BLOG QUESTIONS: Passion or Profit
Have you ever noticed that bloggers are very opinionated people (which is probably why they decided to blog in the first place), and when it comes to certain blog questions there are ideas that seem to be hotly debated.
So I wanted to create a forum where these questions could be discussed – and I want to start with the most controversial!
Should You Blog for Passion or for Profit?
Doesn’t this topic make you want to squirm in your seat? I find that a lot of bloggers would never admit to the one that they really want.
While there are a lot of people who legitimately start their blogs just as a hobby – with no intention or desire to profit from it. Let’s be honest, the majority of us started blogging because we heard about how people make money online and blogging just seemed like an easy option.
But We Would Never Admit That…
Because that would label us as a sellout. And everybody hates a sellout.
Do you remember when you favourite indie band got their major record contract and changed their entire sound – to sell more albums?
This is the exact same reason that we don’t want to admit that we are blogging for money, because it almost makes you feel dirty. So, instead you tell everyone that you are blogging because you enjoy it (and let’s be honest – it is a lot of fun) – but I am sure you would be having a lot more fun if your blog was making a full-time income!
I Want Your Thoughts On Passion Or Profit…
I kept this post short because I want the focus to be on the discussion, so before I let you guys loose – let me set a few ground rules when discussing this blog question.
Discussion Rules:
- Speak Your Mind
Don’t write what you think people want to hear - Be Respectful
Portray your point without attacking other people for disagreeing - Justify Your Thoughts
Don’t just say ‘I blog for passion‘, or ‘People should focus on on building profitable blogs‘. I want to know the reasoning behind your answers (and I am sure everyone else does as well!)
14 Responses
4.21.2010
I think that unless you are already established online, you should definitely go the “passion” route (if it is profitable)… so I guess instead of Passion vs. Profits, I’d say I’m an advocate of Passion + Profits.
The reason being is that unless you already know what you’re doing online, I think for most people, being passionate about their online topic is what’s going to pull them through the “slow times” and remain persistent in their online endeavors.
If someone who doesn’t currently make money online started a blog about something they are not passionate about, then what are the chances that they will still be blogging in 1, 2, and especially 3 months down the road? I’m guessing not good.
Passion + Profits all the way!
.-= Jonathan Beebe@Make Money Online´s last blog ..How I Maintain My Online Business for Growth =-.
Tom Reply:
April 23rd, 2010 at 6:11 am
I would have to agree Jonathan. Especially from a beginners perspective it is important to have passion. But once you start treating it like a business, the focus is on the process and the result – not the topic.
4.21.2010
I think the biggest best bloggers started with blogging for passion, Darren at Problogger started as a hobby not for money.
I think as you blog and learn more you learn that you can monetize your blog and still blog for passion too.
.-= John Paul Aguiar´s last blog ..My Crazy Simple 7 Step Plan To Promote A New Post =-.
Tom Reply:
April 23rd, 2010 at 6:13 am
That is true, but I think Darren is an exceptional case of someone who started as a passion and turned it into a full-time income.
But I do agree that most people are motivated by passion.
John Paul@Make Money With A Blog Reply:
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:11 am
Most bloggers blog for passion.. you have to, since blogging for money is VERY hard..lol
4.22.2010
Hell yea, when I first started it was all about the cash, which is why I went through a handful of failed blogging attempts; my heart just wasn’t in it, and a couple failed e-commerce sites…although one of them I fell into a scam.
Now I have truly found my passion, or calling, or whatever.
I have been in direct sales/customer service all of my adult life, if not earlier.
I know first hand how horrible individual companies are regarding training and support for their reps.
Of course I can’t do EVERYTHING for free, no matter how I may want too.
I gotta go with Jonathon’s Passion + Profits. :)
.-= Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Theme Customization 4 – NEW Social Media Icons & RSS/Newsletter Subscription Box(s) Coming – You Need to Settle an Argument! =-.
Tom Reply:
April 23rd, 2010 at 6:14 am
But I think a lot of bloggers have a problem when they have a growing blog on their passion, because they then realise that they have no idea how to monetize it properly.
4.22.2010
I would say the best is to find a topic where you can write about your passion and profit from it. But there are many business blogs, where profit is clearly an issue.
.-= Tom´s last blog ..The Challenges of Blind Internet Users =-.
4.22.2010
A debatable topic. I do not know how to answer this but I have started blogging as a Passion.
Back the I had no real interest in money. It is now that I know I can earn some. I also do not try much to earn money.
But I do work for profit as well, not just the money but fame and name. Profit should not always mean money.
.-= Agent Deepak@Blogging. Marketing & Success´s last blog ..Interview with Lee Ka Hoong of My Blog 2 Day =-.
4.23.2010
What’s the issue with having a focus on profit? : )
Business is BASED on profit.
You can talk until your head spins that you’re in it to help people, but if you can’t show a profit in your business WHILE STILL helping people, sorry, but your business is a failure.
You need revenue in your business to be able to grow your business. If you can’t grow your business then you can’t scale your business sufficiently to add value to the lives of the number of people you might want to.
Of course there’s nothing wrong with having a blog as a hobby. In that case, don’t put any ads and just follow your passion.
I’m all about going hard or not at all. If you want profit go hard after it. If you want to just express your ideas without financial rewards then go hard after it.
Don’t go half-assed. Go full-assed. :)
.-= Michael@Outsource´s last blog ..The Secret of Passive Income Through Outsourcing Revealed =-.
4.25.2010
I’m a relatively new blogger, that is why I’m hungry for that first time when I’d see that what I’m writing provides profit. I’m nonetheless glad because our niche enables me to write about topics I’m interested and passionate about.
4.28.2010
My #1 tip for passion blogging has always been, research the monetary possibilities first, assuming you may want to make any from it.
6.6.2010
Blogging might start for passion, but once your traffic grows, majority of people will try to find ways to monetize it.