Last week’s article in the Wall Street Journal revealed that my blog earnings are in excess of $250,000 per year (a very ballpark figure).
The problem with these type of articles is that they report in a few words just one element of a story – in this case my earnings.
While it’s true that I have built my blogging to a point where I’m able to earn good money blogging there are many things that an article like the one in the WSJ didn’t (and couldn’t) mention about how I was able to build my blogging up to this point.
The impact of this missing ‘back story’ is that much of the reality of blogging for money goes unseen by those looking at blogging as a potential income stream – leading some to naively enter into blogging with false expectations.
Of course when these expectations are not met things can get ugly with disappointment and anger being a common reaction. What disappoints me as a blogger writing on this topic is that I regularly see other bloggers feeding their readers with hype and false hopes about how easy it is to make big money from blogging. This only adds to the distance between their reader’s expectations and the reality of blogging for money.
The Reality of Blogging for Money
So what is the reality of building up one’s blogging to a point where they can make a full time living blogging?
Here are five facts that I’d like to share about my own story to give a more realistic picture to those considering getting into blogging as a way to make a living.
1. It takes a concerted long term effort
I have been blogging for five years. The first year was not for money in any way (although I learned a lot about blogging in that year) and the next two I worked 2-3 jobs at a time (and was studying part time) while I built my blogging up from a hobby, to part time job to a full time venture (more on my story here).
I’m often asked things like – ‘I need to make $xxxx in the next few months – how would you do it with a new blog?’
The average age of blogs in the Technorati Top 100 was over 3 years when I last surveyed it – while the occasional blogger has a fast rise to frame they are the exception. Building a successful blog takes a long time (it takes time to build readership, to work out how to monetize it etc) so take a long term approach and pace yourself.
2. It takes luck
I won’t speak for other bloggers but in my case I was very fortunate on many fronts. I started blogging at a good time (it was a lot less crowded and competitive back then).
- I stumbled on making money from blogs quite accidentally
- I started my first money making blog on the spur of the moment and picked a topic (digital
- photography) without knowing what I was doing – but for the time it was right)
- I met the right people at the right time
- Bigger bloggers discovered me at opportune times
The lucky list could go on – but I was very lucky. Of course some people ‘make their own luck’ and to some extent I agree with this – there are ways to increase your chances of being lucky – but some of it is outside your hands. Sometimes the luck comes and sometimes it doesn’t.
3. It takes a lot of work
There’s been a lot of talk lately about how blogging less can mean more from your blog (example 1 and example 2). While I agree with this – that doesn’t mean you can just come up with a few posts on a whim every few days and expect the traffic (and money) to come rolling in. Over the last 3 years I’ve consistently worked 40-60+ hour weeks on my blogging. At one point I was posting 20-30 posts per day (mainly news related posts back then). Most bloggers that make a full time living from blogging work corresponding hours on it.
4. Many don’t make much money blogging
I’ve often used the analogy of Professional sports people to highlight that in any ‘game’ there are many who play it – less who make a little money from the game, even less who are able to earn a living from it (just) and just a small group who make big money from it. The same is true for bloggers. I’ve run many polls here at ProBlogger on how much people are earning from the medium (eg) and on every single occasion they reveal that the vast majority of bloggers are making very little per month. While it is possible to make amazing money from blogging the sad reality is that most don’t make more than pocket money. Even some blogs who ‘deserve’ to make money blogging don’t.
5. It’s hard
One thing that I’ve found to be common with when I had small/new blogs and now having blogs that are doing reasonably well is that in both instances it can be really hard to keep them going. The pressure to keep coming up with fresh ideas, to respond to critique of others, to deal with jealousy when others do well and more can be difficult to deal with. On some levels it gets easier to deal with as your blog grows – but on other levels the demands that you face from a larger readership can at times be overwhelming. Most bloggers that I know (big and small) have at one point or another been close to giving up – I know I have.
Feeling Depressed?
I don’t want to put a downer on those of you wanting to take your blogs to a level where you could make good money from blogging – the fact is that it is possible and and increasing number of people are making a part time or full time living from the medium – but I do think it’s important to have a realistic picture before getting into blogging for money.
While some bloggers do talk about blogging as a way to make quick money I’ve not had that experience myself. Perhaps others do get rich quick from blogging – but I’ve not met any successful bloggers who’ve told me that yet.
