Blog, Inc.: Blogging For Passion, Profit, And To Create Community by Joy Deangdeelert Cho

With the sheer number of blogs being launched worldwide every day (BlogPulse), it can be quite challenging to make your own site stand out from the rest. Luckily, this comprehensive guide is here to help aspiring bloggers gain an edge. Renowned blogger Joy Cho, known for her acclaimed site Oh Joy!, shares her expert advice on every aspect of starting and growing a successful blog. From designing and financing to overcoming writer’s block and attracting readers, this authoritative handbook covers it all.

Featured in this book are interviews with industry experts, including a foreword by Grace Bonney from Design*Sponge. Their insights, combined with Cho’s wealth of knowledge, promise to refine the skills of the next generation of bloggers and inspire them to share their unique voice with the world.

In this book, you will discover how to:

• Design a visually appealing and user-friendly site
• Choose the best platform for your blog
• Attract a dedicated fan base of readers
• Finance your blog and make it profitable
• Maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Manage comments and engage with your audience
• Find inspiration for creating compelling content
• Overcome writer’s block and stay motivated
• Choose the right advertisements for your blog
• Develop a unique and authentic voice
• Protect your creative work
• Create an effective media kit to attract brands
• Utilize the power of your social network
• Improve your photography skills for captivating visuals
• Set up an affiliate program to monetize your blog
• Partner with sponsors for collaborations and endorsements
• Build a thriving community around your blog
• Transition from part-time to full-time blogger
• And more!

Whether you are just starting out or looking to take your blog to the next level, this book is an invaluable resource for every blogger seeking success in the dynamic world of online content creation.

The Power of Blogging: From Personal Diary to Cultural Force

Years ago when a co-worker told me about her article I had no idea what it was or why anyone would want one. Blogging gave me visions of Doogie Howser logging electronic diary entries of his adventures as a teen medical genius. I think a lot of people felt the same way, but I and much of the world have certainly come a long way. I’ve been a blogger since 2005. I was newly engaged, I just moved from New York to Philadelphia, and I was looking for a new design job all at the same time. A friend of mine who maintained an article as a creative outlet from her Finance job suggested that I start one to chronicle this very transitional period in my life. First, I brushed it off, but I soon realized that I was in no position not to try it. In retrospect, starting an article was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Although my article, Oh Joy, started off in a personal vein and was initially only read by a handful of friends, the site eventually evolved into a design-focused place where I share with tens of thousands of daily readers the projects I’m working on and the things that inspire my work. And I’ve gotten so much in return. My article attracted buyers to my stationary line, raised my standing in the press, my article was named one of Time magazine’s top design sites, helped me gain more dream clients for my design business, and even gave me the opportunity to write this book.

Even though articles originated as a cyber version of the traditional personal diary, they’ve become a cultural force with a capacity to attract customers, create communities, and launch full-fledged careers. Bloggers serve as tour guides of their specific interests, passions, or skills, taking their readers on a journey through images, text, video, and interactive conversation. Through articles, politicians, celebrities, Fortune 500 companies, and regular folks like you and me have an interactive platform to connect with fans, customers, and anyone who wants a deeper look into what inspires them.

Thanks to how easy it is to start an article, you can share your point of view with the potentially millions of internet users out there craving inspiration, entertainment, or engagement with others. Whatever your talent, voice, or perspective is, an article can offer you a sounding board, an instant audience that can give you feedback, advice, or support on your topic of choice. Success won’t happen overnight, but if you dedicate your time and creativity to your article, I guarantee that it will give you a sense of community you’ve never known before.

Clearly, I believe in the power of articles, and since you’re reading this book, you’re probably thinking there’s something to them too. This book may inspire you to launch your own article or take an existing one to the next level. I wish I had a book like this when I was starting my article, so here I’ve pulled together all the lessons I’ve learned, including those I’ve discovered through my own article and business, those I obtained by meeting fellow bloggers, and those I gleaned by following hundreds of other articles along the way.

In Blog Inc, I’ll break down what makes an article successful, how to create unique content, attract readers, and monetize, and show you how to blog to your best potential. The value of the creative outlet, community, career opportunities, and friendships my article has brought me over the years is immeasurable. My article took me on a path I never knew existed. I never actually ended up taking a design job I so actively sought at the time. The enthusiastic response to my design work from readers and clients that found me through my article motivated me to launch my own freelance design business, which eventually led to me developing my product line, writing and blogging for other publications, becoming an author, and consulting for other small creative businesses.

So whether you’d like to start an article as a creative endeavor or to help market your business, share your talents, or connect with others, there’s no reason not to start an article today. It’s time to put yourself out there because you never know what amazing things will come your way.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Blogging

Whenever I talk to friends or clients who are struggling to figure out the next phase of their life or career, I always encourage them to start an article. Maybe you’re burnt out from your tedious 40-hour work week and want to pursue your hobby of baking miniature pies full-time. Or maybe you’re a filmmaker and want to start offering tutorials on how the average person can create short films. An article can be whatever you want it to be: a diary, a visual essay, an editorial space, a place for discussion and debate, or a scrapbook of inspiration. More than anything, an article is a great way to get your ideas out into the world and see what people have to say in response. You could receive the