It’s not easy to make money blogging. However, with interesting topics and effective marketing, it can be done. How do we know? Because we post jobs for bloggers almost every day at our work-at-home jobs website, http://www.ratracerebellion.com. 

How do I get started?
With the popularity of blogs, starting one has become much easier. Here are four simple ways to launch your blog:

• Websites, such as Helium, let you earn money while you learn to blog. You won’t get rich -- and you’ll need to work at your writing and networking -- but it’s a good place to begin.
• Blogger, offers user-friendly tools for the novice blogger, and many bloggers got their start here.
• TypePad, like Blogger, offers convenient tools for launching and growing a blog, including a wide range of templates to give your blog a professional look. It can be a good fit if you feel comfortable with a little more complexity.
• WordPress gives the independent blogger many options to individualize his or her blog. It can be a good option if you’re a little more technically inclined. (If you get stuck, there’s even a “WordPress for Dummies” book.) 

  
Some basic do’s and don’ts
Many bloggers start out enthusiastically, but wind up abandoning their blogs. Oftentimes, people grow bored with their subjects or themes, don’t market their blogs effectively, or can’t figure out how to “monetize” (make money from) their blog or otherwise turn it to their advantage.

Here are a few tips to help you get the most from your blog:

Pick a topic or theme that you really care about, that touches a core passion. This will not only help you avoid burnout, but will open up your creative flow generally.

• Learn the online opportunities that will help you market your blog and get your writing out there on the web. (Blog Carnivals, which showcase bloggers across a wide variety of themes, are an excellent place to start. Guest blogging is also a popular option.)
• As you build your blog, take the time to familiarize yourself with the tools that help distribute blog content, such as RSS feeds and widgets, and links to Digg, StumbleUpon, and similar sites.
• Post to your blog at least several times a week (which won’t always be easy; we often miss this schedule ourselves).
• Interact with other bloggers, and read their blogs. Leave useful comments on blogs wherever appropriate.
• “Monetizing” your blog generally requires two things -- traffic, and ads on the blog itself. Google AdSense, Amazon’s affiliate program and Chitika eMiniMalls  are several popular ways to feature ads on your blog.
• Making money isn’t the only benefit a blog can provide. A blog can also showcase your expertise for prospective employers, impress present or future clients, or help you build a portfolio to get a job or assignments as a writer, proofreader, or editor.

Next steps
If you think blogging might be for you, there are plenty of resources online to learn more about it. Here are a few to get you started:

• Darren Rowse’s site, at http://www.problogger.net/. A world-class authority on blogging (who earns six figures for his work), Darren provides a constant stream of tips for novices, intermediates, and experts as well. (Check his job board for bloggers, too.)
• Blogging expert Skellie’s site, at http://www.skelliewag.org/. Skellie is an excellent source of upbeat advice on getting your blogging act together and wowing your readers.
• Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff  a.k.a. “The Blog Squad.” Denise and Patsi have been involved in the professional side of blogging for years, and give tips and other guidance at http://www.ratracerebellion.com/EC_Blogger.htm and the links you’ll find there.
• Personal-growth advocate Steve Pavlina has made some excellent posts on growing and monetizing blogs. For more, see http://tinyurl.com/eglad.
      

A final word
Make no mistake, the world of blogging is a competitive one, and if you decide to maintain an active blog, there are roughly 15 million bloggers (according to blog trackers Technorati) who will post content right along with you. (On the flip side, most blog posts are not written in English.) 

But regardless of whether your blog ultimately earns meaningful revenues, you still have your writing credentials, the excellent thought-sharpening that writing can bring, and a creative accomplishment to take pride in.