Blogging for Dollars

Darren:

It is highly probable content would suffer.
That isn't what concerns me.

You and I are blogging because the tools were free. We are hearing amazing voices of 'ordinary' people from all over the world. Money or professionalism aren't wrong in themselves.
But as 'professional' blogging grows how many of those potential voices will fall silent or not be heard because a competitive edge has been added?
The 'under blogs' are already up against it.
You can't tell me that blogging for bucks doesn't influence someone. I spent my life drawing a paycheck as a 'pro.'
There are so many many diamonds in the dust of the blogosphere and I have a viseral reaction to this medium being commerce-driven.

Bene Diction » 17 December, 2003 8:46 AM

I agree with your concern Bene - the underblogger could potentially suffer with this - although I'm not sure it will squash them out completely.

I'm beginning to sense that there is an 'underblogger' movement happening at the moment. With the rise of the professional blogger I suspect this will also grow. It's going to be interesting to watch.

The sad reality is that many of us are being forced into blogging for cash either by asking for tips/donations or by putting ads on our sites. For many its about staying afloat and paying the blogbills I guess. Whilst I'm one of these - and do explore the possibility of supplementing my income with such earnings part of me also worries that in doing so we all lose something from the blogging experience.

Its a good and important one to wrestle with.

Darren Rowse » 17 December, 2003 10:24 AM

Sounds like the other ongoing struggle we encounter of being a 'professional'/paid Christian.

What gets compromised for the buck and does it set one person aside as better than another when there are many who can do things just as well if not better?

It wouldn't worry me if people blogged for bucks - good on em if they can generate the income - doubt I'd be one of them though!

Andrew Hamilton » 17 December, 2003 10:37 AM

I'm too old skewl for that stuff. Besides, at this point, I'd probably have to pay people to come read my stuff. :0)

Great post!

-=e=- » 17 December, 2003 11:16 AM

Interesting post! I agree with at least two of your predictions:
1- Blogging has the potential to generate income and
2- I think we'll see the rise of people who are able to supplement their income through the medium.

It all comes down to marketing and the basic principle of exchange. There HAS to be something worthwhile to read.
Making that product well known is the marketing problem. Getting people to pay you to continue writing takes takes salesmanship AND a good product.
It may not fit classic e-commerce models.

The resulting model may not be payment for product delivery. It may be more like the donations one gives to street musicians.

Nice writing! I'll be back.

David » 17 December, 2003 12:20 PM

good insights David - the marketing stuff is going to be the interesting thing to watch. I'll be interested to see what new models and approaches emerge.

I also agree with you about content. Some people worry that content will suffer as a result of an increased commercialism in blogging - I can see their point and share some concerns - however I strongly believe that to be successful as a blogger you'll always need to have good content. So in some strange twisted way 'blogging for money' might actually increase the quality of content.

Darren Rowse » 17 December, 2003 1:14 PM

Great links...

The most telling sign that the Internet is no longer the cool American frontier? Blogs have been overrun by the establishment.
· By MAUREEN DOWD [NYTimes via Spiegel ]
Note that The New York Times requires registration, but Spirgel lets you to read without it(smile)

Reed Elsevier, the unsung star of the internet revolution
Elsevier is the internet star you never see feted as a leading light of the internet revolution. It is not mentioned alongside the like of Amazon, eBay and AOL. Yet last year, Reed's internet revenues topped £1bn, out of total revenues of £2.6bn.
· Media rivals [Independent]

Jozef » 17 December, 2003 9:21 PM

Thought provoking.

I agree that it's a topic that'll be rising to the top of our minds over the coming year.

I suspect that the danger of loss of quality content may be offset by the free-ranging/self-regulating nature of the internet.

The phrase "Content is King" is likely to be true for the forseeable and if a blog doesn't provide good content then the visitors won't come. Advertisers will notice and you'll find that it'll be those blogs with a high level of quality content that'll be favoured by advertisers.

But I'm with -=e=- above, I'd have to pay them to come at the moment :-)

Mark » 17 December, 2003 9:50 PM

i like (so not) the way the producers of spiderman are using bloggers as FREE ads for their product by offering free skins.

