Once people find out that I have about five blog sites the next question is always the same. “Can you make money blogging?”
I suppose the answer depends on whom you ask. If I was in the business of selling you blog engines and sites I would probably say “oh yea, tons of money to be made”. There are plenty of people out there that will sell you something promising Internet wealth. I think the only ones making big money in that group are the ones doing the selling.
With that said, you certainly can make some extra money if your blog is something people read and you have enough traffic. Blogging is different than a regular website. People want information, not to be sold. I don’t think anyone minds if you attempt to make a few bucks as long as you are not pushy.
Take this site for instance. I didn’t create theslowbleed.com to make money. It was a place for me to write about whatever I wanted – it was actually going to be the starting point for my next book. By creating the blog it would force me to write on a consistent basis. After several months and several hundred posts, there might be enough online to get the book going.
As theslowbleed.com grew I found myself limited by the format. The straight vertical posting (traditional WordPress) “expired” quickly (although it is still my favorite format to read). What I mean is that if I happened to post 7-10 blogs in a week and the reader missed a week, chances are they would never go back that far in the posts. Additionally, I found myself writing to a couple different categories – the new format allowed me to keep them each in an organized location.
For the most part I tell people “making money” is not really a good reason to start a blog. I think you have to enjoy the particular subject you are writing about and be satisfied with the act of writing – if you can make a few bucks then all the better.
Now…go click on a couple Sponsor Banners and help me make some money…
Fine, I suppose this is where you look for some witty insights to my mind. A "bio" of sorts. Here is the deal... I ride motorcycles, smoke cigars, golf, kayak, fly, race my car through the mountains, write (a lot), and travel extensively. I am almost old enough not to care what other people think about me...almost. ~Godfadr
I wondered about this. I appreciate the honest feedback!