Can a beginner Blogger Make a living only Blogging

In my opinion, NO! You can't make a living even doing full time blogging. 

And this is for beginners. There are people making a living, and a lavish one, out of blogging, but then they have become pros now.

I disagree..

Yes you can make your living out of blogging..

But condition apply.. Will write them below post..

Leave your day job and join with me on the walk to Himalayas... no blogging, no worries!

walk ?

Rahul, heard of Mahaprasthan?

 yeah sure, i will go and buy new nike sneakers first, mumbai to himalayas is a long journey  

mumbai to himalayas by foot ?

I'll also join you. Leave me at the valley of flowers, I'll post pictures of flowers from there. 

I'll also join but please arrange a car for me  I don't want to go till Kailash. 

yo was looking for some encouragement and serious advice how much it is possible to make per month after 1 year of back breaking work  and some reallife examples and stories much appreciated:)

If you think you can manage enough traffic to your blog with adsense(or other programs) working you can definitely think of making money .

But first you have to think and learn about your niche and your traffic and your money making potential from your blog.

Take your time.

yes sure till then i guess enjoy the journey ...

Yep, that's the right approach. There shouldn't be a hurry. Once you fall into the trap of earning money out of blogging, I suppose you stop enjoying blogging (again, this is entirely what I think, this might be wrong as I haven't fallen into that trap of earning money out of blogging). So, for a while, enjoy the journey.

Ajeet, he is asking from the successful earners, not from those who pay for high domain bills and earn bagful of satisfaction in return [Godfather smile]

Anunoy, for now, he's like me. So, I think I can suggest.

Anunoy :P dont kill CK:P 

not from those who pay for high domain bills and earn bagful of satisfaction in return 

ehh ??

Junky You no more fall into that category as you shifted to do. 

@CK.. Trying to write an essay 

On Topic..

Yes, it is possible to make a living out of blogging.. Consider this your business so you have understand everything, each and every aspect..

Like BBA / MBA where they teach you things, or engineering, same goes for blogging also as its a vast field.. And too many parameter to fulfill..

Can a beginner do it ??

Lets see, a guys from Africa jungle, who knows nothing, arrives in Ahmadabad !!

So ?? No capital, no knowledge of anything ??

He would end up in service, perhaps delivering tea in a local tea store !!! 

If your level of beginning is that low, it would take you years before you gather up knowledge for the business you want to start.. Let alone the investment..

So, now what ??

Judge your self.. Where do you stand..

What is your level here in this industry ??

Can you afford that much time and money, since just like formal education and specialization, here too you have to invest learning.. Invest both money and time !!

How do all these people earn and makes their living ??

Simple and basic rule..

They have a website, where many people comes everyday.. Since many people comes, just like news paper, advertising companies or brands (directly) starts showing their advertisement and that generates the reveneu

Some also uses blog for other indirect income, like selling apps (hot field now a days), developing apps..

Here blog acts as a bridge !!

Always have a backup plan..

Maximum of the cases, things are heavily depended on Google.. For traffic and also income.. What if they blocks you, bans you.. What is your backup plan ??

Yes in many cases if you are good at this field, backup plan is itself another blog..

So, tell us, where do you stand ??

Ask you self these questions, since there is no easy money and time is the key, how much you can afford and invest, both in terms of long term time frame and money..

CK's successor 

I love essays 

yes there is no easy money.

google is  not everything , i hv seen people earn big with amazon n flipkart depends on niche though

blog is not everything , website is not everything , you got to study your visitors 

google is  not everything

Yes but there are people who are earning USD 20 / 25 per click !! Yes just single click generating USD 25 

only a few r 

CK writes essays...

CK's successor

Nah.. He is lot better in this.. 

Money spells m-o-n-e-y and blogging spells b-l-o-g-g-i-n-g... and as you can see the spellings aren't the same. The only thing common is 'o'... which, in the case of blogging, means zero. So I agree with all those who say that there is no money in blogging.

However, Hunky isn't absolutely wrong... there is a miniscule percentage of those who have begun as bloggers but who are now manufacturing reviews that no one is really bothered about. The readers know they write crap. The company employees want an online presence to save their jobs. The PR companies are bent upon surviving and going on with their wine-n-cheese parties. The once-upon-a-time good blogger is now having restless nights  thinking of yet another day of meaningless writing.

