Blog's??

[DollarBill]

I have a good idea for a new blog/forum but have no idea how to start it. Plus, how does one create a money stream from it? I don't think MMM created it to supply a money stream but why do all the work without pay. I'm not looking for a big payout just a couple hundred a month would be plenty. Any idea's??

[Emilyngh]

http://memegenerator.net/instance/44346098

Sorry, I don't know anything about making money with blogging, but just couldn't resist the meme linked (apparently I also don't know anything about inserting images without photobucket).   Please, please, pretty please give the meme some thought before attempting to start your own blog.

[Erica/NWEdible]

I have a good idea for a new blog/forum but have no idea how to start it. Plus, how does one create a money stream from it? I don't think MMM created it to supply a money stream but why do all the work without pay. I'm not looking for a big payout just a couple hundred a month would be plenty.

The ONLY ONLY ONLY reason to start a blog is because you are insanely passionate about sharing whatever your weirdo thing is with people, and as a result create an end product that helps your reader. ANY OTHER REASON is bullshit. People who start blogs to make money quit. People who start blogs to help people eventually end up making money as a side effect.

Any idea's??

Sure: copyblogger.com, problogger.com, wordpress.org.

Good luck!

[Argyle]

One thing that separates the well-done blogs from the amateur ones is professional spelling and mechanics.  So I'll just point out that plurals don't have apostrophes.  In other words, not blog's but blogs, and not idea's but ideas.

[Jamesqf]

Any idea's??

Learn the proper use of the apostrophe :-)

[deborah]

Start a blog using one of the free providers, and see if you are still going in a month.

[Eric]

http://memegenerator.net/instance/44346098

Sorry, I don't know anything about making money with blogging, but just couldn't resist the meme linked (apparently I also don't know anything about inserting images without photobucket).   Please, please, pretty please give the meme some thought before attempting to start your own blog.

It has to be a jpg or gif file.  In this case (if you're Windows), right click on the picture in the link and choose "Copy Image Location"

Paste here and you'll get this:  http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/500x/44346098.jpg
Then add the image tags to the front and back - click reply to see them if you aren't sure what I mean
And voila:



And yeah, Dollar Bill, I agree with the rest of these folks that no one is going to read your blog if you can't write with basic grammar.  Sorry.

[DollarBill]

Any idea's??

Learn the proper use of the apostrophe :-)

http://memegenerator.net/instance/44346098

Sorry, I don't know anything about making money with blogging, but just couldn't resist the meme linked (apparently I also don't know anything about inserting images without photobucket).   Please, please, pretty please give the meme some thought before attempting to start your own blog.

It has to be a jpg or gif file.  In this case (if you're Windows), right click on the picture in the link and choose "Copy Image Location"

Paste here and you'll get this:  http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/500x/44346098.jpg
Then add the image tags to the front and back - click reply to see them if you aren't sure what I mean
And voila:



And yeah, Dollar Bill, I agree with the rest of these folks that no one is going to read your blog if you can't write with basic grammar.  Sorry.

One thing that separates the well-done blogs from the amateur ones is professional spelling and mechanics.  So I'll just point out that plurals don't have apostrophes.  In other words, not blog's but blogs, and not idea's but ideas.

Ok, promise not to start it until I take a couple of proper grammar/writing classes...you guys creak me up!

[grantmeaname]

Meh, you can always get a friend to edit it or something. If you have interesting things to say, don't let the fear that your work isn't polished keep you out of the market.

[NewStachian]

I signed up through dreamhost and installed a wordpress blog, which is automatic through their web UI. I also plan on using the server for other stuff related to my iPhone apps, so you might want to start with a free one as other people have mentioned. I signed up for a Google Adsense account and have 1 ad at the bottom of my site. It brings in nothing, but I also haven't told anyone about my site yet. I only have 2 articles, which I'm not 100% happy with. I'm also still looking for my niche that will set my blog apart from other ones.

Regarding grammar, Strunk and White is an awesome book. It is short, succinct, timeless, and funny.

My biggest grammar pet peeve: improper use of fewer vs less. If people understood the difference we'd have way less problems.

[Emilyngh]

http://memegenerator.net/instance/44346098

Sorry, I don't know anything about making money with blogging, but just couldn't resist the meme linked (apparently I also don't know anything about inserting images without photobucket).   Please, please, pretty please give the meme some thought before attempting to start your own blog.

It has to be a jpg or gif file.  In this case (if you're Windows), right click on the picture in the link and choose "Copy Image Location"

Paste here and you'll get this:  http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/500x/44346098.jpg
Then add the image tags to the front and back - click reply to see them if you aren't sure what I mean
And voila:



And yeah, Dollar Bill, I agree with the rest of these folks that no one is going to read your blog if you can't write with basic grammar.  Sorry.

