How Dare You Try To Make Money!

I think if it had been me I'd have blown my top. I wrote a book once, a long time ago, and it is so incredibly difficult to try & promote it and to try & get even small independent book stores to take it.

Trying to sell your own book on your own website is so obviously what anyone is going to do, the people who complain don't live in the real World - if they'd ever tried to do anything, to run a business, create a product, or write a book they'd know how incredibly difficult it is and would be more understanding.

I'm afraid the World seems full of people like this at times, people who want to just compalin and knock other people, you just have to ignore them and get on with it.

What I hope is that we can be more open about talking about these issues. That might better allow us to help figure out ways to better augment our finances without feeling like we are pushing.

Thanks for your comment and may I just add, I love your avatar :)

Doing it for the art might feed the soul but if you want to earn a living it has to be about the business. Great comment, thanks!

I think that women are perceived as primarily "life" or parenting bloggers and bloggers about "commercial" subjects are perceived to be primarily male and allowed to make money.

However, we don't know the gender of the commenter who was bothered by Pam's book promotion but, interestingly, for some reason I assumed it was from a man. It was a singular complaint and Pam's readers, male and female have been overwhelmingly supportive.

By reading all the comments here, we are not alone, those of us that have decided to stay home with our children and yet we would like to contribute to the households finances coming in.  

I try to be subtle and not push my business on friends either online or in person.

Thanks for opening up the discussion on this topic. 

A blogging entrepreneur blogs about entrepreneurship  - her own - and her readers rebel? That's like being upset that a food blogger posted her own recipes from her cookbook. 

I love this discussion. I think sometimes we creative people think there's some great integrity in doing it "for the art" but the truth is, the best we can do is make the commerce artful.

Mom-101 ( http://mom-101.blogspot.com )
( http://coolmompicks.com )

Cool Mom Picks.com ( http://coolmompicks.com )

Yes, I believe gender has a huge part in all of this. If a man writes a sports blog and there "happen" to be ads on his page from Nike or Gatorade, I think that would be accepted by the male population, and even most females. Perhaps it would even be expected.

But those expectations do not carry over to the women bloggers. Women are supposed to write witty stories of personal experiences, and if they happen to be published authors, well, that's fine too. But don't actually promote those things, because then you'll be perceived as being tacky or making someone feel uncomfortable.

My personal opinion is that, once again, this post shows how critical we women can be, especially of other women. I think if a man read about this issue, he'd just say "So she's making money. What's the big deal?" And most women would respond "But, you don't understand..."

Exactly, Paula, thank you. That's at the core of my belief about how to be a good marketer. We all have wants and needs. Marketers can offer information about what they offer and the value they provide. People can then use that information to make decisions about how to meet their needs and fulfill their wants. I appreciate having that information because I might not otherwise know that something is out there that provides value to me.

Pushing people to buy something they don't want or need is sadly too common and is what gives marketing a bad name. Just because you want to sell something is not a reason why anyone should buy anything.

Great comment and you bring up many excellent points. Thank you, again!

Great description of a common attitude, Rachael. It's so true. And I'm with you - provide what I perceive as value and I'll keep reading, don't and I'll stop. For me, if you're in broadcast and promote mode always and only I probably won't keep reading but promoting your work and advertising alone are not deal breakers. Every reader will make their own choice so bottom line is that you have to do what feels right for you as a blogger or businessperson and you'll find the tribe for which it works. If people don't respond and, in fact, turn away then that's a sign that maybe you need to reconsider your tactics and approach.

I feel much the same way, Suzanne - "I still have no answer." It's a tricky balance and one that is easier to maintain when we have traditional W-2 jobs. But money is still an awkward topic of conversations so perhaps there is value and opportunity in being forced to have them more directly through blogging.

And plug, plug, plug away for your book :) I think there's nothing wrong or pushy about telling the world (including friends and family) about what you've written. It is useful and informative and provides value. Folks will then make the decision as to whether or not they need or want your book. If it were your only topic of discussion or blogging that would be one thing but it certainly is not.

