Confessions of a Six Figure Professional Blogger

Thoughts on Blogging For A Living [Video]

View Comments | Posted In Blogging by David

The other day, I asked whether you would blog for a living if you could. I got some great responses from you guys!

In this video, you’ll take a car trip to the post office with me. I’m heading down to check my PO Box to see if I have any checks waiting for me. While I drive, I share some of my thoughts on blogging for a living and why I personally love this line of work…

NOTE: If you want to view the video much bigger, just click the full screen button on the player.

When I asked you guys about this, I got some great responses…

Jimi Jones said:

Going full-time with blogging is exactly what I am going to do. I committed to the effort months ago and continue to march toward that end.

My friend Tony Teegarden said:

Short answer? Would I go full time? Sure, as long as my blog developed me freedom and I wasn’t a prisoner of it. Leverage and true freedom is based on systems. I believe a blog can do that if set up properly.

Zemalf said:

I’d go for full-time with my blog, or maybe full-time *income* to be more precise. Why? The financial freedom is a compelling thought and something that inspires me to keep going. And I can’t deny that it feels good to put my experiences and expertise out there, with hopes that it will help others.

One comment I’d like to respond to is that of Darren Slaughter. He said:

Great question. And for most people it really is the “dream.” Problem is, once it goes from being a passion to source of income and a proper business, it also looses some of it’s luster.

Not to mention, making money, real money, as in replace your current income, blog on the beach type money doesn’t happen all that often.

I have talked to so called A-listers that confirm not making enough from their blogs to pay the bandwidth bill. So, while blogging for a living is a fantastic fantasy, reality says otherwise.

Blogging as a business is more than a “dream”. It is very much possible. And, it doesn’t lose any luster when you are making money. If anything, it motivates you even more to keep going with it. But, the statement “blog on the beach type money doesn’t happen all that often” seems to suggest that there is some other factor (like luck) which determines your success. NOT TRUE. It might not happen very often, but that is because most bloggers don’t know what steps to take to make it happen. Also, most bloggers are left to figure it out on their own and don’t really have help from those who have done it outside of free blog content (which often gives pieces to a puzzle but doesn’t really connect the dots).

Blogging for a living isn’t a fantasy. It can be done. The fact is that most “a-list” bloggers don’t know the first thing about marketing and that is why they can manage to build up a blog and yet make barely any money. What I’m here to show you is that there IS an approach to blogging which will lead to money. And I’d like to walk you through that approach.

And on that note…

I will be sharing much more about Blog Masters Club in the coming days. The official launch will be on July 7th, at around 12PM EST. If you get onto the early bird list, you will have a little head start to get your “seat” in the club. I might even throw in a surprise for you. :)

If you haven’t yet downloaded your copy of the Six Figure Blogger Blueprint, go here to get your copy.

To get onto the early-bird list, go to:

www.blogmastersclub.com/signup/

That is the URL where you will be able to enroll to work with me starting on July 7th.

In the meantime, enjoy this video and please leave a comment to let me know what you thought. Tomorrow, I will share more details about what the Blog Masters Club is all about.

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  • I love just being able to do what I want to do when I want to do and get paid for it. Great video. I love getting those clickbank checks too. Money is money.
  • I am caught up between mini-sites, blogs and review sites, different C class IPs, unique content, linking. I managed to get OK traffic between all my domains (31) but lucking to reach conversions in order to make this whole thing interesting for me financially. It is hard with ought my own product, and it is hard to find a dissent offer which will convert at 2-4%... really. I would love to blog for living and this site provides a ton of great information.
  • I always laugh at the 'everybody fails at it' argument for pointing out something doesn't work. Why do I laugh? Because look at ANY startup business that someone without explicit industry and a business background starts. How many of those businesses fail? That majority. Now, if you have a business that someone has minimal money invested in (a blog), no business background (it's just Joe Guy starting it), and no business plan (I'm going to write about my beer bottle collection and make money at it), gee, surprise, it has a higher failure rate than the startup. But in comparison, it should. It had a lower barrier to entry, and it allowed someone unprepared to just jump in. So the fact that it has a high failure rate should not be discouraging.
  • YES! The fact that most people fail is always used as an argument for why it's so hard, difficult or impossible. I've been a sales trainer for years, and I know for a fact that people who excel in any given field are the ones who WORK and spend time doing the right things.

    Learning a business and how to be effective in that business takes time and hard work, but success and high income from blogging is absolutely doable for anyone who really decides to kick it up a notch and get to work.

