Blog for ads or blog for yourself

Probably the biggest question you want to ask when you’re considering blogging as a means to making money is whether you’re going to be better off blogging for ads or blogging for yourself.

For example, if you are just looking for some supplemental advertising income you’d better choose your topics right… write all you want about your life, your profession and the books you enjoy… you’re not going to get many search engine hits (which are what will bring you ad revenue… just don’t even think about RSS, unless you’re planning on getting syndicated).

Alternatively, and possibly most profitably (on both a personal and financial level) you might want to think about what it is that you have to offer as an employee, a contractor, a consultant or in terms of content.

Do you make wonderful dolls? Sell great buttons? Want to run workshops on bookbinding? Want to shift some of those great oil paintings? Reputation, word of mouth and search engines are going to be your friend and the best way to get up in those is to get yourself a blog.