This week I’ve had emails from quite a few new readers asking questions that I probably take for granted that everyone knows.
So if you’re new – let me share a few tips to help you get the most out of this blog. If you’re an old timer – you might like to skip this post:
What is ProBlogger?
This is a blog dedicated to teaching bloggers (and those wanting to start one) how to start and improve their blogs. The blog covers a lot of the basics of blogging – but has a particular interest in helping bloggers to make money blogging.
This blog was started by me (Darren Rowse) just over 3 years ago. I write most of the posts – but also feature a select team of guest posters from time to time. You can read more about my story (and the story of this blog) on my About Page. Also check out the ProBlogger FAQ page for more answers to common questions.
Subscribe to ProBlogger
To get the most out of ProBlogger and keep up with the latest posts I highly recommend that you subscribe using one of two methods – either our RSS feed or our daily email updates. You can learn about these methods on our Subscribe page.
Our Archives
Over the last 3 years I’ve added around 4000 posts, articles, tutorials and tips to this blog. Everything that I know about blogging is on this blog and it’s become something of a resource library for many bloggers. Quite a few bloggers access these archives using the search field (to right hand corner of the blog) but another good way to start exploring what has been written previously is through our Archives Page which summarizes the main categories and highlights some key posts in each one.
Also check out the ‘Best of ProBlogger’ section the front page of ProBlogger – this highlights the all time best posts, the best posts of the month and a few of my own favorites.
ProBlogger Job Boards – Find a Blog Job
One of the most popular pages on ProBlogger are our Job Boards. This is a place where those looking to hire bloggers place 30 day ads and where bloggers looking for work find blog jobs. The page is subscribed to around 1000 ProBloggers (and aspiring ones) and is worth subscribing to via it’s RSS Feed.
Beginner Bloggers
If you are just starting out with blogging I have a section of the blog dedicated especially to you – Blogging for Beginners. It is a series of posts that explores many of the first questions that a new blogger will ask.
Make Money Blogging
If you’re looking to make money from your blog I have a lot of content on the topic. A good place to start to see some different options to make money from a a blog is a recent post – How I make money blogging. Also check out How to Make Money Blogging which points to some of the best posts on this blog on the topic.
What else do I do?
I have a number of projects that you might also like to check out. These include b5media – a blog network with over 250 blogs that I co founded and now work on as VP Training. I also edit and write for a blog called Digital Photography School – a blog and forum full of digital photography tips. I also developed a resource for bloggers called Six Figure Blogging a couple of years back and am working on a new resource for bloggers (stay tuned).
Introduce Yourself
If you’re new here – I’d love to ‘meet’ you. Feel free to leave a comment below with your name and a short introduction into who you are, how you found ProBlogger and what you do (and what your blog is if you have one). My favorite part of this site is the comment sections on posts. I firmly believe that together we know so much more than any individual and that this is illustrated by the readers of this site every day.
Hi Darren, not sure how new I am here, been blogging for about two months now (my site has posts about my personal finance experiences). Your site helped me decide to start blogging. I read everything I could when I started. Now I’m coming back to re-read what I can and hopefully understand them a bit more! Thanks for all of the blogging insight!
I’m Nick from Montreal, Canada.
I started a football blog with my buddies in July, bonjouricipierrevercheval.com
We’re from Qubec so it’s in French. I greatlye enjoy blogging so far. We have a small niche so we’re not going “Pro” anytime soon.
I’ve been reading the problogger for a month or so and greatly enjoy the various tips.
Darren – I’m newish to your blog but we “met” via video streaming a few weeks ago (remember we are your favorite quadruplets!) =) Our blog is a family journal with our experiences/adventures in raising quad boys. Visit our http://www.murraycrew.blogspot.com
Hi Darren,
I’m fairly new to your site and have already learned so much! I launched my children’s illustration portfolio/blog about a month ago and am working towards incorporating your ideas into my site.
Thanks for all the tips!
Hi Darren, like the fellow above, I’m also sort of new. I’ve been blogging for the public since October.
I found your site while searching for tips on the best ways to blog. I love your posts and I’m reading through your archives as well. While I don’t currently have any ambition to become a “professional” blogger, I definitely want to become a successful blogger, and I think your blog will be a big help!
Hello Darren! I’m new to blogging world to. I’m writing my blog now for 2 months, and i happy with my site trafric for now. Most of the help came from your site and others to. Reading your posts made my writing much better and of course traffic to. I hope i get one day on the top as you are. Thank you for all.
Hi Darren,
I started my blog a few weeks back after reading through many of your basics articles. Your writing and story is one that inspires and supports action, so it is no doubt why you have found such success. You are also very generous in sharing knowledge – I found the Jon Symons Real Blog Video tutorial you recommended very helpful. This is a wild ride, and I am having a great time. Cheers
I think I am old problogger, I have been stalking your Rss feeds for over a year now!
