Professional Blogging And Hobby Blogging

There are some major differences between professional blogging and hobby blogging. Sometimes, the line between the two can get blurred. Sometimes, people can get confused between the approaches required for the two practises.

I think it's good to realise whether you are professional blogging or hobby blogging, work out your goals, and take it from there.

I started a blog more than two years ago with a decidedly professional intent in mind. However, I maintained the blog more like a hobby blog than a professional blog.

I'm going to contradict what I've said before, but I think it made sense, though.

Writing A Professional Blog Like It Was A Hobby Blog

If you write about anything at all and don't have a clear reason why people should be reading you, people won't have a clear reason to read you either. That's a problem because you'll be unlikely to build up a fan base.

In general, people who don't have a clear plan about how they are going to make money with their blog, likely won't.

Some people will be exceptions to this rule, of course, but that's more to do with luck than anything. And a professional doesn't rely on luck alone for success with their endeavours.

The Difference Between Professional Blogging And Hobby Blogging

Professional blogging should be professional blogging and hobby blogging should be hobby blogging. Things shouldn't be done in a half-assed way. However, by “testing the water” so to speak with hobby blogging, you can gain valuable experience.

For instance, you can learn what you find compelling to write about, you can learn to write better, and you can learn what readers enjoy in your work. This is what I've done with AndrewGubb.com.

It makes a lot of sense to take the pressure off yourself by blogging in a non-serious way to start with. Think “ready-fire-aim”. You will suck to begin with. Everyone sucks. But the great thing is, blogs can be improved upon. You can improve your blogging slowly from amateur to professional, and when you're ready faze into more professional practises.

I'm not sure if I've always done what was best to publicise my blog. There would probably have been ways to get way more traffic had I wanted it. However, I think some part of me was interested in only semi-professional blogging until I was really happy with my work. I didn't want to have to cope with a huge amount of traffic while I still hadn't found my voice, or my blog's identity, or a good relationship with my readers.

Professional Blogging

Here are some things you'll have to work out before you go professional with your blog:

• Your blog's title
• Your blog's tagline
• Your niche, or at least, your focus – who are you writing for?

(It's okay to answer “people who are like me,” but, at the very least, work out who you are or what you project through your writing well enough to create a user- and search engine-friendly title and tagline).

• How often will you write? Try to let your readers anticipate your general blogging frequency.
• How much time and energy are you willing to dedicate to your blog? Can you put enough into it that it starts giving back?
• What's your voice, writing style, and persona?
• What will a reader get out of your blog?

If you know these things, maybe you're ready to start blogging professionally.

What Makes A Blog Professional

In the end, a blog which is worth something to people becomes successful. Is your blog worth something to people? Then you can go professional with it. And I think that's a very positive thing.

I don't know any hobby blogs that became wildly successful (Okay, I know just one). If you're willing to change the world with your writing, it makes a lot of sense to be willing to earn a living from it.

Andrew Gubb's Blog - Indigo Children and Adults, Conscious Living and Saving The World