Words For Sale

 82 Comments on Words For Sale 0 1696

image of sign that reads WORDS FOR SALEOne thing about blogs and what’s written in them, is they are free.

Blogs are free to read and full of free ideas. In fact, some feel because the content is on the web, it’s free to steal.

And us bloggers, because we love this hobby so much, gladly publish our words online with no thought of their value.

We assume, if we blog, we must do it for free.

Today’s Lesson

Things, however, may be changing.

Darren Rowse of Problogger recently started a new site which has a registration fee. For $1.95 a month you can read blogging information and participate in a forum which is only available to the members.*

I must say, this idea is ingenious. When we look at Darren, a blogger who has been at it for many years, why not? His head must be filled with tons of information. Information he may have never got around to posting on his blog. And with a reader base of over a hundred thousand (on his blog), I’m sure many will sign up.

What intrigues me about his idea is how he is charging a low monthly fee instead of a higher knockoff rolex datejust one time rate. Using this method, $1.95 sounds doable for those who join, and in turn, he is (possibly) guaranteed a steady income stream month after month.

Another thing I like about the action Darren is taking is the fact knockoff rolex cellini m50529 0006 rolex calibre 9015 mingzhu engine mens black brown automatic it broadens our thoughts to other possible ways of making money with our knowledge and/or our blogs.

With that said, let’s have some fun today and talk about what our blogs and/or words (knowledge) may be worth.

value of blog calculator results image

Here on Dane Carlson’s Business Opportunities Weblog is a How Much Is Your Blog Worth Calculator. Click on the link*, enter your URL and it automatically calculates an estimated value of your blog.

Now that you know what your blog is worth, let’s look at the the value of other things we might offer.

How much are services we provide worth? $20, $60 or even $100 per hour?

Then we have Ebooks. What is a fair price? $9.99? $19.99? $49.99?

And our words. If we freelanced, what would they be worth? $5 per post? $20? $50? Or $0.02 per word?

Although we do blog for free, what we create does hold value.

How would you price yours?

Today’s Assignment

How much is your blog worth? Would you ever consider selling it?

What about words or services? What would you charge? If buying, what would you pay?

Do you see ways you can make money with your blog via your words or other creative outlets?

~Barbara.

P.S. Keep in mind, income earned from blogs may be taxed. For how your blog earnings may affect your tax liability, check with your accountant.

*Disclosure: This is NOT an affiliate link

82 thoughts on “Words For Sale”

  1. Hi Barbara,
    I so so loved this idea. I went over checked my small little worth, and decided I need to be a little longer inthe blogging world to start claiming my price 😉
    Am planning to join problogger…have been thinking about it ever since i read his post a few weeks back. You have convinced me. Are you joining too?
    BUt on a more serious note..I started my blog to reach out and help people with their problems, i dont feel the need personally to charge them for that. I want people to be able to reach out and ask for help if they need it without worrying about the money issue. Maybe when i come out with a book, that will probably be for sale 🙂
    .-= Check out Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s awesome post: Strength, Courage and Wisdom =-.

    1. Thank you Zeenat,

      I know what you’re saying. When we find a niche we’re passionate about, what we write will hopefully benefit others in ways we can’t even begin to put a price on.

      But, like you said, when you put your knowledge into book form, that’s a different story.

      P.S. For now, I’m not joining the Problogger site. Maybe later after I get some of what I’m working on off of my plate.

  2. According to that little calculator thing, my site is worth $564.54. Hm, okay. That number doesn’t mean anything to me. I don’t expect to make any money (including selling it) from my blog anyway.

    I think what Darren is doing is great. There are people that want that content and he is providing a good service and charging a fee to help keep the quality up (theoretically, of course, since the service is young and you don’t know for sure how well it will do down the line anyway).

    I believe that a small recurring payment (like Darren’s case) is a good one if there’s more focus on community. If it’s one of those intensive courses, it’s of course still going to be a one-time payment thing.

    I definitely value good content and is willing to pay for it. I’ve purchased online video courses. Heck, I gave money to public radio. They didn’t require me to pay to listen but I value the content they provided and I believe in the model, so I am willing to help pay to keep it going.
    .-= Check out Kelvin Kao´s awesome post: TV Puppetry Workshop (Intermediate): Week 1 =-.

