Can you really make money from blogging?

How can I make money blogging?

• I'm an 18-year-old girl. I have a way with words, I'm intelligent, fairly opinionated, etc.... it recently occurred to me that I could make some side money blogging if I strategize well enough. What are some things I should do to promote success on my blog? What'd be a good topic (preferably something intellectual, science-related, art-related, or music-related)? How can I draw in and "hook" readers so that I have a nice little crowd of subscribers? Thanks!

• Answer:

  The problem is readership. Without content you have no readership, yet content is so easily stolen nowadays on the Internet. And "side money" is often not worth the effort, unless you have a LOT of content. Hubpages is one of those Google partners that ask common writers to write stuff for their "hubs" on variety of topics. However, vast majority earn pennies a day. There are a few who have gotten to the point of making $400-$1000 a month off hubpages / adsense alone but those are very few. So "side money"? Let's just say since I got started a year ago, I've earned... $200 (total) The rate is increasing though. First $100 took most of the year. Second $100 took 2 months. --- Kasey C, PC guru since Apple II days Consciousness: that annoying time between naps.