There are a lot of new bloggers that believe that they can someday work for four hours a day and make a full-time income. The reality is that it probably won’t happen. I’m not trying to dishearten you or not motivate you. I think bloggers just need to know the reality. The good thing is, blogging can be fun , you can make a great deal of money, and you are your own boss.
When I first started blogging four years ago I didn’t do it to try and make money. I did it because I wanted to write about something I love in sports. Then I started a blog a year later about another topic I love in Photoshop. I was able to easily grow these blogs into moneymaking machines and later sell them for a huge payday. If you love what you are doing then it is hard to get down on yourself if you’re not making a lot of money right away.
I read a blog post about three months ago about a guy that blogs full-time. He talked about how so many other people think that you only have to work a couple hours a day to be a blogger. His blogging schedule was quite hectic where he was working 12 hour days. I’m guessing that is why he is making around $200,000 a year. Darren Rowse and Yaro Starak are the same way. Of course when you start to build authority in your blog niche and you’re making a lot of money, you do not have to continue to work this much. Making that kind of money should be motivating enough.
Here is my current blogging schedule:
7 Am – Wake up and Have Breakfast
7:30 Am – Take a Shower and Get Ready for the Day
8 Am – Go Ahead and Start Commenting on Other Blogs, Anywhere from 50 to 60 of Them
10 Am – Work on StumbleUpon and Digg
11 Am – Comment on More Blogs That Have New Articles
12 Pm – 1 Hour Lunch Break
1 Pm – Write Content for the Next Day
2 Pm – Forum Responses, Twitter, and Plurk
3 Pm – Comment on More Blogs
4:30 Pm – Blog Consulting for Businesses (Internet Marketing and Social Media)
6:30 Pm – Have Supper with the Family
7:30 Pm – Blog Design
9 Pm – Relax and Watch TV
12 Pm – Go to Bed
That is basically my schedule every single day of the week. Sunday is a little different considering I go to church in the morning. Over the years I have learned to do many different things in the blogging world. I try to spend most my time interacting with other people through commenting on other blogs, social media, forums, or consulting.
This is the kind of schedule that has made me be able to make a full-time income on the Internet. If you already have a day job then you can put your most important things at nighttime. A lot of you won’t be doing things like blog consulting and blog design so that should leave you plenty of time.
The main thing is that you blog about something love. You want it to be fun and exciting for yourself. Then when you make money it is that much better. I love my schedule and I love to blog. I think that’s what keeps me successful and I know you can do the same too.
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I spend about an hour a day on my blog. Most of that hour is spent reading on commenting on other blogs, which I do for fun and for promotion. Right now blogging is a fun part-time hobby for me, but maybe someday it can be a valid source of income for me.
Well, it sounds like you are blogging for all the right reasons. I wish there were more people like you when it comes to blogging. Blogging is way better when you’re having a little fun with it. I really enjoy blogging every day and I am so glad I found it four years ago.
I love your schedule. Boy do you do a lot of commenting, but I guess that is a great part of this business. I think you said it best with commenting and getting involved in other people’s websites. That is a very big part of this business.
Now that you have shared this, it let me know that it is ok to spend so much time commenting. That was something that I feared I was making a mistake on..taking too much of my time commenting.
Unfortunately over the past few days, I have not been able to comment so much because my appraisal business has kept me business, but now I just have to make time to make it happen.
It is my desire to earn a full time living on the Internet and you just gave me some validation that I am on the right path.
Sweet! Thanks man!
I never think it is a bad thing to comment on other blogs. I do think people do it a little too much, kind of like myself. You just always have to remember to write a great comment and not a one or two liner. But, I have seen you on and bought a different blogs and you write great comments every single time. I definitely think you’re on the right track right now.
Thanks for the support, Franklin. I have to check you out more cause you tend to have some good stuff. And who knows, may be our online relationship/friendship will grow in the process. I don’t think that would be a bad thing a all.
I shall return!
