Mar 05
Why I’m Done Blogging for Money (directly at least)
I started my first blog in November 2006 with hopes of developing a revenue generating machine. I was infatuated with the idea of escaping my day job, had aspirations as a writer, and a blog seemed like the perfect way to achieve both.
This worked out well. The blog became pretty popular and eventually I was able to generate some nice side income from it. But somewhere along the line the taste went sour. The blog wasn’t about the ideas and the writing. It was about traffic and ads and money money MONEY. Writing a post wasn’t something I got to do, it was something I had to do.
And that’s not for me anymore. The value of a blog isn’t the number of readers it has, but the quality of those readers, and the quality of the thought and discussion it creates. I think I can find another way to make money.
**This is in no way intended to knock blogs that make money. They perform a valuable service and deserve every penny they get. And yes, many have done an amazing job of maintaining integrity and becoming profitable.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
good to know. Those are the exact same goals I have as I currently step foot into the blogosphere. I want to maintain the spirit of blogging because I want to, not because I have to. Perhaps you’ll blog about keeping a balance between the two.
The topic of this blog is quite compelling. As someone who is in remedial tech-nerd class, and living in Ohio (not sure which is worse), your perspective gives me a new way to look at my work, which involves communications in higher education. Keep ‘em coming!
March 5th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Wow… I can’t believe I’m seeing this.
Most of the time, bloggers who blog for money and are relatively successful at it promote the advantages of such a venture. This only goes to show that not everybody thinks the same.
This doesn’t mean you’re done blogging does it? I guess maybe it’s better to just downplay the moneymaking side of it (just leave a few ads hanging around just in case) and continue to write the way you want to. People who like your ideas will still visit and once in a while an ad that interests them will catch their attention.
March 5th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Haha, no I am far from done blogging.
Actually, I see this blog as a re-beginning. The only change is in my goals. I guess I realized that blogging isn’t really a great way to make money directly, at least from my perspective. Although I think this blog will make me plenty of money indirectly by helping my career (hopefully).
Thanks for your comments, it’s fun to interact with readers on a smaller scale for a change.
March 5th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Fabulous John.
It’s the energy behind the words which readers pick up on anyway. You can generally tell if its a I care and about your blog or I care about your money blog.
It’s not written just something that is felt.
It also reminds me not to write when I am tired and flat.
Peace, love and travel
Carole
http://www.thehealthylivinglounge.com
March 5th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Whoops meant to say I care about YOU blog or I care about YOUR money blog.
Doh!
March 5th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
It’s funny…I can’t remember how I found you or which post made me link to you, but this particular post caught my attention. I have been where you are now, sort of in reverse. I’m still conflicted about it all these 100s of years later. I started blogging back in the 90’s when it was “new,” just for the love of it, just to practice writing every day. Somehow I got a following and I started getting offers from people who wanted to advertise on my website (de facto blog) and send stuff to the people on my email list. When I thought about it, it started to bug me that it was becoming about money instead of about energy and the love of writing and the fun of sharing. And then I became self-conscious…a death knell.
It’s a difficult dilemma. Either way you go, you will suffer for your art. But I would say don’t stop, and understand that people know you need to make a living. Perhaps you can come up with an explicit, creative way to say “hey, I’m advertising here to pay the bills” yet continue to write without feeling that pressure.
I don’t have the answers but urge you to continue for the love and not abandon your dreams out of fatigue or frustration.
Just my two cents. I wish you luck and success!
March 5th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I think I know what you mean. Although my blog is far from being successful, I can understand how a multitude of visitors can suddenly reduce communicating with them to something far from a personal experience.
In this way, I’m sort of confused. Of course, I want my blog to be successful but I also want to be able to interact with my readers on a more personal basis. Will we ever be able to do both?
March 6th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I think it’s tough to have both. Once a blog starts to generate a crowd, you a lot of random people jumping into the discussion, which tends to alienate regular readers and make the discussion less coherent.
An alternative though is using a different method of communication like Twitter, which I’ve been getting into recently.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Liz,
No need to worry about my continuing, I’m more enthusiastic about blogging than ever.
March 19th, 2008 at 10:11 am
[…] His observations are inline with my own, and are the reason I’m bearish on blogging for money. […]