I hear a lot of people throw around that they are pro bloggers?
Of course, we all assume pro equals professional, so what defines a pro blogger?
Is it the money? Is it the experience? What is it?
Can you be a pro blogger and still have a 9 to 5 job? Answer: maybe, but being a pro blogger is more than just frequently blogging. You do have to have great reach and you have to have quality articles that people want to read.
I know what I will say in this article may offend a few people, but believe me, after not having a 9 to 5 job since 2008, AND blogging for over 8 years, I am more than experienced on what it takes to be a pro blogger. I have been paid for years, and not just from sponsored blog posts and advertising, but also being sponsored too. I also make money from my web design clients who contact me – in fact, in the last year since I have moderately promoted myself on Twitter and Facebook, my sales have gone up nearly 500%. Please note – moderately. Imagine if I really decided to be annoying and “in your face” about my services. I would either deter people or bring in more.
From the beginning of my early days in blogging, my goal has to try to help people. Years ago when I started, NO ONE was out there to help. I am not exaggerating on that. Of course, there were a few HTML websites out there, but I learned by myself. I saw some of my online friends I engaged with daily floundering in web design and felt the need to help them. I still do today, but I went from services being free, to being paid for it. And it was not because of my portfolio (which still has yet to make its debut as of March 2011), but because of what I blogged about and my own site’s design.
Aside from my own experience, remember, it does not matter what niche you are in, but if you are professionally paid enough to make an actual living from your blogging, you might be a pro blogger. And this is not the “supplemental income to take your kids to the local Chuck E Cheese on the weekend”, but actually being able to pay.
It is hard and takes a lot of work to get there. Even pro bloggers that are a couple levels higher than myself, while they may not have blogged as long, they have worked VERY hard to get where they are today. And believe me – it takes a LOT of ambition. Some of the people I have seen starting to make a great foundation for their future, like Ileane Smith, Gail Gardner, and Kimberly Castleberry have been VERY ambitious in a VERY admirable way. (By the way, they are great examples of whom you might want to follow.)
Why?
Because each of them have been willing to do what it takes to learn, grow, and try to do what it takes to come out on top. It takes connecting with hundreds of people whether through Twitter, Facebook, or returning blog comments, forums, tribes, or whatever.
If you are wanting to become a pro blogger, there are a lot of great people to follow out there, but you have to get into that mentality that you are going from being a hobby blogger to being serious and making a business out of it.
How do you define what a pro blogger is?
Agree wholeheartedly with everything you said here.
But what always disappoints me is when people "go pro," and perhaps step a little too far over that 'hobby' line.
If you are serious about making money out of it, no doubt you have to get into a professional mindset. But if you stop loving what you do, it will become so obvious in what you post and that, in turn, could potentially lower the content quality and hinder the means in which your readers connect.
I think the best pro bloggers are professional about what they do but communicate with their readers just as thought they're doing it purely for the love of it.
My recent post What Dexter Teaches Us About Blogging
thanks for your points Stacey. Truly, something stops being a hobby once it starts stressing you to do it. But being a pro is itself an extremely demanding status which of course is far from hobby, as you say. Turning, though, from a hobbyist to a pro doesn't change the love for the object i.e. writting. You still love writting when you decide to become a pro, but what changes is your way of thinking and your approach to writting. Therefore, quality will not necessarilly lower, but your style will do.
My recent post Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld Navigator Review
Great share. I was not too long in this field. I may need to follow your advice to be great pro blogger just like you.
My recent post Al-Maisan Android 22 Froyo Arabic ROM
thanks a lot for stopping by!
My recent post Ultimate Business Planner Review
Nile you have ultimate business ideas, you have worked very hard in your profession, better luck in future.
It is a good thing that I have never labeled myself as a pro blogger, Nile, or I would have fallen short of all your expectations and principles about being a professional in blogging. Blogging takes a lot of time and dedication, especially for those people who want to earn money from it. I started a blog in my business website to provide information to my customers and prospects. It was not until lately that I started becoming social about blogging. So, I am still far away from being a pro.
My recent post Are Relationships Now the Key to Relevance Online
There are a lot of people who have the potential to be a pro blogger. It takes time – believe me, it took a lot. And even after, it still takes works to maintain that status. You cannot step back unless you become a professionally paid speaker or website coach who helps people with their sites and branding.
