In the first part of this article series the typical characteristics of a professional blogger were discussed. Here, we are about to see how a professional blogger goes about his typical day.
He Doesn’t Begin the Day Looking for Article Ideas for His Daily Post
It is indeed true that a professional blogger works by writing articles daily. Sometimes, several times a day. John Chow puts it right: five times or more a day. Sometimes a blogger has quite a number of posts, scheduled in case he doesn’t have time for coming days to post. However it is, the blogger doesn’t begin the day searching for article ideas.
He starts the day as a normal day: reading the newspaper or its online version, checking for the latest developments in all fields. He reads the headlines and drills deep into interesting stories.
There is a problem to beginning the day looking for article ideas. It may not give you any at all. You haven’t updated your knowledge. So, you are confused of what your readers need. But reading publications like newspapers give you sparks of ideas to write about.
Next, Starts Reading Subject-specific Articles
A professional blogger on a particular niche typically has a list of professional publications he refers daily. This list is in a constant growth with any new promising publication. These publications include newspaper columns, magazines, and blogs. Once he is finished with the general news stories, he checks these publications to know the latest developments of his niche. This is sort of a knowledge quest, which will update them in their niche.
Brainstorms a Lot
During his reading, the blogger brainstorms a lot. He views the news in a different angle. Tries to analyze what the latest events will cause. Tries to foresee the events. Tries to know whom the news affects. All these brainstorming may typically be recorded as a journal, which will form the input to the day’s blog article.
Reads User Comments and Emails
Now, it is time to read user emails and comments. There may be a specific request for a particular article, help, guideline, etc. You may wish to answer these guidelines through posts. This is an important step.
Writes a Draft Post
Once the blogger has an idea of what is going on, and has done quite a bit of brainstorming, he will have an idea of what he has to concentrate on for the day. There are of course other means to find the topic of the day. This is a time when he has a lot of data and may want to write them down. He writes it down into a draft post.
Reads His Users’ Blogs
For a professional blogger, the readers’ blogs are very important. The blogger should go through the readers’ blogs, post comments, share any valuable post with his other followers through social media, etc. This is very important since it will help him acquire information as to what a reader is expecting on that day. Particularly since there are some news developments happening in the blogosphere, the readers may typically be expecting something interesting from your brain. To get an input into this, you should read user blogs.
In the first part you read, Darren Rowse tracks as many as 600 blogs and other publications daily through feeds. Many of them are user publications.
Completes That Post
Now the blogger has quite a bit of information in his head. He has some research done and has brainstormed a bit. He can complete the draft now. He does it and posts the articles to the blog. He also may do submission of this article to social media for his followers and other readers to easily share it.
Goes to Forums, Answers Questions, Does Social Media
Now, it is time to do what you want to do very much. The social network interaction. There are quite a number of forums, social networks, social media sites, etc., every professional blogger frequents. I go to Facebook, Digital Point forums, Twitter, MySpace, Hi5, etc., during this time. I also submit any valuable post to Digg, StumbleUpon, etc.
Every niche has related forums or social network groups which have users asking questions related to the niche. The blogger, the authority on that niche, should frequent such communities. You will have quite a number of questions addressed to you or your niche, which you can answer. This will help you get quite a few visitors.
Every professional blogger’s first task is to build a list of forums and social network groups, which concentrate on his niche. Along with their blog, they should grow their profile in these groups as well.
Tracks Information Into His Journal
The blogger tracks all information he gets into his journal and puts down article ideas for the coming days. If possible, he may post more articles with research on the current day itself. Otherwise, he will attend the other blogs he owns.
Conclusion
This is a typical lifestyle of a professional blogger. Give your style to your daily routine, by becoming unique. I am trying to establish connections with some professional bloggers out there. I will try to post their activities here as part of this series.
Related Entries:
Professional Blogging Part I: Distinguishing Characteristics
Language and Style of Blogging
Make Your Blog Posts Look More Professional
Copyright © Lenin Nair 2008
He Doesn’t Begin the Day Looking for Article Ideas for His Daily Post
It is indeed true that a professional blogger works by writing articles daily. Sometimes, several times a day. John Chow puts it right: five times or more a day. Sometimes a blogger has quite a number of posts, scheduled in case he doesn’t have time for coming days to post. However it is, the blogger doesn’t begin the day searching for article ideas.
He starts the day as a normal day: reading the newspaper or its online version, checking for the latest developments in all fields. He reads the headlines and drills deep into interesting stories.
There is a problem to beginning the day looking for article ideas. It may not give you any at all. You haven’t updated your knowledge. So, you are confused of what your readers need. But reading publications like newspapers give you sparks of ideas to write about.
Next, Starts Reading Subject-specific Articles
A professional blogger on a particular niche typically has a list of professional publications he refers daily. This list is in a constant growth with any new promising publication. These publications include newspaper columns, magazines, and blogs. Once he is finished with the general news stories, he checks these publications to know the latest developments of his niche. This is sort of a knowledge quest, which will update them in their niche.
Brainstorms a Lot
During his reading, the blogger brainstorms a lot. He views the news in a different angle. Tries to analyze what the latest events will cause. Tries to foresee the events. Tries to know whom the news affects. All these brainstorming may typically be recorded as a journal, which will form the input to the day’s blog article.
Reads User Comments and Emails
Now, it is time to read user emails and comments. There may be a specific request for a particular article, help, guideline, etc. You may wish to answer these guidelines through posts. This is an important step.
Writes a Draft Post
Once the blogger has an idea of what is going on, and has done quite a bit of brainstorming, he will have an idea of what he has to concentrate on for the day. There are of course other means to find the topic of the day. This is a time when he has a lot of data and may want to write them down. He writes it down into a draft post.
