Recently I was contacted by a very cool guy called Logan. He’s a 14 year old from Canada who’s interested in getting involved in blogging, and he sent me a few questions via email. Now, these questions were actually really good ones, and I think they can help a lot of newbie bloggers out there. Because of this, with Logan’s permission, I’ve decided to answer these questions publically so that everyone can learn from the answers.
Firstly, here’s the email that was sent to me:
Hey Simon,
First off, I’m really impressed with your blog. It’s fascinating that teenagers can rise to success in an ever changing world. I’m a 14 year-old from the West coast of Canada, and I’m looking into blogging. I hope you won’t mind me ask a few questions.
1) I’m very interested in blogging, and I know that anything I choose I could write about at least a little bit. But I’m having trouble finding a niche that would become something I could expand on for a long time. How did you develop your niche? Did you previously have much experience in it?
2) I’m thinking of offering guest posts on blogs, but I have no experience with blogging in particular (though I do write short stories and news articles often). Would these people accept me, a 14 year-old, with little to no experience? Also, I know that guest posts require a pitch, or a pre-written post. However, I have absolutely no clue what to write about (some might call it “blogger’s block”); would bloggers be able to give me a subject to write on?
Looking forward to your reply!
Logan
So, I’ll start with the first question related to what niche to go in to.
Well, to be honest, there’s no right or wrong answer to this, but for your first blog I would strongly advise you write about something you’re interested in. For me, I absolutely love football (or soccer as some like to call it), and that’s what my first blog was about. I found that it was really easy to blog about this because I would never run out of things to say. Now, if my first site was about Car Insurance, I’d be clueless after a few posts, if that!
I feel that going with something you like is the best choice for your first blog, because not only will you have more to write about, you’ll also:
- Enjoy it more as you can connect with people with similar interests and make your blog a success.
- Feel more motivated as you’re not writing about stuff you have no interest in.
- Produce high quality content because you know what you’re talking about, especially if it’s your hobby or something.
I know there’ll be some people out there who are thinking ‘but what about the money, where will that come from?!’ Well, for your first project I wouldn’t recommend you go out with the intention of making millions. You just want to build up your experience and knowledge so that you can make future projects (in more profitable niches) more expensive.
Now for the second point about guest posts…
I would advise you have a quick read of my previous post, ‘The Advantages of Having Guest Posters On Your Blog‘. This should give you an insight in to why people will have you as a guest poster.
Now, to guest post on someone else’s blog, you need to know your stuff about your niche. So, for instance, if I go to guest post on a site like this one with no clue about ‘Make Money Online’ related topics, it’s going to be an awful guest post and the site probably won’t publish it. However, if you can prove that you know your stuff, age is no barrier and they’ll be happy to have you for the reasons I listed in the post I linked to.
So, to conclude, try and pick a niche that you know a lot about for your first blog. And, if you want to guest post, remember that people will judge you on the quality of the article, not on your age or anything about you.
Nice post! Answered alot of questions which i’ve had for a while.
Cool, I’m glad it was helpful to more people than just Logan!
Well answered Simon
Keep us posted when Logan starts to blog.
Farrhad A | The Marketing Park’s last blog post..How to Build the Ultimate Email Marketing List
Thanks Farrhad!
I’ll try and get Logan to comment on here to keep us all informed, but I’m sure he’ll happily sign up to Twitter 
Hey Simon,
Thanks! Helped a bunch. It’s funny because I had a “flash of genius” last night (at midnight… right before my biggest exam)… and I’ve got what I want to blog about. Nonetheless, your post really helped me (so does your blog). I’m just sorting out some hosting stuff right now, keep ya updated
Hey Logan!
Like I said in the email, feel free to contact me any time with any questions you have, and also remember to keep us updated about your blog! 
