What is your blogging bottom line?
As bloggers we’ve got to have a bottom line right? Wrong… I think that not having a blogging bottom line is one of the major problems bloggers of today experience and something well worth a discussion. So here it is, PB’s take on developing your bottom line.
Setting Goals at the Onset
Rumors have it that 80,000 new blogs are built every day and that my friends is a pretty big number. Between the blogger that creates an account and never posts… to the blogger who puts their heart and soul into their new found dream… everyone has a different blogging bottom line. Or do they? As I’ve learned over the past week or so, everyone has a totally different idea of what it is to run an online business. Personally I’ve found it more enjoyable to build something strong and solid. Build it well. Build it with longevity in mind and reap the benefits for years to come. As a fan of genuine, white hat, organic blogging… I hardly see other options as plausible… but I’m wrong, and I know it.
The importance of setting goals at the onset of your new blogging adventure is rivaled by none. Just like a business plan is required by banks, Angel Funds, and Grant Programs, the SBA, and sometimes even friends and family… you should develop one for your online business too. Now unless you’re going after some VC (Venture Capital) or start up seed funding, it’s not necessary to have a 600 page digitized and bound business plan. I’m simply saying that you need a plan and understand what its purpose is.
Your Blogging Business Plan
Documenting your goals from the start allows you to look back and see where you were, look down and see where you are, and look up - to get where you’d like to be. What is a business plan? Sure, it can be a list of your goals. Yep, it can even be a list of things you’re going to do… but more importantly… you business plan is an ever evolving road-map to your success. In business college, you’re taught that business plans are the lifeblood of any start-up. It’s the walking, talking, living , breathing sales pitch that you’ll use to “sell” your ideas to people who have the ways and means to pay for it… I’d say if multi-million and billion dollar corporations use this model for success, we should too, just on a smaller more manageable scale.
Being flexible… is a requirement
The reality is that I don’t know any Angel Fund, or VC investor that wants to read or even approve an inflexible business plan. They all want a business plan that can move with the change in the market. These guys want a dynamic agenda. An ever changing plan that gives those who fund your venture confidence that you can handle the blows you’re going to be dealt. Now that I’m thinking of it, sounds right up the alley of almost every online entrepreneur doesn’t it?
Now what does that mean for a blogger? Glad you asked… What it means for people like us is that we are not only allowed, but encouraged to create flexible, malleable, wavy, business plans that jump around and account for not only market changes, but changes in your businesses primary asset… Yourself! Seriously people, the more and more I look at the idea of a real business plan, the more it makes sense. Seriously, how could it possibly hurt?
Do you have a business plan for your ventures? Why not?
Figuring out your Bottom line
Now that you’ve decided to take up the walking stick, and get on the road to organizing your plan… you’ve got another major hurdle to over come as a blogger. Determining your blogging bottom line. Simply put, this bottom line, should be one of only a few business plan items that shouldn’t ever change. Now this is much harder than you may think, and if you’ve been blogging for any amount of time you know that deep down in your chest somehwere, there is that little bug telling you to do something different. Hell it happens to me all the time, but I’ve GOT to stick to my guns… after all, it’s my bottom line.
As an example… and the sacrificial lamb, I’ll use this blog as an example. The bottom line here isn’t a simple one. It complex. It’s loaded with “what if’s” and “if so’s”. To keep it simple for this articles sake, I’ll say that this blog bottom line is ultimately to make me money. But only indirectly through learning through such a unique experience. I’ve been in business online for quite a few years, and I learn something new every day.
Piss Biscuit is my first blog… does that make me a newbie? Maybe… to things like Social Bookmarking, but hell I’ve bee making money online for a long time now, and I’ve always got a plan. Blogging newbie? Sure. Internet entrepreneur… No way.
I want to take the open communication and the freedom I gain from running PB and apply it to my business plans in other ventures. As many of you already know, and still others like myself learn everyday, keeping your “profitable” businesses close to your chest is an evil necessity that bloggers are forced into. Jealous rivals, spammers, competition, pusillanimous big mouths… you name it, they are after you. This blog allows me the freedom to not worry about my other ventures… what more could I ask for.
Have you thought about your bottom line?
All across the sphere debates are being started about the validity of another blogger business plan (I know I started a big one) and in truth, it’s really not fair. I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to a comparison, it’s got to be apples to apples. Period. It’s a lesson learned for me, but how about you? Do you really comprehend the differences the business plans for other bloggers? Or are you just as wuick to jump down someone’s throat as I was to try and make a point? I think I’ve read on just about everyone’s some sort of dispute in the way things are manged over the past few weeks. We’ve all got our own opinions, but does that mean someone else is totally wrong. Not at all.
