Facebook's IPO Debacle, Day 3: Un-Friended and Dis-Liked on Wall…
Former Olympic Rower Turned to Minimalism to Pay Down $82,000 in DebtLater that year, John Chow of JohnChow.com also started blogging about ways to make money online and now he, too, regularly earns $30,000 per month from blogging, all broken down and detailed on his site. Since my monthly blog income on my own personal blog is just a few thousand dollars, I decided to ask John Chow for some pearls of wisdom, here's the interview:
1. What have been some of the keys to your success?
I think one of the biggest reasons for my blogging success has been consistency. There has never been a single day that has gone by where I did not have a new blog post for people to read. One of the biggest mistakes a new blogger makes is by being an on again off again blogger. You can't build a blog this way.
Another key is just being myself. I show the good and the bad and let the chips fall where they may. A blog is not CNN or News.com. Your readers are there to read your opinion. You should give it to them instead of just giving the news without an opinion.
2. Give us wanna-be professional bloggers some do's and don'ts
Do pick a posting frequency and stick to it no matter what. Don't do three posts a day for a week and then nothing for a month. Do build relationships with other bloggers in your niche. Attend some trade shows in your industry. Blogging is all about networking. It is as much about who you know as it is what you know. Also, it's a really smart idea to read my site!
3. What are some trends you're seeing in the blogosphere?
One concerning trend I see is the rise of the "Make Money Online" blog by bloggers who have never made any money online. I've been blamed for this. Bloggers see me making $30K a month from my blog and assume a make-money-online blog must make a lot of money so they start one too. Big mistake. That's like people who have never shorted, shorting stocks because they see you make a lot of money doing it. (I agree 100% John, learning to short stocks like Lehman Brothers Holdings (NYSE: LEH), The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (NYSE: BSC) and MF Global Ltd. (NYSE: MF) is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart!)
I see video hitting big for bloggers. If you haven't embraced video blogging, then you need to. It's the next blogging frontier and you don't want to be left behind.
4. Just how much do you think a blogger can earn, are we ever going to see a blogger making a $1 million month? If so, what would they have to do to get there?
Yes, I think it's possible for a blogger to make over $1 million a month. I doubt the revenue will all come from advertising, however. As the blogger gets bigger, there are other ways to leverage their brand name. For example, Perez Hilton leveraged his blog to his own TV show. TechCrunch leveraged their blog to create their own trade show (TechCrunch 40) and award show (The Crunchies). I doubt it'll be long before TechCrunch hits the million dollar per month mark, if they haven't already.
Timothy Sykes writes the blog timothysykes.com, is a former hedge fund manager, star of the TV show Wall Street Warriors and author of the book, An American Hedge Fund: How I Made $2 Million as a Stock Operator & Created a Hedge Fund
Do pick a posting frequency and stick to it no matter what. Don't do three posts a day for a week and then nothing for a month. Do build relationships with other bloggers in your niche. Attend some trade shows in your industry. Blogging is all about networking. It is as much about who you know as it is what you know. Also, it's a really smart idea to read my site!
3. What are some trends you're seeing in the blogosphere?
One concerning trend I see is the rise of the "Make Money Online" blog by bloggers who have never made any money online. I've been blamed for this. Bloggers see me making $30K a month from my blog and assume a make-money-online blog must make a lot of money so they start one too. Big mistake. That's like people who have never shorted, shorting stocks because they see you make a lot of money doing it. (I agree 100% John, learning to short stocks like Lehman Brothers Holdings (NYSE: LEH), The Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (NYSE: BSC) and MF Global Ltd. (NYSE: MF) is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart!)
I see video hitting big for bloggers. If you haven't embraced video blogging, then you need to. It's the next blogging frontier and you don't want to be left behind.
4. Just how much do you think a blogger can earn, are we ever going to see a blogger making a $1 million month? If so, what would they have to do to get there?
Yes, I think it's possible for a blogger to make over $1 million a month. I doubt the revenue will all come from advertising, however. As the blogger gets bigger, there are other ways to leverage their brand name. For example, Perez Hilton leveraged his blog to his own TV show. TechCrunch leveraged their blog to create their own trade show (TechCrunch 40) and award show (The Crunchies). I doubt it'll be long before TechCrunch hits the million dollar per month mark, if they haven't already.
Timothy Sykes writes the blog timothysykes.com, is a former hedge fund manager, star of the TV show Wall Street Warriors and author of the book, An American Hedge Fund: How I Made $2 Million as a Stock Operator & Created a Hedge Fund
Goldman Earnings Sink After Buffett Dividend
Johnson & Johnson's Income Falls 23%
Burberry Shares Leap on Sales Update
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
3-24-2008 @ 4:41PM
Joyalea said...
what I want to know is how you got your blog onto the aol welcome screen!
3-24-2008 @ 5:07PM
Lynn said...
