There’s a “How Much Is Your Blog Worth?” meme going around.
My blog is worth $108,391.68.
How much is your blog worth?
Seth Godin doesn’t care for it.
I have no idea how much my blog is worth. I also don’t try to monetize my blog–that would ruin it. It would ruin it because most of my readers would leave, and it would ruin it because then I’d try to outdo myself and monetize it more and more and more.
Yet, Mr. Godin prominently features all his books for sale on his sidebar. And the brand he’s building online gets bigger with each post, leading to paid speaking engagements, more book sales, more consulting, more of whatever it is he is able to monetize.
One of my favorite bloggers, Tom Asakcer, had this to say:
Some bloggers – like Seth and Hugh – feed your dreams with inspirational blog posts. “You too can become a global microbrand phenomenon. And here’s how.” And because you keep coming back for more, they can eventually monetize your attention. Either with a new business model (squidoo.com), with Google ads, or by selling their blog attention grabbing expertise (e.g. Stormhoek and English Cut).
Personally, I don’t see a problem with going for the money, whatever that might mean to a particular blogger. Certainly, I might balk if money was the only reason for a blog, and those examples unfortunately do exist. But for most bloggers I believe their motivation is a healthy mix of having something to share and wanting to raise their profile–an act which can lead to a better job, consulting fees, ad revenue or a decent, if not lucrative, purchase offer.
The problem I have with the Seth Godins of the world is that they simply regurgitate the same bullshit over and over. Walk in Barnes and Noble or Borders and look at the overflowing shelves of business books. Whether they are called “The 12 immutable marketing secrets of the Kalahari Nomads” or “Management through Egg and Chips,” virtually none of them say anything new and are simply based on common sense. Still look at the number of cookery books out there, only outnumbered by the number of diet books. Anyway, Seth certainly has a money machine going there. Maybe I’m just jealous!!!
Hey stupid….its people like you who bitch and complain about the Seth Godin’s of the world (the people who are making things happen) rather than just writing about it. Of course, he’s a money making machine. He practices what he preaches. What have you done? Bet you have a laundry list of “great business ideas” but never started one of them. As for this blog, I used to look forward coming here now its not worth the time side stepping advertisements. Just too many other better blogs out there on this subject to put up with getting hit over the head with ads.
To think some people do not like advertisements…
What a revelation.
I guess we better rethink everything.
After all, why should an ad blog written by people who work in advertising carry ads?
Wow… Jack Morris is one twisted SOB. I didn’t say Seth Godin shouldn’t make money, I said I don’t like the crap he makes money peddling. If dumb asses like you want to pay good money for his same-old, same-old ideas, good luck to you. And if you’re so worked up about looking at ads, what the hell are you reading a blog called Adpulp for?