[Thegoblinchief]

I write a blog mostly to keep myself accountable and to work through ideas. Writing is how I unpack and examine things.

Monetizing is hard. I've never found it worth the time, personally, given the size audience you need to do it.

BUT if you do want to monetize, you'll want a hosted wordpress.org blog instead of the free blogger or wordpress.com. Yes, you can migrate later, but migration is a PITA.

[Dr. Doom]

You'd better like writing if you want to blog.  It takes time and thought to create content that's worth reading.  I agree with posters who have said you should blog about something you love, rather than because you think you're going to make money. 

If making money is your goal, there are far more reliable side-hustles out there.

Also consider reading more about how difficult it is to make money blogging. You'll need to find a lot of readers, and it takes work to a) unearth them and b) convince them to continue to return to your site.  (I haven't done much publicizing myself yet, because I'm mostly focused on content creation, because I love the writing and exploration.)

Not trying to discourage you!  It just helps to understand your own goals a bit and align your expectations with reality before jumping in. 

[CarDude]

I have a good idea for a new blog/forum but have no idea how to start it. Plus, how does one create a money stream from it? I don't think MMM created it to supply a money stream but why do all the work without pay. I'm not looking for a big payout just a couple hundred a month would be plenty.

The ONLY ONLY ONLY reason to start a blog is because you are insanely passionate about sharing whatever your weirdo thing is with people, and as a result create an end product that helps your reader. ANY OTHER REASON is bullshit. People who start blogs to make money quit. People who start blogs to help people eventually end up making money as a side effect.

She's absolutely right. I blog about auto safety because I've spent too long investigating car crashes, and talking to people in real life at this point is just preaching to the choir, since they've already heard my sermons. However, there are lots of people casually surfing the 'net who might learn a thing or two and drive a bit more safely as a result of reading my work, which keeps me going. It's also a quicker way of answering questions I get asked a lot (e.g., what are the safest cars I can buy for under $3000?). I can just shoot someone a link instead of pulling out PDFs and diving into a detailed explanation (unless I'm talking to a fellow safety nut). But if you're blogging for money, you'll probably burn out in a couple of months, because it's a field with a very low barrier to entry, which means just about anyone's likely to try it (just like wedding photography) if short on bills at the end of the month.

[Southern Stashian]

I would say to find something that you're passoniate about and then start a blog about it, but dont plan to make any money from it at first.

Here's our blogging story ...

After discovering MMM, we started a blog (www.thefiguy.com) to talk about finances, but soon found that talking about $$$ all the time wasn't our thing. Since it was a little bit boring to us, in December 2012 we transitioned that blog into our current one (www.HavingFunInFlorida.com), focusing on our daily life here in Florida, kinda like our own personal Facebook.

Since changing directions, I now love coming back to the blog and updating it weekly. It even bothers me to know that we are a few weeks behind with it due to our move into our new house, but we will get it caught up by the end of the week. :/

We never went into blogging expecting any sort of cash flow, even though we receive 100 - 500 daily hits on it from people around the world looking to come to Florida. We have assisted dozens of people looking for information on moving to the area, with one family relocating to FL (a mile from our house) from Australia in just two weeks. Once again though, we did it all for free as we love blogging about life here in FL.

A few months back though things changed as a money saving opportunity came our way seemingly out of nowhere .....

I had contacted a local event promoter for a fairly large seasonal festival and told him about our site www.HavingFunInFlorida.com. He happily agreed to have us come out (for free) and in exchange wanted us to document our time at the event and post it on our site. We did up a nice review of the event and in the end everyone was extremely pleased.

What we saved was small change ($75) compared to what MMM makes from his blog, but again we never went into it expecting to make any $$$ from it. Being that our first money making opportunity was perfectly in-line with the purpose of our blog (Having Fun ...), our eyes have been opened up to the endless amounts of money making (or saving) opportunities out there.

The experience has also helped us secure three other similiar events from other promoters across the state, some free rooms in Key West (@ $250 per night) and a MLS type of photo listing service worth a few thousand per year. I cant complain as its a pretty good return for an amature blogger doing something that he loved doing all along for free.

We are excited to see the ball starting to roll and planning on where we will go from here. Hopefully by the time we retire (in 8 years) we will be making enough $$$ from it that we can rename the site to HavingFunInFlorida...ForFree.com. Lol!

Thats our story and good luck!