Now it’s your turn!
Another new reader here. Having been blogging about books & libraries for over a year now. Mainly YA & children’s books. Problogger is definitely helpful and encouraging. Thanks.
I’m relatively new here. I started blogging years ago, but only did it to support a web design business- didn’t really think it could be profitable.
These days, I attempt to make money online by writing a blog about getting out of debt and losing weight. I’m only scratching the surface of what it takes to be successful, but I am happy to see consistent (although small) growth.
I get a lot of great information out of this site. Thanks very much for what you do here.
Hi Darren,
I’m not only new to blogging, but also new to computers. Basically just getting started. I would like to find something I can do on computers from home. Not looking to get rich, just pay the bills. Everything else on the web that is home based looks like the scams I’ve received for years in my mailbox so I saw the blogging and thought I would investigate further. I am currently researching all the information you have on here. Thanks for the help!
Been a daily reader of your site for some time now. I consider it to be one of the best and most informative blogs online ..
Thanks for your continued and steady contributions ..
Dolphin
Darren,
I am new here and fairly new to blogging. Thank you for all of your hard work and for sharing it with us. I have learned so much from this blog and hope to put some of them into practice on my own blog.
Hello there everyone! I have been around a few months now here, but have been blogging a couple years now. I started out after being diagnosed as a diabetic as a way to connect – then moved from eblogger to a hosted wordpress blog and then do “general” blogging, still focusing on the health issues, but throwing in my dogs, my husband, politics and general BS and entertainment. I do it for fun, not money. I come to ProBlogger to learn how I can have more fun and drag more people to my site for that fun. Still sitting in the corner with the dunce cap though, but I’m sticking around.
Hello, I started reading your posts about two weeks ago, but hadn’t bothered to comment until today. My name is Jennifer and my blog is http://fashionbyjenni.wordpress.com which is a fashion blog.
I felt whenever I read about fashion that we always wear the same clothes everyone else does and look like clones. I felt that the majority of blogs followed what was “in style” religiously instead telling their own opioions about what they liked regradless of what is “in.”
My idea was that i could tell my honest opionion on fashion styles and what I liked and didn’t liked without being influenced by what everyone else wears. We get so caught up in what other people thinks that we forget to remember that what we like is the most important thing about fashion. We should wear clothes to express ourselves instead of trying to look like everyone else.
My motto for the blog is “Do you really want another blog about the same uninspired outfits? If you are stuck in a fashion rut, trying to find your own style, or just plain out like fashion you will enjoy this blog.”
The quote that continues to inspire me to remember to wear what I like to no matter what other think is by Dr. Seuss, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
I rambled a bit, but overall I love your site and it has been the most useful blogging site I have found. I am rather new to blogging at less than a month of it but I have begun to fall in love with it. Your articles have been extremely helpful and getting me over my “newbie” stage.
Hi Darren,
I teach classes for a local ISP in Santa Cruz, CA. I mention your site as a great resource not only for someone wanting a blog, but for someone wanting a succesful Web site as well. I find your site to have great information and I love that it’s updated daily.
Rock on!
Relatively new, but been getting the feeds for a while now.
In relation to “but also feature a select team of guest posters from time to time,” are you interested in article submissions that relate to blogging and income?
Hi, been lurking for a couple months and learned so many things. Thanks so much for for all the incredible advice. Credible being the key word there. I’m a fan of yours for the same reason I’m a big fan of Leo Laporte – Integrity and sincerity in the message being conveyed.
All continued success..
Hi Darren! Another new person here. I’m launching a food & photography blog & have already been using Digital Photography School as a resource. Thanks so much for sharing. All the best, Shea
What a fantastic site! I’ve learned so much since I began subscribing.
I run a fairly new blog on “how to be awesome while saving money and the environment.” You can have a fabulous life while being frugal and Earth-friendly!
Today was especially exciting for me since it was the first day I expected to break 1.00 in TOTAL earnings from Adsense. I’ve only been using them for about a month now. Yesterday I had .91, today when I woke up I had 2.51. I was floored.
Thanks so much for all the tips. You have a subscriber for life!
If you are not subscribed to problogger you are missing out. Darren seems to have helpful advice every day
Hi Darren,
I’ve always been a writer. I wrote for my college paper. Then after graduation I worked part time for two newspapers in Utah. I haven’t had a job as a full-time writer, but I’m hoping I can achieve that through blogging.
I started doyouLIVEorsimplyEXIST.com in October. It’s been a journey of self-discovery.
I love problogger. It is the most helpful resource I have found about blogging. Thank you for what you do.
