Article #1 in the series, Blogging for Fun and Profit:
Should I Be a Blogger?
I have debated for some time about whether or not I should blog about blogging. But I get a lot of questions – including questions from my husband who recently started his own blog about hacking into his iPod touch. So, I thought I’d start a short series about blogging, since it is a green activity that can enable you to live a simpler life! All in keeping with the theme here at OI.
So, the first question you need to ask yourself is “Do I really want to be a blogger?” Like anything else, blogging takes effort. You can’t start a blog and expect to make a million dollars. It’s not a get rich quick scheme. You have to look at blogging as what it is – a practical, inexpensive way to self-publish. If you have something to say, blogging is a great way to say it.
Do you like to write?
If you don’t enjoy writing, don’t bother blogging. Writing is what you’ll be spending the majority of your time doing. If you don’t enjoy writing, but are comfortable in front of a camera, perhaps a video blog is a good idea for you. Or you can speak your blog as a podcast.
Are you self-motivated?
A lot of people I know are surprised to hear that I am a writer and a blogger, saying that it would be difficult to do work “on spec” as it were. And that’s true. Most of the work I do, particularly on my blog, is not guaranteed to be compensated. I have to trust that what I put out there will be read and that perhaps with enough readers and subscribers eventually I will earn some income. But that is similar to writing a book or a magazine article. Often I write it – or most of it – first and then go out and sell it. Because I have been freelancing for a long time, I am used to living without a steady paycheck.
Blogging can become steady work, but it will take time. And if you have a day job, I wouldn’t quit it just yet.
Do you have a niche?
What are you an expert on? Do you know everything there is to know about Photoshop? Could you teach a class on pottery? Are you so into archaeology or conspiracy theories that you just have to let the world know? Having a niche is essential in creating a successful blog. While there was a time when blogging entailed reading the daily navel-gazing diaries of college students, that time has passed. Truly, I don’t care what color your hair turned after you dyed it and I don’t care what color crayon your toddler used to color your wall. If that’s what you want to write about, go for it, but don’t expect a lot of traffic beyond your family and friends (unless you are fantastically funny – or already quite famous). Our family is working on a family blog as a way to keep in touch with relatives who live far away, but I don’t expect you to be interested in it!
Can you be consistent?
One of the biggest problems with blogs is that they are easy to start and easy to forget about. I know many blogs where the majority of posts begin, “I’m sorry it’s been so long since I’ve posted, but…” and then they go onto tell you about the cat that died or the kids that have been in so many activities, or whatever. Treat your blog like you would a job. Or a newspaper. You wouldn’t expect to pick up the Monday paper and have it read, “We’re sorry, but the cat died and we just couldn’t get the paper out yesterday, but we’ll start publishing it again from now on…”
Make yourself a schedule if you have to – or pick a certain time of day when you work on your blog. You might not post everyday, but at that time, put up a new link, try out a new ad service, or just learn more about blogging or your topic. But get in the habit of pulling out the laptop each day at a certain time and you’ll find yourself drawn to working on your blog.
Homework Assignment#1:
Think about your niche. Pick one or two topics you’d like to blog about. Go to wordpress.com or blogger.com and start familiarizing yourself with the format of a blog. Visit a number of blogs and see what you do and don’t like about them. Bookmark your favorites. OK, sorry – that was a couple of assignments!
On Monday, March 17, 2008, we’ll talk about how to get started…
Blogging For Fun and Profit - Article #1 | Create a Blog says:
[...] Caryn wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI have debated for some time about whether or not I should blog about blogging. But I get a lot of questions – including questions from my husband who recently started his own blog about hacking into his iPod touch. … [...]
14th March 2008 at 5:43 pm
Internet Business - Blog Carnival - Edition 6 | Internet Business Opportunities | oibo dot org says:
[...] Kennedy presents Blogging For Fun and Profit – Article #1 posted at Organically [...]
14th March 2008 at 11:55 pm