The Problem: Most blogs in this niche are written by people attracted to the idea of making money on the internet, but their thoughts never expand beyond the initial idea to untapped markets and niches. Instead, they stick to the topic where they first heard about the concept of making money online – a make money on the internet blog. So they go out by a domain name, get a hosting account, install WordPress and start writing about making money on the internet. They talk about ways to make money online, they guest blog, they comment on every blog, they post income reports, they talk about WordPress plugins that help them make money, they push the Thesis WordPress theme and just about any other product that has a decent affiliate program. But no where along this timeline of tragedy do they stop to think about the market they’re serving. Although the market is ever growing of more and more people just like them it’s also not very profitable unless you’re among the top names in the industry (a feat late comers will rarely – if ever – accomplish). Worse still the information they share is often times a collection of regurgitated crap that occasionally does more harm than good.
This is what I propose…
The Solution: I’m convinced that every person has a subject or passion they truly care for and know a lot about. I’m also convinced that 99.999% of the bloggers writing about making money on the internet don’t truly have the collection of these traits in this subject matter (passion and true knowledge) so I propose that you do yourself a favor and quit or sell your blog. Odds are no one will buy it because it’s full of useless information but with the time you can reclaim by quitting the blog you’ll be thanking me later. What I suggest you do with the new found free time is to develop websites or blogs in markets and niches that you already have knowledge about and passion for. If it happens to be a niche that isn’t very competitive than that’s all the better. The point I’m trying to get across here is that I was the guy 2 years ago doing all the stupid things I listed above. It wasn’t until I quit my blog and moved into other niches that I started earning several thousand dollars a month. The only reason why I came back to this niche is because I really enjoy the topic, I have a lot of ideas to share now that I earn thousands of dollars a month on the internet and because it directly relates to what I already do for a living.
Wrap Up:
If you are part of the problem like I outline above than I urge you to go out and explore other topics on the web. You’ll be surprised by what you’ll find and hopefully you’ll start earning thousands of dollars a month like I did. If as a result of reading this post you do decide to go out and start websites in other topics and you eventually do achieve financial success I’d love to hear about it. If only one person abandons their pointless make money online blog and goes on to earn substantial money from another niche than I’ve done my job.
What do you think? Am I a jerk for calling people out like this? Do you think I’m a hypocrite because I’m criticizing people that write about a topic I cover on this blog? Whatever the case may be I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Hi Chris,
This post is blunt but I do get the message you’re relaying. I have a blog which is probably useless to someone like you, but it is suppose to be from t he perspective of someone starting off making money online.
I’m not there yet, but I have learned a lot. My blog is motivation for me to keep searching and experimenting so I have content to share. The blog holds me liable.
My attention isn’t full-time on making money online because I have a full-time job, but it is something I’ve passionate about and will conquer this arena. Looks like it’ll take me a bit of time.
I can appreciate your honesty. Hopefully I can find help here on your blog and can reach your level of expertise a few years down the road.
How about you write something focusing on a beginners that discusses how they should *start* making money online. Or what the easiest way is (though we know there is no easy way, per se).
Looking forward to your content, Chris!
.-= Moon Hussain´s last blog ..A Conversation That I Will Remember For the Rest of My Life =-.
As for suggesting niches I would say literally anything else you are passionate about � write about it. Just don�t write about something you don�t have expertise in as it will be much harder for you to build an audience especially in a niche like this one where it�s already over crowded.
Good idea on writing articles for where to start making money online. I�ll try and come up with a few for that.
Chris
A couple of months ago you left a comment on my blog telling me how I should focus on niches outside of MMO because that is how you eventually started making money.
Because of that, I ended up selling one of my MMO blogs and am working towards getting a few niche blogs off the ground. Thanks for the advice!
.-= Tom´s last blog ..Outsource Link Building � Under $3/hr =-.
That’s great Tom! Be sure to keep me posted on how it works out.
I don’t think you are a jerk for saying what you did above; there are a lot of idiots out there that write about this particular topic without a product/knowledge/anything of value to offer. Kudos to you for stating that. You have learned from the school of hard knocks and can speak from experience and I think people who read here realize that.
One of these days I will come up with a site idea but until then will stick to Web Dev. 🙂
.-= Jeff´s last blog ..Synergy � Work Across Computers =-.
Just build a website around what you already know really well. Although just keep in mind website development as a niche is very crowded.
You hit me! That was I did with my blogging tips blog but after rethinking again — I decide to only use My blogging tips as place to write my related blogging experience according to my telecom blog building which is my expertise. 😀
.-= Dana @ Blogging Tips Blog´s last blog ..How To Create Blog Logo Easily by Using GIMP #2 =-.
I don’t think that you are a jerk for pointing that out. Like you , I used to be one of those bloggers who lieks to talk about making money online eventhough I hve few experience with it.
Right now, I think that I am going to focus on just one blog and then go on with another blog once I have decent traffic.
.-= paul | entertainment tonight´s last blog ..Rachelle Ann Go goes back to Kapuso network =-.
That’s a great idea Paul. Let me know how it works out for you. I spent a lot of time researching different markets that I knew a fair amount about and decided to just go for it. Flash forward a few years later and I’m making good money from them.
Hi Chris,
You make some cogent points. One thing: don’t ever think that what you did were “stupid things.” Brave people go out on a limb to make mistakes, and mistakes are only opportunities to learn from. Only losers look at mistakes as losses. Part of the online money making game is “failing” yourself to your goal.
As for a niche market, you know mine buddy 😉 The people who think *very* differently are the world changers. Never follow the herd unless you want to live an average life.
Thanks for sharing your insight 🙂
.-= Ryan´s last blog ..How to Interview a Cash Gifting Mentor – Part 2 =-.