The point in this article isn’t admit guilt, or failure, but to simply explain that there is more to bloggin than writing posts and calling someone stupid. It’s all about building a business using the freedom of the interenet in ways that were once never possible. With freedom, comes a mass variety of views and methods and each of us should develop our own before critisizing another. In closing, the interenet is an amazing place. I can fall flat on my face, and tomorrow be up and running again with a whole new mojo. That’s pretty cool if you ask me. So have you made your actual plan? Do you know where your blog is going? Do you know what your end all purpose is? PB’s purpose is that of communication. Nothing more, and I’m proud of where it is today.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
To me the blog world is like Vegas.
You can dream as much as you want and be whoever you want to be. And of course whatever happens in the internet, stays in the internet (if you want it to).
@ PB It seems like it would be especially easy for you to make a business plan because of your many different skills. It doesn’t seem like there would be much to it because you can come up with ideas, make a perfect website for your idea, rank yourself #1 on google and sell the shit out of whatever your doing. And like you said you can change your idea tomorrow, ( just get a new domain name and start all over, the only thing you would be loosing is time. <- my words)
My question is how do I choose to build just one blog that is “strong and solid” to be my main focus? (I’m not saying that you only have to have one, but it must be really hard to maintain and make more than one blog your main focus, especially for someone with limit skills)
I personally have so many ideas, because I love so many things lol. I don’t know where to start with my focus.
August 13th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Quite personally, I just take blogging one day at a time.
I think of my blog as a plant. (Betcha never heard that one before). At first, it grows slow and requires a lot of watering, but after a while and a lot of hard work keeping it alive, it grows into a flourishing plant and takes care of itself.
Brads last blog post..Conducting an Experiment - Advertising And Guest Posts
August 13th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
My business plan? My end purpose?
I’ve just written about it as you know.
Not so much of a plan though, more of a ‘rescue package’ to save my sanity!
And yes, you can be whoever you want to be on the internet, but only if you cover your footprints very carefully… but enough of that
@Blogmiffy,
“it must be really hard to maintain and make more than one blog your main focus”
Let me tell you it can be done, but only at the expense of everything else…
@PB again,
Nice post. I think we are all learning as we go along. No one knows it all and we all have different views on what works for us.
As long as we learn and apply, we can all do this.
As for me, I’ve spent so much time learning and applying the last few months, that I’m mainly applying right now, lol!
zanias last blog post..What Really Makes Money Online
August 13th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Oh yeah and forgot to say, that picture could be me… if I was blonde, lol!
zanias last blog post..What Really Makes Money Online
August 13th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
For me, Blogging is a journey of learning by doing as Zania did mention above, applying what we learn along the way.
If I’m forced to choose one bottom line, let it be personal satisfaction of seeing that my blog is improving day by day in term of traffic and subscribers base.
I’ll be doing it till the passion runs out of my system with or without any monetary results.
Yan
Blog for Beginnerss last blog post..Why You Should Invest Your Time or Money For A Custom Wordpress Theme
August 14th, 2008 at 5:53 am
Well Mr Piss. You know where my blog is going and that is sitepoint marketplace! I never really had any great masterplan when I started blogging but just kinda fell into it. To echo everyone above though, I have learnt and awful lot along the way and by both picking up new skills and applying them - a method more of trial and error than anything else - it has got me to where I am today.
Your advice here is rather timely actually, as I did sit down last night and formulate a plan for my next venture; taking everything I know now, compared to the little I knew before, it should be a whole lot easier for me to get myself back into things this time round. I also think it might do me the world of good as I can start from a clean slate and hit the ground running as opposed to before when I was winging it day by day!
Brads’ one day at a time plan(t) is certainly a good way to look at blogging and I know you yourself always say that blogs are living, growing and adaptable entities. That being said….you gotta have goals!
P.S - Got your email this morning and I am about ready to rock and roll on ‘Project Phenomenal’ any day now!
Oh….and assuming you don’t wish to rank 1st for ‘Pusillanimous’, try some new adjectives!
afraid, chicken, cowardly, fearful, gutless, tame, timid, timorous
theaffiliateposts last blog post..Who Here Knows What Article Marketing Is?
August 14th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Good post PB
For me, my bottom line is an ever evolving journey and outlet for everything I am doing online. It is, as you say, a communication vessel. While I may not expose every single thing I do online, I will share methods and lessons I learn. It also gives me a central hub to share my “voice” or “brand”, basically to share me…without having to be so serious all the time.
I knew from the beginning I wanted my main blog to be about my journey and growth, not a “come my children let me teach you because I know everything” type of place.
