What is your main objective in blogging?

Begin with an end in mind - A cliche that's easier said than done?

This is the second post of what could be a series where I'll share my thoughts on "blogging for profits" (and why I think you should not do, as a newbie). If you've not read it, do check it out so there's some flow.

For almost a month since I started this blog, I've been spending almost all my "working hours" getting myself involved with Web 2.0 stuffs: Blogging, visiting blogs, social networking and trying out some related tools (ya, blogrush huh?).

Gosh, I must confess that it's sending me guilt. I feel really bad about neglecting my usual routine of identifying new affiliate programs, launching new PPC campaigns and related tasks. Otherwise, I would have created a few more profitable PPC income streams on auto-pilot.

So is all these time spent on blogging and such worth it? Seriously, the shear magnitude of "things" to do and learn while at it really do drain up one's attention. Learning curves...

After all, it's one thing to be on the sideline just keeping tab of what people are doing with blogs, and another to really get my hands dirty in it. It just dawn on me how overwhelming it could be for a newbie then! (I consider myself an intermediate to advance online marketer - depending on which business model)

Setting my blog objective

A couple of days ago, I ponder over the above cliche and question myself why I've started blogging. This is by far the only blog that I've contributed the most time, but why? I then decided to nail down my objective which I've just updated in my introduction text, on the side panel beside my picture.

Glancing through all the posts written so far, I think I'm still being congruent with the stated objective:

1. Done and will continue to do some SEO (search engine optimzation) stuffs, mainly to get a gauge on the amount of effort needed and will compare the effectiveness with paid advertising - for a newbie to get traffic.
   


2. Started to be quite active in my "web 2.0" stuffs (blogging. social networking, etc.), again to have a feel on its effectiveness in traffic generation and monetization.
   


3. Progressively, I'll also introduce more PPC specific posts, but to cover it objectively in comparison to the above. To address the myth around "why pay for traffic when you can get it free - from seo, social networks, etc. - especially if you're new.
   


4. I may also touch base on viral marketing - since I've my share of success with it too, having launched successfully one of the biggest buzz around phone call-back services in Singapore; so much so that the officials from our telecommunication authority call me up personally to "tame" down the campaign.

My end in mind?

Other than to create a "branding" for myself as an expert with paid advertising (for consulting opportunity maybe? *wink*), I like the idea of being a source of "enlightenment" for someone who's still wondering aabout the above means to get traffic (= money).

Oh, by the way, perhaps it may also help to mention that I can afford to persue this somewhat "evangelistic" vision because I've already attained my own financial goal and looking at something more than just the obvious ;)

Now, if you like to follow and see how this blog unfolds, remember to subscribe to it.

So have you ask yourself why you're also blogging?

Blogging for profits?

Chances are you found this blog by visiting my mybloglog profile as I've been very active visiting other people's (including yours ;) blog too. That's what they call "community traffic" which falls under the latest buzz around "Web 2.0". Hehe... never mind if these sound French to you.

What I discover is that majority of the visitors that came to my site are from the "online money making" group. Why am I not surprised!? Because this blog happens to be dedicated to that "market" and I've been visiting related blogs and websites from this community 8-} *slap*

Anyway, my point in relation to the title of this post "blogging for profits" is that majority of these blogs are in for the money. I see Google adsense ads, text link ads, banners, affiliate links, etc. So people are making money from blogs; there are even a few of these savvy bloggers putting up income statements and such, to proof that you can make a full-time living (and even get rich!) from blogging.

Wow. I must be living in a cocoon to have such revelation only now huh? LOL. Well, I'm impressed to say the least. Blogging is definitely one of the workable money generation system online. That's why I'm starting to blog right?

I know I'll be shot (not literally) in any attempt to argue against that FACT (blogging can make money) - especially as a what... Paid Search Consultant?! Hey, I've my own perspective which I like to....er... blog about here. Hint: They also teach us to be controversial in our voice so that may generate some "buzz". (Disclaimer: good or bad traffic is another thing altogether ;)

Anyway here's my take on blogging for profits - at least a "full-time" income:

• You need traffic
  
  If you're going for ads revenue, you need LOTS of traffic. Otherwise you need to have, or appear to have authority in your voice, such that the relatively fewer readership will buy things from you or via your affiliate link (these last 2 share the biggest slice of the profit pie, apparently more than selling ads).
  
  Usually having authority will attract the traffic and having tons of traffic will let you look authoritative. Need to get this spin going...
  
  
• You need to pick the "right" market
  
  Ideally one that has "passionate" followers, irrational buyers and hopefully a LARGE one too. Do you think ramblings about your own life in general (what they call "online diary") will get you the needed traffic? (Not unless you're a star offline, but then if you're one you already have authority). What about blogging about your hobby? It depends... but the gist of it is that the market you're going after need to satisfy the above ideals.
  
  Incidentally, all those blogs that I came across as significant money makers target at the "internet marketers" or more general "opportunity seekers". If you came across other case studies on money-generating blogs outside of the money maker group, please share your comments. (Criteria: Start with no authority)
  
  
• You need to expand outside of blogging
  
  For someone to be able to make a full-time income blogging, this thinking is obvious. Any folks that have the business acumen to attain that should already understand that blogging is very dependent on the author(s); stop blogging and your readership goes elsewhere. Challenges like:
  
  1. Can the income scale up easily? (What? Start new blogs & live online posting?)
  2. Outsource by getting more authors? (I even know gurus who does this by getting ghost writers to post as their own)
     
  3. There are more, having a writer's block now; can't think... (It's late for me)

I'll continue this post later, with further dissection on the bullets above and thinking aloud why it's not an easy feat trying to profit (make a living) by blogging, alone. Especially for newbie...

In summary, if you ever want to do this for a living, begin with an end in mind. Try to internalize first WHY do you choose blogging as the model for generating traffic and how do you think you can address all the point above. I know of many who think this is the CHEAPEST way to start an online business - that's the wrong mindset - or at least not a businessman mindset, IMHO.

Heck, what do I know about blogging for profits?! Check around and google for my name, I don't have any blogs to show for myself and the only one I started (with my real name) has been stale for months!

Well, could it because I know something else that work better, which most bloggers does not? Hehe... Ya, I know I'm blowing my own trumpet and no prize for guessing what it is. It's after all just one of the means to generate traffic - which is only the tip of the ice-burg for any businesses. At some point in the various business models, it all converge and share similar strategies.

More about all these in my posts going forward. Woah!! I found something to blog about passionately and for a cause! Join my community and subscribe to my feeds (see top right) to get all these juicy posts!

Zzzzz.... HAns