Will Blogspot work for this?

[CatherineMay]

I need some advice on a simple issue.

I am fairly new to all of this...have written a few articles and created a couple of squidoo lens that I didn't like, etc. I've yet to make any money.

All I'm asking for right now is to have the experience of making a little money (a few hundred dollars???) before Christmas just to prove to myself (and some skeptical family members) that I can do it.

No, I'm not in any kind of financial crisis, although if I don't find a way to make my own money in the upcoming year, I could find myself in one. Right now I'm supported by my husband of 25 years, from whom I'm separated, thanks to a major mid-life crisis on his part. (Maybe I should write an info product on this experience, lol). We are back on friendly terms, but I would love to make my own money.

I'm 57 years old, "retired" from being a housewife and substitute teacher.
My technical skills at this point are minimal.

What appeals to me the most is selling physical products from Amazon or Commission Junction.

I've looked at several tutorials for WordPress. and I guess I could do it, but I don't have anyone here to help me if I got stuck.

I'm wondering if Blogspot will work as well. I would find a niche, write articles, and have a Blogspot blog featuring the product with a link to Amazon or whoever.

I realize that for a long-term business, I will need to build my own lists, but for right now I don't want to deal with that.

I just want to know if Blogspot will be okay for this right now, or I really need to go to Wordpress.

[dotslash]

Hi Catherine,

There's no doubt that wordpress will give you many more options and most will recommend you use it.

But there's absolutely nothing wrong with starting off with blogspot, there's less to configure so it does make it easier to start with, it's worth investing in your own domain name though which will only cost a few dollars.

There are many very highly ranked blogger domains that make very, very serious money. Although wordpress has many more features, the most important thing by far is the content!

Good luck
Neil

[Alexa Smith]

Originally Posted by CatherineMay

Right now I'm supported by my husband of 25 years, from whom I'm separated, thanks to a major mid-life crisis on his part. (Maybe I should write an info product on this experience, lol).

Take away the "lol" and you have there, perhaps, a very viable idea.

Regarding the blog, I was recently exactly where you are.

You can't compare "Wordpress" with "Blogspot". They're not different examples of the same thing. Blogspot is a hosting-place. Wordpress is software. Compare Wordpress with Blogger. Or compare wordpress.com with blogspot.com. Or compare Wordpress.org (self hosted Wordpress) with self-hosted Blogger.

Wordpress was, and is, too much for me. For the same reasons as you. I don't care if "everyone else" uses it. It didn't/doesn't suit me.

On the advice of a friend, and the book "Blogging For Dummies" which I bought, I went with Typepad instead. I like it. It's almost as flexible as Wordpress and almost as easy as Blogger. It's not free, but it's very, very low cost and what you pay includes hosting - and it's very good hosting.

If you decide to go with Blogger (and I wouldn't blame you at all), you might want to think about hosting it yourself. Using the free hosting at Blogspot is a false economy, because if you get anywhere at all, you'll only want to move it, and that will cost more than having hosted it yourself originally.

If you use their free hosting at Blogspot, you don't own it; they do. You're bound by their terms and conditions (which can change). And you can't take away that "blue Blogspot bar" across the top without breaching their terms and conditions. And it doesn't look too professional.

Just my $0.02.

Good luck!

[Liam Hamer]

I think Blogger is an excellent platform to learn on, and I don't see any reason why you can't make money with it - lots of people do You sound like you are eager and willing to learn so maybe you can move onto Wordpress in the future. I actually use Blogger for a few sites, I buy a domain name from Namecheap, redirect it and I have free hosting. Blogger is easy to use and the inbuilt SEO gives you some extra power when trying to rank for keywords. The best of luck

Edit: Here's a useful video for setting up a custom(your) domain in Blogger, it takes you through it step by step.

Video: How to set up custom domain at Blogger.com

[dspa72]

Yes, there is nothing wrong to go with Blogger.
I can assure you that you can make money with it (my experience).
If you have great content and make a little promotion (some backlink is good), you
can achieve what you want

Good luck

[Alexa Smith]

Originally Posted by dspa72

Yes, there is nothing wrong to go with Blogger.

This is true, but that wasn't the question. The question was about Blogspot, not Blogger.

[mikemcmillan]

I would second everything said here. At some point you will surely go to WordPress most likely. But Blogger is ok too. The pages can show in Google and Blogger blogs will accept javascript code (unlike Squidoo) so you can put a static opt-in form on your page anywhere if you use aWeber or something like that. Blogger is more versatile that Squidoo in my opinion and it doesn't have as many leakers and distractions for visitors.

[bertuseng]

Hi, first of all I suggest you get your hands on some free ebook guides on wordpress etc. that will help you alot to get to know the ins and outs of Internet Marketing. THen you can decide what you want to try and then go all out for it.
Information is the key, I think.

Hope it helps.

[dotslash]

If you use their free hosting at Blogspot, you don't own it; they do.

That's actually not true although they own the service and hosting, the content is yours. It's quite clearly stated in the IPR section.

