There has been ALOT of talk around the blogosphere about blog networks lately – ALOT!
Some of it is as a result of the closing of the Know More Media blog network, some of it as a result of AOL and Gawker making changes to the way their networks pay bloggers and some of it is…. well…. just because every six or so months there seems to be talk about blog networks.
Today one of my co-founders in b5media (and our CEO) Jeremy Wright put together a post that I think picks up a lot of the themes and casts some light on what it’s like to run a blog network. Effectively Jeremy has written 6 posts in one (I really have to teach this guy about writing a series of posts :-) )and covers:
- A summary of some of the talk going on around the blogosphere on the topic with some great links
- 10 Reasons Managing Bloggers (and Blog Ads) Is Harder Than Your Grandma’s Corns
- 3 Simple Tips for Starting a Blog Network
- Thoughts on Starting a Blog Alliance
- 3 Tips for Starting a Blog Ad Network
- Final Tip(s) for Success for Everyone
Depending upon where you’re at in your own development of blogging I think there’s something in this post for everyone. Read it here.
Jeremy’s reasons why managing bloggers and blog ads is hard will be particularly insightful for those starting out with networks because I often come across bloggers who think blog networks an easy way to make money – you simply just hire extra writers and slap more ads on the blogs right? Ummm…. time for a reality check – my experience of blog networks is that while you can potentially multiple your income with more blogs you also multiple the headaches, challenges, problems and risks.
Jeremy’s tips for those starting out are also useful.
Further Reading
A few posts from my archives that might be useful for bloggers wanting to start or join blog networks:
- A Strategy for Building Niche Focused Blog Networks (if I were starting again today it’d be with this approach. While I fully believe in the model b5 is pursuing (we’ve gone wide with lots of niches) it is a lot harder to do this now and presents a lot of challenges)
- Why Should You Join a Blog Network
- Why You Shouldn’t Join a Blog Network
- How to Launch a Blog Network
Yeah, it shoulda been a serries, but I wanted to get it all out today! :-D
Thank you darren,
In my blog also discussing about network.same.hehe.
Anyway thanks..
I have notice that too but nobody does anything about it. LoL.
I’ve tried following the blogging in several blog networks and found that, for me as a reader, it was generally not beneficial. Using a blog network for publishing or participating in a blog network would probably not be a good fit for those, like me, who have not had a good experience with them Part of my problem was that there was just took much, too often… and most of it was stuff that was only of superficial interest to me.
Interesting. I think some people define “blog network” differently. If any of you are political, you might know about the cheetos brigade http://cheetosbrigade.com which I’m turning into a “blog network” for political bloggers. But I’m not running their websites or paying them to write, just exchanging links with them and adding their article to my webpage. Syndicating all the sites in the network basically.
Happy August Everyone!!
I Agree, With you Darren.
I Read His Post, There is ToomMuch of Download.
It should have been Your Way.
Thanks for the head up on this article Darren. I personally think there is a lot of value in building blog networks or being part of a successful blog network like b5 media etc. Blog networks certainly have there place in the blog world wide web.
I joined a blog network (Money LIfe Network) a few months ago in the personal finance sphere, and it has been extremely beneficial to me – both in terms of traffic and subscribers, but in terms of having other people I trust to bounce ideas off of, to collaborate with, and to promote my posts.
For some of the bigger fish in the pond I don’t know if it would be as beneficial for – but for people just getting started like myself I think it has a lot of upside.
You’ve just introduced me to something that I was completely unaware of. This is new to me but then again, I have only just entered into the world of blogging. Thanks Darren.
FYI, for those of you that write for a living, “alot” is not a word.
thanks for the link…..very useful sharing