Being a pro blogger sounds too glorious and good to be true. You mean I get to make money to write about something I’m passionate about everyday? Sign me up! I can make more money writing a blog than I can working the job I got with my degree in Chemistry? Sounds like a dream. Dozens of successful pro bloggers now write daily about how they make six figures a year blogging and tell you that you can do it too. Recently on John Chow’s website about how to make money online, a guest blogger wrote about the tipping point of a successful blog. If you don’t feel like reading it, here is the summary; unless you’re lucky enough to win the lottery, it’s going to take a lot of time and devotion to build a solid reader base. While scouring some of Seth Godin’s archives (okay, I lie. I actually found it on Seth’s squidoo), I came across this gem he wrote almost exactly a year ago about the secret of the web. Guess what he said? “Patience!”
Maybe not as much as people who’ve been blogging for 11 months now, but I can start relate to the tipping point article on John’s page after only blogging for 2 weeks. Writing a blog doesn’t make sense to everyone; I don’t even have ads yet! It is hard not to get frustrated when you don’t see the growth you want and then hearing about how “if you follow these easy steps you’ll have a hugely successful blog.” Making time to blog daily with a wife, a 3 year old boy, and 3 Australian Sheppard puppies can be a challenging task. The truth is, if we as bloggers stay the course and don’t get discouraged, there is something for us. Is it a six figure dream job income, probably not… but we can dream. And to those already living the dream… Props!
If you’ve got an online venture that you’re starting and need some extra support, leave a comment, and I’ll stop in and check it out!
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I have to say that I really enjoy this blog. As a new blogger, I feel as if I am a bit over whelmed with all of this. I am brand new by only a few days, not weeks. I am very excited to start blogging and for increasing the aspects of my new online business, and I have to agree that Patience is the best answer on what to do with blogging! But, still the need to learn the process, absorbing all of the information, and trying to put things int perspective and action it a bit much. Are there any tips on how to handle all of it.
I have to admit I started a blog last year and agree to the challenge of everyday life and blogging! Thank you for the encouragement as well as the confirmation that today is the day to once again post on my blog, not give up and reach toward the prize!
Good info I would like to know more. I just started a blog and would like some sugestions. Check out my article on ehow give me your feed back
Cherry – I’m glad to hear that you’ve decided to start blogging. Even if you aren’t making money, it’s always nice to have another perspective out there. I would say the two biggest things I would say are be active in the community because members of the community will encourage you and write good content, but don’t be such a perfectionist that you never actually publish anything :P
Annette – I’m glad to hear this encouraged you to start working on your blog some again. I checked out your post about Fung Shui and thought it was pretty funny. Vern Kip rocks lol. All successful bloggers say set a posting schedule and stick to it. I was posting daily, but I’ve decided Mon/Wed/Fri is more reasonable given my responsibilities.
Linda – I really like your online store. Having a 3 year old son, I might be using your store soon ;-) I’ll definitely check out your eHow.
Hi Blake, interesting blog, thanks for inviting me to read.
l’m new to all this blogging and online marketing stuff and do wonder if I am doing it right…
I totally agree, taking care of family and other responsibilities as well as trying to make something worthwhile online is challenging.
But, you know what? I believe we can do it!
I have been blogging about four months now and it is difficult not to get bogged down with lack of progress.
I agree with the patience sentiment, but if you hit on something that people find useful, it won’t take long for things to ramp up.
Good luck!
Andy
[1016] Architecture Inc.
Inside the Brackets
Hey! Yeah, I decided that I spend so much of my free time on the internet, I might as well start trying to spread my opinions and wealth of knowledge around and try and turn it into something to benefit not just me but everybody. Best of luck to you. Ugh.. I don’t feelgood today. I caught a cold. =(
Great article and blog. When I get discouraged about writing and my website not getting the hits I think it deserves, I’m going to come back and read this again! Thanks.
Sara – I hope you enjoyed my blog. If you’re interested in trying to make money online, John Chow is one of the top guys. I wrote a review of his eBook about how to make money online that you might want to check out.
Andy – I totally agree. Sometimes its hard to not lose momentum, but when you know you’re offering something people demand, it is much easier to keep going.
Erica – I hate being sick! I hope you feel better soon! Have a cup of chicken noodle soup from me.
Kittynurse – I hope you come back for more than just this post! There is going to be a lot of great stuff on this page. I try to keep the positive coming and leave the negative on CNN ;-)
Hey Blake, really good read! I bookmarked cuz I gotta go for abit, but I will be back!!! Thanx!
Glad you’ll be coming back! If you have anything you’d like to read about or if you’re looking for something you can’t find, let me know; maybe i’ll write about it!
I am actually going to try this one of these days – I have been writing a journal called the Persecution Diaries, about some terrible troubles we have had with two malicious people who have made our lives a misery for years. Lots of weird stuff – maybe too intense for a blog??
Rozygal – Actually, intensity sparks interest. If you could put a fictional spin/narrative on it, I bet you could get a lot of readers. You might do a search for some literature forums to chat with people and start getting traffic.
[...] first real chapter is about blog contents. All Pro Bloggers preach writing good quality content over lots of content, but Daniel brought up a new idea that I [...]
i am following u on twitter.if you dont mind you can follow me too.thanks
Don’t have a website. Don’t know what a blog is! But your information has got me really interested. I’m retired on disability for almost a year now and could really use some extra cash. I’ll be checking into this. Thanks, anniemdaffodils.