Is blogging right for you?
When people ask what I do for a living, I tell them “I'm a blogger…” and 99.9 times out of a hundred, I say it with a big smile on my face.
The other .1% of the time?
Well, I must admit that there are days when blogging (writing another blog post / article ) is the last thing I feel like doing.
Fortunately, those days are few and far between.
So, what makes blogging as a business right for me — and how can you tell if blogging is right for you?
Here is a list of questions that will help you assess whether blogging suits your personality and lifestyle.
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Do you enjoy communicating with people? I mean really enjoy communicating. To foster relationships and increase readership, the most successful bloggers also respond to their blog readers' comments as well as engage people on Facebook, Twitter LinkedIn and other social media sites.
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Do you have a topic that interests you enough to talk about on an ongoing basis? The best blogs are created around a central theme or ‘niche', i.e. an activity or topic of interest such as travel, food, parenting, personal growth, etc. Articles posted are almost always relevant to the central theme.
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Do you prefer to write, speak or make videos? Blogs attract search engine traffic primarily through written text, so if you plan to share your messages via podcast or video recordings; online transcription services will be very helpful to you.
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Do you enjoy learning new skills? The thought of learning how to install a WordPress blog and different themes (or appearances) can be intimidating for some people. Don't worry about it! Although I'm not technical by nature, I actually find ‘tweaking' my blog is a LOT of fun. AND you can always hire someone to set up your blog.
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Are you a self-starter? No one is going to tell you to “get your butt in gear and start blogging“. You need to be self-motivated and self-disciplined to start a blog and keep working on it until it is successful – or hire people to do some the work for you.
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Do you have time to invest in your blogging business? Until your blog is well-established with loads of great content and a regular readership, you should plan to post to your blog almost daily. This isn't as hard as it sounds. You can queue up posts for later delivery. In addition to creating content (articles, videos) for your site, much of your time will be spent moderating and responding to readers' comments as well as researching your topic.
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Do you really want to be famous? OK, ‘famous' might be stretching the point a bit, but unless you blog anonymously, you will be putting yourself out there for all the world to see. Are you prepared to have strangers comment on your thoughts, actions and appearance? Do you want people to recognize you on the street? Or worse, on the beach? 🙂
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Can you handle criticism? Although most of your regular readers will tell you how much they enjoy your articles, not everyone on the planet will agree with you — and at times they might even get nasty… which can actually be a good thing. Over the years, I've found that my tolerance for and ability to respond to the ‘nasties' has improved dramatically. No more blood pressure spikes. 🙂
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Are you patient and persistent? Are willing to keep working at your blog even when it seems like no one is paying attention? Are you apt to have a fit if your site goes down temporarily? Persistence and perseverance are perhaps the most important characteristics of successful bloggers and entrepreneurs. Those who can work hard through tough times are those who invariably succeed.
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Do you have a sense of humor? This could be your most valuable asset. There could well be times when things break or you've just made a total fool of yourself. “Stuff happens”. Your ability to laugh at yourself and keep going will shine through your work and people will love you – and your blog – that much more.
I believe if you answered “yes” to all or most of the questions above, you have the basic qualities and characteristics to be happy as a blogger.
That's not to say that if you currently lack initiative or bristle at your critics, that blogging isn't for you.
In fact, blogging might be the right activity to help you improve those qualities and learn new skills — and make some money in the process!
Are you a happy blogger? Are there other characteristics and skill sets that you can think of that good bloggers possess?
Comments, questions or suggestions? Please leave a comment below!
Cheers,
Admiring the hard work you put into your website and in depth
information yyou offer. It’s nice to come across a blog everyy once in a while that isn’t
the same old rehashed material. Fantastic read! I’ve saved your site and
I’m adding your RSSfeeds too my Google account.
Thanks Leo! I’m happy to hear that you appreciate my work!
Thank you so much~!
This blog post is really really helpful ! 🙂
By the way, I got a question….
“Should I even blog if I really really hate writing ??”
I’ve tried to write content for my blog, but it really took me a long time… Most importantly… I don’t enjoy writing at all !! So I don’t know what to do now…
I’m actually making just a little bit money on my blog, and that motivated me to keep blogging, but I feel like I can’t write anymore…. I just hate it…
So what should I do now !?
Hey Sam,
Congratulations on making some money with your blog! That’s awesome.
As to hating writing… so, don’t write. Do videos and get them transcribed into articles. Or hire a writer through Freelancer. Or, dictate your article through a speech-to-text program.
I’m pretty sure you know what you want to say, so just speak it and have it written afterwards. 🙂
I hope that helps!