Neil

[CatherineMay]

Oh, my gosh, Alexa, I thought blogspot and blogger were the actually the same thing! This is embarrassing!

I did a blog once just on some personal things. It was through Google, and part of the url was "blogspot."

This is what I'm asking about.

[Alexa Smith]

Originally Posted by CatherineMay

Oh, my gosh, Alexa, I thought blogspot and blogger were the actually the same thing! This is embarrassing!

I did a blog once just on some personal things. It was through Google, and part of the url was "blogspot."

This is what I'm asking about.

No cause for embarrassment! I sometimes think that half the Warriors who contribute to these "blogging" discussions don't quite appreciate that Blogger, just like Wordpress, can be self-hosted as an alternative to using the free hosting at Blogspot. The reality is that every time you start a new Blogger blog it asks you whether you want to self-host it or use their free hosting at Blogspot.

The terminology is all confused and confusing. And Wordpress is no less confusing to someone who doesn't know, what with wordpress.com (their free hosting - totally unsuitable for anything monetized) and wordpress.org (the site from which you download your own copy of Wordpress software to use for self-hosting). Nobody was born understanding this stuff!

Self-hosted Blogger can look very nice (but you have to pay for the hosting, of course, which you can find for about $3 per month if you look hard enough or about $5 per month for a "better" host, probably).

This blog was made from self-hosted Blogger. (Its not mine and I don't even know the owner. Just showing you as an example).

I sent you a p.m., anyway, if it helps.

[Liam Hamer]

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

This blog was made from self-hosted Blogger. (Its not mine and I don't even know the owner. Just showing you as an example).

Wow, that looks fantastic - I'd never have guessed it was on Blogger I think mine look OK, but that one looks really professional.

[amber1210]

You can certaily do that if you want. I highly recommend having Wordpress blogs. They're very easy to work with, easy to get traffic to, and easy to integrate affiliate links. Very great starting point for anybody looking to make money online.

[discrat]

Originally Posted by CatherineMay

I need some advice on a simple issue.

I am fairly new to all of this...have written a few articles and created a couple of squidoo lens that I didn't like, etc. I've yet to make any money.

All I'm asking for right now is to have the experience of making a little money (a few hundred dollars???) before Christmas just to prove to myself (and some skeptical family members) that I can do it.

No, I'm not in any kind of financial crisis, although if I don't find a way to make my own money in the upcoming year, I could find myself in one. Right now I'm supported by my husband of 25 years, from whom I'm separated, thanks to a major mid-life crisis on his part. (Maybe I should write an info product on this experience, lol). We are back on friendly terms, but I would love to make my own money.

I'm 57 years old, "retired" from being a housewife and substitute teacher.
My technical skills at this point are minimal.

What appeals to me the most is selling physical products from Amazon or Commission Junction.

I've looked at several tutorials for WordPress. and I guess I could do it, but I don't have anyone here to help me if I got stuck.

I'm wondering if Blogspot will work as well. I would find a niche, write articles, and have a Blogspot blog featuring the product with a link to Amazon or whoever.

I realize that for a long-term business, I will need to build my own lists, but for right now I don't want to deal with that.

I just want to know if Blogspot will be okay for this right now, or I really need to go to Wordpress.

Hello Catherine,
I can tell you 100% that a Blogger Blog is DEFINITELY okay to use. I have 14 Blogs and they ALL are on Blogger Blog. Do not let anyone tell you that it is bad to use Blogger Blog. Google owns them and shows them great love in the Rankings !!

I am pulling over $500 with my Blogger Blogs. The thing with me is that I never wanted to take the time to learn Wordpress as I am not technically advanced in the stuff either.

But Blogger Blogs are so easy to put up.

Also here is the thing that has really puzzled me with alot of warriors here who are so adament about using Wordpress over Blogger : Most of the Wordpress cheerleaders are also really big in the Mantra that the Money is in the List !! So why do you really need a Wordpress Blog with fancy bells and whistles when all you need to do is build a list with an Optin Box on the Side of your Blog ? Just use it kind of like your landing page but it is on the side of the Blog. And you can absolutely do that effectively with Blogger Blog !! I do it quite efficiently myself and have built up several nice Lists !!

P.S. Just be sure that you actually own your Domain with Blogger Blog. Its only $10 a year !! Dont keep it a Blogspot domain becuase you do not have Ownership of it.

[steveblum]

I recently had a very content-rich Wordpress blog and have found myself back at Blogger. If you don't have any guidance Wordpress will confuse the crap out of you or you won't set it up right.

Blogger is my recommendation for beginners because it's much easier to use. And you can find a ton of great information on sprucing up your site if search around the internet.

Just a marketing recommendation: Write some articles and have a link that connects your visitors to your blog. You could even write a short 300 word teaser article - post it on ezinearticles, goarticles, etc., then lead you visitors to your blog, via your sig file, for more info. It's a great way to get visitors to your blog. Hope this helps.

[CatherineMay]

What AWESOME answers!

I've just come back to my computer after being out and I'm really thankful to have landed in such a helpful forum.

Many thanks to everybody!