One of my recent posts got me thinking about the general persona a ProBlogger is “supposed” to have. What does it take to become one, or be labeled as one? Are there certain entry requirements? Do you have to make $XXXXX amount of cash to get in? How many links, RSS numbers does it take? How long before you earn the respect of being called a ProBlogger?

The keyphrase there, I feel, is “Earn The Respect“. Because only once are you respected as being associated with something, do you get authority on the subject.

For one, having the domain name doesn’t hurt. Right, Darren? Many bloggers seem to think that they cannot become or get to the point where their peers are. If everyone thinks like that then being a ProBlogger will definitely be a very limited club. But it’s quite possible for virtually anyone to go Pro. But only few eventually will, which is perfectly alright for the rest.

Do I classify myself as being Pro. Well let’s see -

• I make some good enough money from my blog, but it’s not my major income source.
• I get tens of thousands of visitors a month, the only time I hit 100K+ was in October.
• I have almost 600 RSS readers, which at one time was quite a number to achieve. But since RSS is becoming more mainstream the bar has significantly gone up. {bear in mind, I hardly do any promotion for this blog}
• This blog has led me to more streams of online income. I’ve started my own web design company. I’ve started developing my own web products as well.

Have I earned respect? Well that’s a matter of opinion. I don’t think I’m a ProBlogger…yet. I think for me to be consider myself a ProBlogger I would need to bridge the present gap I have of gaining more direct traffic, building authority on a certain subject, and making a good enough income from it. Then I’m a Pro on that subject, and since I have a blog, I’m a ProBlogger. Right?

The real question is…

Do you have to quit your day job to be considered a ProBlogger?

Don’t quit your day job, if you really like it and if you make good money. I think one of the many trademarks of being a Pro in any field is spontaneity and a good sense of humor. If you can’t think outside the box and do unexpected things people will just think you’re ordinary. That’s boring, especially on the internet.

Seth Godin is considered a pro in whatever he does. Jeremy laughs at the notion that he is considered a ProBlogger. John Chow has fun on his blog with his dinner posts, convention photos and videos as well as doing a ton of reviews. I guess he’s a ProReviewer. Michael Arrington has virtually tied the web startup industry around his fingers. Robert Scoble is considered a pro on technology and so on and on…

All of the above still have some other kind of business interest going on in their lives. They don’t just blog.

Darren has more blogs than just his main one and I believe he makes the bulk of his money off of them. Rightfully so, of all the people he should practice what he preaches. When in fact I think it’s also the other way around. Many a times he talks about stuff that he has experienced on his other blogs and how it has helped either gain new subscribers, make more money or get more traffic. So I think many a times he finds himself surprised by the results he experiences.

Could Darren, and all the above names, be a product of their own ventures? Sure, who isn’t!

You do not need to be christened by anyone online to be considered a ProBlogger, you just need to be able to prove it to yourself. Once you do that, everyone agrees with you. No matter what.

In conclusion

How do you define a ProBlogger?

- A person who has built a reputation on a subject via an online weblog

Do you concur?

About the author

Hyder has been blogging for the past two years on this blog. He started Weborithm, his web company, in 2007 and along with designing blogs and websites also releases various web related products.