    1. Hi Kelvin,

      Good point. It will be interesting to watch how the paid content site works. I don’t see that happening with a lot of blogs, but for those who have a huge readership, it’s potentially a good way to earn additional income and share some things “exclusively” – not to say we can’t find the same information online for free, though.

  3. My blog is worth $36,695.10

    Being a never-say-never type, I’ll just say that I have no plans to ever sell the blog…

    My blog isn’t a hobby – it’s my business therefore yes, I sell things – lots of things from ebooks to services. I don’t see a micropayment model working for my site as the services are highly personalized and wouldn’t work that way.
    .-= Check out Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome´s awesome post: The Power of Pressure: Amy Palko Interview =-.

    1. Hi Alex,

      I hear what you’re saying about never saying “never” since we don’t know what the future holds.

      And as much as many of us don’t go into blogging to create blogs for sale, what we do create however, can potentially hold tremendous value for someone who is in the market (to buy an established blog).

  4. My Green and Chic blog is only worth close to $10,000 and I its not for sale. Its an extension to my web store and I am not selling that anytime soon either.

    If I were freelancing, that would be a different story. I haven’t considered doing that yet and I don’t have a set rate for services yet.
    .-= Check out Carla´s awesome post: The Two Dollar Bill =-.

    1. Hi Carla,

      That’s a good point. When a blog is tied to another site (such as your web store), the value is sometimes dependent upon the other. With the two of them together, you’ve created a complete package. I see that as very smart thinking/marketing.

  5. Hi Barbara .. I tried the blogspot URL and the .com URL = still the same $0!!

    That’s fine – I haven’t got a problem, just interesting it’s $0 .. a dollar or two would be nice!

    So there’s two approaches I guess .. depending on the type of blog you’ve got – if it’s a blog with advice, guidance for building your business on line, or self-development business – then we’d need to look at those with value – yours and Alex and others .. and add that value

    or if like mine – its ?entertaining, informative and a somewhat different appraoch – then there are other aspects to look at .. where the blog is going, how can we add value – ebooks, newsletters, books, youtube stories etc etc

    I’m going to be really interested in others’ comments ..

    Great idea for a post – excellent – have a good week ..
    Hilary Melton-Butcher
    Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
    .-= Check out Hilary´s awesome post: Grovel at Gravel … Recipe for a Moss Milkshake … =-.

    1. Thank you Hilary,

      Further down in the comments Julie mentions Blogger blogs don’t seem to be measurable. But, that does not mean what you share has no value.

      The value of what we post can be very subjective. To some, it may not hold value, but yet to others it’s priceless. Just like tangible products which are marketed for stores, there’s a buyer for everything, but not everything is for every buyer.

  6. What Dane Carlson’s applet gives my site, I won’t be to giving up my day job over quite yet. 🙂 I wonder what he bases his criteria on?

    “Worth” is always an interesting term to me. Tho some things, usually big ticket items, may have certain price tags on them, the real “worth” of them is only ever what people are actually willing to pay.

    Darren Rowse is super-smart. I’m always like a kid in a blogging candy store over there.

    Sell my site?? Never! Who would come up with the strangeness I do?? 🙂
    .-= Check out Jannie Funster´s awesome post: Rose DesRochers: Just how Great IS She? =-.

    1. Hi Jannie,

      It’s hard telling what the applet is based on, but I’m guessing it has something to so with some type of stats.

      And you’re right. Worth means something different to everyone. Take a designer bag for example. One person may say it’s worth $1000 because of the name that is stamped/sewn on it, whereas another person may be happy with a knockoff. Then there are others who prefer NOT to be a walking billboard for a designer and make their purchasing choices based on their own criteria.

      Jannie Funster – You’re an original and no one could ever replace you.

  7. Hi Barbara – Our site is worth about $10,000. This reminds me of my parents keeping their big ole Lincoln Continental around: “It’s worth more to us in the garage than on the open market.” 😀

    This is a great topic. Darren’s subscription site is brilliantly positioned, in that he already gets scads of traffic and the low barrier cost is something people won’t even think about. I’m betting he makes a nice income from it. But the key is his current relationship with his readers and all of the work and time he has put in already for this idea to bear fruit. It’s a good transition from all the free stuff that is out there, which may have devalued product that could be sold.