My bottom line is to identify and be identified by all the normal everyday average people out there who have the dreams and goals to become successful online.
And….as a by-product of building a nice community, cashflow is always a good bonus!
Normal Joes last blog post..How to Pimp your Wordpress Admin Panel
August 14th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
@ Blogmiffy: As Zania said, it’s very difficult to maintain multiple “Flagship” blogs or websites without having something suffer. It can be done… it just all depends on you business model.
As for Vegas you’re so very right. I love the analogy, but when it comes down to it, you’ve simply got to make a plan and jump in. It’s bound to change, but that’s the awesome part of the web. It’s flexible and for people like us, perfect.
@ Zania: Thanks for the compliment. Yes learn and apply. LOL… sometimes that’s more painful than we think. It’s a tough game to stay on top of, but somebody has to do it. Keep us posted on your Make Money Ventures… at least we’ll know that sacrificing your commentary was worth while…
@ Yan: Just curious… are you reaching your goals? I see your traffic is doing really well, and you’ve built up quite a readership. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s looking good. Secondly, has the “monetization” aspect of blogging hit you yet? I know it’s personal and all, but I know nothing about what oyu do in real life to earn a living, and while truthfully I’m not asking for a disclosure, it be neat-o to follow you on your journey.
@ Brad: Thanks for stopping in, love seeing new faces around town, so I hope you come back and stay a while.
As for the plant analogy… wow… pretty interesting way to look at it. Some of us grow poison ivy and others grow money trees. Fun way to look at it, but I’m not totally sure if I’ll ever get to the “Set it, and forget it” mode. Maybe one day right?
@ AP: I think you’re on the right track with selling. I know some would disagree, but all in all… selling that puppy would allow US some time for “Project Phenomenal” as we’ve been planning for a while now…
As for the “pusillanimous”… LOL… I like timorous. Kinda reminds me of this guys blog. http://blogbadly.com/about/ (Watch the vid. Fair warning though… it can be quite arduous at times.)
@ Joe: You know how I roll Mr. Bling Bling Blogger.
so thanks for the compliment as well. I know you;re on the right track with your blog and your new one is going to be pretty awesome too.
You’re making http://imwithjoe.com a blog all about you, and that’s what we love about it. Funny, real, loaded full of sponsor goodness! I told a childhood friend once when he talked about not needing a good paying job, that if we cannot take care of ourselves, we can’t ever expect to take care of others. Same thing goes for blogging. We’ve got to be earning that cash somehow, if not, we would never have the time or the ability to share.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:56 am
@PB: So that’s why you came us a referrer. Just had to check.
And what’s this about my poorly made video you’re saying?
Max Miroffs last blog post..Oh, Digitalpoint Forums - I Love You So: A “Free Blackhat Method” To Make Money
August 15th, 2008 at 1:06 am
I have to admit, this post really hit home. I’ve been doing some reflecting lately and trying to figure out if there is any way I can maximize my system. For those that don’t know, I don’t just flip blogs… not a big advocate of putting all my eggs in one basket.
I have to say, of all your posts, I think this one is my favorite.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:11 am
I shouldn’t be up at 2 AM.
“So that’s why you came up* as* a referrer.”
Max Miroffs last blog post..Oh, Digitalpoint Forums - I Love You So: A “Free Blackhat Method” To Make Money
August 15th, 2008 at 1:20 am
@ Max: LOL… I guess you got a dose of PB love if you followed the paper trail.
I found your blog the other night and thought the name was catchy. Then I found your about page. LOL. Interesting!
When I read AP’s comment about use of vocabulary words… I had instant deja vu! That damn video of you saying something about bloggers using big words to make themselves feel smart… something like that. Anyway, it wasn’t a put down, so don’t worry about it. Just a funny reference.
@ Blog Flipping: Thanks for the compliment… I enjoyed writing it too, so maybe I should do a few more like it. Maximizing the system we chose to follow… is something no one does to the fullest. Sad really.
Max: LOL. As a blogger, 2am is a cake walk!
August 15th, 2008 at 11:08 am
@PB: Excellent! I’m already becoming quotable, then
I must say you do run a fine, though questionably named, establishment here at the Piss Biscuit.
Max Miroffs last blog post..Oh, Digitalpoint Forums - I Love You So: A “Free Blackhat Method” To Make Money
August 15th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
“quotable”… I’m still looking for on of those gems… but “referable” for sure!
I’m going to have to go hang at your joint a while… learn a little about this 14 year old master mind named Max. Max Miroff… sounds a bit adult entertainment-ish 
Keep it cool dude, lets see some more of you around here… we like good wit.