    No shortcuts!
  • Dave, I am on mission to figure this out myself so I can live this lifestyle. Check are great, I wish I had more. I have 3 kids and I don't want to have to worry about asking off so I can see their programs or what every they got going on. I really want to spend as much time with them as possible the grow up too quick. Your site has provide me a ton of knowledge. Trying to convice the wife to let me spend some funds on your program as I am sure I would get more the cost back in return. Who knows mabye I will have a good week with my site so I can get in.
  • Another useful post - for me at least. I like reading / watching your stuff to give me that little boost that suggests there may actually be a way to make a living online. I know I'm a little behind on your current posts - but I'm trying to go through each one. I'll get to your Blog Masters Club stuff soon enough, but I don't want to miss out on any nuggets of inspiration on the way. A lot of what you said in this video is exactly what I strive for - getting some control back vs the current 'corporate' lifestyle I lead. I don't want to do that for the rest of my working life with only retirement to look forward to!
  • I don't see who wouldn't love this type of life! If everyone had something they were truly passionate about, and could share it with the world while staying home and spending more time with their families, why wouldn't they? I for one, hate having to work FOR somebody, who tells you that you can only have 2 weeks of vacation each year. Unfortunately, most people can't seem to get their blog going. It sounds easy, and sounds like a dream come true, but some people just can't seem to pull it off.
  • David,
    Thank you.
    For me,
    the ability to maintain focus while having to multitask is a huge challenge. I find i get some of my best ideas while working with the kids but dont have time to strike while the iron is hot and create the article or video while the kids are involved.
    this has been such a challenge im actually developing my next Niche site to be about the homeschooling and lessons i teach the kids. It seems cool that I can be both creating content AND spending time teaching the kida at the same time.
    we'll see how this transpires when I factor in all the 'editing" time for the videos.
    thanks and take care
    best to you and yours David
    Bryan
  • I myself don't think Id be full time "blogging" simply because I like the dynamic of being a mentor and interacting with students in real life situations. Brainstorming and implementing solutions feels more fun to me than just "writing".
    looking back on it though, I'm sure If I commit just a set # of hours per week or posts per week to just make the content happen, then the bosy of searchable work would be raising the price and value of my hourly consultations so its worth it in the long run.
  • David, i was wondering where the Kidlet is while you're off to the post office and blogging?
    do you switch to full dad mode when kids are around or do you "multitask" and try to get a little work done here and there ?
    I think it would be cool to share some of your time management routines and strategies.
    Ill tune in for part 2
    thanks and take care
    Bryan
  • Hey Bryan,
    Ely goes to daycare during the middle part of the day. As much as possible, I try to maintain a normal work schedule and minimize family interruption when I'm working. But, there are other times when I have to multi-task. :)
  • Carlos
    Makes sense Martin. Sorry if I misunderstood you.

    I live in San Diego where many, many people have this mindset that if you are not making vast sums of money you are less than worthwhile as a human being. Not everyone wants to make oddles of money as a life goal. I guess that is what I was really getting at.

    There are some in Internet Marketing circles that come across like money is everything. Not anyone here...just saying.

    I think I overreacted to what you said. Sorry about that :)

    Carlos
  • I've never been quoted on anything, I'm touched!
  • martin
    Hi Carlos,

    Pls let me explain my statement. I did not say being poor is a fault of anyone. My emphasis is on the "Mindset". I don't mean quiting your job and blog for a living, before you really can blog for a living, why not blog while holding your job? Still, "practical reasons, perfectly valid reasons" falls into "life’s problem" isn't it ?

    I don't intend to generalize, I especially understand that there are very poor people in 3rd world countries that cannot get education, let alone get internet connection. They are not at the same level of playing field as us. To help these people I recommend that you consider this cause constructzero.org . Other than that, if you have an education and are not paralyzed, what possible reason can someone not follow their dream ? You can follow your dream and still be poor, but thats ok. At least you TRY. That's what Roosevelt quote is about. If you are afraid of failure or some other reason, then again the quote "Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you’re right". No matter how you reason, this quote tells it all.
  • Carlos
    Martin...you said...

    "It’s not easy because of our life’s problem, excuses, habits, level of perseverance and most of all, mindset."

    With respect to successfully making money at blogging.

    While I agree with much of what you said your statement above comes close to implying or outright saying that if anyone does not succeed at making a living by blogging...it's their fault. That they have done something wrong if they don't succeed. Perhaps in many cases it is.