    And yes, we’re exploring ways to monetize new projects. One thing is for sure, there is no lack of ideas or opportunities! Thanks.
    .-= Check out Betsy Wuebker´s awesome post: LOCAVORES, MORE AND MORE =-.

    1. You’re welcome Betsy,

      That is true. There is “stuff” out there that could be sold instead of being given away for free. It reminds me of when I first started blogging, I was surprised Darren wasn’t charging for his content. Even then, I would have paid for it – and that was 2.5+ years ago.

      LOL – I have a relative with one of those garaged Lincoln Continentals too. 🙂

  8. Delightful Work is worth $6,209.94 according to the calculator and I would not sell it for that. What it brings me in new clients is worth more than that annually. However I like the direction of this post. It’s always an excellent strategy to place a value on what we produce because of what it does for our awareness on how we utilize our resources.
    .-= Check out Tom Volkar / Big Link Rally´s awesome post: Top Ten Reasons To Attend The Big Link Rally =-.

    1. Hi Tom,

      I hear what you’re saying. When a blog brings us customers or recognition, how can we price that?

      *smiles* You spotted it. One of the objectives of this post is to make my readers aware of what their words and or services may be worth in the future. Although we do love to blog, share and form communities, as time passes we may find what we’ve built is a fantastic foundation for a business we could thoroughly enjoy and make money at. Much like you and your Big Link Rally. 🙂

  9. Exit78 came up as worth $0 and Haw Creek Out ‘n About was worth $2,000.

    Bummer. 😉

    I won’t be paying to subscribe to Darren’s new blog. While I do earn enough online to much more than pay for everything I do with computers and online, there are few things that I will pay to subscribe to. There is more than enough free and valuable resources out there.

    Though I do make a small income from the blogs, most of the income is from good old-fashioned static web pages.

    Sell my blog? Sure, if the price were right, I’d sell it in a heartbeat.

    I can always start another one (or two…, or three.)
    .-= Check out Mike Goad´s awesome post: Silverton and Animas Forks =-.

    1. Hi Mike,

      You’ve brought up a good point. Even if we sold our blog, within minutes we could start another. When I think of that though, I would ask the buyer if I could keep the comments. To me, those are what hold the most value.

      With regard to a paid content site, one benefit I do see is we could get a question answered quickly instead of searching online. However, if we network with the right people, we could potentially get the same results via email, Twitter or Facebook. Hmmmm.

  10. My blog is worth $0, according to the applet, which is based on Technorati. Thanks for the link to that. It was fun, although also depressing. As for charging a fee to read a blog, it’s true that our words have value, but I’d probably not pay to read very many blogs. I don’t read Darren’s, but have stopped by once or twice.

    1. Hi Dot,

      Please do not be depressed because the value showed zero. I’m sure you know your readers feel what you publish is priceless. As I mentioned to Tom, I wrote this post to nudge my readers into realizing their words do have value. It’s just a matter of learning how to put on price on that when and if we branch out and create something more than a blog.

  11. Really interesting post. Cliche as it might sound, I consider my blog to be priceless. It makes me really happy and I don’t think I ever sell it. However, everything has a price! I’m pretty sure I could start a new one if someone ever wanted to buy it from me. 😉
    .-= Check out Positively Present´s awesome post: being positive under pressure =-.

    1. Hi Dani,

      That’s true. Many people who are in the business of selling blogs, just start new ones.

      But, what often makes a blog unique, is the author. So, let’s say you sold Positively Present. It makes me wonder how many would continue to follow it if you were gone.

