A blogger writes about things they are interested and a business makes money, those are the two distinctions right? But what sort of changes can you expect to go through when you decide to start trying to make money from all this and what qualifies me for this?
Well I’m going through these exact changes right now and at the time of writing this site is almost there, but there has been changes here too and I thought it would be a good time to actually go through them here with you so that you can prepare, mentally and emotionally.
- Focus
Your focus will shift, it has too. Shifting focus to think more like a business than someone who makes everyone laugh at the party. I use this analogy because it’s something I have seen a lot of, one of my mates is a seriously good mechanic, he tunes up cars and not your fast and furious type rubbish, real power to real cars, new blocks, shaving piston heads the lot. Now we worked on a BMW engine before and did some serious work on, he really enjoyed it and I suggested he should start his own business doing exactly this.
Couple of years later he is up and running and making a living with his own garage, is he happy? Absolutely, but the biggest factor in him actually making a living was putting his business before his friends. His friends are constantly asking him for help, for free of course just like it was years ago before any of this started.
But this in terms of a website, you have bills to pay and food to put on your children’s table, that said it doesn’t mean you should forget your friends as in most cases your friends helped you get there in the first place. So how do you handle it? Well my mate does it in the following way, he still helps his friends and still provides favours for them and does still work for free, but he does those free jobs for his friends in his spare time, his paying customers come first.
- Money
Money makes the world go round, it also keeps a roof over your families head. Some people will have a real problem with you earning money, that problem has a simple name. It’s called ”Jelousy” and it’s thier issue not yours. You work hard on your business, or have worked extremely hard to get it to this point at which you can turn it into a business, so you deserve to make some money right?
A blog that doesn’t make money is fine, some people aren’t bothered by making money from their site and that’s good, being in a comfortable situation is great, but the rest of us who do, almost need, to make money from our websites need to think differently about it all. We can’t continue to try and please every single person who visits, we can’t listen to everyone who says ‘you shouldn’t charge for that’ or slating you for trying to earn some money.
If your site is going to be a business then it needs to a; Make money and b; Toughen up. That doesn’t mean you have to stop commenting or replying to everything or change your personality into someone you’re not it simply means you need to think about your site, it’s direction and how it will provide you a living. Will you use it as a platform to engage in real life business, or sell directly from it? What ever the direction you need to work on it and stick to it. You want to make money, it doesn’t mean you have to lose all your friends or ignore people it simply means you have think with your business head on.
- Upset
In the example of my friends garage, asking your friends to be patient because you have work on already (that people are paying for) may upset them, but that’s life you have a business to run. You’re not going to ignore your friends, but you’re not going to jump at their every request either, because it’s a business.
I have a post coming out soon that touches on this, but people (especially spoilt people) moan and complain about free things, it’s ridiculous really, think about it. Someone is giving you something for free, then they complain about it? Crazy, you will have to deal with upsetting some people as your focus changes, but it’s their problem not yours. You want to be a business, not the free mechanic, why shouldn’t you get paid for your work?
photo credit: doortoriver
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I have to agree. Your friends are still there and you should be there for them however you need money to live and therefore you need to think business also.
You want to take business on and make money and still include your friends because they’re the ones (as with others who were there also) who were with you from the beginning.
Make money through your business and still definitely include your friends in the process but your friends must understand that you need to make a living. Period. You’ll still do them favors but more so when you’re doing well with your business.
Great post and I think you’re going to really go somewhere with this site, as always James.
What do you think?
.-= eric´s last blog ..The Power Of A Lie, Is It True? =-.
Yeah I plan to keep the relationship with all the contacts made via this site, but my focus will shift. It’s important to recognise the people who put you in the position in the first place, however, You have mouths to feed and my family comes before anyone. I guess you’re going through the same thing Eric, well I know you are, just wanted your take on it?
Thanks James
Another interesting post.
There does need to be a line between business and pleasure and let friends and family know that you are running a business. I find that because I work from home that people think I am here as a permanent 24/7 point of contact. There is an assumption that because your work from home that you are free to be called (by phone or in person) on at anytime. Clear guidelines need to be given to friend and family as to when you are available.
Roland
.-= Roland Millward´s last blog ..Is Your Website Green? =-.
Hey Roland, thanks exactly right and so true that people think you should be accessable constantly, simple things like time zone difference seems to be forgotten
of course if you do go broke u’ll have less friends to answer to
Yeah, people treat Blogger who turn commercial like people that sold their soul, that’s sad, really sad. that’s why I love Chris Brogan’s take: all his info (blog posts) are free, while he monetizes by his adverts, his speaking gigs, books and other stuff. That’s a perfect combination – give 80% for free, and charge special prizes for the 20%.
Don’t listen to the nay-sayers, just do your thing !
.-= Mars Dorian´s last blog ..Why YOU really Need a Logo ! =-.
Yeah man got it nailed there brother, I always find it quite funny that people complain more at free than they do when there is a price attached
Oh man, do I know that one.
