That said, I did start my by-far more recognized blog “Fat Chic” as a way of raising money for my clothing budget. While the money has instead done much to keep my perfume business afloat, it has taught me many lessons about monetized blogging, and subject-matter blogging in general.

Two things should always compete in your mind: what your audience wants, and what you have to say. Sometimes these will come together. Sometimes you will challenge your audience. Sometimes your audience will challenge you. The more authentic and interested you are in the subject you blog about, the more you will be rewarded - and rewards should be estimated in value, not in dollars. I’ve reaped the rewards of information by being pointed to stores I’ve never heard of, and of finding sources to make my blog better, such as livejournal communities. I’m hoping to make the same thing happen with Magickal Realism, especially as I am working with a much more intricate subject than clothing.

A valuable blog will, over time, draw more traffic off of search engines and that will drive up your click-through if you choose to use traditional ads/adwords. I’ve chosen to do a non-traditional approach by hosting my own ads, giving them a non-invasive presentation (NO popups or flashing text) and by making them easily affordable to the smallest of businesses. It doesn’t pay my rent, but it does pay in relationships, referrals, and recognition.