Business Week profiles the big money blogs

posted at 6:32 pm on July 16, 2007 by Allahpundit

Or, in at least one case, not so big money. So close, sweet iPhone — yet so very far.

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

Trackbacks/Pings

Trackback URL

Comments

At a loss? That doesn’t make any sense. This is one of the best out there.

Esthier on July 16, 2007 at 6:44 PM

Freakin’ iPhones? She pays for your Web access, yes? Oh, and does your cable bill come as part of that deal?

Hey, Michelle, if these ingrates keep griping and grumbling, gimme a call, OK? Call me on my Razor. (Which I bought with my own money, thank you very much.)

Ali-Bubba on July 16, 2007 at 6:45 PM

You will learn, that the owners of a business are always operating at a slight loss. And when you ask for a raise (or an iPhone) they are on the verge of bankruptcy.

right2bright on July 16, 2007 at 6:46 PM

The only reason she’s operating at a slight loss is because she’s so generous with compensation.

Allahpundit on July 16, 2007 at 6:46 PM

At a loss? That doesn’t make any sense. This is one of the best out there.

Esthier on July 16, 2007 at 6:44 PM

It’s a small-biz start-up. Initial losses are to be expected, since more capital investment (computer and video equipment, etc.) is required upfront.

But it’s about synergy. The Web, the column, the Fox TV appearances — it’s all part of a package. Bryan has said before that Michelle is essentially subsidizing the blog operation from her Fox fees. But the blog is part of what makes her such a popular draw on TV, ergo, it’s worth it.

And once the 2008 election cycle heats up, political ad revenue can be expected to increase. So the investment will ultimately pay off.

Really, you’ve got to think about the total Malkin Inc. revenue picture to see what the business logic is.

Ali-Bubba on July 16, 2007 at 6:50 PM

But I’m just talking out of the side of my head.

Ali-Bubba on July 16, 2007 at 6:51 PM

Without giving away any secrets, how does the revenue thingy work for HotAir? Better yet, can we do anything to help it?

Don’t ask me to buy you an iPhone.

BadgerHawk on July 16, 2007 at 6:52 PM

99% of your video hosting can be done at marginal costs through Brightcove.com and they have an option for revenue generation via ad insertion.

Bryan and I talked about this in DC months ago…

ScottMcC on July 16, 2007 at 6:59 PM

Y’all should get John Edwards to tour your facility during his poverty tour.

SouthernGent on July 16, 2007 at 7:02 PM

So my slight loss of $18/month to maintain my blogging habit is keeping me competitive with the MM/HotAir empire? Sweet. Just a few more months to start raking in the crazy blog money.

a4g on July 16, 2007 at 7:04 PM

Without giving away any secrets, how does the revenue thingy work for HotAir? Better yet, can we do anything to help it?

Next time that stupid link to PETA shows up here. Click it and laugh a bit then come back. Money then goes from PETA to HotAir. Sweet.

tmitsss on July 16, 2007 at 7:05 PM

So Allah, when are you going to have your face on Fox? In no time you’ll be on your iPhone with all the warblogging babes.

pedestrian on July 16, 2007 at 7:19 PM

So Allah, when are you going to have your face on Fox?

That’ll be the day. He has to protect his secret identity, lest the fatwas fly.

Bad Penny on July 16, 2007 at 7:29 PM

At a loss? That doesn’t make any sense. This is one of the best out there.

Esthier on July 16, 2007 at 6:44 PM

Have you priced media-class bandwidth (both instantaneous and monthly allowance) and disk storage space lately? It’s a LOT more expensive than my $7/month for 250 MB storage and 3 TB bandwidth/month, and unlike HA, I have to share server load with a lot of other people.

steveegg on July 16, 2007 at 7:32 PM

Looks like you’ll need to run more stories about cheeseburger-eating cats if you want to get the readership over the top enough to buy those iPhones.

Tantor on July 16, 2007 at 7:35 PM

So my slight loss of $18/month to maintain my blogging habit is keeping me competitive with the MM/HotAir empire? Sweet. Just a few more months to start raking in the crazy blog money.

a4g on July 16, 2007 at 7:04 PM

You’re paying $18/month for hosting? You better be burning some serious bandwidth (though not nearly as serious as HA; they probably go through in about a day what I’m allowed for the month).

steveegg on July 16, 2007 at 7:35 PM

Speaking of iPhones, AP, wouldn’t you rather have a 4-shot .22-caliber phone?

steveegg on July 16, 2007 at 7:37 PM

Er, that should be 300 GB storage (must’ve been a DOS slip :-)

steveegg on July 16, 2007 at 7:38 PM

Well, Yon not making a lot of money yet puts out great dispatches. His latest is sad, but has a great ending. Superman and the Invincibles.

