Ask the Recruiter

(Poynter's Rick Edmonds received the following question. The answer is a joint response from Rick and me. -- Joe Grimm)

Over the past eight months, I've been the sole proprietor of a slightly popular blog. The posts -- at least two a weekday -- focus on popular culture, sports, politics, world events, music and the odd personal musing. Basically, I spend my days figuring out how to turn news items and current events into nuggets of humor and insight. I'd very much like to do this for a living. Right now, it's a labor of love.

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Previously, I had jobs in finance and sales, so I don't have a resume that demonstrates any history of creativity or writing ability. But I do have my blog.

I've burned through most of my savings, so I'm at that stage of the blogging life when it's time, alas, to look for a real job. My hope is to find one that allows me to use some of my writing talents. Money isn't a big priority; as a matter of fact, a subsistence wage would look mighty good.

If you have any ideas, I would look forward to picking your brain.

Thanks for taking a look,

Jeremy

Rick wrote:

As an alleged expert on the business side of newspapers and news, I now field a lot of questions. But this one is a real toughie.

Rick Edmonds

First of all, I don't know a whole lot of what there is to be known about making a living -- or at least some money -- blogging. Second, while I hate to be negative, the little I do know suggests that a general-commentary personal blog is an especially tough sell. There are exceptions -- as I'm sure you know, Andrew Sullivan and some others have had success asking their readers to volunteer contributions.

A general principle is that people will pay a lot for targeted information/news they can use in their business -- Bloomberg in the financial realm is a good example. Opinion and fun commentary, especially online, may be worth time but not money. For instance, I'm mildly interested in what the deal is with Britney, but there is plenty out there for free -- including the infamous flashing photos.

Nonetheless, here are a couple of suggestions. If you haven't already, try Robert Cox, president of the Media Bloggers Association at robert.cox@thenationaldebate.com. He would at least be able to steer you to people, more knowledgeable than me, who are trying to crack the business nut of blogging.

Joe wrote:

I am with Rick. There seem to be three broad financial models for blogging. Most blogs are written by people who just want to say something. They can be general or focused. Most here post far less regularly than you do, but some faithfully keep up a daily schedule.

Joe Grimm

A second group posts with commercial intent. This may not be monetary. A blog may promote a business and draw traffic to a corporate or small-business Web site. A blog might also make some money with the tip-jar concept or with a program like Google's Adsense. If there is a paycheck, it likely is not enough to live on. Also, a blog can be used to enhance the writer's reputation or stature as an authority. The impetus is similar to what Chris Anderson described in "The Long Tail" when he wrote, "The book becomes not the product of value but the advertisement for the product of value -- the authors themselves."

You aspire to the third class of bloggers, those who are paid full time to do it. Rick mentioned those who generate or skillfully aggregate information that can help people make money. There are also bloggers like ESPN sports guy Bill Simmons who are so popular with a general audience that they can draw audiences. He started in much the same way you did, but tapped in early to the sports community, one of the biggest on the Web.

I'd say your best bet is to be in the second group of bloggers -- those who can supplement an income or enhance a reputation, but who still need to have a day job.

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Coming Wednesday: Her 55,000-circulation paper is demanding 10 to 12 clips a week, and she is getting no better and no feedback. Though she has spent just six months of her two years there as a reporter, she wonders whether she can leave.

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