    But not in all. The Roosevelt quote aside...sometimes there are legitimate and practical reasons, perfectly valid reasons why one can't make a go of blogging for a living.

    Your statement is along the lines of if anyone is poor in this world...it's their fault. Which is not neccessarily so.

    Just my two cents on what you said.

    Carlos
  • Bill
    This was a very good video. And can't wait to get started. I have a subject that I want to start with that I've been doing for 45 years and I think people could learn a few thinks for some of my videos.
    I'm looking forward to more info on this subject so I to can jump forward in this area..
    Thanks and have a great 4th
  • Hi David,

    Working from home does have it's benefits. I've been working from home for about the past year and it's really nice...

    I agree with Tony Teegarden when he says "Would I go full time? Sure, as long as my blog developed me freedom and I wasn’t a prisoner of it. Leverage and true freedom is based on systems. I believe a blog can do that if set up properly"

    Making a full-time living with Blogging would be great as long as it doesn't become a JOB and has the systems in place where money is generated whether one works or not.

    Leverage is created by having a system or people in place that do the work for you because all of us have the same amount of hours in the day. Whether I work or not I still make money every week which is really awesome...

    I've started using Blogs to generate more leads and I appreciate all your great advice and tips on using blogs and other tools to help in building a presence online.

    Have a great weekend and 4th of July!

    Robert Garcia
    http://twitter.com/robertgarcia
  • martin
    The blog I mentioned about is missing. Its howtospoter .com
  • martin
    There are 2 types of bloggers. Bloggers who know internet marketing and bloggers who are clueless about internet marketing. For those in doubt of what David said, I have this quote for you: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't you're right - Henry Ford"

    There are also 2 types of people reading a blog. People who are looking to make money online and people who are not looking to make money online.

    Just see the comments on this blog . These are people looking to make money online. Do you see the difference ? They don't question if it is possible to make money blogging. Most of these people already have a money making blog. Only maybe they are making chump change and they're learning how they can boost their income.

    Lastly, this is the quote that spur me to take action: "Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt"

    Make no mistake. It is not easy to blog for a living. But it is simple. It is simple because it is not a complicated thing to do. It's not easy because of our life's problem, excuses, habits, level of perseverance and most of all, mindset. Again, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't you're right - Henry Ford"
  • David,

    thanks for the inside look. I thought the video was really cool. After blogging, isn't going to the mailbox about all we really want to do anyhow? :-)
  • I gotta admit, I love checking the mailbox and seeing a check(s) there. My favorite part of the day and I'm often at my mailbox right after the mailman drops of the letters. Anyways, can't wait to see more.
  • Eric
    David,

    good point about the marketing side of blogging. I have many blogs right now and the majority of my time is spent on marketing, specifically to rank high in search engines for a specific keyword(s). That is where you will get new, qualified buyers to your website.

    I also make informational sites that just have ppc monetization but my marketing for those are no different than a blog trying to sell something.

    Looking forward to your course, I hope there is a cheap way to see what's inside.
  • carsonsl
    David, excellent stuff; it's the first checks I received from Google, Amazon and Clickbank that simply motivated me. Although small, a real boost. Recently, I saw a check Shoemoney put on his blog from 2005 for 132K and some change; do you think that was for one month? These are motivators to the skeptical crowd. Most people I talk to about this stuff think that earning money online is for someone else or just a hoax. I'm a wana-be blogger probably after my web site picks up more. Thanks for the video, I'm thinking of ways to pass it on. Keep up the great work. -Scott Carson-
  • Carlos
    Hi David,

    I appreciate you sharing your life with us with respect to how you make money blogging. If I have gotten one thing from your videos, and I mean no disrespect by this, it's that I could probably do what you do and more besides since you don't come across as anything other than a normal guy who just happened to have succeeded in a very competitive market (i.e. the computer tech niche). You blogged about something that interested you and eventually monetized it.

    I can do that...for sure.

    Trouble is trying to find the time and money (and yes, it takes some money though mostly time) to do it. That's the trouble for me. Time (mostly) and the need to spend money on other things that are more pressing such that at this moment in time I don't even have enough to get a domain name of my own.

    That will change shortly when my next paycheck comes in.

    I already make a living over the Internet by offering PHP/MySQL services to those that need it but I want to set up a system to make money showing others how to do that.

    But again time and lack of money (at this moment in time) get in the way. The other thing that gets in the way for me is the feeling that I will invest all this time into this and end up seeing nothing pan out from it. So in part I am hesistant in view of the total waste of time this might be.

    Carlos
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