It took me two years of working without profit before I started making money. Through out this time I had to work around funny looks from my in-laws, who also suggested that I get a real job, preferably as a school teacher. Yeah, right. Now that I make double the salary of my sister-in-law who’s a teacher, working fewer hours, I finally get some respect
.-= Anne´s last blog ..Don’t Pee from the Diving Board =-.
Hey Anne, welcome to the site. I’m sure there is a guest post in there ! What do you do?
I’ve often wondered if those who take exception to your making money online are those just looking for something to do, kinda like a teenage hacker. I’m really interested to see who makes the first complaint. It won’t be me, I don’t think it will be Keith. I wouldn’t think Eric will mind. I think Ben’s good and Heather will go along with it. So who is the squeakie wheel? Malcontents with nothing better to do!
.-= Jeffrey´s last blog ..Money! Sounds Like A Plan To Me – Lesson 13 =-.
Yeah Jeffrey that is going to be extremely interesting to watch, bound to be someone whether they are a regular or not, hopefully everyone will understand the amount of free content on here is crazy
Ah man,
It’s pretty hard to keep friends and family at bay. But you are absolutely right about making money from your blog/site. I am shifting my focus to this very soon, James.
It gets hard when you look at your own blog through your own site, through the same jaded attitude. Hope to change this soon!
.-= Moon Hussain´s last blog ..A Conversation That I Will Remember For the Rest of My Life =-.
Yeah it’s a big change, one that’s absolutely vital though, let us know how you get on
Being comfortable… that’s the biggie I think.
As long as what we do sits right with us, no problem, I ain’t got time for those who moan blogs shouldn’t make money… when they pay my bills then they can have a say in it, till then, tough.
.-= rob sellen´s last blog ..Make money online with freelance work =-.
That’s exactly how I am thinking of it, as long as we can go to bed at night and say we did an honest days work, then all the better
Sorry that I wasn’t around for a week but I was on a trip to Scotland, it’s an amazing country. I liked your point here though. I think if you create a business then your customers do come first. But you should also help your friends. I mean you don’t necessarily need to work for free for your friends, you could simply charge less.
Keep it up brother!
.-= Julius Kuhn-Regnier´s last blog ..How to Become More Productive =-.
Scotland nice place man, where about did you go?
A great post James and I really routing for you here in your transition from Blog to Business.
Thanks brother, it’s in part down to your help
I can’t believe you want to make money!!! What kind of a…. Just kidding, I do get your point. people want to have whatever they can get for free. I am sure if your buddy’s friends needed their care fixed bad enough they would be there with a checkbook during regular hours.
.-= Justin Matthews´s last undefined ..Response cached until Mon 5 @ 23:16 GMT (Refreshes in 59 Minutes) =-.
Yeah exactly, As I was saying to Sire people love free and almost become dependant on it
I believe you HAVE to completely separate friends from business, same goes for family. I am not saying don’t help friends, I help plenty of friends, they help me too. I also neglect plenty of friends that I want to help, but there are only so many hours in a day, and I already work way too many of those hours….
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Livestream Weekly Blog Tips Show =-.
Yeah you’re right man, in fact you’re absolutely right. Thankfully the back lash has been minimal I think the problem is people love free and once that free becomes scarce (not obsolete) but scarce they have an issue with it
I’ve been in business for some 30 years and when you’ve invested so much money and effort into starting a business you can’t afford to take your mind off it. This means that your family and friends must suffer a little in that you just can’t physically give them the time they want from you.
Customers are always first and if you forget that the business will suffer so much that it goes broke. I’ve seen it happen. It’s a fine line you tread because family is also important, and if it came to a choice between my family or the business the family would have to come first.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Interview With Maddy Cuttsworth Over PR Update =-.
Yeah it’s one of those balancing acts for sure, thankfully everyone on here is really supportive which is great. Have you always worked for your self?
Since the age of 20. Luckily for me my dad was willing to finance the first one, something he wouldn’t have done had he thought we wouldn’t do the hard yards.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Win A Trip For Two To Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion =-.
the upset factor is indeed a difficult one especially when your friends have become used to getting free stuff from you. but talking to them and explaining the situation really prevents problems and stress. we just have to accept the fact that not all of our friends would understand us.
.-= Julius´s last blog ..A Day in the Life of a Person with a Cognitive Disability =-.
Hey Julius and that’s the exact formation of a friend or not, if they understand then they are worth keeping near by
Your business is an extension of yourself. In fact, i think it is you in another form because you devote your time, intellect, money and sweat into it. It should never take second place to friendship.
Besides Jesus said to love our neighbors as ourselves not more than – meaning to do so is foolishness.
Very smart thinking James.
hey brother, yeah man still be a friend but ultimately friends should realize you have to put food on the table too
You’ve hit the nail right on the head! I totally agree. An interesting dynamic tends to happen when you start to progress into a business mindset, and you don’t have the free time for your friends that you had before you started to build your business. This rings true in so many areas of life. Thanks for reminding us of this!!