Aug
28
2008
“Help! I Desperately Want to Blog and Make a Living at It”
Posted in the Category of Stuff and Writing Tips
I got the following email this week from a visitor to my site:
"I work as a writer-editor for the Dept. of Defense and serve as a Navy Reserve journalist. I desperately want to blog and start making a living at it. Can you spare some advice on the best place for me to start? I have never blogged, so this is completely new to me. Thanks in advance for the advice."
First, I have to say that it's wonderfully refreshing to get this kind of question in late 2008. It's easy to think that everybody is steeped in the use of social media, whether it's Facebook, Twitter or blogging. They're not.
Being as it's almost 5 PM on Friday of Labor Day weekend I've just got a few minutes. Here's the 30-second stripped-down answer. You might also find useful this updated Blogging 101.
Where to Start
Start your blog on TypePad (US $5 a month) or Wordpress (free). Use one of their nifty templates. The only thing you have to make a final decison on is the URL of your blog. Not the "name" but the URL people will type in to get to your blog.
So if you're on TypePad, it's best to choose http://yourname.typepad.com. On WordPress, it will be http://yourname.wordpress.com. That way your blog will come up first in search engine results when someone types in your name.
What to Read
You'll want to read other blogs in the area you're interested in. Start with Alltop or the new Blogs.com. Here's a list of Milblogs on Alltop. And an index of Milblogs. (Although I don't know if that's what you want to blog about.)
How to Write Your Blog
One of my favorite resources is Copyblogger. Great tips on how to write compelling blog titles, etc. Another is ProBlogger. The free report I offer on my home page also has some good writing tips.
Will I Make Money?
Honestly, unless you're a really really good writer, devote inordinate amounts of time and fill a unique small niche that inspires a passionate following... likely you won't make more than spare change.
The bible of how to make money blogging is written by ProBlogger founder Darren Rowse: Secrets of Blogging Your Way to a Six-figure Income.
Good luck. And if you're in the U.S., have a great holiday weekend - the last gasp of summer!
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Comments
Jocelyn Harmon said on August 30, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Debbie,
I actually disagree with you about using your own name in the URL of your blog unless you are, well famous, like You! 
Instead, I think it’s wise for most of us to choose intuitive URLs. This makes it much easier to “get found” in search.
Here’s how you do it. Think about the ad words that your prospective readers will type into a Search engine when looking for your content. For example, if you’re blogging about chocolate, you’ll want chocolate lovers to find you, so see if you can buy “chocolatelovers.com” as your URL.
I also suggest that folks just starting out read your book. It’s a great primer on blogging!
Cheers!
Jocelyn
iva said on August 30, 2008 at 07:40 PM
This is a good start-up steps for a non-techie, computer user, intended to start a blog.
For some online businesses the blue colored - default hyperlink is still recommended, esp if your products are targeted to 8-70 years of aged people. Might be thats why google still uses it.
People still get excited to know that if they may own a “www.yourname.com”. So these kind of guides are always required and helpful.
Thanks!
Fairings said on September 3, 2008 at 02:01 AM
Exactly the information I needed! Blogging is so fun, I hope to be one of the few who can actually earn from it someday.
Linas Simonis, PositioningStrategy said on September 3, 2008 at 08:53 AM
Dear newbie,
First of all, you must decide what you want - a blog which generates money, or a blog which generates a business for you.
If you want a blog which generates money, surely, ProBlogger (http://www.problogger.com) or John Chow (http://www.johnchow.com) are worth reading. and this maybe the best places to go.
If you want a blog as a tool for generating new business for you, read this blog or (better - and!) check an e-book “The New Rules of Business Blogs”. You are welcome to check it out in my blog at http://www.PositioningStrategy.com.
Wish you a good start!
Amanda said on September 30, 2008 at 12:56 AM
Great article! I’m also interested in blogging and making some living out of it outside of my full-time job. That’s actually what I want to blog about. Working in an outsource call center, any suggestions about do’s and don’ts on what to blog about?