The last few days we touched on the whys, the how tos, and the whats, of deal blogging.
Today I would like to discuss the whens.
In my opening post in this series, I told you about the 60-70 hour work weeks I would work when I first began deal blogging. The first year I started blogging I took off one day: Christmas. The second year I was blogging I took off two days: Christmas and the day after BlogHer.
By year three, I was taking off a lot more half days in addition to those two full days off (again Christmas and the day after BlogHer). I have two VAs (virtual assistants) to help me on the blog now, and I, for sanity’s sake, have cut my personal work week down to about 50 hours this past year. And clearly this week I did something completely crazy and went on vacation – and decided not to work through it! That is a first for me.
Will you need to work the same amount of time I did when I began blogging if you deal blog? If you want a following, probably. At least in the beginning. You see, you need to work to get dependable, engaged readers, and once you have a loyal following you need to deliver the goods to those people who now depend on you. Because while you have recreational savers, you also have people who cannot afford to eat without couponing and doing deals. These folks will go to the library and see what you have written that day, be it a deal, coupons or advice. You are helping them to eat. They look to you for support and guidance.
And that is a huge responsibility.
I will never forget my first PM (private message) on fatwallet that said, “Thank you. Without your help my family could not afford to eat.”
And while that PM, and the ones that followed, not to mention the email I receive now, always bring tears to my eyes, I too was once in the same place, so I can totally relate.
So do not toy with people. If you are going to deal blog, unless it is strictly a brag-blog or for your friends and family, know that consistent content is extremely important to your readers.
Do you need to post 50 times a day? That is purely up to you. Can you be a deal blogger with only four posts a day? Absolutely if they are helpful, quality posts. The quantity does not matter as much the quality and consistency. People who read you will come to expect the consistency and know whether or not your blog suits their purposes. Along the way you will learn what does/doesn’t work for you and your readers and adjust accordingly. And when you figure out how to deal blog successfully at four hours per day, five days a week, come back and tell me how!
Tomorrow we will discuss the “whos” of deal blogging.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Ann,
I so enjoy this topic! I have been a follower of Ann’s for 2 years now. I can’t go a day without seeing what Coupons, Deals, and More has to offer for the day. I started my own blog in Oct. I sent Ann countless emails and questions on this very topic. She is always willing to share her wealth of knowledge and expertise! With out her help I would have had no ideal where to begin.
I started blogging knowing it was going to be a great deal of time and NO money for a long time! (paycheck what is that)?
Getting rich was not the reason why I started. I wanted to share the tremendous savings I have learned by couponing with others. Mostly, learned from you Ann. In other words you inspired me.
So many people that I knew was excited knowing they could save money by couponing but like everyone else it is the how too. So, I elected to blog in order to help people and by doing so that is my reward and payment.
Thanks Ann for all you do. I know how much time it takes!!!
I love getting these updates in my Facebook news feed. I could never devote this many hours and do what you do, but I appreciate the time and effort you put into helping all of us!