A little while back I received an e-mail with an unusual request. Someone, which I’ll let be anonymous for the time being, asked me to write an e-book for him detailing the secret behind my success in the blogosphere. The take was that he didn’t perceive how I made direct money from any of my blogs, and therefor recognized that I must be making it from spinoff services promoted through my online writing. This person was pretty well informed about my background, because he found it equally interesting that I managed to get into the international blogosphere by starting a blog (here at tdhedengren.com actually), and going from there, with English being a secondary language.
I found this interesting, and I’ll tell you why.
I did start out in the “international blogosphere”, which is a term I think is pretty silly but still says a lot, being the English speaking blogosphere with readers from all over the world. Anyway, I did start out with a select few posts on this very blog. The purpose was to establish myself, and try my luck in English, having run sites in Swedish since 1996.
It worked, I landed a writing gig at The Blog Herald, and I’ve made a bunch of money with spinoff services. Most particularly doing design work.
Writing extensively about this topic has been on my mind for some time. While I don’t think I’m unique in any particular way, more than there’s just one of me, I do believe that a lot of would be bloggers could benefit from hearing my story, from those first struggling blog posts, to being paid monthly salaries to run blogs, and making thousands of dollars designing them.
With the risk of sounding like I’m bragging, I’d say I’ve been pretty successful, although I’m also happy to tell you I feel there’s quite a lot left to be done! Never look back, always move forward, and all that.
Anyway, while I doubt I’ll take this particular person up on his offer, I am considering writing the e-book in question. It wouldn’t be a biography or anything like that (although you’d get the background), but more of a retelling of my journey, with pointers and tips I’ve learned along the way.
So I guess I’m asking you, dear reader: Would you be interested in such an e-book?
Thord, I’d definitely be interested in such an ebook. I honestly think that the best way to make money online is by building a brand and leveraging it into profitable services and or products. Your ideas on this would be valuable to the blogosphere as a whole.
Well, I know I would definitely be interested in reading this Ebook, and for yourself this might be a great way to focus on the paths and realities that brought you to this stage.
Would I buy it though? Honestly, I myself would probably not.
But, seriously .. as you even suggest - most of your success isn’t as direct as other online celebrity personalities (yes, if they can call Omarosa a celebrity personality I can call Thord Hedengren a celebrity personality too! :D) Something like this EBook could spin off to other avenues for you. First thing that comes in mind is the ‘other’ stuff - besides the blogging, interviews, and design work (namely your fiction writing). Putting out a free eBook could find it’s way into larger publishing company reps or agents … You know what they say .. the rich get richer and the lucky people get luckier!
But, on a side note - it is interesting with your ‘international’ blog outlook. I’ve always considered your Swedish blog non-international because I couldn’t just google translate it or something babel.altavista translate it. IT was more of the ‘international’ blog to me than one of a non-Engish person writing in a second tongue.
I’m one of those people that think all blogs around the world meant for all the world should be in English, but respect the localized versions (Swedish blogs, french blogs, chinese blogs, russian blogs, etc) It’s like us outsiders are lurking in and getting a glimpse of the other side of the world.
I am not sure on hte ‘international’ blogger. You are just another blogger, albeit a successful one.
An eBook would be an interesting read for me, but not to the point of where I would buy it. It might be just me, because I do not even glance at the ’self-help’ kind of books.
I usually only buy fiction books, occassionaly some instructional/technical book.
I’m cleaning my glasses
(Metaphor: I do not wear ones)
I’d definitely be interested in this as I’m thinking of taking the leap of starting a blog.
Thanks for the input, guys!
e-books are rubbish - they’ve got ebay scam written all over them! The content you’d write would be interesting, but instead of ebooking it, just put it on a section of your blog and make money from some well placed ads. Or publish it with Lulu and let people read it offline. I’d consider reading it if it was hard copy and not written as another ‘how to get rich’ book : )
Keep up the good work!
You just might have a point there, Sam. Personally, I don’t think that e-books smells like scam altogether, it depends on who is offering it and how it is offered, but I certainly see what you mean. Physical products are easier for sure, but they are also more expensive for the consumer.
I’ll have a lot to think about here.
These ads appear in my gmail next to the notification of response to my comment:
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To me ebooks scream - get rich quick schemes, and seem to be a favourite tactic of SEO blackhat practitioners : )
Anyway I’m sure yours would be a cut above the rest ; )
Point taken.