include a brief description of your business and its goals.
5. Include the URL for your home page or landing page for Pedro to review.

What are you waiting for?

Question: My company just made an announcement this week, who should I send a press release to?

LP: Send it to editor@revenuetoday.com. If we are interested in following up on the information, we’ll be sure to contact you.

Question: I’m sending you an article written by the CEO of our company to be published in Revenue.

LP: That’s not a question. But if it was my response would be, “don’t.” Revenue doesn’t accept article submissions. We assign stories to our staff of writers and editors or to professional freelancer journalists. However, if your CEO has a unique perspective or some interesting ideas, we’d love to hear about them. Again, send the info to editor@revenuetoday.com.

As a result, we might just write an article on the suggested topic and call your CEO for an interview. He could end up being quoted in the story and go on to even more fame and fortune by having established himself as an expert on that particular subject. You can thank me later.

Question: You keep saying that Revenue is now bi-monthly. Doesn’t that mean it comes out twice every month. I’m confused.

LP: You’re not the only one. I get this question a lot. You’re thinking about semi-monthly, which means twice per month. In the past Revenue was published quarterly (four times per year). We are now published bi-monthly (six times per year). Many of you have said it would just be simpler and better for you if Revenue came out every month. Keep your fingers crossed. Maybe there will be even more Revenue in the future.

Question: Why are you extra cranky this week?

LP: I hate when my mom writes in. Whenever our deadline for the magazine to go to the printer approaches, I get a little testy. I’m totally committed to delivering the highest quality information about the performance marketing space in Revenue, but I also like to catch a couple of ZZZZs each night. And like many journalists, I thrive on deadline. Very often that means I subconsciously leave some things until the very last minute so I can feel the rush. While I love the rush, I also love to complain about the deadline pressure. It’s all part of the sick and twisted process of publishing. Question for you. Does that make me a masochist?

My final answer of the day is Pittsburgh. You already know the question. lisap@revenuetoday.com