Shawn Williamson
I don’t have my own blog yet, but I had an idea for one and looking around for ideas of how to get started I found this site (which I had heard of before but, not being part of the blogging world, didn’t have much interest in at the time). Anyway, found you and subscribed to the RSS feed just this week. I may or may not get this particular idea off the ground, but blogging is a powerful concept that has a lot of applications all over the place, I’m sure I’ll find the information on this site useful one way or another.
I’m not new but i have never introduced myself. I’m James and i blog at http://justhuntingtips.blogspot.com/ . Thats about it.
Hi,
I’m Lightening and I can’t remember how I ended up here. I tend to “blog hop” a bit and then add blogs I like to my bloglines so I don’t “lose” them again. I’ve been blogging for just over a year but have really only been a part of the wider “blogworld” for a few months. Still finding my way around. Just yesterday I launched my blog on a self hosted site with a LOT of help from a friend. So it’s a really exciting time for me with blogging at the moment. I have been slowly making my way through some of your archives – particularly those for new bloggers. I’m at the point now where I’d like to monetise my blog just a little (pocket money rather than an income for now). One thing I do know is that I am very PASSIONATE about blogging. It’s so much fun and I really enjoy meeting and getting to know new people in the blogosphere! :-)
Hi Darren,
Thanks for the fantastic resources you have here at ProBlogger. I have just launched my blog a few weeks ago and doing my best to drive some traffic ! Any AFL Footy fans out there?
Yaro, said one if his first traffic surges came when you linked to his site. You wouldn’t want to feature me in one of your posts would you ? No. Oh well worth a try.
Your information for the beginner blogger is fantastic. Please keep posting for us newbies.
Daniel
Hi Darren,
I’ve been reading your blog for a while but I’m just now getting started blogging. Wish I had started MUCH earlier.
Thanks for all your hard work and great tips!
wow – thanks everyone for the introductions. Maybe we should do this more often. It’s really great to hear your stories and see what you all do.
thanks again!
This is my fourth month and I have learned huge volumes from here and Blogcatalog. My blog http://www.movie-cat.com has benefited every step of the way.
My friends have seen the improvements that I have made and I send them here to learn.
Thanks!
I’ve been reading ProBlogger for a few months now and picked up a number of great tweaks and tips (the “Sneeze Page” has been my favorite so far). Can’t remember how I found you.
I’m an online dealer of used/rare books and empemera. I use the blog to create the atmosphere of a bricks-and-mortar shop. I don’t advertise but I try to use my posts to point people towards my catalogs and highlight interesting new items. I’m tempted to pay for your consulting service but there are already so many things I know that I want to do, it makes sense to hold off.
Thanks for all your work.
Hi Darren,
I’m Kai Wah from Malaysia. I blog on topics related to e-commerce and internet tech. Learn a lot of stuff from your blog!
Hi Darren,
I’m not a new blogger and I’ve been reading you for awhile. I love your video posts because it gives my eyes a break and your voice is calming.
I am a blog…. defector. I start blogs and then abandon them. I still love to read about blogging because right now I’m working one (not ready yet) that I think will stick. :)
I appreciate your work very much. Thank you!
Hello Darren,
After a practice daily photo blog in 2006, I’ve reentered the blogosphere in full force after some prep time. So now I have multiple iner-related painting blogs going on. I found your shebang through your 31 Days to Building a Better Blog Headquarters. I consider my first 3 months development period (especially as main painting a day catalogs will not list anyone who’s been blogging under 3 months). I’m in a slightly different situation as my content is primarily image and I won’t feature any ads per se though I’ve already approached one sponsor. That’s plenty as an introduction. Thanks for doing what you do. My biggest problem is not the writing, painting and posting but the keeping up with the reading. I don’t know how you do it! Cheers.
I just started my blog on December 5th. One thing i’ve noticed is that blogging seems like work. lol. Almost like a never ending website. I’m only doing it to waste time in between building websites.
I wonder what percentage of new blogs fail. By fail i mean fail to get traffic or fail to make money. I notice a lot of blogspot blogs seem to be sign ups with one post or from their archives i see a lot of people giving up or they stop blogging after a year.
I have been paying attention to Problogger for several weeks maybe closer to a few months now. I had really never thought to introduce myself I am glad you mentioned it. I am mostly known online as Netvalar my current working blog is ‘Netvalar Speaks on Music’ where I mainly focus on the evolution of the the music industry as it is real easy to get lost now a days. To know how I got started doing that check out http://blog.timelineonline.org/2007/01/life-of-netvalar-speaks-on-music-from.html
I admit to spending time browsing the archives I must have missed the search function though I need to start using that. When I have a question about blogging this is the 1st place I go then I head to google reader and check out a few other blogs I subscribe to. Well I suppose that sums up my introduction
I’m not new to problogger :D
However, 1 year ago, I couldn’t find anything valuable here and web monetization techniques is hidden somewhere in your blog. All I know is that you made good money out of adsense – end of story…
Nevertheless, your new design pretty much sort things out.. and oh your job board is a nice touch though..