[lisahi]

I agree with those who said you must be passionate about what you're writing. Otherwise, you won't write. In fact, you'll find excuses to not write. I don't run a blog and I've never really "blogged," but I did run a large fansite for a band for a couple of years (yes, I'm that brand of nerd). It got very popular, was recognized by the band, and received thousands of hits per day. Even though I loved writing about the band, it was tiring. I never made money from it (I hate ads on websites and was not about to put one on mine; I realize that precluded me from monetizing the website, but I didn't care), but I did get perks (backstage passes, free merch, etc.).

Eventually, though, I had to stop. Nobody was telling me to stop; it wasn't that I didn't like the band anymore (I still love the band), but even if you're writing about something you love, life can get in the way. Very, very successful websites or blogs (the ones that could actually make money) require a near full-time commitment, especially when you're first starting out and there isn't an archive of content that folks can wade through while you're taking a two week vacation. Most of the time, you're not just providing content for your blog, you're interacting with your readers. There's a lot of email answering; there's a lot of technical pain in the ass stuff you have to deal with when you're website or blog isn't functioning properly. Successful bloggers need to be good writers and PR-savvy. It's about a lot more than just writing a few paragraphs a week.

If you're truly passionate about your blog idea, try it for a month or two. If you start finding yourself coming up with reasons why you don't need to blog that day, that may be a sign you're not going to have the requisite commitment to make much, if any, money off the blog.

[Freedom2016]

I signed up through dreamhost and installed a wordpress blog, which is automatic through their web UI. I also plan on using the server for other stuff related to my iPhone apps, so you might want to start with a free one as other people have mentioned. I signed up for a Google Adsense account and have 1 ad at the bottom of my site. It brings in nothing, but I also haven't told anyone about my site yet. I only have 2 articles, which I'm not 100% happy with. I'm also still looking for my niche that will set my blog apart from other ones.

Regarding grammar, Strunk and White is an awesome book. It is short, succinct, timeless, and funny.

My biggest grammar pet peeve: improper use of fewer vs less. If people understood the difference we'd have way less problems.

...shouldn't that be fewer problems?

[limeandpepper]

BUT if you do want to monetize, you'll want a hosted wordpress.org blog instead of the free blogger or wordpress.com. Yes, you can migrate later, but migration is a PITA.

I know people who have successfully monetized with Blogger. One of them has had her blog featured in magazines worldwide, both digital and hard copy. She does have her own domain, so that "blogspot" doesn't appear in the address, and she is quite tech savvy and her blog is beautiful and well-structured. Just saying it can be done, but I do agree that wordpress.org can offer more flexibility.

Even though I loved writing about the band, it was tiring.

even if you're writing about something you love, life can get in the way.

I agree with this. I write about stuff that I love on my blog, but it does take commitment if you want to have new content up every week. I've been blogging more than 3 years now, and I still enjoy it, but a hobby can indeed come to feel like work at times, and sometimes I just want to be lazy.

[NewStachian]

I signed up through dreamhost and installed a wordpress blog, which is automatic through their web UI. I also plan on using the server for other stuff related to my iPhone apps, so you might want to start with a free one as other people have mentioned. I signed up for a Google Adsense account and have 1 ad at the bottom of my site. It brings in nothing, but I also haven't told anyone about my site yet. I only have 2 articles, which I'm not 100% happy with. I'm also still looking for my niche that will set my blog apart from other ones.

Regarding grammar, Strunk and White is an awesome book. It is short, succinct, timeless, and funny.

My biggest grammar pet peeve: improper use of fewer vs less. If people understood the difference we'd have way less problems.

...shouldn't that be fewer problems?

Someone got my joke! Yay. I am also known for dropping the word "irregardlessly" into conversations to see if I can get someone to correct me to "irregardless". But, that's less fun now that it's becoming an accepted word (yay/boo for language evolution).

Other grammar annoyances:
- Affect vs effect - at least for the common uses (affect as a verb and effect as a noun). If someone misuses one due to its few special cases that's not a big deal to me ("personal effects", whatever).
- "With regards to" *shudder*
- Failing to add the final comma in a list. I know this isn't wrong and was popularized by newspapers saving money on ink, but I still find it vague and imprecise.

I'm certainly not a grammar guru, but I think I'm probably above average with regards to *shudder* the basics. We certainly relax a lot of rules on the interwebz, but it's usually apparent if someone is being lazy and using shorthand, or if they really don't know what they're talking about. It's like a typo - it's usually fairly easy to see who fat-fingered a key and who doesn't know how to spell. We also have to deal with multiple sub-cultures who have their own lexical representations for things. My parents once texted me "r u here yet?" I made sure it was the last time they ever did that. They failed to properly assess my sub-culture when communicating with me. Had I been a 12 year old, they might have had more success.

