Are you a blogger? I guess so. I guess that most of my readers are bloggers because it is just easiest to reach other bloggers and a little harder to get beyond that to the world wide web. So, I would like to know why you are blogging? Are you trying to make some money from it? Or is it really just a hobby?
I confess that I initially started this blog to make lots of money from it. Well… lots… a few hundred bucks per month would be nice. The problem is that I am lacking discipline and keep treating my blogging as something other than work. For example, I will only sit down behind the computer after I have cleaned the house, cooked the food, ironed the laundry, run my errands, etc. And this is often late in the evening. Nothing wrong with late in the evening, except for that there are not many hours left. And nobody ever started a successful business or got rich with only an hour or two working per day.
Reading how Darren Rowse turned his blogging into a business, I really understand his point. I have known all along that blogging is like working. And if you want to make money, you will have to work for it. Work -> Money. Not work -> No money.
Every once in a while (usually the end of the month) I get the notion that I can do it and treat my blog as a job (for a few days), but slowly life takes over. Penelope Trunk already wrote that blogging is a complete full-time job and if you have kids, it will be like two full-time jobs. Add this up with the businesses that my husband and I run together at home already, it becomes impossible.
Nevertheless, I keep on going, keep on writing, and keep on whatever-else-I’m-doing (cleaning and cooking). And try to get some attention. I know that the type of blog that I’m writing is not exactly unique, but I do not think that that is a big issue. It is becoming very hard to do something truly unique like these unique blogs here. And if you find a unique niche, how long can you continue to be unique at it? If you check out this list, you will find that many of the blogs are no longer maintained or do not even exist at all anymore.
Susan Sontag
Then, of course, I could create a hoax, pretending to be pregnant with a terminal baby and then swap it for a reborn doll and blog about it. But being pregnant myself and to give birth within seven days (scheduled caesarean on Friday the 13th), I think this is a pretty tasteless hoax. It would be great to have a reborn doll though, to put next to my baby in the crib and see what visitors would say… if they could tell the difference or not. Some of these dolls are almost not distinguishable from a real baby. And then blog about that.
Or I could write a post and link it to bloggers who are bigger than I am and ask for a favor, it could be a link, a nudge, a visit, (or a reborn doll). Even a simple click will do, because like Seth Godin says: “Ads are the new online tip jar; If you like what you’re reading, click an ad to say thanks.”
Comments 5
I started blogging to make money and had 3 different blogs till I got burned out. It’s hard enough with just 1 so I don’t keep the other 2 up any more. I don’t have a clue why I’m still blogging now. I hope everything goes great with your delivery, all the best…Jude
Posted 07 Nov 2009 at 1:01 am ¶I originally started my blog as a way to promote my main site, but it has become so much more. In many ways this is great because I get to be creative on my blog, but in many ways it’s like running two online businesses since they both seem to have needs that take a large amount of time.
Wow, so few days away from giving birth, I can’t believe you’re still getting any blogging done. I’m impressed.
Posted 07 Nov 2009 at 1:42 am ¶I understand where you are coming from. We just started 2 weeks ago and it really is a full time job. Coupled with my kids and my real job it seems impossible. I think the hardest part I have is getting people to come to the blog. We have give aways, freebies. Like you I am just going to keep posting because I enjoy it:)
Posted 07 Nov 2009 at 3:39 am ¶Personally, I do not think it is impressive that I’m still blogging. I figure that I have more time now than in a few weeks from now.
I did a website with online hotel reservations during my pregnancy with my first daughter, and totally gave up after she was born. At that time I was making more money online than I do now. I can only imagine what that business would be like now if I continued with that site in the past five years….
@ my loyal readers: I’m now working on pre-scheduled posts, so Without Dash will continue to be updated while I’m away.
@ bobbie: I found that the most important part of doing something online is keep on doing it. Don’t give up!! It might seem pointless to continue at some times, but giving up is even more pointless. Have a look a great blogs. Look at posts of a year ago or more. And check the comment section. If you click on the links, you will see that half of them do not work anymore, because all these people gave up. (have a look at any of the links in this post. lost of great info on blogging)
Posted 07 Nov 2009 at 12:15 pm ¶First of all, no matter what reason that we do anything, whether it be for money or some other agenda, we owe it to our families to put them first. So, if it means that the blog waits for our attention; so be it.
I started Women’s Life Link to help women find their personal best in health, wellness, and beauty. Am I accomplishing that? Well, on a small scale right now. It is growing, and so am I from doing it.
You take care of yourself and your new baby, Suzanne! I will be sending much love, prayers, and positive energy your way on the 13th!
Posted 07 Nov 2009 at 11:33 pm ¶Post a Comment