How to Make Money from a Blog

The discussion on the commercialization of blogs has been going on for quite some time, but so far it seems that no definitive conclusion has been reached. In terms of traffic, Sina Blog, which ranks first, has not yet made a move, and other blog sites trailing behind are mostly still in a state of观望 (watchful waiting), with at most some timid small-scale trials. The wind rises suddenly, and the water flows swiftly; the road to the commercialization of blogs still has many miles ahead.

In facing the issue of blog commercialization, analyzing what blogs can do is more meaningful than debating what blogs are. All commercial value comes from "can," rather than "is."

What blogs can actually do mainly consists of three things: 1. Let those who "have something to say" have a "place to say it," providing bloggers with a platform for free expression, self-display, and external interaction. 2. Let those who "have nothing to do" have "something to do," offering a large population of bored individuals (the term "bored" here carries no derogatory connotation whatsoever, as each of us has moments of boredom) a platform for entertainment, leisure, voyeurism, and information acquisition. 3. Help those who "have something to sell" (including institutions) find those who "have something to buy," providing advertisers with a platform to promote themselves and impress their customers.