Million Dollar Questions

From a freelance journalist seeking expert input, via ProfNet, for an upcoming column in the South China Morning Post. Under the headline “Blogging for Bucks,” it read:

How do you make money from blogging? What’s the maximum and average? Is the market too overcrowded? Who writes the world’s best blog? What’s the best technological platform? How much do pictures help? Does being catty help? Is it possible to say what you want without being sued?

Here’s my take:

How do you make money from blogging?
You don’t (unless you’re Arianna or Mike).

What’s the maximum and average?
Max: $100 per month. Average: (-$500) per month in time spent. But then of course you can resort to pay-per-post.

Is the market too overcrowded?
With purportedly more than 100 million blogs, you do the math.

Who writes the world’s best blog?
Best” what a concept.

What’s the best technological platform?
It’s a toss-up, but I know which is the worst.

How much do pictures help?
A lot, but don’t forget that Creative Commons license.

Does being catty help?
Better left for Nick or Perez to answer.

Is it possible to say what you want without being sued?
So far, it appears so, and it may soon be even more so.