The bottom line is you should do your best to know the basic grammar rules or you'll infuriate some people reading your blog. If you've ever made any sort of powerpoint presentation for work, you probably know that the format and spelling get criticized more than the actual content. Many people won't even listen to your message if you can't properly conjugate a verb. Case in point - this entire thread.

[grantmeaname]

Both less and fewer are acceptable for countable/divisible nouns. But I got your joke.

Is your problem with "with regards to" the plural? Why is that worth losing sleep? (Side note: 'as regards' is cool - I may try and start using it.)

[MrsPete]

Yes to brushing up on your grammar.  's is one of the most common offenders, but nothing, nothing, nothing reaches the offensive level of the non-existent word alot.  No, no one used it here; I just despise it so much that I had to say it.  It doesn't exist.  Never, never use it.  As for less and fewer, the distinction is whether the item in question can be quantified -- or cannot be quantified easily.  I have fewer items on my to-do list than I did last week (items on a list can be counted), but I am less pleased with my weekend plans than I was last week (my level of happiness cannot be quantified specifically).  The recipe I  made last night contained fewer ingredients, but I liked it less than my old recipe.  Now, anyone want to hear about pronoun-antecedent agreement?  No, I didn't think so. 

As to the main question, I'd suggest that you spend some time analyzing blogs you enjoy.  Make a list of the things that attract you:  For example, I love a couple food-and-recipe blogs.  I kind of gloss over the writer's stories about her kids and her dogs -- though that may be the very thing that attracts someone else.  I love hints about how to do things more efficiently in the kitchen (i.e., I recently saw a hint about how to cut up an avocado, and while it didn't change my life, I do like it better than my old method).  I love an easy-to-navigate tool bar.  I like blogs that include a "print" button (sure, I can pick up a recipe and transfer it into Word, but a print button makes it slightly easier).  I am turned off by a blog that's messy or has words bleeding into boxes where they don't belong.  I am not particularly attracted by give-aways; I figure I wouldn't win anyway.  Since I cook for a whole passel of diabetics, I appreciate recipes that include the nutritional breakdown (sure, I could figure it myself, but -- again -- ease of use is an attractive factor).  Back to the big point:  Analyze what attracts you (and likely your target audience), so you can copy those concepts. 

[Ottawa]

Other grammar annoyances:
- Affect vs effect - at least for the common uses (affect as a verb and effect as a noun). If someone misuses one due to its few special cases that's not a big deal to me ("personal effects", whatever).
- "With regards to" *shudder*
- Failing to add the final comma in a list. I know this isn't wrong and was popularized by newspapers saving money on ink, but I still find it vague and imprecise.

Bring vs Take!!

Should we start a Grammar Police thread?  That could be fun.

[grantmeaname]

I hear that alot. (I love to use the word allot as a grammar-police trap.)

[Ottawa]

I hear that alot. (I love to use the word allot as a grammar-police trap.)

Ha ha!  I am reeding that book rite now - Dam funny.

[arebelspy]

Is your problem with "with regards to" the plural?

I assumed they mean when it's used when referencing something (and should be "in regard"), rather than when used properly (i.e. giving one's regards to someone).

Being a stickler about grammar was something I used to care about.  Now... why would I?   Sure, make sure your own grammar is up to your standards.  But having someone else's poor writing skills irritate you?  All that's doing is making you unhappy.  That's a poor choice on your part.

Why even have pet peeves in the first place?

I'd recommend getting the fuck over it.

:)

[Erica/NWEdible]

OK, grammar and spelling police...Stephen Fry has something to say to you:

[Dr. Doom]

Being a stickler about grammar was something I used to care about.  Now... why would I?   Sure, make sure your own grammar is up to your standards.  But having someone else's poor writing skills irritate you?  All that's doing is making you unhappy.  That's a poor choice on your part.

Right, good point.  If I don't like the way someone writes, I just stop reading instead of leaving comments like "Get an English Degree and Try Again, Sucka!"   I'm happier just letting it go.  For example, I stopped processing Arebelspy's response right after the ellipse. ;)

Still, it is important to have reasonably good and consistent construction when you're writing for an audience.  Totally butchering the language or abruptly shifting tone willll insurely distrakt a reader(s?) from whatchu trying to say u know bro?

[arebelspy]

Still, it is important to have reasonably good and consistent construction when you're writing for an audience.  Totally butchering the language or abruptly shifting tone willll insurely distrakt a reader(s?) from whatchu trying to say u know bro?

