We all want to shine.
What does it take to make a blog shine? To make a blog stand out?
Sometimes I think, wouldn’t it be great to be a full time blogger? Then I realize that’s not what I really mean. What I really mean is, it would be great to make a living as a full time blogger. I am a full time blogger. I’m just not making a living at blogging. For a blogger to make a living, the blogger’s blog must shine. What to do? What to do?
Obviously, I don’t know. Right? But maybe we can figure this out together.
Image via Wikipedia
There use to be a blog published in Pittsburgh called PittGirl. It was very popular. The local newspapers would comment on the blog. No one knew the identity of the blogger. No one even knew if the blogger was female. PittGirl said she worked downtown and her daily posts carried a lot of gossip about the local work scene, local politics and local sports. She knew the dirt. She was irreverent, had a phobia of pigeons and spiced her reporting with dirty words.
Then one day PittGirl ran her last post, saying that someone was getting too close to outting her and that could cost her her job. The blog was deleted.
I only caught the end of PittGirl’s reign as the most popular blog in Pittsburgh. I can only estimate the money making potential of that blog. It was a marketing dream come true.
I think we can conclude that out of all of the thousands of blogs in the Pittsburgh area, PittGirl was one of a kind. Obviously, my blog is not one of a kind.
But I’m working on it.
November 21st, 2009 at 1:15 pm
very informative.thanks
November 21st, 2009 at 1:17 pm
nice information…
November 21st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Nice to read.
November 21st, 2009 at 2:41 pm
svishnugopal, making your blog stand out is tough to do. I’m still trying to figure out how to do it.
November 21st, 2009 at 2:45 pm
mkd, I wish I had discovered PittGirl at least a year before she deleted her blog. I would’ve had more time to study her blog.
November 21st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Sourav, I think I’ve become addicted to blogging. I’m going to keep blogging until I get it right.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:27 pm
it would really be great to make a living as a full time blogger.
But we have to keep going until we get there.
Good luck Guy
November 21st, 2009 at 3:34 pm
One of favorite ’secret blogs’ is oddtood.com, the unemployed dot-com-er. Back when I was taking college courses for web development in class I was often ’snooping the web’ instead of re-hashing the previous weeks’ assignment and was on his site, -suppressing laughter! Check his site
November 21st, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Doaa Abdelfattah, making a living from blogging would be a dream come true. I’m going to give it my best shot.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:48 pm
thestickman, I could use a good laugh now and then. I’ll keep the site in mind.
November 21st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
That’s fine if your blog is not THAT one of a kind as you said it… What is important is that you are enjoying doing it, didn’t you? Well, just keep on working on what you wanted…
November 21st, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Franklin, yes I do enjoy blogging. So, I’m having a good time while I try to make my blog shine.
November 21st, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I have heard of several successuful blogs where the writer is controversial and keeps their identity secret. There was one by a police officer in UK that got a huge following.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:03 pm
I guess we have to keep trying, I’m not sure if there is a formula.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Great piece.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Guy, We are all working on it , my friend. As you say I think it takes being at the right place at the right time and a whole lot of good luck.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Yah, we’ll keep working on it.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Frances, PittGirl was a local celebrity. Her blog read like gossip; her persona was young and gossipy. Plus she used a lot of pictures.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Marie, I’m getting better at it all the time; I have a better understanding of the little things that when you put them together add up to success.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Diverseblogger, if I could be as successful a blogger as PittGirl, I would be a happy man.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Ruby, I think if I put in the work the luck will take care of itself.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Jane Jane, I’m focused and willing. I’m giving it my best.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:34 am
We have to go on trying and experimenting.
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:14 am
Now that’s a curious blog. Did she ever made profit from it?
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:46 am
good one..
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:49 am
Dude.. you’re getting real close to shining… keep it up
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:23 am
Cheers for the posting, can I just ask how much you are making full time blogging and how long you have been going? I am doing it myself, just started out so would be good to know what to expect
Thanks
November 24th, 2009 at 2:36 am
Wish I could see the blog.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:58 am
interesting article….
November 26th, 2009 at 12:31 am
Well, you’re doing well Guy. Thanks!
December 5th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Guy, I just wanted you to know that my blog returned in August when I outed myself and subsequently was fired, as I predicted would happen. I have never made one cent from my blog nor have I tried. I am paid now to write a monthly column in Pittsburgh Magazine.
All of my archives are back up at http://www.thatschurch.com.
Formerly PittGirl, now Virginia Montanez.
December 6th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Nice Info!