  12. Well, according to someone’s computerized program, my words aren’t worth diddly, either, but I beg to differ. What I offer are my thoughts, sharing things that are meaningful to me, hoping they spark something in others, too. My focus is on finding meaning, seeing connections, drawing larger pictures, expanding my concept of reality, and sharing it all with anyone who’s interested in the same. I’m also interested in what others get from it, what things come to mind for them. I’m interested in conversations we can all grow from. And if others like my writing and the way I share, all the better. I don’t think anyone, or any mathematical formula, can put a value on that. As for my time, I consider this an exploration, too, a learning phase while I pursue “larger” writing. That writing will be for sale, but right now, here, in blogging, I’m sharing with friends. 🙂

    By the way, I think I received a big, fat zero because I use Blogger. What is that saying, though, about judging books by their covers? Perhaps some of us just choose to make life a bit easier by letting someone else worry about the technical things. 😉 You know, I think just like everywhere else there is elitism in the blogging world, too. There’s nothing at all wrong with free blogging platforms.
    .-= Check out Julie´s awesome post: Simply Divine =-.

    1. Hi Julie,

      I beg to differ, too. You’re words are VERY valuable.

      I like how you put that, “As for my time, I consider this an exploration, too, a learning phase while I pursue “larger” writing.” What you said reminds me of how we first pursue an education and then apply it. Plus, blogging and sharing with others is a great way to get almost instant feedback from our readers. And it’s often they who guide us toward that which we’re the best at. Don’t you love how that happens – they see “it” before we do.

      Free blogging platforms and those who use them do take an unnecessary beating. Because someone blogs “for free” (so to speak) does not mean their writing is lessor than. I’m thinking of Lorelle (of Lorelle On WordPress). She has been using the free WordPress platform from day one and look at her now – she’s made a huge name and career for herself.

  13. Can we really put a price on our sites, something that has most possibly taken on deep meaning for us? For me, I have a hard time putting a $$ value on my words that I share. This is something that I hold very close to me, much like a special gift. And that’s something hard to quantify. In fact, it’s become a priceless gift of being able to connect with amazing people all over the world – like you, Barbara!!
    .-= Check out Lance´s awesome post: Sunday Thought For The Day =-.

    1. Hi Lance,

      That’ s true. Our blogs do afford us the opportunity to meet others from around the world making those connections priceless.

      I know you would have a hard time putting a price on your words, Lance, but when you start publishing books (which I know is a dream of yours), I’m hoping you realize how valuable your knowledge is and charge accordingly. Me and many others will happily pay to read your work.

  14. The “How much is your blog worth” generator is just for fun. It is not an accurate on how much your blog is actually worth. I wouldn’t give up my blog.
    .-= Check out Rose´s awesome post: CString Invisible Underwear =-.

    1. Hi Rose,

      You’re right. The ”generator” is not an accurate measurement of our blogs worth. That is only something that could be determined between us and a potential buyer.

  15. It says 65K, but a blog is only worth as much as someone on the market is actually willing to pay for it.

    Also, I have to wonder about its accuracy since it says that dooce.com is only worth 500K, when she supposedly earns that much from her blog in a single year.

    I would sell MomGrind for 100K if anyone is interested. 😉
    .-= Check out vered | blogger for hire´s awesome post: Outrageous Photoshopping: Why We Should Keep Talking About it =-.

    1. Hi Vered,

      True. A blogs value is determined by the market, not an applet.

      $100,000 you say? Do I hear any takers for Vered’s blog? Going once, going twice….. 🙂

  16. To attach a monetary value to a communication technology such as my blog when its real value is in connecting, community and sharing of ideas, is an over simplification that undermines and undervalues the overall value of blogging.
    Establishing value, monetary as well as other, is something that requires discernment on a case by case basis and shying away from the responsibility of that discernment is not serving us.
    I see attaching value as something that requires care and needs to be done with integrity and honesty otherwise it can give us grief and economic chaos.
    .-= Check out Wilma Ham´s awesome post: Part 1. Hate making requests? You’d better get over it. They are key to having you fly. =-.

    1. Hi Wilma,

      That’s very true. The value of a blog could be easily be over simplified. Cute little applets are only as good as what the developer includes in the matrix and/or what S/HE feels adds value to a blog.

      We also need to remember “the blog” is our vehicle. It’s our words that hold the value.

  17. This was very fun Barbara and I was surprised to find that my blog actually has some worth…but I am with Julie mostly I haven’t figured out what my writing will do as a product…but I love to write…and this is a place to write and write and write…that makes it worth it to me…very valuable.