Great post Darren. While I am a BIG believer in blogging – I think that it will only serve as the only source of income for a few hard working bloggers as your self.
For the rest – it should probably serve as a critical part of their overall marketing efforts for whatever it is they do or sell. And as someone else said earlier – as a lead generator.
By the way, having worked in traditional news for years – it is a coup that you were mentioned in the WSJ article. Congrats!
i think you are a great man because great man can only do such great things.. I think you are a genius thank for your regularly updates you are really good friends
I blog for real estate leads, which lead to money. I’ve been doing it for close to 5 months now. No leads yet. I didn’t really expect it to happen too fast, but I am approaching page 1 of Google. The thing is, leads or not, I love writing blogs. I believe it will be a long term labor of love. Others in my area have seen how well it is doing in the search engines, and say they are going to start one and get in on the action, so to speak. So far, no one has even started. Once they see the incredible committment of time and effort involved, I think they will not be as excited.
Bloggers need to ask themselves if they feel $250,000 a year is a reasonable goal, or if they can live with a lot less. There is a lot to be said for working for yourself, and not having to show your face to a boss at 8:00 five days a week. For someone who primarily thinks of oneself as a creative writer, blogging can simply be a way to maintain a comfortable living doing something one loves. How many people can make that claim?
Congratulations on being in the WSJ, Darren!
And thanks for providing another reality check. It’s too bad that there are so many “get rich quick” sites that this type of thing is necessary, but people will always be drawn to that kind of thing – those sites are telling them what they want to hear.
I think a few people have already mentioned it, but making money indirectly – from consulting and other gigs – is often overlooked. That is how I make money from my blogs (mostly – my fashion blog has a few ads), and I’m a full-time freelancer.
Yes, if you want to be a famous blogger in saturated niches then you have to have patience and you should be in it for the long run. I think the most people get into blogging seeing it as a get rich quick scheme but then get disappointed when they don’t get results quickly and then quit. It’s all about perseverance…
Im making a hundred dollars a month on a good month and my unique traffic is increasing and I do take a lot of tips from your blog.
Hi Darren,
Your article is great. As I wrote on my article today (January 23rd) I’m sure you would love to read this book:
The “Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets” from Nassim Taleb
I think this same list applies to any business or individual looking to promote themselves online (as opposed to those just trying to generate revenue directly via social media). To your list, I’ll add that it helps to have some guidance/expertise handy. You don’t just magically build a sustainable effort (though some do achieve 15 minutes of fame).
Darren:
Congrats on getting a mention in the WSJ, and of course, on all of your success.
I use my blog as a promotional tool for my ebooks, website and other freelance writing ventures. It’s been an amazing marketing vehicle for my business overall, but in and of itself, doesn’t produce much income.
I figured out a long time ago that that was never going to happen, so thank goodness never harbored any dreams in that area.
As always, an informative, insightful, real look at how to make money online.
Sincerely,
Yuwanda
Darren thank you for the eye opener. Actually I have come to the same conclusion independently after a year of occasional blogging. To date I have earned enough to buy me couple of cups of coffee!
Hi Darren,
Good response the the journal article. I think people see these figures and get dazzled by the flashing $ signs. Any business takes hard work, and lets face it, also a little bit of luck.
I am just changing the focus of my blog now towards music production and marketing, and I know that with long term persistence I can use the blog as a marketing tool for my services more then a monetization vehicle
Problogger is really one of the most informative of its kind around. Honest words are just what some of us need. Now that I have some time on my hand but am not quite sure about how to increase readership with my blog.
Will carry on figuring that out. Cheers!
Thanks for the great article. I think it also takes a lot of time, patience and perseverance to make blog writing profitable. Perhaps a good theme or keyword is also essential to blogging
Very challenging, patience plus hard work equals success.
nhick
http://www.itrush.com
Great Post as always.
There are always a few Superstars in every field and people tend to look at them and think, yeah, I can do that. Hey, I wanna be a rockstar.
Like novel writing, I think there are a lot of people who believe they can just mail it in and have big success. Thanks for reminding us that there is a more to it.
Thanks for this excellent article. I’ve run a number of off line businesses over the last 35 years. Everything I’ve done in my business life, now including marketing online has required significant effort. I think anyone that becomes involved in marketing online, regardless of what they sell, should have a realistic idea of what it really involved.