I have some ideas in the near future I cannot wait to share, but proofing my whitepaper is going to take a bit… something I have to do in between projects and family time…lol
Hey Nile, thanks for giving me such an awesome recommendation and your kind words. I consider it an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence with Gail and Kim. They are two of my favorite bloggers also. It's a slow process and many people get confused and end up being frustrated when they don't make a quick buck. Thanks for setting everyone straight about what it takes.
Enjoy the rest of your week Nile and have a great one.
My recent post Finding The Best Social Media Apps to Boost Your Brand
Excellent Article Nile Flores. you have explained it well. 🙂 a question for you. I have been hearing much about "shoutmeloud" Do you think he is pro blogger? and why?
My recent post How Spyware Has Been Evolving
Nice article! you have explained it well. I want to ask you something. I've been hearing much about "shoutmeloud"- Harsh Agarwal and Darren Rowse's- problogger .Who do you think is a pro blogger?
My recent post How Spyware Has Been Evolving
great stuff. i am a fresher in this field and it is a great info for me as well as for others. Thanks for sharing.
I think it's balls of steal, and appropriate for the image as well Nile 🙂
Balls of steal because blogging is hard work. You must try and try and try and try until you succeed. Most just give up.
Aloha Nile, very informative post and well said with proof to set the path for most. And some of the names you named here, I have seen them on some social media sites, coaching others through troubleshooting situations with online matters. Glad I came by and thanks for sharing! Mahalo, Lani 🙂
PS..glad we connected with a cool team on fb, Blogging MM. I get so see so many talents there and meet wonderful ambitious folks.
My recent post Blind Faith Has No Limitations- Literally!
There are a lot of people I have met throughout the years, and the few I named are only recent that off the top of my head, embody this mentality of being a pro blogger. A lot of people who are blogging today have actually been blogging less them 1/4 the time I have been a blogger…lol. However, because I have SURVIVED (and I emphasize that out of both humor and truth) through the years from my passion to help others and to connect as well. I am hoping you and I connect more. You seem like a great person with a lot of positivity that I love to connect with. 😀
Hi, Nile. I've never been a hobby blogger. My blogging is business blogging, so I consider myself a professional blogger, or pro blogger. I consider anyone blogging for business purposes to be a "professional blogger." However, there are certainly different levels of that and there are varying levels of commitment, dedication, passion, knowledge and professionalism. The key for me is what you said toward the end of your article – – it has to do with the willingness to learn and grow and do what's necessary to come out on top. It's like with many other offline professions. Do you engage in professional development? Do you invest in becoming the best in your field? Is it your passion? What's your purpose and goal in what you're doing? Are you willing to do what it takes to get to the top? I don't define pro bloggers as only those on the top . . . but personally that's where I want to be.
My recent post Is Your Blog an Attractive Blog
The problem is that even if you are blogging in a niche about business, or something considered “professional”, that does not necessarily put you as a pro blogger. Pro blogger… as I said… it not exactly a “professional blogger”. You could, like myself, blog as a part of your online profession, but being a pro blogger, takes a lot of effort.
Yes, the mentality from switching from “I like to write about things” to “I like to write about things, but monetize my blog, and add to my niche community in a valuable manner” is a HUGE step.
You do have that mentality for the pro blogger. Even if you may be in the beginning, feel free to ask anything. I have been doing this for MANY years (nearly 9…can you believe it!?!)
I still do love to read hobby blogger blogs though and it reminds me of my beginnings. My mommy blog is actually my hobby blog. Blondish.net and WPAddict.net are my pro blogs (both I have represented as a public speaker in several conferences.)
I totally agree on how you defined what a pro blogger is. I have the same thought of it. I consider myself as a hobby blogger as I've been blogging for about 3 years now, and I wanted to get serious in this and be able to earn from blogging. I guess, in my case, I needed to make more connections to people -as it is one factor to be a pro blogger. Thanks a lot for this post!
My recent post Which Type of Dental Crown Is Right For You
Definition of a pro blogger:
Having the confidence to keep putting yourself out there despite people hating your guts 🙂
Really excellent job. But i think there is big difference between normal blogger and pro blogger. Pro bloggers are very well enlightened than normal one.
IMO… Professional blogger is one who is passionate about what he is writing… although I read somewhere that a problogger is one who makes a living out of his blog… I disagree with that… money is the 2nd thing only.. the first thing obviously is CONTENT and knowledge…