So, if you really wish to 'blog', just focus on what and how you write -- the rest isn't worth any attention.

You can now turn back and ask, 'Why should I blog then?'

Well, if it is money you seek just go and do the job you're qualified for dammit.

Thanks for the answer Arvind jee I mentioned that 5 months back i started the blogging journey and had a small thought of doing something of my own , the corporate life is different & I will not mention anything about it here. 

But when you put in efforts and invest time a thought come across mind not for me but for all young bloggers who are just starting can it help financially as well that was the reason I put up the question to the veterans...

So I agree with all those who say that there is no money in blogging.

There is.. There was, and there will always be..

Please note, if you cant see something, that doesn't mean that thing doesn't exists..

If you can lift 200kgs, that doesn't mean that it cant be done.. If you cant stay underwater for more than 5 mins doesn't mean no one can..

Accept the facts.. They are facts.. Google is earning billions out of adsense, so ?? Publishers are also getting their share as otherwise google would be out of business !!!

However, Hunky isn't absolutely wrong... there is a miniscule percentage of those who have begun as bloggers but who are now manufacturing reviews that no one is really bothered about. The readers know they write crap. The company employees want an online presence to save their jobs. The PR companies are bent upon surviving and going on with their wine-n-cheese parties. The once-upon-a-time good blogger is now having restless nights  thinking of yet another day of meaningless writing.

Money comes not just from paid reviews! There is also good money in blogging. (if you insist that there is also something called bad money) One can write educational content and earn from adsense. No where, product reviews come into the picture.

Thanks Hunky , Ranjith , desire /destiny for all your views as i am understanding this from all the discussion before one start earning the person must have some of the following:

1) Persistance to do it for a long period of time

2) Good Knowledge and understanding of niche - subject matter

3) Money to invest - i am not sure about this but i think Hanky was referring to money paid in hosting , social media promotion , and theme plugin purchase etc

4) time to invest 

5) Basic knowledge education and a reference starting point & skill set

To sum it up, to make money is possible but very difficult - if i am understanding it right friends

Yes, you got it right. One can earn money from blogging but it is difficult and leaving a full time job and thinking of concentrating solely on blogging is not recommened. I would say not to leave your job unless you earn from blogging as much as you earn from your full time job and the income from blogging is guuaranteed to be stable. 

Let me please speak on subject. I am sorry things can be little offesive towards you, but for sake of understadning, forgive me..

3) Money to invest - i am not sure about this but i think Hanky was referring to money paid in hosting , social media promotion , and theme plugin purchase etc

I saw your website.. and a review of three grfx card.. Its not a review, when you compare to The Sorcerer (https://www.indiblogger.in/blogger/57416/).. He runs HardwareBBQ and check there..

A review, which can attract viewers, is where you get the cards physically, not on paper or reading from other blogs and provide a hands on data, not just bnch mark but also your own view, feeling..

There comes investment.. Content which is genuine..

2) Good Knowledge and understanding of niche - subject matter

Ehh ?? Just that ??

You have to understand basic server management since when it grows you need that.. Understand SEO, understand event wise SEO, date wise SEO.. Understand how adsense work.. Optimize your content for better ads..

Learn and learn how to grow and expand..

5) Basic knowledge education and a reference starting point & skill set

Ehh !! Internet, start with being jack of everything then slowly start mastering things which you need..

To sum it up, to make money is possible but very difficult - if i am understanding it right friends

Sorry but can u understand this, making money, in any field is difficult.. even when begging !!! So whats the big deal ??

Kanuj somethings totally depend on you....Writing can make you earn by different ways..You can provide content writing service, start blogs on different niches and do many more things...Unlike job there may not be any fix salary, but you'll get to learn lot of things by becoming a blogger...I'll just say that start doing blogging, but don't think of it as a full time job for now...You can only think about blogging as your full time job after you have 1/2 or many blogs which have started providing you with decent income regularly...All the Best Kanuj..Any more questions?