*sigh* nirvana here we come

saint » 17 December, 2003 10:01 PM

I don't think I will be making money with my blog. I don't think I will be putting ads on my blog. If someone wants to leave me a tip that would be nice, cool, great.

Michael » 18 December, 2003 9:25 AM

My blog was created in part as a way to stay in contact with current, past and potential contributors to my short-term missions work, as well as a way for me to make some use of some content I had compiled for a never-published book.

I toyed with putting a PayPal or Amazon.com Honor System button on the blog, with proceeds to be earmarked as contributions towards the mission trip, but for some reason I've decided against it so far. It seemed too hard-sell, and I thought it might be penny-wise and pound-foolish if it offended my bigger contributors (or if it gave people an option of giving $5 by one-click who might otherwise mail me $25).

I have Amazon.com Associates links on the other parts of my personal web site, and I've toyed with putting a Kenya-related or missions-related Amazon box on the blog. That seems different somehow.

John Carney » 18 December, 2003 11:54 AM

Very interesting post. I've thought occasionally on this issue. When I posted my novel on my website (I've now taken it down) I also put up a Paypal facility, but only got two donations. Big-name bloggers like Andrew Sullivan - who has tens of thousands of readers - can attract a good inflow of funds, but I doubt that many others - Christian or other - can. I've sometimes thought that a group site - several well-known bloggers joining together on the same site - might attract a fair number of readers, and thus the chance to get donations. But otherwise, I think the best advice to budding bloggers remains, "Don't give up your day job."

Martin Roth » 18 December, 2003 12:27 PM

No-one seems to be concerned about all those christian authors out there who have sold their souls to get books published. Why should blogging be any different? It's writing, just in a different format - sure it involves much more interaction with other blogs and people but I don't see that the forum is SO different that the risks of influence etc could not be overcome.

I think ads are a better way than donations as long as they don't flash to catch your attention. There are those that blog instead of or as a supplement to guest-speaking so it seems logical to generate some income from it.

Luke » 19 December, 2003 1:36 AM

By the way - the bit about selling your soul was sarcasm...we all know there's not much money in books!

Luke » 19 December, 2003 1:39 AM

I think that this is one of the more disturbing ideas that I've read about blogging in the last year. Not because it is a badly written essay, but rather because I fear the day when blogging becomes commercialized and loses its underground edginess.

Well written

Sharon » 11 January, 2004 11:12 PM

I'm just an average bob looking for an income.
I see blogging as a potential money maker and I think it would be interesting.

robert » 12 January, 2004 2:47 AM

Great tips and a highly interesting set of comments.

My bet for what the future holds is that blogs will clearly separate into distinct segments: personal blogs, business blogs, political blogs, etc.

Personal blogs will always be around because they satisfy a deep-seated need to express oneself and connect with others. The most successful personal blogs will be those that avoid too much overt commercialism. Perhaps opting for the tip jar method, rather than hard sell ads and sales pitches, is best for personal blogs.

As for political blogs, we've just seen the tip of the iceberg with this trend. As we get closer to the 2004 elections, the blogging world will heat up as more state and local level candidates catch on to them. Political blogs will "make money" for the candidates they support, in the form of political donations and grassroots exposure at little or no cost that they generate.

Business blogs as a category will develop increasing specialization along the lines that Darren pointed out. They will focus on specific markets, audiences, products, etc. One way that I know a number of business blogs are used is to create "expert" status for the authors. This expert status in turn leads to more business for the authors, in the form of consulting assignments, speaking engagements, teaching assignments, writing gigs, etc. Many business blogs will make money for their authors indirectly, without the need to resort to direct advertising or product sales pitches.

Anita Campbell » 13 January, 2004 4:44 AM

Thanks for this great article, it looks like it will make for a good guide once I finally get more than just my feet wet in the blogging pool.

XiFi » 9 May, 2004 7:43 AM

Also, try LinkShare.com or reporting.net (BeFree)

Blogger » 26 July, 2004 7:29 AM