*Bird soaring the skies = freedom = problogging

I have discouraged you from quitting your day job as soon as you start earning from blogging. And then afterwards, I had advised you to think about quitting your job first, a million times, before you decide to problog full-time. This time around, I’ll discuss the reality that comes with problogging and how it’s not the “easy work-at-home” job everybody seems to think it is. Blogging has its ups and downs. Believe me, you’ll see “down” days even without a boss and co-workers breathing down your neck. You’ll experience pressure and even physical pains and health problems.

Take for example, the story of Darren Rowse. Darren could be considered one of the most successful probloggers as of current. But just like the rest of us, he was a struggling blogger once. He didn’t start out earning as much as he does. Sure, it was easier then, back when there’s not as much competition like there is now. But like an ordinary blogger, he also started low, earning a few dollars per month before finally earning a proper income. Darren’s story is a quintessential example of a successful problogger. Just like every other instance on earth, triumph over adversity is at play here.

And just like every other instance on earth, not everyone can become successful at it. Just like how only 1 out of 1000 children who want to become actors actually wind up becoming famous. Like I said, not everyone becomes rich blogging. It takes a lot of hard work (which I suggest would be best combined with a day job until you start earning a full-time income), strong stomach (to be able to handle criticisms and flames), and a whole lot of patience.

It takes a lot to be able to maintain a blog over time. Merely coming up with an idea a day is a huge accomplishment. At the same time, for a blog to actually “click” requires intensive research on what people want and, at the same time, a touch of luck. I’m not saying all these to puncture people’s bubble. While I encourage working for yourselves, what you think would be good for you might actually be not. If you’re really decided into blogging full-time, here are a few of things you might want to consider.

1. Things Might Go Wrong Unexpectedly

A server crashing. Your host going offline. Your server being unable to handle your traffic. There are just a few of the things that might go unexpectedly wrong. You have to be prepared for the worst all the time and not suffer from heart failure every time something happens.

2. You Must Have a Back-up Plan

Unless you can be considered an established blogger already, you’ll never know when things take a bad turn. Something might happen which would hinder your way to blogging success. If so, it’s absolutely imperative to have a back-up plan.

3. Maintain a Variety of Options and Interests

The more options you have and the more interests you maintain, the lesser worries you’ll have when revenues suddenly fall or when things don’t work out as planned. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. At least, if one basket falls and all the eggs in it break, you’ll have more baskets of eggs.

4. Learn How to Deal with Constant Heartaches

The internet is highly dynamic. It changes constantly and along with it, your blog. I have a blog which changes places in the SERPs every single day. One day you’ll be at the top of the SERPs, the other, you’re nowhere to be found.

5. Be Prepared for Continuous Studying

Continuing on the net being highly dynamic, you need to be prepared and be willing to learn the various aspects of blogging as the industry changes. The SERPs are continuously changing like Google’s algorithm and you’d have to learn the new guidelines, the new tricks, and whatever it is that’s new.

Problogging full-time will never be a cakewalk. In fact, in spite of the sheer number of bloggers these days, I could say that only a few take the path of blogging professionally full-time. It’s really not for everyone. But for everyone who’s succeeded doing it, the freedom is certainly priceless.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 4:15 pm and is filed under blogging. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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