Author Topic: Blog idea. Will it work?  (Read 4494 times)

akajoe87

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 45
Blog idea. Will it work?
« on: July 26, 2015, 06:53:06 AM »
I build houses on the side apart from my regular job with my father. When I go to work and talk to people about the building process and the general idea of doing it to make money people get inspired. I get asked a lot of technical questions about building, finances, and how everything works I decided to go online to find similar information. I cannot find a good website or blog that breaks down the steps or process. I was thinking of fulfilling that need but starting a blog about my building adventures and using it to make money as well. I would like some input on my idea or ways to start it.

forummm

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7374
  • Senior Mustachian
Re: Blog idea. Will it work?
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2015, 07:02:44 AM »
It could work. Most blogs need a lot of content before they start to see a lot of traffic. And the content has to be interesting and written in a way that's appealing. There are guides on how to create successful blogs. Tips like using key words, SEO, and using deep linking throughout (link to your old posts as much as possible in new posts), etc.

thedayisbrave

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 700
  • Location: Raleigh, NC
  • CFO @ My Life
Re: Blog idea. Will it work?
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2015, 07:09:46 AM »
I think it could, but you have to ask yourself the question: would you still want to do it, even if it didn't make money? If the answer is yes, then do it and don't look back.

You can make money with blogs, but it takes a lot of discipline (to continue creating content and writing) and knowledge about the best ways to monetize a site.  It will definitely take time.  But considering the low start up costs, might be a worthy risk.

akajoe87

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 45
Re: Blog idea. Will it work?
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2015, 07:50:26 AM »
I think it could, but you have to ask yourself the question: would you still want to do it, even if it didn't make money? If the answer is yes, then do it and don't look back.
Yes actually. I would like to use the blog for future reference for personal use as well. I'm not sure where I should start it. Free on wordpress.com or start an official website and pay 50$ per year.

protostache

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 903
Re: Blog idea. Will it work?
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2015, 09:24:34 AM »
If you want to start writing the most important thing is to start. It doesn't matter where it goes at first, it could even just live as a word document on your computer. Just start writing about the topics you want to write about. Worry about the hosting after you have a backlog of things to post (maybe 3 or 4).

KMMK

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1464
  • Age: 47
  • Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
    • Meena Kestirke Insurance
Re: Blog idea. Will it work?
« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2015, 09:27:22 AM »
I think it could, but you have to ask yourself the question: would you still want to do it, even if it didn't make money? If the answer is yes, then do it and don't look back.
Yes actually. I would like to use the blog for future reference for personal use as well. I'm not sure where I should start it. Free on wordpress.com or start an official website and pay 50$ per year.

I'd recommend starting on a cheap, but paid site. With wordpress.com you can never have ads, and it can be annoying to move it in the future. Just consider it the cost of trying a hobby and put a little bit of money into it.

webguy

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 302
Re: Blog idea. Will it work?
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2015, 10:06:03 AM »
I would agree with the above advice. If you're starting it with the goal of trying to make money then you can easily become impatient and the quality of the content will suffer. Doing it because you love to write about your adventures and share your wisdom and experience with others will get you much further. Maybe try writing a few posts first before going through too much effort to set things up as anyone who writes a successful blog will tell you; it's a lot more effort than it seems, and this results in a lot of people giving up shortly after they started.

mozar

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3503
Re: Blog idea. Will it work?
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2015, 01:12:23 PM »
Consider doing a video blog and posting on youtube. Short videos get a lot of views. I've been watching one about tiny houses called tiny nest.

akajoe87

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 45
Re: Blog idea. Will it work?
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2015, 01:31:39 PM »
Vlog is not a bad idea. I feel that I would be better with pics and writing vs video. I feel that it would be easier to monetize writing vs vlog too.
 

forummm

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7374
  • Senior Mustachian
Re: Blog idea. Will it work?
« Reply #9 on: July 26, 2015, 01:48:57 PM »
Vlog is not a bad idea. I feel that I would be better with pics and writing vs video. I feel that it would be easier to monetize writing vs vlog too.
 

Do both. They can both be ways for people to find your content. Then the one directs them to the other.

akajoe87

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 45
Re: Blog idea. Will it work?
« Reply #10 on: July 26, 2015, 05:50:08 PM »
That is a great idea. Sounds like I would be better off with just a free wordpress to start with.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!