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New Topic: The Business of Blogging? Print
Wednesday, 3rd January 2007 (by J.D.)This article is about Administration
I get a lot of e-mail from readers who want advice on how to start a weblog. Here are some actual questions from recent e-mails:
- I was wondering if you had some time to let me pick your brain on starting a web site.
- As a very new personal finance blogger, I could really use some advice on increasing my traffic. Have you written a post on this somewhere?
- I wanted to see if you found any other strategies particularly helpful in building your site’s audience? Was any of it from your existing personal blog? Anything that really didn’t work for you?
- How do you make money from visitors? Do visitors actually click? Or are you using something that actually generates income based on impressions?
I don’t mind these questions. In fact, I welcome them. I’m a blogging evangelist — I believe that everybody has something to say. However, I don’t have time to provide detailed replies to each e-mail. Plus, I’m starting to get a lot of the same questions over-and-over.
I’d like to begin a series of articles offering advice on how to run a weblog. Topics would include inspiration, publicity, monetization, content, and so on. (A typical article would probably resemble the recent behind-the-scenes look at how I write an entry.) But I have two concerns:
- While Get Rich Slowly is certainly part of my entrepreneurial plan, and is an integral part of my personal finances, the operations aspect is somewhat off-topic.
- I’m comfortable discussing site traffic and revenue in public, but I know that some people find this uncouth.
These points don’t bother me if they don’t bother you. How would you like to see a monthly article on this topic? Would discussions about traffic and revenue offend you? Or would you find them interesting? (I’m assuming that those who have no strong preference one way or the other will simply skip the posts.)
I’m not a blogging master. I’m just a guy who likes to write. But I’ve been blogging for nearly six years now, with some modest success. And I have some strong opinions about what works and what does not. I’d love to help others do this, too.
(Also be sure to check out both Problogger and Copyblogger. Both of these sites offer a wealth of information. They do every day what I hope to do once a month.)
January 3rd, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I’d be very interested to read posts of this nature. I think it’s absolutely on-topic for GRS, since you’d be discussing how your investment in this blog has been paying off, and lending valuable advice to those of us thinking about doing similar things.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on what works for blogging and what doesn’t. I used to be involved in blogging research when I was working on my Ph.D in information science, so an insider’s perspective would be fresh.
Also, why should sharing site traffic and revenue be uncouth? People seem to be comfortable talking about their own financial situations at this site, and talking about money is something traditionally “uncouth” anyway, so I think we’ve broken enough barriers for that to be appropriate. Just my two cents, though.
January 3rd, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Consider this a strong yes vote. I have been blogging for two years at several different sitse and despite everything I have read and done I haven’t been able to get the traffic or the revenue that I’d like. Reading Problogger and The Adsense Code haven’t been enough. I love to write and I wish I could make some money doing what I love while helping others. Knowing that lots of people are reading your blog and benefitting from it, and getting a monetary reward for it, are strong incentives. Without them, many bloggers may eventually feel like they are wasting their time and quit. Like you said, everyone has something to say. The more people that are encouraged to write, the more we will learn from each other and the better off we will all be.
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Ditto Ben and 2 Pennies. I’d be very interested in what you have to say about this, and don’t think it’s off topic at all.
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I’d love to hear about your experiences, another metric I’d like to hear is how much time you invest in your blog. I write a few but have never really tried to do a focused blog. I was thinking about ditching my personal ones and getting serious about a two specific topics, maybe only one is reasonable?
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
The thing that amazes me is the concept that people can actually make money by blogging. As someone who has never once intentionally clicked on an online ad, I find it incredible that enough people would click on those things to even cover a site’s hosting fees.
While I’m personally not intrigued about blogging in and of itself, I don’t mind your posting articles about it here; if anyone doesn’t want to read them they can just just skip them!
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Since I was trying to figure out how much you make per post in the “how I write” entry, I’d be a strong vote for yes.
I think having a side business can be very helpful for people to enhance their lives (or retirement lives) as long as you’re enjoying it and/or earn enough to make it worth your while. Something you can do in your pajamas with kids under foot seems better than other options.
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I think that posting your blogging expertise would benefit all of your readers/bloggers. Especially since GetRichSlowly has developed into a high traffic site.
FT
http://www.milliondollarjourney.com
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Please add another resounding YES vote to that list. I think such a series will be a very helpful resource and a source of encouragement for us new bloggers. Thanks!
January 3rd, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Yes, please. This topic fascinates me and I hope to do it myself someday. I can likely understand the process better since I have been following this site since (or close to) the beginning.