Well, the only 'advantage' of blogging, if I may say so, is that it allows you to find your own creative depth and discover your own creative geographies. This is quite helpful if you aim to finally make it big in the world of 'writing', which isn't blogging.

Blogging helps you stumble upon your hidden creative nuances and wake them up like a yogi wakes up his kundalini... and if this isn't the biggest reward, then what is? I mean, are a few thousand rupees every month more than hobnobbing with your muse?

Think.

well i agree on one thing after  me or anyone start blogging  we learn so many skills like typing fast , photo editing, creating you tube videos, social media experiments and it does bring out the creative side of me which i never knew existed  & to Hunky i guess you are saying there is light at the end of the longggg tunnel , only thing is to keep faith  till then knowledge is the reward ...

Hunky i guess you are saying there is light at the end of the longggg tunnel , only thing is to keep faith

I dont belive in faith.. I know education, and hard work..

Learn and work hard.. Add Investment when thinking prof-blogging.. When all these three factors comes together, you will slowly start beating your competition.. If that is light, then yes you may start seeing that light from your dark tunnel..

Google 'top earning bloggers in india' and go through some of the results. You will see people earning lakhs per month.

Now, search on IndiBlogger  for threads like - 'How much do you earn?' . You will see almost everyone saying $0.000000 

HAHAHA @ Ranjith i already read about at least harsh shoutmeloud guy about earning and some more but the bloggers i know personally dont have any substantial income to substitute a real salary and most of young guns jump in after reading may be the pipe dream of earning big money in blogging that is why i was looking for real truth so no better place to ask than indibloggers....

Now, search on IndiBlogger  for threads like - 'How much do you earn?' . You will see almost everyone saying $0.000000

Ask TS, that hardwarebbq guy.. He earns good deal out of his website..

You will see almost everyone saying $0.000000

This list that Ranjith is talking about... well, at least one of the lists, has 9 out 10 blogging on technology, SEO, and tips on blogging. The truth is that these are subjects that most aware people would be going to read on sites and portals that are from outside India. There are obvious reasons for this... and quite logical ones, so if you are planning to be one of the cliched techies wasting his time by handing out second rate information leeched from first rate blogs from the West, go ahead. :)

and quite logical ones, so if you are planning to be one of the cliched techies wasting his time by handing out second rate information leeched from first rate blogs from the West, go ahead. :)

I am contradiciting again.. Sorry for the that..

But here we are talking about making money.. So as long as no rules / laws are broken, whats wrong in that approch of making money ??

one of the cliched techies wasting his time by handing out second rate information leeched from first rate blogs from the West, go ahead.

New tech information cannot be created in 99% of the cases. 

If you look at the first person in that list, Amit Agarwal, he posts scripts and similar things for bloggers. Are those scripts copied from somewhere else? Doesn't that require any effort?

Programming/Writing scripts requires as much effort as creative writing, and sometimes even more, even if you copy half of the code from other sources. 

+1 Rajni...

okay good to hear varying view points @hunky i do follow some of your points of creating original content say for example a graphics cards review now tomshardware anandtech and techspot videocardz and another 100 sites would do it as they get hardware easily in west it is quite difficult to do so in India and u cant go buy all the hardware  in such situation considering the limitations.

What to do ?

normal reader is interested to know which card gives him best value for money he dont want to know whether u tested it u r self and or u have read ten different reports and created a data which is absolutly correct and hold a neutral view which is in his interest. 

we share so many of videos and pictures quotes and stuff which are created by other people and yet your reader love your blog because u r telling that story to them in the true most interesting manner along with some value  add to it.

this is what i think is my view and i dont ask or expect any one to agree with it 

Now as far as HardwareBBQ goes there is a lot of detailed information there but some what cluttered and too long as i see it , again this is personal view i like short crisp and to the point information.

u cant go buy all the hardware  in such situation considering the limitations.

I am sorry but the thread title said making living out of blogging and for a business one has to invest !! Without investment, dont exect return !! Refer to that tea selling reference of mine 

What to do ?

That is what i asked you.. This you, who can judge if you should blog in a subject where investment you cant handle.. Then ?? Study, see which subject pays more but is under your investment limit..

this is what i think is my view and i dont ask or expect any one to agree with it 

Its alright as long as you dont ask this question of making money !!!

