Calling all writers and journalism majors - there’s a hot new career in town you’ve got to meet, Blogging! It’s all the rage with an estimated 70+ million blogs launched http://www.blogherald.com/2005/07/19/blog-count-for-july-70-million-blogs/Clearly we needed to spill the inside scoop on this career path. My first interview is with top blogger Toni Bowers, Head Newsletter and Blogs Editor, TechRepublic and CNET Networks who has over 20 years of writing experience. Read on to learn how much it $$ pays, how to get a break, and what it takes to make it big!

Career Path

Toni always wrote. “It was like breathing for me,” she shares with me on a call, “and I am lucky I found a way to earn money doing it .”  But Toni didn’t major in journalism as one would expect. She graduated with an English major, courtesy of a professor who told her good command of English would be a basis for all careers. After graduating she got into copy editing for a small company, then newsletter production and product development for a start-up tech publishing company. A few folks from that company left for a new start-up called TechRepublic. Toni later joined them, eventually earning her stripes to become Head Newsletter and Blogs Editor. As the landscape for online writing changed, so did Toni’s job. She became a blogger in early 2006 and with it came some interesting changes in job description. She blogs about technical products, with career and management as the main categories. Her readers are between ages of 25- 54 and 70% are male. 

What Does it Take?

Blogging is an authentic style of writing requiring a strong engaging personal style, irreverent and honest opinions, and open commentary. Toni’s writing style is tongue in cheek and informal. Think of it as a conversation with your friends. So clearly, this career path opens up doors  to many more young writers, as long as your writing has an engaging style and you’re writing about something you know really well.  

Ease of Career Launch

While breaking into journalism can be tough, becoming a blogger is certainly easier. Anyone can start a blog on one of the free blogging platforms such as www.wordpress.org and market their blog virally and through search engine optimization (SEO). If what you write is fun, engaging and targets a niche group of readers, you can grow your blog through word of mouth and build a nice base of readers. You don’t need a brand name publication to give you a lucky break and you don’t always have to earn your way up the ranks. Of course, launching a blog does not equate to instant success but it’s a quicker way to build your success and your writing voice.    

Love and Hate about Blogging

Toni loves the instant feedback and direct connection with readership. It’s gratifying to be appreciated since traditional journalism doesn’t offer such a direct reader connection. “It’s amazing that the impact of your writing is instant, you hear back!” But the flip side is that often the feedback is critical since it’s human nature for people to only respond when dissatisfied. So you have to learn to accept the negative feedback positively.

Annual Compensation Range:

Mid level editor: $30,000 to $40,000 but earnings can be up to $100,000

Tech writers: $100 to $400 per blog Go ahead, kick start your blogging career today! Make sure you read the Keys to Great Blogging before you write your first blog.

 
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