    I just adore those days when I think 67 folks read my words, shared with me for 1.6 minutes average…and I do a little dance when I have a 400 readers week….and one week you sent over 900 folks to read my blog….purely amazing experience….how do we measure the joy and contentment factors? What is the real value?

    Didn’t you just do a post on how our blogs are like our babies…are we now talking about selling our babies….????oh my…
    .-= Check out Patricia´s awesome post: Book Review: Diana Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER Series =-.

    1. Hi Patricia,

      You made a good point. Those little things that bring us so much joy can’t be measured or have a value put on them. To us, the experience is priceless.

      With you loving to write so much, I’m guessing through blogging you will find a way to turn this hobby into more. It might be a book, or it may be something outside of blogosphere (in the real world). I’d say, just relax and enjoy the art of blogging and in time the pieces will come together.

      Haha! Yes, I did write a post about blogs being our babies. And yes, some bloggers do sell their blogs. I’m wondering, would that be like letting our children spread their wings when they decide it’s time to leave home? Selling our “babies” sounds so cold. 🙂

  18. Ha! I don’t think that I would ever, ever, ever sell my blog. No matter what the price. It’s me!

    As for other services like ebooks, or consulting? I think the best thing to do is determine what your time is worth and be confident enough to charge accordingly.
    .-= Check out Ricardo Bueno´s awesome post: Social Media: You Just Gotta Try It =-.

    1. Hi Ricardo,

      I like the way you put that, “…be confident enough to charge accordingly”. THAT, my friend, would probably be the hardest part.

      I’m curious. Don’t you offer services? If so, how did you determine your rates?

    1. Hi Willem,

      That’s true. Our blogs do become our portfolio, or online resume. If someone wants to see a sample of our work, it’s as easy as giving them the URL.

      Would I sell? Good question. As much as I know I could recreate the posts, it’s the comments I wouldn’t want to lose, so based on the stipulations I’d put on the “sale”, no one would probably be interested.

  20. Barbara… this is a great topic, and really got me thinking. Q4B is valued around $20K and, who knows? If someone came to me with cash today I’d probably take it (consider the context of us being without income or prospects right now). Fortunately, I don’t think anyone would actually pay that, so it’s a moot point for me… no crisis of conscience.

    But what I wanted to point out is that anyone with a blogspot blog will probably get a $0 value out of that applet because those blogs cannot be sold (they belong to google). I don’t think it has anything to do with the “stats” and certainly not the value of the blogger’s work.

    I would just hate for anyone to get depressed over that number… as if we didn’t have enough arbitrary numbers to get depressed over in blogging. You know what I mean?
    .-= Check out Lisis´s awesome post: Music Therapy: Jack Johnson “Imagine” =-.

    1. Thank you Lisis,

      Thank you for sharing the information on blogspot blogs. I didn’t know that is how Google treats them. Fortunately it’s easy to move posts over to a WordPress blog platform, so if someone wanted to sell their work, it would be fairly easy.

      You know, as I was reading the last part of your comment, I got to thinking, maybe I shouldn’t have even included the silly applet for calculating a blog’s value. I certainly don’t want anyone to feel their blog has no value, when that’s the furthest thing from the truth.

  21. I’d like to say never, but as much as I can hold onto my first blog, I’d never sell it. Ten months of my life have gone straight into it, and I don’t feel like letting up. Maybe I’d create another blog, something I can say outright to myself, “This baby has got to go someday when someone is interested.” At least I’d be prepared mentally. But not the present one. It almost feels like its on it puberty now. So much of the future still lies ahead. And I’d like to be with this “teener” every step of the way.

    I’d registered with Darren’s forum. Valuable lessons learned can be had in his premier blog, but what his forum offers is the opportunity to network and strike up good alliances with likeminded bloggers in the forum. Darren foresees grouping his members by niche and will likely raise the membership fee to keep the numbers manageable.
    .-= Check out jan geronimo´s awesome post: Metric that Trumps Alexa Ranking and PageRank =-.

    1. Hi Jan,

      Blogs do become that way, don’t they? We watch them grow and add our blood, sweat and tears. They definitely become like children to us.

      Darren’s forum does sound like it will be a great source of information for bloggers. His idea of grouping members by niche is a fabulous idea. And, I’m not surprised to hear he”ll likely raise the fee as time passes as that would weed out those who are not serious bloggers.

