A new blogging model

This is a guest post by Katheryn Rivas.

successful blogging formula Though blogging is a fairly new job category, it has quickly developed its own set of conventions, like tracks on the ground that make it easy for newcomers to follow. 

The formula goes something like this: build a website > write posts > monetize your blog with Adsense, advertising, and affiliate sales > grow your network by commenting, guest posting, and following others > make money.

A year into blogging, though, writers often find that they just can't make money.  The formula doesn't add up to their expectation of success.

Maybe this happened to you — you write, advertise, market, and network your heart out, just to find that you're making just barely more than you could working at McDonald's.  If that. 

What happened?  Has the blogging well run dry?

The answer to that question is no.  In fact, what has happened is that the blogging well has flooded and is now super-saturated with bloggers trying to skate by with ads.


The Root of the Problem

Your troubles making money blogging don't stem from a faulty system.  While the system is overloaded, there are still very successful writers out there making a decent living doing what they do, baffling the rest of us with their dazzling success.

The root of the problem is our inclination to follow the blogging conventions, to do what everyone else does, even when the rules are changing. 

It's time to start thinking outside of the box, to get off the tracks made by the first generation of bloggers.  Conventions are a handy reference point, but aren't always necessarily the end-all, be-all rules; in fact, conventions are most useful to point out where a system is failing, and where departing from them can be beneficial.


The New Blog

Blogs are evolving into much more than the personal online diaries that they used to be.  But everybody already knows that.  What many new bloggers haven't picked up on yet, however, is that blogs are now starting to replace resumes as well.

Employers are more and more frequently turning to blogs (if an applicant has one) to get a richer, more honest picture of their prospective candidates, and to determine the extent of an applicant's expertise in and enthusiasm for his or her field.

So your blog is not just a blog, it is also your portfolio — and you can use that fact to your advantage to make the money you wanted to make when you first started blogging.


An Unconventional Model

It is clear to most bloggers now that ads alone don’t bring home the kind of bacon that they would have hoped.  At the same time, we now know that blogs have potential to impress employers. (Some of the more notable bloggers have received job offers from major firms, just on the merit of their blogs alone). 

The question, then, is what to do to make our blogs different and successful.

It is a complex question, but the answer is much less complicated, and can be summarized in three parts:

  1. Know Your Audience

    Blogging is not about you, it's about your audience.  The new blog is a sales device that connects you with a large audience that shares a similar problem or set of problems to which you have the solution(s).  They need a service, and you provide it. 

    But unless you know who you are writing to, you'll never reach them, and you'll never be able to provide the service they want. 

    Paint of statistical picture of your target audience that includes their:

    • Career
    • Interests
    • Age
    • Demographic
    • Wealth

    Most importantly, though you need to …

  2. Know Their Need

    Using the information you now have about your audience, figure out what it is they need.  Maybe your audience is bloggers, and they desperately need design advice. Maybe your audience is entrepreneurs and they would kill for marketing strategies.  Whatever it is, find it, and provide it.

  3. Develop Your Skills

    You might find that your audience's common need is something you aren't an expert in — don't worry.  Learning is easy, and for one reason: there are already professionals out there doing whatever it is you need to learn, and chances are, they'd love to meet with you and give you pointers. 

    Reach out to people in the industry after you've identified your target product and meet with them.  Ideally you will already have a little experience in the field and you just need some direction to refine your skills.  This is where the professionals come in.

    Once you've learned what you need to, you can then use those professionals as references.  Your readers will be impressed and will want your service that much more.  And you can bet they'll pay more for your product than ads could ever bring in.

About the author
Katheryn Rivas writes for online universities blog. She welcomes your comments at her email: katherynrivas87@gmail.com.

25 comments to "A new blogging model"

zulkbo January 19, 2012 at 11:41 PM    

Nice and good info..
trying my best so far :)

Blogging Made Easy January 20, 2012 at 2:24 AM    

Really some people are baffling with your dazzling success.

How To Make Money with Your Website or Blog January 20, 2012 at 9:02 PM    

Unrelated to this..I just wanted to say I love this layout in every way shape and form would you mind showing how you set up some of these features esp the small descriptive paragrpahs that link to the full article and such.

Anne @ writing blog January 20, 2012 at 10:06 PM    

I agree. Blogs have changed so much. I concentrate more on the writing aspect of things and probably need to have someone who knows more about traffic and SEO to help me.

Tyiece January 21, 2012 at 9:48 PM    

Great advice Thanks!

saif afridi January 23, 2012 at 1:07 AM    

very informative post indeed.

Vernette Carbon January 23, 2012 at 10:03 AM    

Blogs today are what people refer to as business online. Blogs are not anymore for personal use alone. It is now used for business and it's really tremendous. However you need to think of things out of the box so that things can be unique and you can put your business to another level. Thanks for the info!

Spatch Merlin @ How to Blog January 28, 2012 at 11:21 AM    

Blogs mirrors the personality of the merchant. Hence, people who are outsourcing the writing activity for their blogs should be careful in hiring someone. Because when you hire them because they charge you less then you might also compromise the quality which may affect your reputation in the niche.

Hearing Aid Reviews February 25, 2012 at 3:14 PM    

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I like this post! Very informative and good quality! thanks for sharing!

Onwaweb May 9, 2012 at 5:12 AM    

It is not easy to know ones audience, it takes time. And skill too.

How To Blog May 20, 2012 at 9:03 PM    

Great share bro.. I like it ..thanks for share

Info World Blog May 31, 2012 at 1:05 AM    

iam almost do the same when i started my blogging

Rangga Wijaya July 10, 2012 at 10:45 AM    

I think this is so nice blog, because it has so many article that it's so useful for blogger beginner like me.

Ejaz October 12, 2012 at 8:29 PM    

Very Helpful article.
Thanks..!!

Obinna December 2, 2012 at 5:02 AM    

Yes, you need to know your audience and their needs. Once you know this and can realistically satisfy this need, then you are good to go.

Ramkalyan December 16, 2012 at 10:33 PM    

Katheryn! You really make me think out of the box by pointing out how you can you can use your online blog (as resume) for your offline success.

Thanks a lot.

zdienos March 1, 2013 at 6:48 PM    

Great advice Thanks!

Unknown March 14, 2013 at 10:12 PM    

nice tips i'm to blogger thanks

Gajendran Megajolla March 15, 2013 at 1:02 AM    

Awesome tips thanks for sharing Admin

Valueable tips for me. I am newby blogger and want to become perfect blogger. Hope from this blog i can learn more about blogging.

maxbizweb April 25, 2013 at 9:19 AM    

I totally agree. Creative and useful info. Thanks.

ECDL Advanced August 11, 2013 at 5:44 AM    

Great tips thanks, will help as i'm new to blogging.

Unknown August 16, 2013 at 5:59 AM    

nice tips thanks author

Anonymous,  August 25, 2014 at 7:12 PM    

good tips

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