If I start a tech blog and write a processor review, just on paper stuff.. Will you sto reading tomshware for my review ?? You wont..

Does that matter to me ??

It doesn't if I am just blogging.. but it will hurt big time if I am blogging for profession !!

So when would you read ??

If I can get hands on review and out do the toms guys by doing something new with the stuff 

Now as far as HardwareBBQ

I jus used it as referance point.. Since this guy is also a member of this forum.. You can put tomshardware also in stead of HardwareBBQ 

Thanks Hunky for your inputs and time really appreciate it and really liked your site - good stuff...  thanks

Thanks for the feedback on the website..

I do apologize for few rude words which I might have used for blunt reference.. Please do understand, I used them only to shade honest light on the subject..

Tell you a secrete.. You can also earn money from Knowledge only.. That requires less investment but knowledge .. Research and you will be surprised that, a share market tips blog can make 2x more than tomshardware .. Yes, within Indian traffic and Indian content only !!

Yeah dude i dont mind any hard words at all. Thanks for the inputs  i am just starting blogging  so understanding things from discussing may be in 1 year or so i may have a better exp and vision of what i want to achieve. 

Blogging can become a business, if it is treated like any other business. A business exists because it provides value - reduces pain, creates something consumers want. Basically it creates products that solves problems. The product can be information also. 

People think that in blogging, one can make money without investment. Not true. Every hour of work you put in is money lost (the amount you'd have made working for others). Second, because of the low entry barrier ($120 per year with WP or even $10 with Blogger), a lot of bloggers have flooded the scene. Hence there is heavy competition. But I guess most of them will leave once they determine there is no easy money in blogs. There never was/will be easy money in anything. 

Bloggers today are mostly dependent on google, but in 10 years or maybe even 5 years, this approach is not going to work. Because bigger sites (that hire a number of qualified writers) will take maximum chunk of traffic. The no. of readers will also increase but getting into the first page of search results will get harder, almost impossible, for individual bloggers. (Today it's possible.) 

So if google is not going to send you much traffic (which will happen as large sites consolidate and become larger), how will you make ppl. visit your site? If you invest in marketing, what will you sell to them, in order to recoup your investment? I see this field resemble any other business, very soon. So, if you want to enter now, you can. However, very soon, you'll have to think and act like any other entrepreuner, and face all the risks and tribulations faced by them. 

However, there are huge gains if you learn to play the game. 

i agree

You're nearest the answer that the thread creator is seeking. However, please remember that the moment you begin to treat blogging as a business, you are simply running a business, not blogging.

Look at Travel Consultants... there are many who began as bloggers but now their blog is busy promoting trips and earning money. Nothing wrong with this. tech bloggers do this all the time... and earn money. So do food bloggers and beauty bloggers and lifestyle bloggers... they all get into their specialised niche and write on what they sell. The point I'm trying to make is that money comes in when you begin to use a blogging platform to sell what you're good at... and this means you're into business... and not blogging now. You're either selling your brand of cakes in Gurgaon, or trips to Spiti, or trinkets through an online vendor, or even services ranging from writing to PR. These people are as nice as anyone else but they are just slick operators on the lookout for money-making ideas... and they are not really blogging.

I hope this bit explains it.

Arvind Passey ji, I agree. When one wants to make money from blogging, it's no more passion. It's work. Even drudgery. 

But, for some, working for themselves might be preferable over working for others (not all). These are the people who become entrepreuners. And remember - one can be a tougher boss on oneself, than with others!! 

If one still wants to retain their passion and have fun blogging, I suggest having a personal blog separate from the niche professional blog where the motive is not money. 

you are simply running a business, not blogging.

 

yea...i see many bloggers only promoting this and that brand these days on their posts which they write below as PR or sponsored..and organizing contests sponsored by diff brands....lucky them....but their blog surely loses that personal touch when we know the motive behind such posts

Very well said infinity the game will keep changing and to survive one has to keep reinventing the business model this is the same as with a normal business with change in environment we keep reinvent. Change strategy and do new things to adapt to the environment. 

adapting is good.in case of adapting to monetization , its always good