Is Your Blog Worth Two Pennies?
May 20, 2008
Do you make money blogging? I, for one, don’t.
It may seem like a a strange question, but do you really blog for money? Will you stop blogging if you don’t make money with your blog?
When I started this blog, I wanted to make money from it. But slowly, as time passed, my perspective changed. My blog became my identity, and people who read me (yes, you!) became my friends.
Now I don’t blog for money. I blog just to share my take on different issues in internet marketing, blogging, and web design world. And I really love doing it.
Note: I’m not averse to money. And I certainly wouldn’t reject it if a money making opportunity arises!
In my observation, most bloggers start blogging for money, but as time passes and they don’t make more than a few pennies, they either give up, or persist - just for the fun of it!
Those who persevere, gain new insights into their target market, and actually find out how to monetize their blog, directly or indirectly. Those are the ones who really make money blogging, and become an inspiration for a new generation of bloggers.
Well, see, I’m still here. And I don’t make money from blogging (though in my case, it’s intentional). I’m in the second phase of blogging.
Now the real question (and please answer) Do you make money blogging? What phase are you in? How long have you been blogging? Do you plan to keep on blogging no matter what?
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I have sold a few blogs and domains over the years and I have found that no blog is worth the amount of time and effort you put into it. Even the ones I have seen sell for 5 or 6 figures, the amount of work and time that went into it was incredible.
To answer your questions.
(1) My wife and I have both been blogging for longer than 5 years.
(2) Changing domains (as we have done recently and also to often) kill any momentum you have.
(3) We make a minute amount of money on our blogs, mainly in adsense ads, but we are talking almost nothing. We have made some money with our digital download files, and they are posted on her blog
(4) Once you get into blogging it is hard to get out, you miss it. But… it is so time consuming that eventually you must reach some benefit to continue, even if that is non-monetary and personal reasons.
I myself am going to start blogging soon, not as a way of making money (directly from blogging) - But as a way to gain contacts, friends and clients for my web design work.
I might add some google ads to the sidebar to get a trickle of money to go towards hosting. But I’m using my blog as a platform to boost my presence, and get my name about.
I think there are a lot of like-minded people out there, mainly designers who are great bloggers, but just see their blog as a way of connecting with people and getting their name about. Hopefully it will bring a few friends and opportunities my way.
I’m all for people making money out of blog’s though, so I’d love to hear some more stories.
I plan to make money online someday. But for the time being, I’m not looking for money making opportunities. I’m more interested in growing friendships and learning how to make my message more accessible and attractive.
why should i subscribe to you, then?
You are telling me you aren’t a professional, that’s how i read this.
IMO, if your blog is about blogging, you should be making money at it. If for no other reason, than to confirm you know how to add value via one of the few universal yardsticks of value-add: monetization.
David, in fact I do. Through blog and logo design. Though I don’t count it as direct or indirect monetization as I don’t really offer these services on my blog. But this is something I plan to do in near future.
This blog is only one of my two sites that I haven’t properly monetized. Otherwise I make up to $1500 online with some of my other sites, if that’s proof enough to you that I can make money online.
I’m more on the path of Maki of doshdosh.com. He too doesn’t really make a lot of money with his hugely popular blog, but is building audience and reputation in the industry so as to capitalize on it later.
Trust me, I WILL make money with Blogging Bits, but now is not the right time.
Thanks everyone else for replying. Really appreciate it.
Definately in the category of individuals who don’t make any money blogging, along with not being terribly motivated by it. Blogging for profit may be viable, but doesn’t align with the purpose of my blog, which is primarily voicing my opinion, and serving as a central point of reference for projects I work on.
I also don’t post with any regularity, which would negatively impact the blog’s ability to attract and retain readers. I’m one of those people who fires up a few posts in a row, then is quiet for weeks at a time.
As for the value of monetizing a blog, I think it is important if it leads the author(s) to produce better content, and to the extent that the site is sustainable. If it motivates you to keep writing, and (more importantly) makes it more enjoyable to do so, then it should be pursued.
