Is Blogging an Income Producing Activity?

Charita- Excellent post. I haven't blogged long enough to give any empirical evidence. But I think if blogging is scheduled right, it can be very effective. I'm trying to implement a plan similar to Loreena's. If I can keep my blogging to a first thing in the morning or last thing at night, it opens the rest of the day up for business.

Blogging is income producing for me.  I have received good referrals and people contact me all the time with them telling me they read my blog.  Just good for business.

You raise two good points.  Is blogging an income producing activity, and snarky comment of the year.  Nothing about marketing is easy.  Blogging takes a lot of time, and dedication.  8 months of blogging and over 100 posts-- nothing.  But, then I get a call, and it was all worth it.  If Mr. Snark E is so busy that's fine.  But no one needs a blow hard to comment on "how much" time one spends relative to "his" success. 

It sounds to me like the person who commented need a lesson in being efficient.  Many of us on here work with multiple clients as well as have an office full of agents.  If you are efficient you can handle everything and have some free time to do what you like.  I don't look at blogging as an income producing event, but I do enjoy commenting on other blogs and writing an occasional one myself.  

Charita, I had to smile at the question. I receive clients from Australia, New Zeland, Germany, New York.....I always ask them " so please let me know How did you find me?" the answer is not the Yellow Pages. It is always via Google....

I am a firm believer that if you are blogging either late at night or early in the morning which ever is your comfort level, you would not be talking to a client at that time anyway. It is called time management & discipline and choices we make. So you do not watch some of the Reality Shows because you are busy blogging that is OK because the Reality Shows do not generat Income last time I checked.

Everyone markets themselves differently. As for me, I used to hate to lead generate. Now, since I've incorporated blogging into my lead generation tactics, I look forward to this lead generation. My business is up considerably and I'm only spending about an hour a day blogging. It's mostly referrals from other bloggers, but it's business nonetheless. So, YES, blogging is an income producing activity for me.

Charita:  I am still laughing at Carla naming the commenter Mr Snark E.  Way too funny.  Spending his oh so precious time writing a snarky comment seems to be a much worse use of time than blogging which actually does fill your pipeline.  Snarky comments definitely won't do that!

Charita I got a call just yesterday from one of my blogs.  I've gotten 3 this month from it.  They don't all work out, but SOME do!  The entire purpose of marketing is to get your phone ringing from interested prospects.  So my answer is YES, blogging is an income producing activity.

I think you have to block out some time for it as with all marketing.  :)

Charita, if it didn't bring in business and make my phone ring, I would NOT be doing it. I enjoy writing, always have. I love the AR community and networking here has changed my life.

My team has grown from 4 to 10 since 06 because there is so much business to handle and I am in Michigan. LOL

My clients come first before any blog post.

He must have been having a bad day...don't let it get you down.

I saw his reply on a 30 in 30 day post and it was pretty much the same thing.  "Where do you find time to blog everyday?  Here's a challenge - find 30 customers in 30 days"...that kind of thing.

I don't know about the rest of you but I spend maybe 15 minutes doing a blog post if I don't have one waiting in drafts.  I really don't write that much in them...but when I do get on a roll, it'll take maybe 20 minutes.  20 minutes is not my entire day.  What I do know is that my blogging is getting me customers and inquiries.  Because of blogging, I'm being seen and if I have to blog for 45 minutes every day, that's what I'm a-gonna do!! :)

I wanted to get snippy back at him but I decided it wasn't worth it.  Water off a duck's back...:)

I am so energized by these wonderful testimonials about blogging-it is positive, uplifting and affirming.  I am glad you shared Jay's email because it produced this fab post but I can easily look at him with a-WOW-that is interesting-I wonder why you are so hostile about this.

With some exception in regards to our team's and company's policies, none of us have to do anything we don't chose to jump into (not that often numerous aspects of whatever we chose to do can be quite stressful, difficult, etc.).  Even here on ActiveRain, we frequently have to block out time when we don't think we have any, push ourselves, stay up later, get up earlier to accomplish our own goals and to answer and support other Rainmakers.  We see or know we will see the benefit if we keep going.

"Stick with what is working for you. . .but just blow it off". I agree with that and look at the support and energy from which all of us have benefited from the excellent question you posed on this post.   

Good morning Charita,

    I just saw this when it was re-blogged.  I so enjoy reading your stuff - big fan :)  From what you write, to how you write, I get a sense of how you do business and how you treat your clients.  If I had a referral for Birmingham, I'd SO refer that to you. 

   Mr. Snark E critic just doesn't get it.  If he's got a lead generation avenue that's working, good for him.  If he's got more business than he can handle, good for him.  But I'd bet it's otherwise. Why take the time to leave a negative remark if you're so daggone busy?  My guess is that his attitude would come across in his blogging if he ever did it, and it wouldn't work for him.

   Wow, would you look at all the comments for a non-featured post?