Blogging - the new sweat shop?

1. 86

   Marisa Wrightposted 16 years ago

   This article is very interesting:
   
   http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/b … 12786.html
   
   I do know that last year, when I spent two days a week online, I did put on weight and lose muscle tone.   I'm sure I've read that when you're using a computer, your metabolism is lower than at any other time, including sleep!

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2. 88

   stephhicks68posted 16 years ago

   Fascinating, yet not too surprising!  Just look at the effect of HubLove Contest.  That was only 30 days, yet the top several contenders really pushed themselves and hardly slept!  Thanks for posting this article, Marisa!

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3. 72

   relacheposted 16 years ago

   I've been doing online work for just over a decade now, and I've passed on several opportunities to become a blogger because it is so unhealthy.  However, if you are an OCD shut-in, it might just be perfect for you.

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4. 72

   Inspirepubposted 16 years ago

   What a beat-up!
   
   It takes me an hour and a half to write my blog posts for the week, and maybe another couple of hours commenting and social bookmarking and whatever.
   
   The problem for the bloggers they are talking about is that they are trying to make money from pay-per-post systems, which are essentially low-rate writing gigs, much like writing articles for $3 a pop.
   
   Think how many hours you would need to work to make $70,000 per year at $3 per article! Or $10 per blog post.
   
   On the other hand, there are plenty of bloggers who make that kind of money working four hours a day or less - but they are NOT paid per post. They have built a business, and the business produces income.
   
   Whether it is Adsense, other revenue widgets, affiliate sales, or building a list, as a blogger you have to have a BUSINESS.
   
   Anyone working as a writer-for-hire on the internet is going to earn very little or work very long hours, whether it's blogging, article writing, ebook producing, etc.
   
   If someone else generates a business opportunity, and pays you to make content for it, you are an employee or contractor, and it will be a low hourly rate. Full stop.
   
   These bloggers all need to read "The Cashflow Quadrant"!
   
   Jenny

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5. 86

   mlowellposted 16 years ago

   There was an article in my local paper last week about a kid that graduated from a local high school in my area who went on to graduate college and is now a professional blogger. He said he gets at most 5 hours of sleep a night and doesn't have time to sit down and eat a meal. He mixes protein mix in his coffee. I checked out the site and it seems to be him and 2 or 3 other guys working it. It's the gizmodo blog.
   
   Personally, it didn't seem too in-depth to be so time consuming. But, then when I had my own business making websites, I would get calls and alarms at all hours of the evening and night from server mishaps and customers in other time zones.

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6. 72

   Maddie Ruudposted 16 years ago

   I don't think this is a phenomenon exclusive to the blogging profession.  I can think of plenty of print journalists and high-powered business people who live a similar lifestyle.  Of course, working on the web makes it easier to overdo it, since the net is always there, and you always feel like you could be doing more, but to draw a connection between blogging in particular and, say, a high risk of heart attacks is just bad logic.  As my economist father taught me at a very young age, correlation does not imply causation.  There are a number of other factors here, among them who chooses to go into professional blogging in the first place.
   
   Interesting article, nonetheless.  I think we all need to be careful to keep our stress levels low, and know where to set boundaries between work and relaxation, no matter what professions we're in.

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   1. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Maddie, I think that's the point.  I find it's easier to spend hours on the net than on any other activity.  That's partly because it's always on and you're not working amongst other people, but it's also because your metabolism settles down so much, you're not so aware of time passing.  It may not lead to heart attacks, but I do think the result is that you do less activity, and that affects your health directly.
      
      I also agree with Jenny that the people at risk are those trying to make a living by writing for other people - selling their articles for $2 a pop.

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