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Does Monetization KILL Passion?

by Sagar Mehta
10 replies
One particular advice which members often give to newbies and the like is this:

What are you passionate about? That's your niche.

Over the years, I've seen this advice on the forum and many ebooks. And I've GIVEN this advice to some people myself.

However, an incident today led me to wonder if monetizing a passion can kill the passion due to inaction.

Something very close to my heart is learning about how the world works: space, planets, stars, stem cell research, evolution etc are all things I've read about for years and I LOVE sharing that information with whoever cares to listen.

I am keen to share all this information with the world because its wonderful and gives you a totally different perspective of life.

That would be a perfect niche for me.

However, I've stopped short of starting a blog or writing an ebook or doing a video series for the simple fact that the "back of the mind" thought is:

How will you monetize something like that?

I picture Amazon, Ebay and other affiliate program ads splattered on my blog. And that leads me AWAY from starting it - because it spoils the whole "passion" part (for me).

What do you think about this? I'd really like to get out of the "monetize it somehow" routine in my mind but I haven't been able to yet.

Regards,
Sagar
#kill #monetization #passion
  • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
    Take a look and see if you can find any competitors in
    the same niche and look at how (or if) they've been
    able to monetize the subject you're passionate about.

    I believe that it's better to have a business that you're
    passionate about AND that you can monetize well.

    Choose a niche where you have both passion and profit.

    Why someone would choose to have a business that
    they are not passionate about is crazy (to me).

    Passion helps you to push through when the going gets
    tough.

    Dedicated to mutual success,

    Shaun
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    .

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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
      Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly View Post

      Take a look and see if you can find any competitors in
      the same niche and look at how (or if) they've been
      able to monetize the subject you're passionate about.

      I believe that it's better to have a business that you're
      passionate about AND that you can monetize well.

      Choose a niche where you have both passion and profit.

      Why someone would choose to have a business that
      they are not passionate about is crazy (to me).

      Passion helps you to push through when the going gets
      tough.

      Dedicated to mutual success,

      Shaun
      Creating something to pursue your passion is a great idea. Like Shaun is saying, that if you find something you relly love and can monetize it, so much the better.

      I have sites in some areas that are "officially un-monetizationable" for the most part and I do very low key product promotion there.

      Works well, I like the subject area and I have a lot of fun doing it.

      I do not think that monetization kills passion. At least for me.
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      • Profile picture of the author theemperor
        Here is one way (if you can develop iPhone apps):

        Star Walk - iphone astronomy application
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    • Profile picture of the author mello87
      Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly View Post

      Take a look and see if you can find any competitors in
      the same niche and look at how (or if) they've been
      able to monetize the subject you're passionate about.

      I believe that it's better to have a business that you're
      passionate about AND that you can monetize well.

      Choose a niche where you have both passion and profit.

      Why someone would choose to have a business that
      they are not passionate about is crazy (to me).

      Passion helps you to push through when the going gets
      tough.

      Dedicated to mutual success,

      Shaun
      Great post Shaun! Agree with everything you said here. Ideally you want to know a bit about and have a great interest in your chosen niche. It will make the painstaking groundwork a lot more enjoyable. This isnt to say you cannot be profitable with a niche your not particularly psyched about though!

      Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author Jiggs
    You have plenty of options when it comes to putting ads on your site or blog. I would not wait to start the blog or site because you are unsure of which ads to add to your site. You can start simple and small. One way to blend in ads is to use something like Google Adsense and change your colors to match your blog or website. This won't make the blog or website look all cluttered up and ugly. Sometimes Adsense is the only type of monetization that I will use on a site or blog.

    Another view: If you are showing ads for which your audience is interested in then you are still doing a service by offering something of value in the way of a product or related service.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Faber
    If you have the time, there's no rule that says you have to monetize everything you do online. If you're trying to earn a living this way however, there often is no time to commit to projects that aren't part of your business.

    That being said, there are ways to monetize nearly everything. Create a product that appeals to the niche in question, then market it to them. There are hundreds of books and videos that are available on Amazon in those niches. You could be an affiliate, but why not just create your own product that that market would want. Since you have a passion for it, you're in the perfect position to do so. Good luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author Marksv
      I don't see why monetization would have to kill your passion...

      For your particular project why not..

      1. Have convenient adsense blocks on each page of the site. You can make them look nice, and you can just set and forget it...
      2. Write a couple of indepth ebooks about your interests and promote them on your own site... This will make it look more professional and it will follow your passion....

      There are many options for monetization that can help you cultivate your passion and make use of it...

      You just gotta brainstorm a bit...

      Mark.

      PS. I actually think that the constant thought of 'how can I monetize this' is a great mindframe... Why make money from anything besides your interests and passions???
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve Faber
        Originally Posted by Marksv View Post

        I don't see why monetization would have to kill your passion...

        For your particular project why not..

        1. Have convenient adsense blocks on each page of the site. You can make them look nice, and you can just set and forget it...
        2. Write a couple of indepth ebooks about your interests and promote them on your own site... This will make it look more professional and it will follow your passion....

        There are many options for monetization that can help you cultivate your passion and make use of it...

        You just gotta brainstorm a bit...

        Mark.

        PS. I actually think that the constant thought of 'how can I monetize this' is a great mindframe... Why make money from anything besides your interests and passions???
        The problem with adsense on sites like he has are that those niches pay virtually nothing per click, yet they detract significantly from the website experience in most cases (unless you're really creative). I'd steer clear of adsense for science type sites.

        My .02c
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  • Profile picture of the author JimmyD
    Sagar Mehta

    I would say that the money you make from other online activities allows you the bonus of setting up your own blog for your own enjoyment, and others that are into the same subjects, without worrying about monetisation.
    I suggest you just do it, it will balance out the whole working online day if you have something you really enjoy doing instead of just submitting articles or writing blog comments.
    JD
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  • Profile picture of the author christopher jon
    On an internet marketing forum, this will sound like blasphemy but,

    You don't have to limit your decisions based on if they will make you money.

    There is nothing wrong with starting a website on a topic you enjoy and not monetizing it or ever expecting it to make money. It's your passion and something you enjoy, that should be all the payment you need.

    For those of you who play golf, do you play because you enjoy the game or are you playing because you aspire to join the PGA? Are you going to stop playing golf knowing that you'll never be the next Tiger Woods?

    Making money is great, it's why we are here and do what we do but everything you do in life doesn't have to revolve around making money.
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