  22. Hi Barbara,

    Darren has been doing this business for a long time and every new blogger look upto him for guidance.

    This charging of fees is something that I think that no one will hesitate to pay as the information that they will get from it will be valuable.
    .-= Check out Ravi@How to make quick money´s awesome post: Never Give Up Even When Goals Fail? =-.

    1. Hi Ravi,

      You’re right. Darren is a blogger many of us look up to and have as a mentor. He’s always provided solid information, and I’m guessing his new site will be even better. Did you join?

    1. Hi Tess,

      Good point. When we calculate the amount of time we put into our blog, in our minds, it should be worth a lot more than any applet suggests.

      Now, I’ve never thought of adding my blogs to my will, but have thought about what will happen to them when I pass on. Hmmmmmm.

  24. Hi Barbara .. interesting what Lisis said about Blogger ..

    I guess one could take one’s posts and restart .. the domain name belongs to me – positiveletters.com .. there must be a way round ..

    Thanks – I’ve yet to read all the replies ..
    Have a good rest of the week -Hilary Melton-Butcher
    Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
    .-= Check out Hilary´s awesome post: Grovel at Gravel … Recipe for a Moss Milkshake … =-.

  25. My first blog is worth more on the calculator than my current one. Seems time has a lot to do with it. I could sell my blogs for the right price, but that’s unlikely and I’m more interested in writing right now. As for e-books, I’ll probably offer mine as a free download in a few days and design a workshop to sell online instead and sell the book in print form.
    .-= Check out Lori Hoeck´s awesome post: One woman learns self defense is a mindset =-.

    1. Hi Lori,

      When we like to write and blog, it’s hard to imagine our life without that, hey?

      It sounds like you’re going through a transition now – offering your ebook for free? I like your idea of doing a workshop and selling the book in print form.

  26. Barbara — And here I was all excited about getting my new header up and then I calculated how much my blog was worth. It’s $2,822.70. Good thing I’m not into blogging for the money, right:~)

    I love what I do and therefore the value I give it is priceless. I know there are many things I could do to raise the value, but right now I’m pretty content. I love the people who visit and enjoy visiting their sites. I feel like I’m in a wonderful community and again..that’s priceless for me!

    On the other hand, I think people like Darren have every right to sell a subscription to their site. His advice is very valuable for bloggers and I think others who have similar sites should consider this idea!
    .-= Check out Sara B. Healy´s awesome post: New Blog Header Revealed =-.

    1. Hi Sara,

      I saw your beautiful new header. WOW! It fits you perfectly.

      You’re right. The value we get from blogging and community is definitely priceless. That is something we could never put a price on.

      And yes. Bloggers like Darren or others who have made such valuable contributions to blogosphere should be rewarded for their dedication and having a paid site is a great way to do it.

  27. What an interesting concept – selling blogs. Thanks for getting the monkey up this morning thinking about all this! ha!

    For me – the blogs I read and follow regularly FEEL like the people who write them. With those people gone? Can’t imagine the blog then.

    Mine is a $0 blogger blog. I’m not selling either so don’t go offering more!

    I blog to discipline myself into regular writing so for me this whole experience is not one I can put a price tag on. I am so tickled pink that I have followers and subscribers! I wrote for pennies for a newspaper for years. I was thrilled that they paid me too! I would have to say that SO far, I’ve been not writing with money in mind.

    That said, I hope that my up and coming books SELL well! Hmmm, I’m feeling like there is a time and place for “income”. Interesting concept charging for a blog though – maybe if I had thousands reading it??? I don’t know. Doesn’t feel right to me. But thanks for this topic – very interesting responses too!
    .-= Check out suzen´s awesome post: Cinderella at the USO Ball =-.

    1. You’re welcome Suzen,

      Glad to hear I woke up the monkey. 🙂

      Like you, I think an author makes a blog what it is. Maybe that’s not true on techy type blogs where they do reviews or how to stuff, but for ones like I read, it ends up being the author I follow.

      So, you’re another aspiring book author. I don’t think I knew that. That’s one great thing about blogging, it gives writers practice and almost instant responses. Can’t beat that.