Firstly, I’m glad it could help! I’m glad you found the post helpful, and I’m more glad that you’re enjoying the blog in general!
i have seen lately a great rise of youngsters very much interested into blogging…and even younger than logan. wow! nice Q&A too.
elmot’s last blog post..Don’t Tell Your Children Not To Lie?
Yeah, I know a couple of thirteen year olds that run blogs and even an eleven year old! :O I think it’s because the internet has become much more accessible and programs like wordpress make it easy for anyone to start blogging
Good luck Logan in your blogging adventure.
Simon, thanks for publishing this publicly. Teenius has succeed in a short time span and people would have been wondering what is the success story. This gives them an idea and motivation to head in the right direction.
Richael | Domain Marvelous’s last blog post..Some tips on choosing killer domain names!
I think most of my success is just down to having quality readers, although I’m sure I’ll cover that in another post
And, regarding posting it publically, I just felt that lots of people could learn from this rather than just Logan, hence posting it up!
Hey Simon, please just tell Logan I replied to his comment on my blog. Thanks
Farrhad A | The Marketing Park’s last blog post..How to Build the Ultimate Email Marketing List
Good post
Choosing a niche you are interested in is important, I chose a niche in which I COULD get interested in.
I didn’t knew much about studying when I started my blog about it, but now, half a year of reading a lot of other blogs I start to get insights in some really big problems and how to solve them.
And to Logan: I don’t think the site on which you will guest post provide you any topics, I won’t do it, because when I have an idea for a post, I want to make it great, so I will do it myself.
All the best,
Stefan
Stefan | StudySuccessful.com’s last blog post..What to do after the exams?: Links
Personally, I’ll only ever write for blogs where I’m interested in the niche. If it’s something I’m not interested in, I’ll hire someone else to do it!
Regarding the second point, I think it depends on which site you go to. The vast vast majority won’t give you ideas, but some might!
Wow 14 years old. I guess I am an old geed here
Stock Traders Blog’s last blog post..My Mind Switched Side But so Did the Market
I agree that if you want to blog, blog something you are passion about, when I started out, all I really know is “Sex”, so I wrote what ever I know, and later on it got me into Internet marketing.
Here’s what I means, write whatever you think you are interested right now. Seriously I don’t believe is the big lies where most people say, “you need to find something you can write for the rest of your life” – This is B.S
Just as Simon said, “he started blogging football before he got into the “make money online” niche, why?
Simply this: you need to find the breakthrough to the pavement where the light shines, your first step is always the beginning of many pavement that either lead to a dead end or lead to a success.
So start writing and writing and writing to whatever you are interested right now, and taking this action will be the very first step you need to do…
Ah sorry for the long comment, I just want to tell it all…..
The Bad Blogger’s last blog post..Is The 13 Year Old Kid Right Or The Bad Blogger Right ?
“Sex”, than “internet marketing”? What kinda blog are YOU running?
Blog update: Domain will most likely be bought today, and started today
Very informative.i will suggest him to write anything.
You have given the answers well Simon. You have been doing good in blogging and ‘making money online’ niche and me too would love to learn it from you in the coming days of our friendship.
Cheers!
To your success,
Aditya
PS – Teenius.com is now in my Google reader
Aditya’s last blog post..G2Peer: Share Files stored on your PC using Gmail
Firstly, thanks for the kind words and subscribing!
I’m looking forward to seeing you around more.
Also, (and this applies to everyone), feel free to contact me whenever with any questions you may have… I’ll always try to reply speedily!
Here is a nother nice post Simon, I like the idea of answering publicly to Logan, so this will be useful for all of us!
Thanks a lot!
Hesham’s last blog post..Zebida Fridays – Why you Should Add a Comment when Visiting my Blogs
Yeah, that was my thinking behind it!
I find that a lot of the questions I’m asked are about someone’s blog, or are only small questions, but these were pretty important/general questions, so I felt it appropriate to post it up!
Cool, it must make you feel great to get an email like that. You answered the questions well too.
