Blogging: do you do it for money, or for love?
July 7, 2006 – 6:13 amby Darren
Making money is an activity that while admired by some, is not held in high regards by other. I realize when I read what I write here, I often don’t sound like the typical blogger. I come across as mercenary: a soldier who landed in the midst of blog nation, and is looking out for number one. I can live with that, because it’s true enough. Reading some of the comments in my post 10 reason I’m glad to be alive and blogging, it struck me that Harry at Borednolonger has a completely different viewpoint:
But i don’t believe that ‘money’ is what makes blogging great, make no mistake, it’s definitely a bonus if you can get some financial reward for the effort but what’s important is that it’s free and the world hears about it. It’s just an awesome method of communicating with people around the world.
And there’s the viewpoint we’ve all heard before. The argument of why people blog: is it for the love or is it for the money? Personally, I’m convinced the motives don’t matter, as long as the motivation inspired is real and makes the blogger work hard. When you start a blog, there will be many lonely nights and days spent waiting for some feedback. You need to have dreams and goals that carry you through those dark days. If you’re empassioned, it should be easy. But if you’re motivated by cash, you still have a great chance to succeed. Professionalism has carried the load for journalists and writers for years. Probably many of the most artful posts of all time have been made by people in order to get their paycheck.
So that’s the question I pose today for bloggers. Are you in it for the money or are you in it for the passion? I don’t personally believe there’s a right answer, certainly not one I’d cling to dogmatically. But I think the mindset might be of some importance to overall success.
Passion would seem to be a big advantage at first. But passion has a tendency to burn hot and then run cold. Can passion sustain someone for years or even decades? Probably. But certainly getting paid will help motivate people even better. In the long run, the amount you make ends up being the scorecard you keep for your blogging.
What motivates you to blog?
Subscribe to RSS Feed
Subscribe to Updates via Email
7 Responses to “Blogging: do you do it for money, or for love?”
I’ve always blogged for the love of it. I’ve already got a day job that pays the bills so when i am not there i want to do something i enjoy instead
By Greg Kiernan on Jul 7, 2006
There’s nothing wrong with doing it for both reasons. You just have to be motivated by what you’re writing about to keep at it.
By Heather on Jul 7, 2006
I don’t think I can say it’s one or the other. Sure, the money is nice when it shows up as a side-effect…but it’s not the sole purpose. I don’t think just wanting to do it is enough for me either without at least showing myself some sort of gain, be it financial or intellectual. I’d have to say both, and neither.
By Retrospector on Jul 7, 2006
Well, i ran a web site for 3 years out of love, then added ad’s and started making money and thought wow great, it covers the hosting costs and more.
But now, I run them mostly for the money, but I enjoy running then so it’s a mix of love and money motives, I think this is the best mix, it’s easier to blog about something you have a love for or an interest in, although I must admit im now looking at my blogging as a job, so money is the motive behind that. But it wouldn’t be considered a job with out the money coming in, nor would I be able to live.
By Matt on Jul 7, 2006
I’m definately blogging because I love my topic. I sure wouldn’t have picked it if I only wanted to make money. Some days I do wish I was writing about “Cell Phone Unlock Free GSM Technology.” I could use a new car.
By Eitan on Jul 7, 2006
It’s one of those questions that’s neither right or wrong. An honest veterean blogger would say ‘i do it for the money’. A starter blogger would say ‘i do it for the fun’.
You can’t say which is more true than the other because it could change over time. A blogger motivated by monetary reward may find themselves a new passion in blogging and thus the original motivation is then not the most important but passion is.
But then again, you could also have a blogger start blogging because of passion and then finds the potential monetary reward even more thrilling.
Right now i’d say i’m in it for the fun, although i might be in it for the money if i am successful in this art in the future.
By Harry on Jul 7, 2006
Great answers everyone.
I tend to strive for balanced views of things. I think with no money coming in, there would be almost no motivation to give your best, but I don’t think money can make up for passion or a commitment to excellence.
The best bet is to find an empassioned blogger who wants to make money.
By Darren on Jul 8, 2006