  28. Hi Barbara,

    I was thinking about this very subject for the last two days. I would never sell my blog. I love it too much. It is a member of the family. Actually, I have a better relationship with my blog than some of my extended family.

    My blog was originally designed as an outlet to share information. I have gotten to know a lot more about myself and my life through blogging. As a result, it made me realize how much I love writing and spirituality. Would I love to make a living from writing and spirituality? Most definitely. I am trying to figure out how to do that. That is what the fork in the road (which I mentioned in another comment) is all about.

    By the way, thank you for the link to the blog worth thing! 🙂
    .-= Check out Nadia – Happy Lotus´s awesome post: Dependent Origination: Get Ready For Enlightenment, Baby =-.

    1. You’re welcome Nadia,

      I have to laugh at the part where you said, “I have a better relationship with my blog than some of my extended family.” I’m guessing that holds true for a lot of us.

      Combining our loves or passions is always a great way to have joy each day, doing a “job” (for lack of a better word) we love. I know exactly where you are as that’s where I was about six months ago. My next project combines two of my passions (one being blogging). Over the course of the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more about that, how I made my discovery, plus we will have a guest author (hopefully on Saturday) who will speak on the same subject from a little different angle.

      I’ve no doubt you’ll find just the right “niche” where you can combine all you enjoy doing. In the meantime, enjoy the journey to your dream.

  29. Hi Barbara,
    I sugested a low cost membership like this to Naomi over at IttyBiz last year as an alternative to the lowest priced items most folk have, which are ebooks. It works really well for sites that provide very valuable expert information. Mine isn’t that kind of blog, and although I love it, from its tulips down to its footer, it’d be worth very little financially. (I lost a lot of readers when I got ill and stopped guest posting at Write to Done and Goodlife Zen, commenting on loads of blogs and posting three or four times a week) but a couple of years ago, before I started blogging, I ran teleclasses and a passworded membership website with a forum for folk who were going for coach certification. It was a great way to provide value, and it probably would have been worth something if we’d sold it instead of simply ending it when my partner’s life circumstances changed.
    .-= Check out janice´s awesome post: Clutter: What are You Really Holding Onto…and Why? =-.

    1. Hi Janice,

      Those low cost memberships can be successful, especially when a blogger has a large reader base. When I was on Darren’s site I noted he has 120K +/- subscribers. That’s huge. So for him, this is almost a natural progression.

      That’s interesting how now that you’re looking back, the membership website you had, could have been sold. When we start something online, we often don’t realize it can have potential value.

  30. Hi Barbara – It’s an interesting question. When I first started my private practice, some people told me I should eventually try to position it as a business to sell someday. But I didn’t want to do that, because it felt like an extension of me rather than an entity of its own. So maybe it depends on how the blogger views the blog, as a business or a hobby or something else. But I’ve only just started blogging seriously, so who knows?
    .-= Check out Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s awesome post: Dark Magic and the $97 Book =-.

    1. Hi Patty,

      That’s very true. Some bloggers see their blogs as just a hobby, whereas others are blogging to position themselves to later have a business, and their blog is a stepping stone.

      But, like you said, blogs do become an extension of ourselves, so it makes it hard to separate the two. I guess that’s why so many of us feel our blogs are like another child.

  31. Hi Barbara — I probably wouldn’t sell my blog, but I have found tools like that “how much is my blog worth” page a source of moral support because my blog’s estimated value has apparently been going up over time. 🙂

    1. Hi Chris,

      That’s true. The more we blog, the more value we are creating. Even though most of us wouldn’t sell, it’s nice to know each time we do post, we’re adding to the value of our blogs, and providing the same for our readers.

  32. Timely article! I just made my site premium membership based as well at $4.97 per month. I’ve been making money online now since 1997 (you won’t find many entrepreneurs who have been walking the walk they talk now for 12+ years) and finally figured, the time has come to start putting a value on my insights.

    After all, Princeton charges for their education too.
    .-= Check out Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach´s awesome post: The Ultimate Career Change – Today’s Humor of the Day =-.

    1. Hi Barbara,

      When you put it that way, “Princeton charges for their education too”, it clearly makes sense for some blog authors to charge for their knowledge.

      12 years? That’s awesome!