I made the decision earlier this year to blog for a living, as I loved it so much. I supplement it a little with the odd bit of design work and make just enough to live.
I love doing it though so decided it would be my living.
I don’t make money from my blog. I did two PayPerPost posts once, but then I went through a stage of being against those kind of posts, still don’t really love them unless it’s obvious the topic is something the blogger would have posted about anyway.
That would be true if money was everything and nobody blogged to share knowledge, advice and build a community.
Yes, I make money from blogs. The problem that most people encounter is that making money from a blog rarely intersects with creating a good social blogging experience for visitors. The problem is further increased by top “make money” bloggers exploiting their core readership for profit by upselling them or profiting by promoting questionable affiliate offers and the like to them.
I have several blogs and honestly speaking I don’t blog for money. not because I haven’t made anything, but because I’m not even try to sell links, articles or banners on my blogs. I only blog because its a hobby for me
same story here but with a difference
u didn’t made any money neirther did i but u made friends and i made only enemies blogging. Woo does this means i need a retirement?
Hi Mohsin
I just found your blog and it’s interesting that you have a blog like the one in my signature - one which doesn’t make money (well, hardly any), but, as yours talks about how to blog, mine talks about the ‘make money online’ niche and people who do make money (or say they do…).
I do make money from blogging, but mainly adult blogs (I have over 200 of them) and they make me a reasonable (but not fantastic) living. The trouble is, I much prefer writing for the blog which doesn’t make me money and that’s kinda contrary…
I started blogging about 3 years ago. It was first just an outlet, a way to express my thoughts, feeling and passions. I had a period when I did make some money with the blog (reviews, ads and the sort). Then I moved to a more professional blogging style, while trying to preserve my personal approach. I still run some ads and am in some affiliate programs, but that is just something on the side, not the goal and not my reason to blog.
It may seem like a a strange question, but do you really blog for money?
That’s not a strange question at all. And my answer would be “more or less.”
Will you stop blogging if you don’t make money with your blog?
That’s unlikely to happen. I have several blogs that have never earned me a single penny and still I keep them alive. The only blogs I’ve ever closed were a few experimental ones.
Do you make money blogging?
From time to time, yes, I do. Not by selling ads, though. Basically, my blogs help me get paid writing gigs. This is how I make money from them: by using them as portfolios. There’s also a not so obvious benefit: by blogging I develop several abilities, stablish myself as a reliable professional and network with others. This all can be used to get future projects going.
What phase are you in?
Not sure.
How long have you been blogging?
I can’t remember exactly when I started. It’s been several years ago, when a friend persuaded me to open an account at LiveJournal.
Do you plan to keep on blogging no matter what?
Hmmm… that’s a tricky one. I could say “yes” now and change my mind later. I really don’t think I’ll give up blogging because there are so many advantages to keeping a blog. But if I start a project that eventually becomes a huge success and doesn’t involve the use of a blog as a tool, then I may have to close my blogs and fully concentrate my efforts on that project.
Hi Moshin! Great questions. Here are my answers:
1. Do I blog for money? You bet. I even named one of my blogs something to that effect.
2. Would I stop blogging if I wasn’t making money? No, but I’d certainly blog less. Running a blog (or 5, in my case) takes time and effort away from other pursuits. Earning an income in return makes it possible for me to justify the amount of time I spend online.
3. What phase am I in? I’ve been blogging for 5+ years on one of my domains where I’m a rambler. My other four are more topically-focused, though. Oddly enough, the rambling one is the biggest money-generator. Go figure.
4. Do I plan to keep blogging no matter what? Well, if I win the lottery you can bet I’ll cut down on posting frequency. Otherwise, yes, I plan to continue blogging but I can foresee the demise of at least one of my current blogs, if only so I can concentrate my efforts on the others.
money can always be made through blogs or any other website just because of the supply and demand of advertising… how much you can make totally depends on how hard you are willing to work to get your site up there