At the same time, I don’t think most bloggers should need to delve into those details. Why? Because their readers should already have some idea of their background. I don’t think every post or comment should be written assuming someone’s new to you. For example, I have an “about the author” link at the bottom of the site here, where it also links to my writing site where people can view my rates. I think that’s more than enough in most cases. Although, your point is making me think I should add my author name to posts with a link there to make it a bit more obvious, so thanks for bringing that up. I think that even applies to a community like yours. If they include a link with their comment to their site which details their rates, types of services, etc. I think that’s just as helpful as saying so in the post (maybe moreso, since readers would be able to pull more detail from the site). But I agree it’s kind of pointless to just post with no link, no info, or anything at all.

One thing I never do is share my overall income with my readers. When I do talk about money personally, it’s generally only for my writing, which is part-time. I never give a combined figure with my PR work. That would simply make me uncomfortable, and if someone asked, I probably wouldn’t tell them. So I do see your point there. At the same time, not everyone is as protective with what they earn. I would never ask them outright for stats, but I guess I don’t see a problem if they choose to share.

However, if the same writer said I earn $35 per hour writing content or $500 per month for this blog, it’s more helpful because it gives an indication of rates.

Now, I don’t think discussing wages is taboo though I was raised to believe discussing money is bad manners. I don’t agree with it. I don’t mind giving an average figure for a particular gig but I don’t think it’s anyone’s business what I earn on a monthly or yearly basis.

I can’t see two people hanging out at an office water cooler saying, “Hey I made $5K last month, you?” Not only is it tacky, it’s grounds for dismissal.

All of the freelancers visiting FWJ earn money doing different things. We have novelists, journalists, columnists, content writers and bloggers. We have PLR writers, SEO writers, children’s writers, poets and more. A vague figure doesn’t help when there are so many different types of writing. Breaking it down into a rate per job gives a better indication of what a person in a particular field should earn. Which, by the way, is what I meant by “how they did it.”