Earning Money as a Blogger: Are You Too Nichey for Your Network?

So, as mentioned earlier, we’re going to start discussing the ways one can really earn a living as a blogger. To do this, we’ll also have to discuss why some folks aren’t earning money as a blogger. For instance, by being too nichey.Don’t get me wrong, many “niche” blogs do well. However, it’s been my experience that niche blogs get lost in blog networks.

Pick a network, any network. Now…from that network pick out the real “standout” blogs. Tell me, how well is that sewing blog doing? And the blog about recycling? Even the most popular blog in the network, does it really get more than a couple of thousand visitors each day? My point is, sometimes being nichey in a network isn’t always the best career move.

If  you do want to touch upon a niche, my recommendation is that it will probably be just as profitable, if not more,  to start your own niche blog. This way you can post on your own schedule and keep all the profits for yourself. Yes, it’s slower getting started, but if you rock the promotion and know what you’re doing, you’ll do well.

Just about all niche blogs that do well, aren’t part of a blog network. (And by “well” I mean a livable wage.) It’s free to start a blog and keep it going. Simply pick a platform, pick a design and begin writing. If you want to place ads on your blog, you can do that too. Read everything you can about SEO, building traffic and promoting blogs, and then get out there and pimp your blog. It takes time. In the meantime you’re not stressing out at the thought of writing 25 blog posts each month and earning a measly $50 for your efforts. Plus, you may be establishing yourself as an authority in your topic, something that might land you good traffic, book deals, speaking gigs, and more.

So niche, by all means, but before you do get your research going. Talk to other bloggers in the niche – both in and out of networks – and see which route is the most profitable and less headache inducing. Research their traffic and blogs. See what they’re doing right and what they’re doing wrong and use it to your advantage.

Yes you can earn money  as a blogger, just blog smarter…not harder. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t write about your favorite topic, and earn money from it too. Look into all avenues, weigh the pros and cons and figure out a course of action that best works for you.