I got this response from Tris Hussey of Larix Consulting.
>1. Would you be able to share some of the lessons you have learnt
>during your time in this business.
>
>
The most important lessons I’ve learned is having a really good RSS reader is essential, practise your writing, and keep yourself organized. Pro bloggers live and die by the amount and quality of information they have at their fingertips. Nothing beats practise for improving your writing. As you gain more clients, you’re going to need to get and stay organized. This is easier said than done, of course.
Another really important part of this job is building good relationships with other bloggers and industry insiders. Nothing beats getting a hot tip to make a killer blog post/article.
Work on your blogging voice. Make sure it is natural and comfortable. Forcing yourself into a voice that isn’t you will make your writing seem stiff and stilted.
>2. How long did it take you to build up your business to the point of
>achieving pretty good income?
>
>
That is an ongoing process ;-). It takes at least six months I think. My first “real” pro blogging gigs started in December 2004, it’s June 2005 now and I’m now starting to get outside enquiries and come in and I haven’t initiated.
A key part of this is making sure you have a solid blog of your own that you write for to show off your range of skills and topic coverage. Also don’t forget to both link to and announce/promote your clients. This gives visitors a way to see your range of work, and spreads the Google juice around.
>3. Would you be able to recommend other people that I should also talk
>to, to get some more insight and knowledge about being successful
>online?
>
>
Paul Chaney, Jeremy Wright, Arieanna Foley come to mind right off. They are all easily Google for contact info…it’s a great way to see what they are working on too!
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