WoosterOh on July 16, 2007 at 7:42 PM

I’d love to help you out AP, but I got my own cash flow problems.
Big money blogs are much like George Soros, NPR, or PBS, they get the big bucks, but no viewers.

Kini on July 16, 2007 at 8:33 PM

Operating at a loss? Clearly a “Big Blogs” conspiracy to avoid taxes.
Harrumph!

ronsfi on July 16, 2007 at 8:40 PM

Operating at a loss? Clearly a “Big Blogs” conspiracy to avoid taxes.
Harrumph!

ronsfi on July 16, 2007 at 8:40 PM

Operating at a loss? Clearly a “Big Blogs” conspiracy to avoid taxes.
Harrumph!

ronsfi on July 16, 2007 at 8:40 PM

Michelle Malkin gets more than 220,000 visits per day, but says her sites still operate at a slight loss.

This is very encouraging. My start-up is at least like Michelle’s in one way. Well maybe a just a little bit encouraging.

TunaTalon on July 16, 2007 at 9:35 PM

Even operating at a slight loss, I, for one, am very glad you’re around. So, does anyone know what KOS makes from that POS site he runs?

thedecider on July 16, 2007 at 9:55 PM

The only reason she’s operating at a slight loss is because she’s so generous with compensation.

Allahpundit on July 16, 2007 at 6:46 PM

Also, because everytime she appears on TV, the url below her name is michelemalkin.com, not hotair.com

There’s yer revenue problem right there, alrighty.

The revenue that would bring the magic….

wordwarp on July 16, 2007 at 10:28 PM

Even operating at a slight loss, I, for one, am very glad you’re around. So, does anyone know what KOS makes from that POS site he runs?

thedecider on July 16, 2007 at 9:55 PM

KOS is a complete and total tool of the Democrats. Even if he didn’t make money, George Soros and/or the DNC would subsidize him.

BKennedy on July 16, 2007 at 11:30 PM

I couldn’t tell for sure but Michelle seemed a little irked Allah. For your sake I hope you don’t get the Russel Crowe model eye-phone! heh heh heh

sonnyspats1 on July 16, 2007 at 11:36 PM

In 9 months there’ll be a much smaller, better iPhoneII any way AP.

Griz on July 17, 2007 at 12:13 AM

There’s plenty of blank space to the left of this comment that needs ads.

Britney, Paris, Nick! Get into the blogosphere!

Start placing ads/links here at HA!

Street Cyber cred!

[The preceding announcement was provided free.]

profitsbeard on July 17, 2007 at 1:43 AM

The only reason she’s operating at a slight loss is because she’s so generous with compensation.

Allahpundit on July 16, 2007 at 6:46 PM

If you want the good folks… you got to pay them.

Maxx on July 17, 2007 at 9:33 AM

Congrats for the well-deserved MSM accolades! MM has been on the bleeding edge with blogging and is now on the leading edge.

The only reason she’s operating at a slight loss is because she’s so generous with compensation.
Allahpundit on July 16, 2007 at 6:46 PM

Ok AP, you just blew my IPhone sympathy vote for you… You can guy it yourself.

So Allah, when are you going to have your face on Fox?

That’ll be the day. He has to protect his secret identity, lest the fatwas fly.

Bad Penny on July 16, 2007 at 7:29 PM

Plus, it’ll blow AP’s who Phantom of Hotair schtick which he’s trying to parlay into the doubly tantalizing babe-magnet threat of Rushdie-like fatwa target and masked genius who terrorizes the political blogosphere.

Ah, but who will be Christine Daaé to AP’s Erik?

Hotair should run a poll, but I’m sure in AP’s dreams it’d be her.

zb42 on July 17, 2007 at 10:03 AM

REPOST (corrected for spelling. sorry):

Congrats for the well-deserved MSM accolades! MM has been on the bleeding edge with blogging and now on the leading edge.

The only reason she’s operating at a slight loss is because she’s so generous with compensation.
Allahpundit on July 16, 2007 at 6:46 PM

Ok AP, you just blew my IPhone sympathy vote for you… You can *get* it yourself.

So Allah, when are you going to have your face on Fox?

That’ll be the day. He has to protect his secret identity, lest the fatwas fly.

Bad Penny on July 16, 2007 at 7:29 PM

Plus, it’ll blow AP’s *whole* Phantom of Hotair schtick which he’s trying to parlay into the doubly tantalizing babe-magnet threat of Rushdie-like fatwa target and masked genius who terrorizes the political blogosphere.

Ah, but who will be Christine Daaé to AP’s Erik?

Hotair should run a poll, but I’m sure in AP’s dreams it’d be her.

zb42 on July 17, 2007 at 10:03 AM

zb42 on July 17, 2007 at 10:10 AM

If profit was Michelle’s primary motivation, HotAir would not exist.

Maxx on July 17, 2007 at 1:53 PM