They will be well served to read and heed the advice of those like Darren who have “been there and done that”. To use an old 60’s catch phrase, “keep it real”.
I wrote an article here http://bestofmoney.info/2008/01/23/darren-rowse-from-probloggernet-our-hero-and-inspiration/
in which I would like to get an answer to this question: “How much would he make if he were to start today without all his supposed luck ?”
The most important thing is to have fun doing it, then your readers will have fun reading it.
You try too hard, you will only be able to reach a certain point and then stop.
True, true…
Although I only get pocket change, if you can call it that, you have been a pretty big inspiration. Not only do you tell the little guys how to improve… But you also remind us to keep our chin up and keep chugging along.
Thanks
Does item #3 have to be true?
I imagine for most bloggers it is- but there are definitely some successful bloggers that aren’t working all week on their blogs. One that springs to mind is James Brausch… who actually outsources the writing of a lot of his blog entries.
If done badly this could really suck, but with strong procedures in place, and good editing and checking procedures etc, I think you could dramatically decrease the time spent, without lowering quality.
This is great advice and very true. If you want to make money by blogging you have to be in it for the long haul. So many people start a blog and they update it once or twice and then stop completely because they see no results.
Congrats on the article Darren.
I like the way you outlined that it isnt something that will come about just like that. People should realise that they cant just wake up one day and say they are going to start a blog to make money and start making it from the get go.
It will take time and a lot of hard work and you look like some who puts a lot of work into what you do and you are reaping the rewards.
Keeping doing what you do.
ROME WASNT BUILT IN A DAY.
I guess the hype of getting rich or making blogging as a means of livelihood is worldwide specially when media gets into it.
Chances and luck have a great impact on blogging. It’s like any other kind of business venture. You have to be “in the right place at the right time”.
Thanks Darren for this wonderful post and that gives me more confidence.
Darren, thanks for sharing. (Congrats on the article mention.) Hard work indeed. I started writing on one blog about eight months ago and barely made anything but had fun doing it. Now it’s up to about a hundred a month. I have a couple more on the go now but the income isn’t worthy of mention yet.
Every month it gets better. Your post was encouraging to me as well.
You are so right Daren, it takes hardwork, luck and much more to make a blog viable. I’ve been blogging for five months now, and know that if I was in it to get rich quick I would have dropped the blog by now. But blogging takes a willingness to work, learn and keep trying daily, one step at a time.
One question though, is the 250K net or gross, because that distinction makes a huge difference yet again to the reality check factor.
Hi Darren,
Great post. I make a brief in my spanish blog. I am beginning, two months blogging, just centering in having fun. Some people center in earn money and they give up soon when they do not see results.
I will keep reading, I am learning lot of things from you. Keep writing please.
Very well said. Effort + Luck + few years = revenue
Congrats on your latest achievement.
I completely agree. It takes a lot of hard work and determination to make a blog that earns a decent amount of money with due time.
I made this sad realization not too long ago. My blog, to me, is a long term project and a learning experience all together. I will continue to find and write quality posts while reading and learning about how to improve it.
I think I have done well for the time I have had it up, though it does take a lot of work. It is a fact that I am starting to get used to.
250k is really not that much considering the traffic of this blog. I do believe the actual number is way higher. Not that it´s any of my business though, so just thinking out loud. ;)
Darren,
Thank you for being so honest and yes, the last point is true…it is depressing to a certain point because like the last video you shot…blogging is like watchin grass grow which means it will take time to make money.
I’m now working 2-3 jobs just to make ends meet and that’s not really happening all that much since a lot of my jobs on contracts and they are up and down.
That said, I really love the niche I’m in and the idea of a 9-5 is more than I can deal with mentally…
I think it’s important for new bloggers to know that it is a lot of work and will take 2-3 years to get anywhere.
@ Dave scoobyphotos.com – I really like your sense of creativity in describing the (real) life of a blogger.
Gisele
Great one, I think it is true at all time not only with blogging work but also with any business, money is not easy to get at all. Thanks
It’s great to see that popular bloggers like you are starting open the eyes of their readers.
As the hype of blooging for money cools down a little, everyone will start to realize that there are NO GET RICK QUICK schemes out there (I mean the ones where you won’t end up behind bars).
One thing that seems to be missing is the cost of goods/services sold. You can earn $250k but not profit $250k. You can earn $250k but keep most of that money in the business. You can earn $250k, but pay out that much or more to partners, freelancers, service providers, advertising agencies and the like.