Absolutely.  And providing that information to the OP was helpful.

But my comment was directed at those people who said they get irritated at bad grammar. All you're doing by choosing to react that way is make your own life worse.

[Dr. Doom]

But my comment was directed at those people who said they get irritated at bad grammar. All you're doing by choosing to react that way is make your own life worse.

Yes.

[Eric]

- Failing to add the final comma in a list. I know this isn't wrong and was popularized by newspapers saving money on ink, but I still find it vague and imprecise.

Yes please.

[RetiredAt63]

As a semi-bilingual person, mangling imported words always has me feeling sorry for the imported language. So voila, I apologize for wulla, walla, and its variants.  I can survive a car having breaks but no brakes (although I worry about its safety). 

My dog wants an alot, she thinks it would be fun to play with.

I'm sure you have all seen this, but it always gives me a laugh.  And as a retired teacher, in a field where we try to be careful about the meaning of words, I do notice them (normal =/= Normal, population =/= Population). 

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

[MrsPete]

But my comment was directed at those people who said they get irritated at bad grammar. All you're doing by choosing to react that way is make your own life worse.

Actually, I'm shocked at how accepting I've become of bad grammar.  When I started teaching, hearing a student say, "I seen you yesterday at the mall" grated on my last nerve.  Now I've heard is so often that it doesn't hurt as much.  Thing is, my students can do grammar worksheets all day long -- with near 100% correctness and near 0% learning.  They don't retain it, don't remember it, don't generalize it to their own writing because people take the "oh, just ignore it -- it's no big thing" attitude.  I've tried loads of other methods of teaching grammar, and they're not much more effective than old-fashioned grammar worksheets.  Why?  Because people have accepted that poor communication skills are no big deal. 

Proper speech and writing isn't a high standard. 
It should be expected of any high school graduate. 

[arebelspy]

But my comment was directed at those people who said they get irritated at bad grammar. All you're doing by choosing to react that way is make your own life worse.

Actually, I'm shocked at how accepting I've become of bad grammar.  When I started teaching, hearing a student say, "I seen you yesterday at the mall" grated on my last nerve.  Now I've heard is so often that it doesn't hurt as much.  Thing is, my students can do grammar worksheets all day long -- with near 100% correctness and near 0% learning.  They don't retain it, don't remember it, don't generalize it to their own writing because people take the "oh, just ignore it -- it's no big thing" attitude.  I've tried loads of other methods of teaching grammar, and they're not much more effective than old-fashioned grammar worksheets.  Why?  Because people have accepted that poor communication skills are no big deal. 

Proper speech and writing isn't a high standard. 
It should be expected of any high school graduate.

That's all well and good, and I don't disagree, but ranting about poor grammar on the internet in some comment box isn't going to change the world, it'll only make you unhappy.

[Insanity]

There is a difference between finding a few mistakes here and there on a blog and the writing style just not working.  Don't fret over mistakes just because the spelling and grammar police chase you down.

[LalsConstant]

I have considered making one to improve my writing skills.  The trouble is if no one reads it to say if it is good or not it seems a bit pointless.

[MrsPete]

But my comment was directed at those people who said they get irritated at bad grammar. All you're doing by choosing to react that way is make your own life worse.

Actually, I'm shocked at how accepting I've become of bad grammar.  When I started teaching, hearing a student say, "I seen you yesterday at the mall" grated on my last nerve.  Now I've heard is so often that it doesn't hurt as much.  Thing is, my students can do grammar worksheets all day long -- with near 100% correctness and near 0% learning.  They don't retain it, don't remember it, don't generalize it to their own writing because people take the "oh, just ignore it -- it's no big thing" attitude.  I've tried loads of other methods of teaching grammar, and they're not much more effective than old-fashioned grammar worksheets.  Why?  Because people have accepted that poor communication skills are no big deal. 

Proper speech and writing isn't a high standard. 
It should be expected of any high school graduate.

That's all well and good, and I don't disagree, but ranting about poor grammar on the internet in some comment box isn't going to change the world, it'll only make you unhappy.

And I don't usually comment, unless the topic is raised somehow -- as it was in this case, as the OP mentioned diving into a writing project. 

[Southern Stashian]

People here are missing the point about blogging. It's all about the individuals style and subject matter, not about what you perceive as being correct or incorrect. If you get upset by reading someones blog, then maybe you're a little too uptight and could do the entire blogging community a favor by showing us how it should be done.

[CarDude]

I have considered making one to improve my writing skills.  The trouble is if no one reads it to say if it is good or not it seems a bit pointless.

Mmm, this is true. It's all about drawing in readers, isn't it?