4 month ago with traffic 50 people /day
I just did a post like this Yesterday! Are you copying off of me?
I am somewhat new as I have been reading the blogs for about a month.
I produce a weekly photo blog that tries to address the issue with creativity, as there are too many already dealing with the technical parts.
There are hopefully some good photos and some wording to describe approach.
I love sharing my knowledge even though I know I do not have all the answers or even the correct ones. if there is even a truly correct answer.
I plan to retire in a year and am reading your site to better understand where I may go.
One though I have is to do a Food Blog. Photos, some video and great recipes.
Thanks for all your ah rd work.
Niels Henriksen
Hello Darren,
Thanks for your efforts with this very useful to me and others site ProBlogger. I am subscribed to its rss.
You may be interested to check my new photo competition web site that lists only currently open contests that you can enter.
Good luck!
Hey Darren. I’ve known about your site for over a year but just recently subscribed to your RSS feed. I’m currently employed at an IT shop as a systems analyst, but am definitely looking to generate some additional income blogging. I’ve been posting on my blog (nullamatix.com) at least every day for a few months now. My articles are typically about technical issues like security and information technology, but also include ways to increase productivity and just improve the overall quality of life. Thanks for sharing this post!
I am a complete new blogger. I have been reading the site on and off for about 6 months now and finally decided to get my butt in gear. I just picked up some hosting, got a theme, and working on plugins now. The blog is about me getting in shape and my progress, I also want to help others to loose weight.The domain is bloggingfataway.com.
Also I am starting a blog that is more of a fun project. I just bought the domain so it will be a few days before its up and running. The domain is budcalabrese.com
-Bud
Hey Darren,
As an example of just all the different type of people who read your blog, I present myself. I wandered on your site a few months ago and got turned on to the whole blogging idea. It sounded like a little bit of a liberating and therapeutic experience. My wife and I have a “hobby” that we do not share publicly so the thought of being able to blog about it sounded like tremendous fun. We have used most of your advice and website as our blogging lighthouse.
Thanks for all your help! Our blog is at http://www.gentlenibbles.com! Feel free to drop and say hi!
Hey Darren…long time listener, first time commen…..oh, wait. Sorry. I thought this was the Dave Ramsey Show.
I am currently writing “Lag-O-Rama”, a blog devoted to MMORPG games, where I posted about a boy using World of Warcraft skills to escape a moose in real life yesterday.
It’s been that kind of week.
I’ve been reading Problogger for a couple of months now, and it’s a treasure-trove, my friend. Thanks for what you do!
Hey Darren,
Woodworker turned blogger,or at least trying too!
Thanks for all the info. It definitely gives me a lot to think about. I’ll keep tuning in! Bryan
I discovered your livingroom blog in 2004 while I was doing a uni assignment on blogging.
My name is Matt and I have a giving blog called flip the bucket. I’m gradually plowing through your “Beginners” section at the moment and people seem to think I’m a pro, so thanks.
Hi Darren! I’ve been “blogging” for quite some time (since 2004 actually) but after coming across your blog I’ve made great improvements to my site and watch my traffic increase. I also want to thank you for the helpful and extremely useful tips you shared from time to time which made me realize how to post into my blog correctly and more market-oriented articles.
Feel free to take a look at Jimmakos.com
Thanks for the blog, Darren. I’m a freelance writer and novelist and have started/managed several blogging sites over the past two years (Families.com, AdoptionBlogs.com and LDSBlogs.com). I found ProBlogger when I was asked to manage the startup blogs at Families.com two years ago. I’ve been referring all of my pro bloggers to your blog ever since.
I’ve since stepped away from the management of blog networks in an effort to free more time for my own writing but continue to follow your blog. You provide an amazing resource for both bloggers and web content writers – THANK YOU!
I’m new to ProBlogger and I find it to be a great resource. I just started blogging a few months ago when I created moderncat.net, a blog about modern design specifically for cat owners–a very niche readership, that’s for sure!
I found out about you from Danielle Friedland, publisher of Celebrity Baby Blog. Danielle is great and she’s a real inspiration for professional bloggers.
Thanks for all your terrific advice!
Hi, I’m pretty new to blogging and reading blogs, less than 6 months. I went to a workshop with the author of What Color is Your Parachure. One of the participants has a great web site called job-hunt.org. She suggested I start a blog, and so I thought what the heck. I’ve been having a lot of fun blogging, and find the Internet much more interesting now that I have a blog reader. Your blog has helped me a lot in learning about blogging, and I will be utilizing your tips to continually improve my blog about living to your highest potential.
Thanks for the tips!