Jake | Web Journey’s last blog post..10 Commandments For Bloggers and Webmasters
Yeah it was a nice feeling to open Logan’s email!
I’ve had similar emails in the past, but I felt that this one was the first that was worthy of being answered publicly! 
Welcome to the world of blogging Logan. Keep it =)
blinkky’s last blog post..How To Add A Border To An Image
Hey Simon,
How do I register to comment on your blog, and in doing so, have an avatar and a link (when i have my blog)?
Use gravatar
dhannanjay’s last blog post..Green day (21st century breakdown)
As said, to get the picture you need a Gravatar.
To get one of those, go to Gravatar.com and sign up. Then use the email which you will comment with (v. important) to sign up with, and just add a picture. It will then work in almost every blog.
Regarding the URL, under where you enter your email when leaving a comment, there’s a little box
Yeah true
dhannanjay’s last blog post..Green day (21st century breakdown)
Great post man it helped not only Logan but many of us especially me.
thanx
dhannanjay’s last blog post..Green day (21st century breakdown)
Hey Simon,
I actually blogged about a similar thing recently, very quickly comparing the prons and cons of following your passion and following the money. I guess this is a little problem that all beginners have as they are not sure whether what they love will make them money. Overall, an excellent post and an interesting read. I, too, am interested to see how Logan will take off from this!
Static’s last blog post..How Much Do You Spend On Renewals?
Well, to my knowledge, Logan has now started his blog, so hopefully we’ll hear more about that from him in the next few days!
Regarding making money… personally I feel that in the early days of blogging you should focus on building experience rather than milking websites for every cent you can. But then I suppose most noobs won’t see it like that
I would say we must concentrate on that niche which we are the most aware of. It is then you can be successful. Choice of the niche is on a whole one’s individual opinion. If some one has no experience in Blogging or MMO then its better to learn it and then post about it. Good answer Simon.
Harish | Blogging Kid’s last blog post..A Recap of Some My Best Posts On This Blog
Bad Blogger is right. The fact is, not every topic you write about gets you readers. No one else may share the same passion, or are passionate enough to read about the topic.
E.g. If you blog about Facebook game reviews, nobody would want to read it simply because they would just try out the games themselves. So the “following your passions” advice can be very misleading. You need to consider all angles.
If your chosen blog topic doesn’t work, then you have to change directions, like Bad Blogger who changed from Sex to Internet Marketing. But like what he said, just take action.
More about this on http://www.bigideablogger.net/proven-money-making-ideas-the-big-four-categories/
Charles – Big Idea Blogger’s last blog post..Why Entertainment Bloggers Earn More than You
To be honest, the vast majority of the time your first blog will have few readers, so it’s better in my opinion to actually enjoy it and keep yourself motivated for when you are ‘ready’ to move on to bigger projects.
Hey guys,
Thanks for all those encouraging words! I’m not trying to hijack your post here Simon, or steal your thunder (or anything of the sort), but I’ve started my blog! Drop me a comment if you’re awesome, and tell me how I’m doing so far!
http://www.youthbusinessblog.com
Logan’s last blog post..9 Tips To Better Self-Promotion
Don’t worry about it, it’s a cool blog! I’ve even added you a link in the ‘My Friends’ section in the footer!
[...] An Answer Session (22nd June) When I was contacted by Logan, a 14 year old from Canada, with some questions, I knew I just had to post my answers up in public as they were very general and could help everyone. The post got a really good response, and Logan is now running YouthBusinessBlog.com! [...]
[...] Send your questions in an email to other bloggers. Site owners always appreciate feedback and your questions give them a great topic for their next post. Plus, they might link to you and it builds a relationship with that blogger. A great example of how this works is one of the latest posts on Teenius.com, An Answer Session. [...]
Good questions for a 14 year old boy. I think Logan will become a successful blogger if he continues that way.
Yeah, Logan’s a really great guy with a big future ahead of him. Check out his blog to see his progress!