I have a difficult time coming up with new subjects to write on. I am an executive director, and our market is online website hosting and domain name registrations. The business is in a great cycle, but I am looking to earn more from possible blogging.
What are the best ways to go about it? How do you come up with the new ideas?
If you would like to sell domain names on your website, come to ours today!
Regards,
httP://www.websitehosting1.com
Executive Director
3-24-2008 @ 7:12PM
gourmet coffee snob said...
Good stuff Tim which brings me to an observation or two.
I've noticed that more people than not that are making money online, have a machine...people behind the scenes...employees.
Another couple of subtle points that you made here are the examples that you cited have ( more or less ) branded themselves...their own name as a domain, and are somewhat of authorities.
One last comment is that besides the traffic to the blogs the advertising/monetizing is extremely heavy...one can't afford not to advertise...can one...
~~gourmet coffee snob~~
Always Drink Better Coffee
http://www.spotajavacoffee.com
3-24-2008 @ 7:00PM
Connie said...
I've written...for pay...for 52 years, have 3 (soon to be 5) published books, and a terrific sense of humor.
My rates for blogging are reasonable. Contact me at www.einnoc10@Aol.com. Read my writing style on www.weeklywilson.com, or find cached articles from www.associatedcontent.com, www.jollyjo.com, www.speakaboutit.com, www.helium.com.
I am also a terrific proofreader (MS + 30, University of Iowa), if anyone needs one.
I don't expect $30,000 a month. I would enjoy breaking even on the cost of covering the RNC and DNC, which I will (soon) be doing for a blog (not mine, but I'll post there, too).
Sincerely,
Connie (Corcoran) Wilson, M.S.
CEO, Quad Cities' Learning, Inc.
3-24-2008 @ 10:35PM
WILL GRANT said...
I set up a blog a few months ago, and have saved your article so I can learn more about blogging the right way. My blog is http://blog.resumesetc.org/
and after checking it a moment ago, found it totally empty! Moreover, it has been quite a "few months ago" since I set it up.
Tim, and anyone with advice for me, please email me at info@resumesetc.org! Let the subject line read simply, "BLOG". Thank you all!
3-24-2008 @ 10:40PM
Workingclass man said...
Sounds like a bunch of deceit, lies, and "prostitution" of one'self to me. That's whats wrong with this country now, we don't manufactor anything anymore ,but B.S. It's all about marketing and sales. Just count, how many in this one thread started advertising and got GREEDY! What happen to working hard for a living? I'll tell you, the hard working common man is paying ALL the taxes and all the bills for "CONS" being paid to blog for $30K a year. Our past & present fathers didn't build and support this country on "Monkey Business" like that! What has the world come to? It is very Sad to take an honest look at the way some people attempt to make or steal money today. On top of that, they should really be asshamed of it, then have the gaul to brag about it
3-24-2008 @ 10:40PM
Workingclass man said...
Censore me, You only print what is in YOUR BEST INTEREST,SOS
3-24-2008 @ 11:05PM
Workingclass man said...
Excuse me $30K a "MONTH"! I wonder how many sweatshop hours that honest, hardworking, people worked, to earn the money "you think you will make" to be able to just survive. It sounds like corporate america's CEO plan. Big pay, leave company, take money, then company declares bankrupty, "It's not my fault". Can you truely state with a clear consiense that you DESERVE 30K a month for "Blogging. Ha.Ha.
3-24-2008 @ 11:32PM
dee said...
I blog about home decor and I make around 2,ooo.oo a month blogging. The book I learned how to make money while blogging is here
http://tinyurl.com/2ywebj
Its so simple, you just blog about what you know about, and everyone has a hobby!
Like the original article said you have to keep up with it daily. I blog every morning right after my 2 mile jog. Hope this helps someone, Dee
3-25-2008 @ 2:01AM
D Comyford said...
Hello to Working Man,
I spent 40+ years as a working man including my time in the military. After becoming disabled and spending a few years in hospitals and nursing homes, I have taught myself to add to my retirement income by working with my fingers on a keyboard writing and selling the work of other working men and women to buyers around the world. I am proud of what I do. I hope you are too.
In the meantime, Working Man, I invite you to joing me in getting paid to help companies increase sales by giving away free product and service samples. http://www.GetFreeStuff2.com
3-25-2008 @ 12:55PM
KARIN PALATAS said...
How do I get started? What are you blogging on or at ? Help!
3-31-2008 @ 2:04PM
Kara Richardson said...
I am impressed at the method of communication that can help individuals close to real time. I've been told I have a knack for sharing experiences and bringing additonal tidbits that help others achieve problem solving within their own lives with situations they are struggling with.
Is it possible to use this venue to help others? My life revolves around and amoung many dysfunctional family members, friends, individuals, groups etc. I have a satisfying lifestyle with many interests. When things seem dim there is always a glimmer of light to walk towards that enables one to reach their desired goals.