Six figure pro bloggers? Big deal!
It’s one of those buzzwords soon to be condemned to hell: pro blogging. So who are these pro bloggers and what can we learn from them? Hopefully we can make a million dollars by doing very little work. In fact, quite the opposite is true- as with most things in life. As DPY pointed out in our “Attempting the William Hung Path to Celebrity” post- it’s just good old-fashioned, honest, hard work that will enable you to reach those dizzy heights.
Nevertheless, there are those out there making a living from blogging as a “real job” and kudos to them. Why shouldn’t they? They write better and more engaging articles than half the “real” offline journalists. And so..if I could impart a message to these bona fide “pro bloggers“- don’t be shy, go for it!
Case in point with perhaps the most successful “pro blogging” site out there: problogging.net run by Darren Rowse. I’ve read a lot of his posts and they’re excellent- & he’s obviously very active with promoting “pro blogging“, but when it comes to telling us about his earnings- which is surely one of the chief goals of pro blogging, Darren becomes amazingly reticent. While this is quite endearing, it’s also something to get over and shout from the hilltops. Usually he escapes the question by providing another link, hoping that the effort of further navigation will deter us! So that even with the post “How Much Do I Earn From Blogging” one doesn’t actually get a straight answer, but rather a series of self-deprecating excuses (are you sure you’re not English?)
This is a question that I get asked more than any other. I was brought up not to really talk about money and what you earn so I’m always hesitant to do so – but due to the large interest in the subject I’ve from time to time given some indication (it can be vague) of what kind of money blogging brings me. Remember I have 20 blogs and these figures are not just for this blog (in fact this blog makes very little).
But I think we get the idea with “I’m a six figure blogger“.
Well done, mate. It’s nothing to be sniffed at. And if you are in college or just graduating, so say from age 18-25, it’s not bad at all. Or if it’s just a side-income. But if you’re getting a bit longer in the tooth and its your fulltime job, then $100,000 really isn’t going to cut it. Health care, diapers, kids’ education, mortgage payments, the wife’s Gucci handbags- you name it- $100k doesn’t go far in this day and age.
And for such obviously intelligent people as Darren Rowse is- it’s nothing in comparison as to what he would earn in a white collar job- whether it be in the stockmarket or any corporate set-up. The achievement here is in that blogosphere remains so “amateur” in nature- that to make six figure earnings per annum is remarkable in relation to the earnings of other bloggers. But in itself, it’s really no big deal at all.
So what to do? If you’re really thinking of going “pro” with blogging- I’d take in some of the conventional marketing wisdom passed down by the likes of Matt Gagnon (mazu.com) and the late Corey Rudl (marketingtips.com). There is nothing these guys like doing more than selling their own success stories to make more money. I think Corey was making about $4 million per year at the time he died so tragically in that car accident. Now there’s a tidy sum…
Of course, there are some total scoundrels out there calling themselves “pro bloggers” just because they’re egomaniacs who believe their own propaganda. Well, it’s not like they’re giving out accredited diplomas for the status of “pro blogger“. Now there’s an idea, Darren. How about starting a membership club for pro bloggers...?
[tags]pro blogging,pro bloggers,darren rowse,blogging for money, blogging for profit,problogging.net,corey rudl, matt gagnon[/tags]
Hmmm…
I’ve known Darren for hmmm. Holy Crap its been like 4 going on 5 years if I’m not mistaken. In fact I’ve probably been harder on him than any blogger out there. Just because I’m young and spry and sometimes a bit well I jump before I think at times.
Let me tell you you have a point 6 figures aint a lot. By some standards say if you are used to living like a rich oil baron.
However if you live simply and watch your lifestyle its plenty enough to be comfortable. I know personally that Darren is careful to reveal how much he makes thus coming under fire, and then you know the counseling costs would skyrocket. Sometimes yes the blogosphere is stressful.
Earlier in the year I had taken to living in Mexico to get away from the complexities of this complicated and sometimes expensive US. Turns out it backfired on me anyhow.
100k is a shitload of money. Who cares how much Darren makes ? I don’t.
Anyway my point is. who cares if you make 100k and spend money then you have the worries. But 100k and no worries about a boss but yourself ahhh that’s a breath of fresh air that’s worth another 100k in and of itself.
So go back and write something else. Cuz this drizzly nonsense aint cuttin it.
David Krug said this on October 24, 2006 9:34 am
Mosey, dude,
My wife and I live comfortably on $65,000 and I feel like I have everything I could possibly want ACCEPT the freedom to work for myself. I mean, monetarily, I have everything I could hope to have.
I can’t imagine anything more desirable than the freedom to work from home. I can’t put a price tag on not having a boss (or clients).
Anyway, Six Figures still goes a long way. $100,000 is still more than enough for many lifestyles. More than enough.
Quimby said this on October 24, 2006 9:41 am
Censorship ay?
David Krug said this on October 25, 2006 3:04 pm