Días después del anuncio de renunciar a su trabajo y tomar la decisión de vivir de su weblog hice unas cuantas preguntas a Jason Kottke acerca de sus decisiones de vivir de su blog, el futuro y uno que otro consejo que probablemente deberíamos tomar en cuenta en la blogosfera hispana. La entrevista la publico en inglés y probablemente la traduciré. Si alguien está interesado en hacer la traducción al castellano, por favor escribirme aquí.
1.- Still puking? (*En referencia a esto
No, I'm doing ok now, actually. The first few hours of the first day though...it was tough.
2.- Your goal is to make about 1/3 to 1/2 of your yearly income, is that goal still going, are you getting more than you expected?
I didn't expect any particular amount, but things seem to be on track for the 1/3 to 1/2 goal.
3.- With more time on your hands, are you planning blogging-related activities that could give you some extra income, for example seminars or talks on festivals like SXSW?
I am speaking at SXSW in March, but I'm not getting paid for it. I'm restricting most outside paid opportunities (writing, consulting, etc.) to focus more on the site. If I go to conferences and such, it will be with an eye on covering them for my audience.
4.- Maybe advertising would change Kottke.org but I believe the very fact that people pay you to write also changes your site in some ways, maybe more pressure to write or to achieve a very high quality on your writings and posts?
The hope is that by keeping most advertising off of the site, I won't be tempted to compromise my writing in favor of the advertisers. But like you said, having the audience pay has created pressure to write and to write at a higher level. As long as I don't let that pressure overwhelm me, it will be a welcome stress in my efforts to improve the site.
5.- What would be your best tip or advise for someone starting his own blog? (Considerando que los blogs en español para la mayoría son algo nuevo)
A blog can be about anything or for any purpose, so if you're thinking of starting a blog, don't be afraid of needed to conform to what others are doing. Having a unique voice or approach is a good way to attract the right sort of audience to your site, even if that audience consists only of your immediate family.
6.- Advertising on blogs is a recurring topic on the hispanic blogosphere. Some poeple think is good, some believe it's bad. Cluetrain manifesto is mentioned often by folks against it and making a living out of your blog seems impossible for spanish speaking bloggers. As your search on finding a way to live from your blog without ads on your site or sponsorship from companies go on, and that being your dream, what would you say to those people?
Public perception of this whole thing isn't that important to me. People will think what they want about and it will either work out or it won't. My concern is: do my readers understand what I'm doing and is it worth it for them to support me to do it? The outside coverage by the media and wider blogosphere is nice, but the reaction of my readers is the important bit for me.
7.- Today you quit your job and rely on reade donations. What's next?
Hopefully, some sleep. :)
Si deseas ser un "micropatron" de Jason Kottke, puedes donarle dinero desde aquí.
