What it Takes to Earn Money Blogging and Be a Successful Blogger

No matter how you look at it, how much you analyze it, making money through your blog boils down to just one thing - traffic. Most people blog because they enjoy it. But because it is time consuming, it is only natural to want to get paid for your time. But because there is no guarantee that you will earn anything through your blogging, you're going to have to work fairly hard to achieve your goals. This means that even if you are a brilliant writer, and no matter how much time you spend on your blog each day - if no one is visitng your blog, you probably won't make any money. Sure, you may still enjoy your blogging, but even that will be less of a turn-on if no one is reading what you write.

With that established, you're either blogging for enjoyment, money, or both. The problem for many enthusiastic new bloggers with dollar signs in their eyes - is that they don't really enjoy writing. For some reason or other, they misinterpret the reasons that others began blogging in the first place. Some have even convinced themselves that because people like Darren Rowse are able to make a healthy living blogging - that they too can easily bring in a nice chunk of pocket change by setting up a blog and slapping a few Google ads on it. But, my blogging friends, this is just not so.

When you started blogging, what was your motivation? Do you have something of value or interest to share with others? Did you start blogging because you heard you could make money by sitting in front of the computer? Perhaps you have a love of written language, and the power of words. The hard part for most new bloggers to swallow is that you've really got to develop a following, or at least a consistant and steady flow of traffic to your site. Starting a blog is only the first step, then comes the real work - getting people to actually read what you've written. It can be even more of a challenge to get people to know you exist - let alone read what you write about.

Facing these challenges is what makes a blogger dedicated. Conquering these challenges is what makes a blogger stand out. But mastering the solutions to these challenges is what makes a blogger successful. Which brings m e to a quote that I believe ALL bloggers should take as encouragement, I just wish I knew who said it! Remember it, say it, dream it in your sleep - but most of all, live it.

"Successful people do the things that unsuccessful people are unwilling to do."