Want to Start a Blog? Consider This First
If you are leaning towards starting a blog and want to make money blogging in the future, there are some important things to keep in mind before jumping into the water. First make sure you know the answer to this: What is a blog?
After grasping a good understanding of what a blog is and how you can engage in blog marketing, understand also that your ability to be successful blogging for money is more possible when:
1. You have good discipline - The initial steps to installing and creating a blog are a breeze. The trouble comes in maintaining the blog over a long period of time. You need to develop a system and schedule that works well for you. Look into some online organization resources such as a calendar, notebook or reminder system. You can find all of these for free.
2. You have something to pass along - Blogging can be fun and be a healthy hobby, but if you’re serious about generating income from blogging, you need to have some useful information to pass along to readers. This ensures repeat visits.
3. You have time availability- Some people blog as a real job and donate all their time to blogging. You don’t need to do this, but you will be spending a good amount of time on your blog. Even if you want to automate blog posting, you will spend time setting up an automated system. Again, you might turn to some free online resources to help guide you through this process.
4. You enjoy writing - To really understand how to start a blog involves understanding that it requires a lot of writing. Whether or not you do all the writing yourself does not matter, but your blog needs fresh content updated almost daily or weekly to really entice more visitors. This also helps keep readers on your site once that land on it.
5. You have some computer experience - Problems are going to surface every once in a while when you make a blog
6. You can handle negative feedback - People are going to make comments on your postings about things you say, and some will disagree. You need to be thick-skinned and be able to handle whatever comments come your way.
7. You enjoy reading - Sitting down to write a post actually involves sitting down to read other posts from other bloggers. Plan on spending as much time reading good articles as you do writing your own.
Todd Andrews writes for Elementary Marketing, a blog with basic information on blog marketing and how to blog for money.
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June 25th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
You definitely have to be ready for the long haul and have some interest in at least one of things you are doing, whether it be the writing or the networking. It takes time. I like it all except for the little issues that pop up. But eventually you get used to dealing with them. Biggest advantage to blogging. You are in charge. It can also be the biggest disadvantage if you are not very disciplined.
June 29th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I’ve enjoyed reading through your blog. I’ve spent a great deal of this weekend writing and have enjoyed the time.
Audreys last blog post..Cooking With Applesauce
July 1st, 2008 at 1:55 am
yup. you better enjoy reading and writing. and tweaking and waiting. cause you won’t make anything for a couple of months. And after you start making a few dollars, u better still love to read and write, cause you won’t make big money, until…maybe ever!
bloggernoobs last blog post..Why you shouldn’t trust make money online income reports
July 18th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
A good blogger also needs to be willing to learns new skills and tactics, especially those involving SEO, unless they are not really interested in involving the search engine’s help in finding readers.
Sires last blog post..Fridays Funnies #4 US Marines Trained To Be Tough
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Hi Todd,
On the financial side: you also have to know that it will take you a long time to “monetize” your blog to an acceptable point. Right now, I’m doing my own investigation into the pros and cons of freelancers (specifically freelance writers) using a blog to attract new clients.
So far, I’ve found that most do not consider how to gauge the effectiveness of a blog. This is fine, I think, if you are doing it just for fun. But if you are using your blog at least in part as a marketing tool, you need to really review the time and money you put into it, and compare it with what you get out.
The other thing that I would add to your list is to develop a way to “get the word out” about your blog before you launch. You might want to wait to get your feet under you before you actually start beating the bushes for readers, but it is a good plan to at least consider strategies before you launch your blog.
Great pointers!
~Graham
August 5th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
You will also have to love research, much more time, for me anyway, is spent researching a post than it is writing a post.