More and more writers are beginning to figure out a way to make money through blogging. While many writers have their own personal blog that might make a little bit of money, it is working with companies that can earn someone a full-time salary position.
If you’re a great blogger, there are opportunities out there to be a guest contributor for a particular company or their clients (this coming straight to you from someone who does it full-time).
The problem, however, is that getting the exposure and practice that you need to become a guest blogger isn’t always easy. In many cases, making this happen requires a writer to forgo making money. The question then becomes: Is it worth it in the long run to blog for exposure?
Why Blogging for Exposure Is Sometimes the Option?
Although blogging can be a fun activity, that doesn’t mean it isn’t time consuming. Blogging for exposure means that you might have to take time away from other work or other activities because it can be hard to get paid to blog if you don’t work for a company. In a sense it is a catch 22 because you usually need the exposure, but it’s hard to get it unless you work for a company that can pay you for your work.
This then puts bloggers in a tough spot. Because more and more blogs are offering links back to a website in exchange for content as opposed to paying writers (except this blog!), it leaves writers with little choice but to blog for exposure only. However, there are really two things to keep in mind before you quit your day job:
- Make sure that you consider your finances and the time commitment involved.
First, consider the financial aspect of the idea. It isn’t always necessary that you quit your part time job in order to make this happen (I was exaggerating a little bit above); however you do need to consider how long it’s going to take you to really make this work.
To really start building a name for yourself in the blogging community, you’ll want to regularly contribute to at least one or two sites, and you’ll want to try to have at least one article per week on sites across the web until you find a full-time gig (which could take a few months). Do you have the time to make this happen and keep a job that brings in enough money for your lifestyle? It’s something to consider.
- Make sure that you’re posting your content on the right blogs. Think metrics.
Although it may sound obvious, blogging for exposure is much riskier than blogging when you have no time or money to lose. You want to make sure that you’re really going to gain some good exposure if the website isn’t going to pay you. Talk with the editor and make sure that they are going to share your article on social media, and consider asking about their reader base. In most cases, you can do a bit of research yourself by checking out the number of tweets and Facebook likes found on an average post on that site.
In the end, it’s tough to say that writers should accept working for free because you won’t find this in many other industries. However, although it may be because of Google that writers are put in this position, Google has also opened up many more opportunities for writers. Yet another catch 22.
- Why You Can’t Achieve Success in Blogging Career?
Over to You!
What are your opinions about blogging for exposure? Do you think this is something that will benefit writers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
What about blogging for exposure and getting paid at the same time. Btw Amanda nice idea.
Hmm… interesting post, Amanda.
I guess most of the people always looks for money. They blog for money and stuff a lot of high paying keyword in their post hoping to get better revenue. Some of them succeed in it while some just quit blogging.
Great post Amanda.
I too share the same view. I love writing guest posts for exposure too.thnx for this great share i will share it wid my frnds too
I’ve been blogging for a few years now and only recently have I learned how to do it right. I think it’s important to think only about exposure at the beginning, and once you have your established audience should you begin to thing about monetizing your blog. You listen to successful bloggers long enough, and eventually–no matter how hard-headed you might be–it sinks in, and you start doing what they suggest: building strong bonds with your fan-base; improving content; building quality back-links and not spamming; focusing on one niche and not random content. These are the core principles to any successful site.
It times time to get exposure for a new blog and guest blogging is a great way to help it along and expand your reader base. I’ve not yet made any “real” money blogging but it does take time and a lot of effort. Many quit before the money starts to follow.
Blogging is not always about Income Generation and Exposure, some are into blogging as hobby, exhaustion of boredom, expression of random thoughts and advocacy. Income Generation becomes a target when you feel the competition and motivation among others especially when they are persuading for some add-on or plug ins to boost your blogs. What matters most is that you enjoy Blogging for whatever reasons.
Blog exposure is one of the finest way to start earning on blog. It doesn`t require lots of traffic. You just need to connect with niche people and it`s done.
~@Khajamoin1
Finding the right time and the right place is important to get exposed in blogging. In term of guest blogging it is wise to stay low at the beginning then go for the big sites when the time is right.
Thanks so much for reading everyone! It’s a tough question to ask because some people probably deserve to be paid for their blogging. However, it’s important to remember that sometimes exposure does pay off (and soon I think this will be the only option for bloggers working on their own).
Very interesting topic Amanda. In my opinion it should be a mixture of both, meaning that a blogger should allocate some time for marketing activities such as guest posts or as you called it “blogging for exposure”.
I completely agree with you, blogging is not only about Money with basically its all about fame and helping others. Money is always the secondary option in Blogging Industry!
Hi Amanda, I never have seen myself as a writer, but more as an Affiliate Marketer who knows how to blog. So for me there is no choice between blogging for exposure or profit. It is all about producing enough quality content that will help others and hopefully over time convert into a sale.
Great post Amanda.
I too share the same view. I love writing guest posts for exposure too.
Personally i have been very benefited by guest blogging for All Blogging Tips and Shout Me Loud.
Learnt a lesson or two from both of these blogs.
Thanks for all the Tips..
but for Me., I BLOG FOR Living, My 80% monthly income is from Blogging and rest 20%from Stock trading, but trading too have a Lot of Risk, So blogging has been always my FAV source of Revenue