Exciting news! I’m featured in a story on Media Bistro, a Web site for writers and content producers, about monetizing your Web site. Unfortunately the site requires a paid membership to read the entire story, but here’s a snippet.
Breaking Into Web Journalism: The Basics – by Lin Grensing-Pophal
Julia Scott is a print reporter turned online journalist who left a steady gig at a newspaper to launch her blog BargainBabe.com in January 2009. She began turning a profit in her first month. “Monetizing a blog is possible, but it’s a ton of work,” says Scott. She spends 10-12 hours a day working, plus a few hours over the weekend, but says: “I’ve been able to make money off of my passion, and it’s really rewarding.” Scott doesn’t charge for content (“although I’ve toyed with the idea”) — but rather makes money from advertising, freelancing and self-syndicating her content. “News outlets are desperate for great content and, in exchange for a very low fee, I negotiate a non-exclusive contract,” she says.
While those with a writing background are well-suited to monetizing content they create, blogging requires some additional skills, says Scott. Making money online means becoming more than “just a writer.” You need to become, in essence, an entrepreneur. “You have to be so much more entrepreneurial than you ever had to be as a reporter or editor in a newsroom,” she says. “You really have to learn to be a self-promoter.”
Scott’s story is not unique. In fact, she is one of many journalists who are making a good — sometimes exceptional — living by monetizing Web content…
Dear Bargain Babe,
Awesome media! It’s so cool what you have done with BargainBabe.com since January. Keep up the excellent work and never hesitate to self-promote because you deserve it.
Love,
your NY sis