January 3rd, 2007 at 3:19 pm
yes please
January 3rd, 2007 at 3:20 pm
+1 vote yes
January 3rd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I’d love to read what you have to say about blogging as well as personal finance. The traffic and revenue details would be interesting and I don’t think uncouth at all.
January 3rd, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Consider that a “yes” vote from me as well!
January 3rd, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I’d be interested in hearing what you have to say. And if you were truly concerned about sharing traffic details and such being uncouth, then you probably should’t have the FeedBurner subscriber count featured so prominently on your site.
January 3rd, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I am interested as well!
January 3rd, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Please count me as a yes vote. I am often curious on this topic.
January 3rd, 2007 at 4:09 pm
I appear to be in the minority, but I am leaning towards a NO vote here.
As a thematic blog, I think a big part of your strength comes from your fairly narrow editorial focus. I wouldn’t want to have an article about your dog (for instance) pop up in my feed reader, because it dilutes the value of your blog.
As a point of comparison, I subscribed to the feed for The Simple Dollar in November or December, based on a recommendation from some PF blog or another. But the signal-to-noise ratio from a recurring category of posts over there (“Building a Better Blog”) totally overwhelmed the finance/money-related posts, and I ended up unsubscribing from the feed entirely right before Christmas.
It’s not that I wouldn’t want to read the posts necessarily. They could be very interesting. (And I enjoy your writing style more than TSD, plus you are a fellow MeFite) I just would encourage you to be careful — unanticipated side-effects and all that.
January 3rd, 2007 at 4:21 pm
I’d be interested in seeing what goes on behind the scenes as well. While I don’t think I could invest as much time as you seem to spend on your blog, I’m trying to increase the readership on my blog, so any tidbits of advice would be much appreciated, thanks!
January 3rd, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Another thought - build readership first, worry about ads later.
January 3rd, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Yes to all of the above!!!
January 3rd, 2007 at 5:40 pm
I totally disagree with Josh B. and here’s why:
A recurring theme of GRS is that the key to building wealth is by spending less than you earn. How do you do that? By spending less or earning more. Often, you talk about tne entreprenurial spirit and how side business are a way to increase your earnings so that you can build wealth. A discussion about your personal experiences with turning a hobby into a business is certainly on topic and absolutely would be valuable to the readers of GRS.
January 3rd, 2007 at 5:47 pm
I’m interested, but I think Josh B. has a point. I would hate to see this weblog (which has become one of my daily must-reads, and a top-five favourite) turn into a ‘how to blog blog’. Write a series if you like, but please do keep the focus on personal finance topics. I think where you can best differentiate yours from the zillion other pro-blogging posts is to go as deep as possible into the nitty-gritty of revenue, pageviews, ad strategies that work (and don’t) and so on. I am sick of ‘how to blog’ articles that go no deeper than ‘be passionate, post often, share the linky love and the adwords revenue will come’ …
I think a single post on the topic would be best, for those of us who are contemplating starting a niche blog like this one (and tips for those who are unhappy with the performance of the blogs they’ve already launched). But if you have more to say, a weekly series with links back to the earlier entries would be good, to ensure your readers continue to get their fix of personal finance advice & inspiration.
January 3rd, 2007 at 6:08 pm
yes yes yes
funny you should say this — I think putting the $ stuff out in the open is a great idea (as long as you’re comfortable with it), and I’ve been considering it myself.
January 3rd, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Just a note to say that my vote is for a “yes”, as long as the posts are focused on GRS as your side business, rather than general posts about blogging as a business. The former is totally on-topic here, the latter isn’t.
Further to Josh B’s comment, I would be shocked if J.D.’s signal-to-noise ratio dropped very much, for any reason. He’s put far too much effort into this site to let it deteriorate so easily.
January 3rd, 2007 at 6:41 pm
If you’re worried about JD losing focus, go back and read the post. He’s talking about doing this once a month. I think that even those that are totally uninterested could tolerate skipping a single post per month.
January 3rd, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Yes! Pull back the curtain Mr. Magic Man. Let us see behind the scenes of starting a blog. One of these days I’ll get around to starting my own personal blog.
January 3rd, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Here is a wonderful article about starting a finance blog:
http://bargaineering.com/articles/25-steps-to-a-wildly-successful-personal-finance-blog.html
January 3rd, 2007 at 9:15 pm
I’m going to vote ‘No’…there are likely tons of existing articles out there on how to make blogging profitable. While I think it would make for an interesting FAQ entry, I like the financial focus of your articles.