Thanks so much for adding to the discussion, Suzanne.

Excellent article.

 I wrote a post last year entitled "Show Me the Money Sister" which generated a huge (positive and negative) response (it's in my best of) and that proved to me there are definite taboos in the blogging world about accepting compensation for being successful. I would go even further and say it's also a gender issue.

Thansk for linking some other points of view - I look forward to reading them.

Kelly 

www.donmillsdiva.blogspot.com ( http://www.donmillsdiva.blogspot.com )

Thanks, Amber for your comment. You bring up so many of the inherent tensions. I wonder how we can get past all the weirdness money brings up for many of us because it is a shame if you can feel comfortable accepting an invitation to a friend's home and leaving your wallet at home. But I know exactly what you mean. Hopefully having these conversations can help inch us there.

It is very interesting that the person who wrote the comment felt that Pam had an obligation to continue creating free content at the same pace and had no place promoting her book, which, as you point out, it what book authors do. Why do some have different expectations of bloggers and book authors when both are writers and it is our place to determine the worth and value they provide us and how much we are willing to pay.

I think you are exactly right that there are definite perceived taboos. I'm off to check out your post. Thanks so much for your comment, Kelly.

Excellent post!  I once heard it shared that the as an entrepreneur, author, etc you need to make the shift to believe that your list and audience WANTS you to market to them (in a non-sleazy, authentic, value way).  They want to be served and they want what you have to offer... they won't know about it unless you tell them.

 That being said they should feel you are a trusted friend sharing something with them & you need to be unattached as to whether any particular person buys or not.  If you are blogging for your business and you don't make any money, no one is served because then your reader will suddenly lose a trusted friend when you go bankrupt!  Full disclosure, respecting your reader, and all that needs to be there as a foundation so it is serving, and not just sales pitchy.

Paula Gregorowicz
The Paula G Company

http://www.thepaulagcompany.com

I am new to this blogging world and one of the first things I noticed is a line drawn in the sand.  People who feel content and writing for their readers only--without compensation--are the true bloggers, and people who try and make money are not real writers and the content probably isn't worthy of readership.  I was so surprised by this! 

As long as a blogger offers fresh content and cares about their readers I have no problem with them promoting their products, books, ad opportunities etc.  Thank you for this post, I like hearing peoples point of view on this topic. 

 Rachael at www.warmheartshappyfamily.com ( http://www.warmheartshappyfamily.com/ )

I think the difference is in how obligated I feel to buy something. When I walk into Target, I may not find anything that I want, so I'll just leave. The cashier will be paid (in theory) whether I buy something or not. Plus, it is impersonal. With a Pampered Chef party or the like, there's a difference. You want to help your friend out, but you may not want anything she's offering. It's personal as well - I feel an obligation to buy something, and that makes me uncomfortable. Some of it is in how the pitch is made, too. A friend who makes jewelry is constantly talking about her cash flow problems and urging her blog readers to buy her stuff. That is very awkward because the implication is that it is your fault that she's in debt if you don't want a bracelet; you owe it to her to buy something.

This is something that I've struggled with now that I wrote a book ( http://offthebeatensubwaytrack.com ). (And how ironic is it that I'm using this comment to promote my book?) I know a lot of my friends and family have very tight budgets, and I don't want them to feel obligated to buy a copy of my book. At the same time, since I'm not Stephen King, I need my friends and family to buy copies of the book because who else will? So it is a real conundrum, and even though I've been on both sides, I still have no answer. I'm equally as uncomfortable! :)

Suzanne Reisman ( http://www.blogher.com/member/suzanne-reisman ), Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender ( http://blogher.org/topic/feminism-gender )
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants ( http://cussandotherrants.com/ )

I've been discussing this a lot with my husband recently. He reads most (or maybe all) of the bloggers you've listed here. And he doesn't see anything particularly wrong with using your blog as a marketing tool to sell your products. The idea of doing it myself makes me feel uncomfortable, and I couldn't put my finger on why.

