The Business of Blogging

First, let me admit that I was never very good at managing the business side of being a freelance writer, which starts with keeping my desk and my files neat and orderly.

And these sloppy habits have carried over to my life as a cancer blogger, in part because I don't have a lot of energy and in part because I'm just sloppy by nature. I would rather stack things in piles and leave them for another day that deal with them.

(Then, once in a great while, I get in a cleaning mood and throw away everything in sight. I lost Younger Son's birth certificate this way. It went to the recycling with a load of paper files.)

Sigh.

But anyway, when I talk about the business of blogging, I mean things like making money with a blog, and the peripherals: business cards, buttons, and postcards.

I ordered some business cards when I first started my blog, almost two years ago, and I had them designed by a Seattle graphic artist named Kirstina Kling, who did a great job. She echoed the graphic design and colors of my blog and made me some snazzy looking cards.

But now I'm out, and I couldn't find the name of the company that had printed them (See what I mean?), so I e-mailed Kirsti and got that info and I've just called the printer to order another 250 cards.

Buttons from Busy Beaver
I also got on the Busy Beaver Web site this morning and ordered more Boycott October buttons. To date, I've given away about 200 of the pink 2007 buttons and 100 of the 2008 buttons (which I started giving away early, obviously).

So I need more. Hoping the buttons will get here by the time of the Cancer Bloggers Reunion (July 23-25), so that I can give them to the bloggers who are coming.

Postcards
I've been wanting to order postcards with my M&Ms mosaic design, and finally got around to doing that.

Uploaded the art this morning after a couple of e-mail exchanges with Jennifer at Modern Postcard. These cards should be in my hands within two weeks, so should have them by the time of the reunion as well.

After that, I'll use them for my own communications and also give them to people who send donations to my blog. I've been sending buttons, but it will be good to have the postcards as well.

Making Money
I have a donate button on my blog, and readers have been generous. I need to check my PayPal account to see how much I've made since January, when I put the button on, so that we can discuss this topic at the Cancer Bloggers Reunion.

I noticed that after I put up the button a number of other cancer bloggers did so as well. That's fine with me, of course, but I do wonder if we dilute each other's earnings.

Another way that I've made some money is that a couple of editors have found me through my blog and given me writing assignments. One of these was Veronica at MedTrackAlert, which was bought by Health Central just recently.

For more on the Cancer Bloggers Reunion, including profiles of the bloggers who are coming, go to this link and scroll down: Cancer Bloggers Reunion

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.

Comments

[amy]

You are actually the only blogger with a donate button who does not annoy me. That's because you've explained it, and also, when I donated, I felt I got something great -- four buttons. I know a lot of bloggers really need money. Shoot, I'm freelancing and in my attempts not to "give it away" I have considered adding ads, or blogging less. But there are bloggers out there asking for money for things like trips to Los Vegas roller derbies. It's all very interesting.

[Amorette]

I don't know...I don't do a donate button, myself, but I figure that people will donate where they want it to go.

[Helen]

I used to occasionally buy magazines for entertainment and information until I conducted a Content Analysis on "She" magazine (as part of my post-grad Psychology degree) in 2005 and compared it to a 1951 issue of the same publication. In addition to being a good homemaker,i.e. make the picnic, crochet the decorative picnic rug to sit on, organise the children's entertainments etc., "liberated" 2005 woman had to drive the whole family to the coast as well! I concluded that expectations have changed in five decades but they haven't improved, so I stopped buying magazines promoting these pernicious images of femininity. As I find your blog thought-provoking and it sometimes answers my personal need for information on some cancer treatment issues, I (sporadically)use the money I no longer spend on women's magazines on your donate button. This way I feel that I'm not taking advantage of your goodwill and hard work. There's also the satisfaction of knowing I'm not contributing to deforestation! A win-win behaviour?

[jeanne]

Helen. Thank you. I love your analysis of the women's magazines, although it's awfully sad at the same time. And then there's the fact that more than half the pages are ads--many of which make us feel un-beautiful ...

And thank you for your steady donations. I really appreciate the support.