In the short time I have changed my focus from being paid to create content for others to creating my own content, I have found one universal thing to be true; Don't fake being knowledgable on something that you're not!
I would go so far as to say that this may be the "Cardinal Sin" of making money online. This is because today's consumer is savvy in many ways including being scammed. Many people are aware of and can smell a bad deal when they run across one these days. What does this have to do with wrting a blog and Adsense? Not much if that is all the blogger is doing but today there are a ton of add on options to blogs. Selling products and affiliate marketing are a very large part of the current blogging trend to make money online. If you are writing on an unfamiliar topic AND are trying to sell affiliate products, you are in for a rude awakening.
So what is the reason that people will go about passing themselves off as something they are not? Most likely it is a couple of things. (And one thing I have personally learned recently.) A new blogger may be in it solely for the money. In any business, if making money is the ONLY reason you are in that business, it will most likely fail. Product knowledge and customer service are still important aspects in today's marketplace and need to be treated as such.
If you find that this is where you fit in the blogging equation, this article is for for. (To find out why, keep reading.)
On the flip side of this coin is the blogger that has a lot of knowledge on their subject of choice but would like to increase sales of their business. This is a good reason to be a blogger or create an online presence. Giving away free entry level information is a great way to prove your expertise and thereby increase sales.
Another reason someone might have a problem in making money online is due to confidence in their own ability or knowledge worth. (This is the one I mentioned I that I have discovered about myself recently.) This doesn't ahve anything to do with being percieved as a scammer but as someone who is not really a professional due to a lack of real confidence. Let me say that I am not talking about a bloated sense of pride or cockiness but not seeing themselves as others or their peers see them. I was recently told by a colleuge of mine that I have a good sense of writing and expressing myself. That doesn't mean that I am a college English Professor but that I can get my point across in a relatible way. (Hopefully like I am doing here.) This sense of inability can keep someone from writing about their point of view on subjects that they may be more than qualified to share with those just getting started in a field. They can actually miss opportunities to help some people. In other words, no one knows everythiing and as long as you are more knowledgable than your audience, (and honest about it) you are fine. Remembering that the journey is just as important as the destination can help a lot. Speaking of destination, this goes back to those that are in this just to make money. And this may simply be because of a desperation to pay the bills. That motivation or hunger can be a very good thing if it is checked and used properly. Misused and you become a sleazy businessman. Used appropriately and you could be on your way to becoming the latest "Guru" in your field!
Ok, enough on all that. What does any of this have to do with "Buddy Up?"
Simple; if you can't do it all yourself, find someone and do it together. As in this example, you don't feel qualified to write with authority on a topic, partner with a buddy that does. Many times an "authority" may have a hard time conveying their knowledge in a relatable way. They can supply you with the content and you formulate it! Also, the chances are that if you have taken the steps to start a blog or website for the purpose of making money and then found that you had a hard time with the content, you are the part of the team that has the skills to handle the computer and technology end of the equation. After all, you got your blog started didn't you?
So in partnering, each person contributes their strength to create a better end product and increase the chances of the site or blog getting to the point of being financially worthwhile. Depending on what your arrangement, you can pay the "authority" partner for the content and you do all the posting and tech related work or you both can just split any proceeds. This option is far better than known failure!