This post was written by Deb
Blogging: One of the Top Jobs You Never Heard Of
You can make a living from blogging? Who knew? With a hat tip to Kristen King, I’d like to direct your attention to this article on Yahoo! about the top ten jobs you never heard of. See number four?
4. Bloggers:
Just 10 years ago, blogging would have sounded to most like a verb relegated to video games. But now, freelance writers, marketers, Web designers, finance professionals–even tea-drinkers–can draw people from around the world to read what they’re thinking. Businesses are catching on, which is why they’ll often hire people to blog about their products, and some bloggers can actually sell ads on their personal blogs. Are your personal thoughts worth paying for? They are, especially if you have education and a unique voice. Top bloggers can make six figures, and a handful are said to make millions.
Am I to believe blogging as a profession is such an unknown entity in this day and age? Perhaps it was unheard of several years ago, but in 2008 I can assure you blogging has become a force to be reckoned with. The proof, if there was ever any doubt:
- Look at any online job board and you’ll find at least several jobs for bloggers.
- Businesses are now hiring bloggers to personalize their website.
- Nearly every niche has a blogger.
- Blog networks are being seen as media by many publicists.
- Everyone wants their products reviewed on blogs.
- Bloggers are being interviewed as expert sources on many television and news programs.
- Major conferences are now being held specifically for bloggers.
Three years ago I could tell room full of people I had a blog and 9 out of 10 would say, "what’s a blog?" Today I could say the same thing to a room full of people and only one or two would wonder - though most have at least heard of blogs.
Now that blogging has reached the mainstream can more corporate salaries be far behind?
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9 Responses to “Blogging: One of the Top Jobs You Never Heard Of”
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Thanks for the link to Biz Chicks Rule — but the credit goes to my co-blogger Bridget Wright, who scooped me on that article.
kk
Great article! People are constantly amazed that 3/4 of my income comes from blogging.
I agree that it seems odd that blogging would be noted as an unknown job; but honestly, I still have to constantly explain what it is I do to people. And no one in my real life, minus one person even thinks I have a real job.
Also, just the other day I saw a post on Blogging Tips that in so many words called blogging a “gateway career” which actually I should post about because that made me mad. When a blog about blogging is calling blogging a bad career choice, you have to wonder. We know it’s viable, but really, how many others do? I think it’s known in certain circles very well, and in others not at all. There doesn’t seem to be a happy medium.
@Kristen - I apologize for the oversight. I found the article through your Tweet.
@Jennifer - I actually have a post planned about people who don’t believe you really have a job.
@Miranda - Blogging pays the bills for a lot of people, so it’s definitely a viable career choice.
“Am I to believe blogging as a profession is such an unknown entity in this day and age? Perhaps it was unheard of several years ago, but in 2008 I can assure you blogging has become a force to be reckoned with.”
Being “known” and being “a force to be reckoned with” are two different things. I don’t think the average joe thinks that you can make an income from blogging. They don’t understand how profitable ads and affiliate programs can be and many people still perceive blogs as being used solely for personal diaries.
I’m still surprised that blogging has taken off so credibly! I’ve been blogging for about 10 years (non-professionally), and back when I started, it was kind of known that nobody in your “real life” would have any idea what a blog was and, even worse, they’d laugh in your face if you dared to tell them you had one. There are still people who don’t know what a blog is, but that number is drastically different than what it used to be! It’s exciting that the concept of blogging as a career isn’t a ridiculous pipe dream anymore.
I’m always proud to be a blogger.
[...] the time to respond to everyone who tags me for a blogging meme. This might go back to my being a lazy blogger, but at this stage of my game, I’d rather post good relevant content to my blogs and bring in [...]
[...] the time to respond to everyone who tags me for a blogging meme. This might go back to my being a lazy blogger, but at this stage of my game, I’d rather post good relevant content to my blogs and bring in [...]