But you summed it up succinctly. I find sales parties sort of uncomfortable. People say, "Please come, you don't have to buy anything, feel free to leave your wallet at home!" But we all know why we're there. We're there to buy stuff. And if we don't, well, it feels awkward. At least I feel awkward if I'm the only one who leaves empty-handed. And I think it can be the same way with blogs.

You don't want to feel the pressure to buy. You don't want to feel that someone is only interested in your money. And you feel sort of guilty for participating only in the free part.

~ Amber

www.strocel.com ( http://www.strocel.com )

I hate when I go to a website and they are trying to sell you a billion products. But, I don't think there is anything wrong with her promoting her book. I think that is a normal thing to do and something most people do when they write books. And if they worked hard on it then they have every right to promote it.

Thanks for your comment, Elana. I've noticed this distinction, as well. It seems often easier to win business as an agency or company than as an independent. I thought because my costs are lower with reduced overhead I would be in a better position to compete for business. But I've found that larger companies often have an easier time winning far more costly bids. Strange and frustrating.

All the best to you in the launch of your new business with your associates!

Thanks for your comment, mashadutoit. Absolutely, there is nothing wrong with making money but some go about it in ways that make us feel legitimately uncomfortable. There is a big difference between someone letting us know of the value they offer and someone pushing us to spend money simply because they need or want it.

Thanks for your kind words and for your comment. And welcome to the world of blogging. I just clicked over to your site - what a journey - congratulations on your success.

BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://www.blogher.com/blog/maria-niles )
PopConsumer ( http://consumerpop.typepad.com/popconsumer )
Beyond Help ( http://mariax.vox.com/ )

 Hopefully by being entrepreneurs we get to spend our days having fun, working with people we like and following our passion. But make no mistake, if I couldn't make money --no earn a living-- then I would pursue something else. Earning a decent living played a huge role in why I left Journalism after being a reporter for five years.

And now in my own business I have recreated it multiple times to take advantage of current trends and opportunities. For the past 13 years I worked as an independent consultant. But, I have just recently started a new business with 10 associates because  in order to pursue the opportunities I want ( and the ones that will allow me and my associates to not just make  some money but earn a living( I needed to create a full-fledged business with lots of moving parts.

Just goes to show that you should never say never because 13 years ago I definitely said NEVER would I start another business. But the opportunity to make real money -- thats making money + earning a living + extra is just too seductive and I leave my sole practice with no regrets.

Now, If I could make a living as a blogger then I probably would do that because it is my favorite thing to do but it doesn't provide the same financial rewards.

elana
Blogher Contributing Editor,Business&CareersFunnyBusiness ( http://funnybusiness.typepad.com/funnybusiness )

I think that it is not always about unease about making money.

Its something to do with who initiates the transaction, and what motivates them to do so.  For example, if I asked my friend who is a jeweler, to make me something - no problems about her making money from that transaction.  But if my friend approaches me - and suggests that maybe I need some jewelry, and she could make it for me - I may feel that she is using me.

Or I may feel fine with it, if I think that she has spotted that I need her product, and that her approach is genuinely motivated by friendship.

Feeling that unease is not neccesarily unease about the fact that she makes money out of the transaction.  It may be that I think she is taking advantage of our relationship, or does not treasure me as much as she want to use me.

We are so used to unsolicited approaches from businesses asking for our money that it has begun to seem normal. We understand that most advertising lies, and that most companies most certainly do not have our best interest at hear, however much their advertising copy tells us "they care". Its a good thing that we still feel unease when people we know do the same - or seem to do the same.

I dont think it wrong to make money in these ways, just that the unease one feels may be a legitimate response, motivated by a need for genuine friendship in a world of spam.

I'm new to the whole world of blog writing, but have enjoyed reading various blogs for the past couple of years. I think you hit the nail on the head with your comments about the cultural taboo concerning the discussion of money, particularly for women entrepreneurs. Thanks for a well written article.

Diane

www.fittothefinish.com/blog ( http://www.fittothefinish.com/blog )