  33. Hi Barbara

    I have heard of this tool before, and oh probably a year ago checked my blog’s value (can’t remember what it was) but anyway it did invoke many feelings within me – some positive about how much my blog was worth, some negative about it being “enough” and thinking of others and their worth.

    I have to tell you since then I moved through that and today won’t be checking again, as I have learned that the value is assessed more so on links than the actual content. And like Julie, I don’t think there is a price one can put on that.

    What if someone’s blog helps one person turn their life around – how much is that worth?

    Like many others, I am not interested in selling and these days really focus on writing for the sake of adding value and not for how much money it may or may not be worth.
    .-= Check out Evita´s awesome post: Choice Point 2012 =-.

    1. Hi Evita,

      I know exactly what you’re saying. With blogging numbers are so often used to measure success, when in truth, in most cases the numbers don’t mean anything.

      What you said is very true. There is no way to put a price on content – especially if it helps to turn a person’s life around. That’s priceless.

  34. Hi Barbara,

    I haven’t read through all of the comments yet, but neither of my blogs has a dollar value. Oh well. I subscribe to ProBlogger and actually bought one of Darren’s eBooks. Time to revisit it!

    I know both my blogs have value – otherwise, people wouldn’t visit. October has been an awesome month on my Stepmom blog – I had an All Star Lineup of experts and published authors for stepmoms!

    My next step in this great adventure of mine is to monetize both my blogs. I’m not exactly sure how…but I so do like Darren’s idea about charging a small monthly fee…

    Just think…if 1,000 people signed up for $1.95, he’s generating an additional $1950 per month…and with his readership of over 100,000, my guess is at least 10% would sign up and that’s 10,000 people…at $1.95 per month, that’s $19,500 per MONTH.

    Time to get busy…
    .-= Check out Peggy´s awesome post: What Are You Afraid Of? =-.

    1. Hi Peggy,

      Haha! You did the math, too. Not too shabby of a monthly income, is it?

      You’re right, When we build an audience, that is proof our blog is worth something. Like Evita mentioned, some posts can dramatically change another persons life.

      Have fun monetizing. There are a lot of options out there to experiment with.

  35. Hi there Barbara. I must say my results were discouraging — a Big Fat Zero! At the risk of sounding sappy… I put my heart and soul into my writing. I wonder how that is measured in blogoland standards? Nevertheless, selling wouldn’t be an issue because my writing would continue, blog or no blog.
    .-= Check out Davina´s awesome post: 10. A Thyme You May Embrace =-.

    1. Hi Davina,

      What does some little ‘ol applet know, anyway? I think your writing is beyond measure.

      Ahhh. The sign of a true writer – writing whether you have a blog or not. Would that be like ”writing without a blog”? 🙂

  36. Pingback: Barbara the Virtual Coach's Journal - Page 21

  37. Hi Barbara,

    I recently checked and the amount was just under 10 grand. Of course I don’t put too much stock in that.

    It’s interesting to see the amounts listed, for sure.

    I agree that Darren is one smart cookie in putting together his membership site. I always learn great things when his feed ends up in my in box. Not sure I’ll subscribe any time soon though.

    Cheers!

    George
    .-= Check out George Angus´s awesome post: New 10K Challenge Day =-.

  38. I’ve seen that tool before, and it’s very fun to play with.

    The calculation is based on AOL’s purchase of Weblogs, Inc. for $25 million. The idea is that if you have x% of the links that Weblogs did, your blog is worth x% of that price. It’s one way to estimate the value of a blog, but so many factors come into play.

    It says mine is worth $32,000, but I can’t imagine selling it for any amount. Our babies tend to be worth more to us than their fair market value. 🙂
    .-= Check out Hunter Nuttall´s awesome post: 10 Questions And Answers On Ambidexterity =-.

    1. Hi Hunter,

      So, that’s how that applet was developed. Wow! $25 million!

      Isn’t that the truth? The value we put on our blogs far outweighs what others might think they’re worth. Ya think we’re biased? 🙂

  40. I wonder how this is calculated? A few of mine came up in the thousands, others barely clock up the price of a burger 🙂
    .-= Check out Bingo´s awesome post: Players love summer’s new bingo sites =-.

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