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From the New York Times: Robert Scoble, who doesn’t think much of my web host, Dreamhost, does think there’s a future for professional bloggers.

Blog about something you love or know well. The readers will follow.

As Chris Pearson points out, anyone who wants to write a successful blog needs to be passionate about their subject matter, and willing to find good tools like WordPress and a good template. Chris claims that a blog can attract a core audience with as few as 10 authoritative, well-written articles.

I’d argue that authority has become a key success factor for blogs.

There are more than a few bloggers who don’t need another job. They earn enough revenue from the ads and subscriptions in their blog. Malia Zimmerman maintains that HawaiiReporter.com isn’t a blog, but the site produces enough income to let her do what she wants.

There are also people who make their living running other people’s blogs, but that’s a story for another day.