January 3rd, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Yes, please! But please look over your user agreement with Google (and other advertisers) first. According to the Adsense Terms,
“Confidentiality. You agree not to disclose Google Confidential Information without Google’s prior written consent. “Google Confidential Information” includes without limitation: (a) all Google software, technology, programming, specifications, materials, guidelines and documentation relating to the Program; (b) click-through rates or other statistics relating to Site performance in the Program provided to You by Google; and (c) any other information designated in writing by Google as “Confidential” or an equivalent designation. However, You may accurately disclose the amount of Google’s gross payments to You pursuant to the Program. Google Confidential Information does not include information that has become publicly known through no breach by You or Google, or information that has been (i) independently developed without access to Google Confidential Information, as evidenced in writing; (ii) rightfully received by You from a third party; or (iii) required to be disclosed by law or by a governmental authority.”
January 3rd, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Oh yes, please share!
Blogging is an interesting phenomenon and I’d love to hear about this business from those most experienced in it! An enthusiastic YES vote from me.
January 4th, 2007 at 6:26 am
I vote yes!
January 4th, 2007 at 8:49 am
I would like to see it. We can always skip it if we don’t like it
January 4th, 2007 at 9:24 am
I would love to hear about this topic with reguards to the topic of the site. Past that, I’m not sure I’d really like to hear about that. I would rather see a short series of articles rather than a recurring column.
I’m more interested in duplication of your success rather than updates on your business (I can’t seem to make that not seem callous, but I think that’s just a human sentiment).
–Michael
January 4th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Yep, I’d like to see it. The Simple Dollar has been doing a similar series, and I’ve found it interesting, as I’m toying with trying to take my site bigger. I don’t think a series of periodic, short articles, would be obnoxious. I trust you.
January 4th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Gee, I know this is a needle in a haystack and all, but *YES* please do!
I’ve read your site for awhile, pondered off and on about starting a blog [not a Get Rich Slowly rip off, but my own niche ;)] To see your input, venture, return, etc. would be really informative, inspirational, and many other big intelligent words.
I look forward to the future articles on teh topic! (Face it, you’ve got to do it now!)
January 4th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
It looks like an overwhelming yes, and I agree.
Learning about how others succeed is very inspirational, and I think very much in tune with the rest of your entries here.
Go for it! I can’t wait to see what you have to say.
Adriana
January 5th, 2007 at 8:54 am
I’m of the Josh B. persuasion — I don’t think a how-to on problogging fits with a personal finance site. What about writing the series as a guest blogger for a problogging site, and linking to it from GRS? Then you can still share the material, gain new readers, and maintain the editorial focus of GRS.
January 5th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I’m on the fence about this one.
Not really GRS material, but I’m also interested in learning from your experience.
I’ll put in for a yes.
January 6th, 2007 at 7:31 am
I would have to vote “no” on this one.
There are many, many outlets dedicated to this exact question. Just as I wouldn’t want to get my financial advice from a blogging site, I wouldn’t want to get blogging advice from a financial site.
Stick with what you do best and let others do what they do best.
January 6th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
*votes no* Focus your time on the main topic of this blog.
February 4th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
[...] Last month I asked for opinions regarding a series of articles on the business of blogging. Though most of the responses were positive, I received some valuable constructive feedback on how to make the topic better fit with the theme of this site. [...]
October 9th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Hello
Money is the enemy of most entrepreneurs and marketers. Actually, that’s not true. The search for money, the need for money and the desire to spend the money you have are the enemy.
From movies (Superman vs. Syriana or WordPlay) to coffee (Maxwell House vs. Starbucks) to technology (Microsoft vs. a kid in a room in Germany) we see it over and over again.
First rule: great product development and marketing almost always comes from organizations that don’t have enough money. Having less money keeps you from trying to buy your way out of trouble.
Second rule: learning to live with less money means you will develop skills and resources instead of buying them. And it means that when you have less money (again), you’ll be prepared.
Third rule: When you need money for something specific, go get it. But just for that. With good terms. As soon as you spend money to protect your money or leverage your money or account for your money or send a message about your money, the money is not only wasted, it hurts you.
http://blog.cyberbucks.info
Bye
January 28th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
vote yes as you qualified that it was a monthly or FAQ experience. All of us benefiting from your experienc, have the right to ignore or vote with our feet by leaving. No censorship and full disclosure is preferable on any topic. I’m interested in your experience, including income from your work.