Cheers,
Ros
Hello Rosalind,
I have a website and have posted 5 blogs on real estate and real estate investing, but had no responses. My son suggested I have a separate blog set up and not use the web site. I really, really want to write blogs and also have affiliates and make $.
I work full time but would love to retire at age 73 🙂
I have managed to purchase 3 rental properties and want to continue buying properties and also blogging.
What do you suggest I do to get my blogs noticed?
Thanks,
Janice
Can you be a success at affiliate marketing without blogging?
Also, I have read your handbook and found it easy reading, easy to understand, too. It was a long time ago, though. I need to read it again. What is the latest version?
Thanks, Ros!
Jude
Hi Ros,
I have an idea that I’d like to start affiliate marketing and a blog about health, nutrition. I bought the super affiliate handbook. In your opinion what is the best way to go about getting started?
Thanks!
Matt
Hi Ros, thanks for the post. I got some inspiration. How many blog does we have to make money online?
Hi Ros….I just purchased your book and am going become an Affiliate Marketer. I am also a fellow Okanagan’er….well, WAS. I have moved to “the centre of the universe”….as Torontonians like to call themselves. I have been looking for a job here for months. If I hear “Why did you move FROM Kelowna TO Toronto, most people go the other way!” …one more time, I will slit my wrists with a butter knife!!! It seems the mere fact that I LEFT Kelowna has made me an undesirable employee. Missing Kelowna, bored, and umemployed… I decided to become my own boss. Sifting through the MOUNTAINS of information has me a bit overwhelmed. I just wanted to thank you for sharing how to succeed in this business. I am determined to figure it all out, and bring home enough to eat.
Shelley,
Put away the butter knife and get used to it.
BTW, as an ex-Torontonian, I must speak to one thing you said. People who are NOT from Toronto refer to Toronto as ‘the center of the universe’. No one I ever met in Toronto ever thought that way. That they think you’re crazy to move TO Toronto should make that clear. 🙂
No worries, you’ll be back in the Okanagan once you learn how to make money online.
Best of success!
Cheers,
Ros
There are times when “blogging” would be just what and where I could write my thoughts. I just don’t kown if others would like to hear (read) my thoughts on subjects, that I feel that I have some experiste in.
There would be days that may be very counter-productive. Yet there are more times when I have my own thoughts and no where to go with them.
My head rolls with words that put into sentences, express another side of me. Sometimes when I speak to friends they think I have lost my “marbles”, they don’t understand the logical aspect of what I am trying to say.
I think that “blogging” would be the way to go…..yet I don’t always sit with pen-in-hand, and a sheet of paper to go with it…..to write what I am thinking. So often wonder if I were to “blog” my thoughts once a week or may be, once a month…..would it still work? Could I still have a side of the blog where I could set-up an Affiliate Marketable site?
That is another question…how do I set-up a blog/site, and where would I put it…..so that others could leave their thoughts and/or comments. Good, bad, or indifferent.
I do feel like Affiliate Marketing would (and could) bridge that gap between starving and living a decent life, not dreading the days that I have to work for a badgering boss.
Where do I start??? Because of the many subjects that I find intersting, what would I call a blogging site?
How do I find good merchants that would want to be a part of such a blog?
I like working with animals, mostly dogs, training, foods, etc. at least my dogs never made me sick or gave me a heart attack …..as the job that I have now….has and does.
Great great Article and comment are also great
Dear Ros,
I’d like to try my skills in blogging. Would you think I have a future for this if I write this way? (Please see my sample work below)
Thanks & kind regards.
Reasons to Be Thankful
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the millions who won’t survive the week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle,
the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture,
or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.
If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death,
you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head,
and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace,
you are among the top 8 percent of the world’s wealthy.
This article makes me contemplate whether the time is right for me given the time, continuity and written vs audio-visual elements you mention. I’ve been visiting several blogging sites in the past weeks and I must say, it’s not an easy thing to do. Ideas must come on a continuous basis and spontaneity is a big factor
To do blogging one must need to have all the qualities as Rosalind said. But blogging like an habit once started no body leave it.
I have been writing and updating my blog with some current information about hotel industry yet very few people seem interested on hotels industry. What are the best ways to attract huge traffic to my blogs other than updating and keeping he content on the mark.
I want to earn some money working on this blog. Please advice.
I’ve been visiting several blogging sites in the past weeks and I must say, it’s not an easy thing to do. Ideas must come on a continuous basis and spontaneity is a big factor. I’ve once dreamed of being a writer, but I guess… I need to learn more.
Excellent guide and questionnaire Rosalind.
Thank you for enriching our knowledge and thoughts.
blogging is fun, as long as you have so many ideas and things want to talk to. writing blogs can be fun and can earn money.