One thing that seems to be missing is the cost of goods/services sold. You can earn $250k but not profit $250k. You can earn $250k but keep most of that money in the business. You can earn $250k, but pay out that much or more to partners, freelancers, service providers, advertising agencies and the like.
For example, I have a friend who earns as much from her business as I do. However, she spends 4% of earnings on advertising, has an accountant, has a lawyer, has a childcare provider, attends tradeshows, travels for business and so on. I have very few expenses. So, although it looks like we’re earning the same amount, I’m actually the one making a lot of money. My profit margin is much bigger.
Someone asked: “Does item #3 have to be true?”
Well it seems that for some bloggers don’t have to:
RichTwinPoorTwin said they were havig regular job and worked 1 or 2h per day cashing out 200000$ every 2 months.
But sad story they get banned from Google Adsense ( see my last article on my blog “Being banned from Google Adsense: are you prepared for the “Butterfly Effect”?” )
blogging rocks
That is a great post that speaks volumes as to the realities of blogging. Its LONG and HARD work, and like anything else in life… No Guarantees!!!
I think that the number one reason for failure when it comes to making money by blogging is just the lack of commitment. Most people don’t understand that blogging is for the long term and not the short term.
It also takes more work than people want to do or what people think. Blogging is not something that you should take lightly. You have to be determined to work hard and not give up.
Thank you for your honesty, Darren. It’s much easier to keep going when you know how difficult it will be and that it won’t happen in a few weeks or overnight.
Persistence and dedication are key to most any success, I think.
I love this post. I’ve been involved in various online business ventures for the last 10-12 years.
I often look back and think of where I’d be right now if I wouldn’t have given up after 3 months of frustration because I was expecting the money to start rolling in overnight, as most people that read this blog know, it just doesn’t happen that way.
I think everyone is often too quick to holler “SCAM” when they realize that they have to put some hard work into an online business in order for themselves to make any money and if they don’t make anything within 2 days they are freaking out. I know many expectations are built upon the advertising of the “Get Rich Quick” e-books, but people need to realize that money will not just roll in because you are willing it to happen.
It took me 7 years to learn that lesson and it was a difficult one to learn; but after that lesson was embedded in my brain I started to have success with my online business ventures.
Excellent post Darren. Yes, I agree with you. Blogging success is not meant for everyone. Of course many would try because of the hype other bloggers seem to portray about their income – but only very few would succeed., Afterall, it is on how much effort and dedication you have shared in your blog that counts. Just like in basketball, many would play in the league but only one becomes the MVP.
Great post Darren. It’s nice to hear the truth. Everyone wants to hear about how easy it is, even if it’s a lie.
I’m working on a book about telecommuting. Can I include some of your comments here for a section on blogging (with attribution, of course).
Hi Darren,
I think some of people don’t really realize just how much hard work ,action effort and persistence it takes to actually create your own (luck) money and success.They just see the finished results. Great Post -keep up the good work . :)
Good reminder that everyone who makes a good living works hard at it and getting rich quick is really only for those lucky few who win the lottery. Thanks for the post.
My advice to anyone wanting to make money from blogging or just making money online in general, please make sure that it’s something you like.
Don’t just throw up a blog about a topic which you think will make but and at the same time not have a passion for what you’re doing.
My advice is to blog about something you love and provide great content for your readers.
Create blog posts that you yourself would like to read.
Darren,
These are nice words of inspiration. It is good to know that so many others go through the same obstacles and emotions.
It took me 6 months of blogging before I hit my first highest monthly earnings of over $600 this month. I made half of that on average from the previous months and I reckon I might not be seeing the same figure for the next few months.
It is a lot of hard work which can handily sustain like a full time job from where I’m located. But I see earning through blogging is not as stable as a full time job.. yet… maybe in a few years.
I’ve also branched out and started my own domain selling business from the earnings I got from blogging. I figured I should restrict myself from pure blogging as my source of income. Blogging has also paved way for another writing job I was offered by another website. Blogging may not be the myth other people are preaching but it can definitely pave you new opportunities.
There are only a few ways to make money on the internet.
Basically: Advertising, Services and Products.
Most people go after advertising as their main source of income for a blog. On the other hand most people give up pretty quickly if they dont enjoy blogging so there goes the income.