If I’m reading this right – you are spending 4.5 hours PER DAY commenting on blogs?!!? Do you really think that is the most effective use of your time now that you are making a full time income? When I first started blogging I did a lot of commenting and it got my blog off the ground but now I rarely comment (um, present comment excluded!) because my time is better spent on antivities that do more to increase my revenue.
My commenting schedule is crazy! I love to build relationships and get to know other bloggers. I like to know what they think and how they feel about current situations in the blogging world. I just really love that part about blogging. No, I do not think other people need to spend 4 1/2 hours per day commenting on blogs. I know you really have set up your blog to try and make money because that is your income. This blog really isn’t bringing in an income currently though and I’m not sure I really want to.
You don’t answer emails or bother to thank anyone either
but who cares actually lots of bloggers get to that arrogant point
in blogging
Myself I had worked many a day at that schedule that you mention Franklin
but now things are basically on auto pilot and I think about a post then just write it up submit it to a few spots then I’m done. I peek back to see if any comments are coming in but whether I get a few visitors or many it’s all the same.
I rather have a few cool hard working bloggers stop by then a bunch of hotshot lamers
Peace
PS now that I think about it Franklin add yourself to the first part of this I did use my time to email you a ten question interview and never heard nothing you could of just wrote back and said I pass
Anyway I bet that friendship with bloggers such as myself prove way more profitable then some of the things your doing but we all have to work hard it is alot nicer when people have courtesy and basic respect but I made 6 grand this month so I’ll get over it
Thanks
Well, I really don’t think of myself as arrogant. I never received an e-mail from you or I would have e-mail you back. I even give out my e-mail so anyone can get a hold of me. They can even add me on MSN if they would like. You can ask of other people that have e-mailed me and they will tell you that I e-mailed them back. Here’s my e-mail: franklin_bishop@live.com
So as i understand blog commenting is one importent thing what you do for market your blog?
Here are the only two things that I do: I comment on other blogs and try to get traffic from sites like StumbleUpon and Digg. I get around 4,000 to 5,000 unique visitors from StumbleUpon every month. And I always have direct hits coming in and search engine traffic.
I work less for writing a post and more on marketing my new blog
Yeah, some people think marketing is king. Either way though, you just have to find what works best for your blog. I tend to write a lot of content that I never use.
Hey Franklin, I have a good 12-15hr day as well…you may have noticed I’m a bit into commenting also. LOL
I’ve never actually added it up, but I’m getting better at diversifying my time to be a little more productive.
Yet, I have become a lot more productive over the past year or two. I get a lot more done in my day now.
I think commenting is very important and obviously you do too. I do it so I can build relationships with other bloggers. I just never wanna be an arrogant blogger where I don’t reply to comments or try to get to know new people.
Great post, you have made the point that blogging is a ton of work. Most things in life are though. Hey, would you do me a favor and check out a new site I’m working on
http://www.bfranchise.com
I’d appreciate it if you would leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Best,
TAM
Well, I see a lot of people try to make people believe that you can only blog for a few hours a day and make tons of money. It just isn’t true though.
I will make sure to check out your new blog and let you know how I feel about it.
With rare exception, will a blogger spend a couple of hours a week on a blog and make serious money.
If you are looking to make six-figures or even low five figures a year, your blog has to become your second job. That means spending well over 20 hours a week on it, buying advertising for it, commenting on other blogs, joining social sites and being social, and producing content.
Maybe MAYBE at the end of the 90’s you could blogged a couple of hours a week and made SOME money. Now, there are millions of blogs and billions of websites. You have to work hard to get past all of the dross.
Good luck.
I completely agree with you. In this day and age there are way too many blogs to compete with so you do have to spend a lot of time working on your blog.
The same is true for other types of media. Radio DJ’s don’t work just the 4 hours they’re on the radio. TV reporters work more than the 30 minutes they’re live.
You put that well Mike. I’ll have to use that explanation next time someone emails me this question.