PureBlogging

There are two basic ways that you can break into blogging. You can go the DIY route and set up your own blog. Or you can get hired to blog for someone else, usually as part of a blog network. Like with anything else in business, there are pros and cons to both approaches. Which ends up being right for you ultimately has to do with your goals as a blogger.

Pros of Blogging for Yourself:

o You make all of the decisions. There is a lot of creative freedom when you don’t have to answer to anyone. This means that you don’t have to worry about your opinions offending the people who pay you.
o Your profits are all yours. When you blog for someone else, you either get paid per post or you get a share of the profits. Many people would prefer to take all of the money from advertising for themselves and not worry about per-post payments. Blogging for yourself allows you to do this.
o It’s easy to stop. If you start blogging and find out that you don’t like it, you can easily quit when you work for yourself. You might be under contract when you work for someone else. However, this can also be a con as it may encourage you to give up too easily.
o The credit goes to you. Your name is on the work and you get the professional credit for the entire blog. If it’s a success, it’s because of your hard work and everyone knows it.
o You learn about a lot of different aspects of online business. The DIY approach always leads you to learn more about the ins and outs of an experience. If you really love blogging, this can be a terrific way to spend your time.

Pros of Blogging for a Network:

o There’s someone there to give you direction. When you first start blogging, there’s a lot to learn. It can help to get assistance from a network of people who have been doing it for awhile.
o You get paid every month. If you have a per-post payment deal worked out, you just get your check and don’t have to worry about advertising and revenue. Bloggers who don’t enjoy dealing with marketing prefer this route.
o You are pushed the extra mile. If you work for a good network, your supervisor will stay on top of you. This means that you’ll be encouraged to really develop the blog. Some people do better with external motivation than with being self-driven.
o There is someone else to deal with problems. Blogging is a great experience which provides interaction with others on a regular basis. However, sometimes those people who comment on your blogs can get downright nasty. Working for a network gives you other people to push those problems on to.

Some bloggers find that a mixture of working for themselves and working for networks is ultimately what works for them. This balances out the negatives and offers a number of positives. However, what works for your neighbor isn’t necessarily what’s going to work for you. You’ll have to just get in the blogging pool and splash around before you find the style that suits you best.

Links to what others have had to say on this topic:

• Deb Ng as a guest blogger at ProBlogger
• eXtra for every publisher – post one and two
• Blog Herald

Question of the Day: If you had to choose only one option (blogging for yourself or blogging for others) which would you go with and why?

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