I'd like to second Overtonis's good advice to nurses wanting to blog for a living. I'd like to add a bit of advice for the newbie too, but first let me clarify, my blog is to serve as a platform for my self-publishing ventures, I'm not a nurse professional blogger. I hope to set up an income stream from my books, but I do see potential in income generating nurse blogs, but you have to think long term and make a plan. The key to success is Overtonis's tip 4. Find and define your niche and target audience before you even start.
The whole foundation of a nurse income generating blog rests on you being able to write intersting articles. If you're not sure if you can blog for a living the best way to start out is a free Wordpress or Blogger Blog. There are lots of abandoned blogs out there. On the free blog you can't advertise to bring in money, but at least you can find out if blogging is your bag. If it's not fun, the writing will grow heavier every day.
The first day I named my blog, but couldn't come up with a caption or tag line.(Big mistake that reflected poor planning). I learned after a few days that having a tag line or caption keeps me on a writing target instead of being all over the page. So, name your blog, define the tag or niche, and make your blog categories fit the niche. This will help advertisers know what ads to give you as well. My categories are Self Publishing and Writing tips, Health and Life, and My books. Each post I write is tagged with one or more of those categories. As your blog and interests grow, you can make more categories.
Once you determine you can blog topics regularly and enjoy it, then move to a hosted web site and become an advertising affilate. There are lots of sponsors to choose from. You don't lose the posts in the free blog, they move with you to the hosted site. I'm not great with Social Media, but I inserted a Sociable tower at the bottom of each post so readers can share with friends if they like it. If you're already on Twitter and FB and enjoy a following, your blog will take off much faster than mine has.
I'm barely out the gate with my blog, but I've received a few comments. Big Yeah moment! I haven't added advertising, I'll do a little in time, but it will never have two side bars full of ads or banners which is where professional bloggers make their living. A blog can be fun but it is work. People come to the blog to learn something unique from someone who has been there. It's the content not the advertising that brings in followers. For retired nurses looking for a second income stream, I see potential with it. A nurse that can research and write short e-books on their chosen topic or niche will do well if they write on high demand topics.
For example off the top of my head, I think a nurse familiar with NICK-U could write a great ebook on things parents can do when they visit the unit and things they should do to prepare for when the baby comes home. Bascially play or touch recommendations. Most parents questioned how to hold their baby, could the baby hear them, where should they stroke the baby etc. The key is to deliver information lost in translation from the docs and nurses to stressed out parents. Think of it as a parental tip book. The ebook can be sold from your website or even Amazon. I've seen people write small e-books on their hobby-how to train a lazy dog. The potential is out there but expect money to start slow; it's a long game.
In the blog world, I had to learn a whole new jargon with themes, links, plugins, and widgets Oh My! Starting a free blog is like sampling dessert. Give it a taste. Good Luck and comment back here if you take the plunge!
