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The top 5 classic problogger myths: EXPOSED!

  Is that a unicorn on your shoulder ...
   Originally uploaded by tartx

You've probably heard mythical tales about folks building sites from scratch, earning enough off the site to quit their day job, and later selling the site for a gazillion dollars or more.

We love those stories, because it sounds like every office renegade's fantasy--work in your pajamas, write from your heart, play around for most the day, rake in embarrassing amounts of cash. Ahhh, that's the life!

The truth is that there is as much myth as fact mixed in with that fantasy.

I've studied problogging, worked with some of the biggest blog rockstars in the business, and have even tried my own hand at it, and one thing I've learned is that behind the myth, behind the fantasies, behind the growing amount of media attention this hot new internet career is garnering, there is a solid, legitimate, long term business opportunity for those willing to invest the significant time, resources, and energy needed to start with nothing and grow a site into a cash cow.

If you've ever had the inkling that you might be able to turn your blog into a business but just aren't sure, you might wanna confront these classic problogging myths first:

9 really convincing reasons NOT to be a workaholic

Let's see a show of hands--How many of us when we were growing up had the dream to one day work in a sweatshop? Hmmm?

I don't think any of us when we were first creating our virtual businesses and dreaming about the lifestyle we wanted ever decided that it would be a healthy, life-enriching thing to work 14 hour days 6 or 7 days a week. And yet somehow many web workers find themselves in just that sort of situation.

Small business owners are extremely diligent and dedicated--that just goes along with being an entrepreneur :-). It's a very admirable trait to have a vision and be willing to work hard to attain it, but we need to pull back sometimes and remember that there are definite benefits to NOT being a workaholic.

Signals vs Noise has a great post outlining 5 reasons why it's not a great idea to work with workaholics (or be one yourself).

Spit-Shine Your Online Reputation In 5 Easy Steps

Can I see a show of hands–how many of you folks have ever googled someone when you wanted to find out more info about them? I think we all have. But at the same time you’re googling others, others are also googling you–what are they finding?

Before I started doing some of these online marketing techniques, whenever I would google my name, info about another person would show up in the search results (yes, apparently there is another Sharon Sarmiento in the world, and she was outranking me for my name!). Now when I do a search for my name, the first few pages of results are really about me, and all of my writing (through blogging and article marketing) is showcased.

Knowledge is power, so google yourself, and if you don’t like what you’re seeing know that with a tidbit work you can do one of those “extreme” (on subtle) makeover thingys with an arsenal of social media and online marketing tools: