The idea of making money by blogging appeals to many people – who wouldn’t want to sit at home and get paid to write about what interests them?
Unfortunately, a career as a blogger isn’t so easy to get. Just about anyone can start a blog, but making money off of it takes quite a bit more effort.
Not everyone is cut out for blogging as a career. Is it right for you?
Is There One Topic You’re Just Crazy About?
If you want to start blogging as a career, your best bet is to have a specific niche rather than general content. Your niche will be your special area of expertise, and it’s something that deeply interests you. If you don’t have a passion for what you’re blogging about, your blog just won’t be as good, and maintaining your blog just won’t be as fun. You have to be crazy enough about your topic that you want to write, read, and think about it all the time.
Are You a Good Writer?
Blogging requires you to write blog entries. If you’re a terrible writer, this won’t be as easy as it sounds, and perhaps you’ll want to rethink a career in blogging. In order for your blog to be successful, you need to interest people with your writing. You need to have a distinctive style, and it helps if you can be funny. People have to want to read what they write, not be bored or turned off by endless misspellings.
Do You Have a Lot of Extra Time?
blogging as a career is much different than a hobby. You can’t make it by spending just a few extra hours a week on your blog. You have to devote a lot of time to it on a daily basis, just like you would for any other more traditional career. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time blogging, it won’t be the career that’s right for you.
Do You Have the Technical Knowledge? Are You Willing to Learn?
Maintaining a blog requires more than just writing a posting. If you want your blog to be your career, it’s much more beneficial to you if you understand all the ins and outs of what you’re doing. You may have to learn to use WordPress, for example, and develop an understanding of HTML. You should also probably learn about SEO and social networking. The idea of learning all that “computer stuff” should excite you rather than turn you off.
Do You Enjoy Interacting with Others?
If you’re an introvert, it can seem like a job that’s sitting behind a computer is great for you. That’s not necessarily the case when it comes to blogging. You will need to communicate with others, especially your readers and other bloggers. Quality interaction is so important to have a successful blog, so you should enjoy meeting new people and forming relationships, and you need to take them as seriously as those in “real life.”