Reads His Users’ Blogs
For a professional blogger, the readers’ blogs are very important. The blogger should go through the readers’ blogs, post comments, share any valuable post with his other followers through social media, etc. This is very important since it will help him acquire information as to what a reader is expecting on that day. Particularly since there are some news developments happening in the blogosphere, the readers may typically be expecting something interesting from your brain. To get an input into this, you should read user blogs.
In the first part you read, Darren Rowse tracks as many as 600 blogs and other publications daily through feeds. Many of them are user publications.
Completes That Post
Now the blogger has quite a bit of information in his head. He has some research done and has brainstormed a bit. He can complete the draft now. He does it and posts the articles to the blog. He also may do submission of this article to social media for his followers and other readers to easily share it.
Goes to Forums, Answers Questions, Does Social Media
Now, it is time to do what you want to do very much. The social network interaction. There are quite a number of forums, social networks, social media sites, etc., every professional blogger frequents. I go to Facebook, Digital Point forums, Twitter, MySpace, Hi5, etc., during this time. I also submit any valuable post to Digg, StumbleUpon, etc.
Every niche has related forums or social network groups which have users asking questions related to the niche. The blogger, the authority on that niche, should frequent such communities. You will have quite a number of questions addressed to you or your niche, which you can answer. This will help you get quite a few visitors.
Every professional blogger’s first task is to build a list of forums and social network groups, which concentrate on his niche. Along with their blog, they should grow their profile in these groups as well.
Tracks Information Into His Journal
The blogger tracks all information he gets into his journal and puts down article ideas for the coming days. If possible, he may post more articles with research on the current day itself. Otherwise, he will attend the other blogs he owns.
Conclusion
This is a typical lifestyle of a professional blogger. Give your style to your daily routine, by becoming unique. I am trying to establish connections with some professional bloggers out there. I will try to post their activities here as part of this series.
Related Entries:
Professional Blogging Part I: Distinguishing Characteristics
Language and Style of Blogging
Make Your Blog Posts Look More Professional
Copyright © Lenin Nair 2008
I wouldn't know. I am not a professonal blogger. It seems to be a giant hurdle to cross. Adsense is pennies a day.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Adsense has gone too low nowadays. I am also unhappy at the loss I am getting.
ReplyDeleteHi....
ReplyDeleteNice blog, keep in touch.
Warm regards
Gusn
hi,
ReplyDeletei strongly agree with the participating in forum. you can learn things there and also as well as resourceful people.
How does one actually make money as a professional blogger? What are all the money streams, especially when Adsense and other advertising streams are so useless....
ReplyDeleteThis is your answer, Jennifer: Are You Writing for Money?
ReplyDeleteThere are professional bloggers out there who all earn in the range of 30000 to 50,000 dollars each month. But I can assure you there is a common thing about them all--none of them started their blog for money, or the sole purpose of making money.
I have built my user base only by answering user queries, posting useful content and staying loyal to this niche. So, I believe I will make some money one day, but that's not what I am here for. For my personal life, I make enough money through writing with sites like Constant content freelancing.
This blog doesn't make any great amount of money. But I am trying. My suggestion is you start selling ad space on your blog. Until the time the blogs become popular, you may not have any earnings. I will include more details in a separate post in the next part of this series.
I went to some of your blogs, and good to see you embracing Indian culture.
Thanks
Lenin
As with any occupation, there is a lot of work to be done and little time. Mapping out one's day with logical steps certainly helps. Discipline is definitely a key to success. Keep up the good posts!
ReplyDeleteSteve
nice post, really interesting!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.KyleKorpi.com
Looks like I have a lot to learn still.
ReplyDeleteStewart
Hello, thanks for visiting my blog, I'm here to visit you back.
ReplyDeleteYou have a very informative blog. Keep it up :)
nice post..thanks for sharing..
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing..Nice post you have here, by the way, how did you managed to put that square
ReplyDeleteads in your Visit Sponsors can you teach me how to install it. Thanks and best regard..
Marz, if you sign up on any of these services, clickbank/pepperjam network (go here: Pepperjam Network sign up/CJ, you will find square ad codes of various advertisers in these affiliate networks. Just put it in. If you wish to sell private ads on the sidebar, just ask for the code from the advertiser. You can even outsource your private ad sales to project wonderful, which has a lot of advertisers, and they will serve the image ads directly to your sidebar, once you install their code. If you need more help, let me know.
ReplyDeletenice blog!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteKeep the good the work
Hey, thanks for dropping at my site and for the kind words. You've got a good site here. Looking forward to seeing you around
ReplyDeletenice blog...
ReplyDeleteI agree networking and socializing is crucial, but content speaks for itself.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at all the information here, but I'll be honest- I'm also overwhelmed. I'm also at a point where I haven't crossed over, in my intentions, to being a professional blogger. I'll have to think about your suggestions and your ideas here. I'll have to address what I am at some point- a "professional" blogger or a creative but unpaid writer who blogs!
ReplyDeleteI agree networking and socializing is crucial, but content speaks for itself
ReplyDeleteThanks for the invitation, Lenin. Your blog is interesting and informative.
ReplyDeleteI have never considered blogging for a living. I am too busy making a living with publishing, writing, my astrological and metaphysical clients, and my inkjetreset.com business. My blog is an extra way of communicating to my clients and the world.
My great love is mundane astrology, so I cannot help but write about world events from an astrological viewpoint, when I have the time to do so.
My life is fast paced - and I guess everyone's is. But I pack mine to the limit. Yet, I will continue to visit your blog and keep these thoughts in my mind, implementing a little as time allows.
Thank you!
Michele
@Michelle Thanks for the comment. It's so good to see you here.
ReplyDeleteLenin