Summary: [ <a href="https://yaro.s3.amazonaws.com/tracy-raftl.mp3" target="_blank">Download MP3</a> | <a href="https://yaro.s3.amazonaws.com/tracy-raftl.pdf" target="_blank">Transcript</a> | <a title="Subscribe in iTunes" href="http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/itunes" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a title="Yaro Starak on Soundcloud" href="https://soundcloud.com/yarostarak" target="_blank">Soundcloud</a> | <a href="http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/podcast/" target="_blank">Raw RSS</a> ] Long term readers of this blog may remember I published an <a href="http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/2798/fran-kerr/" target="_blank">interview with acne blogger Fran Kerr</a>, whom I coached to help start her blog. Fran eventually became a leader in the field, making $4,000 to $12,000 a month thanks to her blog. Tracy Raftl came across Fran's blog while reading sites during a period where she was suffering from adult acne too. Tracy felt she had her own story to tell and could also start a blog to help others suffering from the skin condition. Tracy listened to my interview with Fran and decided it made sense to take part in my <a href="http://www.blogmastermind.com/signup/" target="_blank">Blog Mastermind</a> program to follow the same system I helped Fran execute to grow her blog. As you will hear Tracy explain in this interview, it wasn't a quick journey, but through diligent work, following the steps I outline in my course, she confidently grew her blog business. Tracy started in 2011 and within a year was making money. By the second year she had replaced her full time job income and in 2013 she made $80,000. Today she makes her living selling various ebooks she wrote herself, and also makes on average $2,000 a month selling skin care related products from her blog via the Amazon affiliate program. Can You Copy The Same Niche As Someone Else? When I first came across Tracy and her blog it was very clear she was following closely in the footsteps of Fran (she even had a couple of guest posts on Fran's blog). Of course Tracy didn't want to copy Fran exactly, although she saw the benefit in copying the same system of blogging. Tracy had her own ideas about how to cure acne and her own experiences from curing the condition herself using alternative methods. She was confident that if she shared her advice using her unique voice, she could build her own presence in the niche, which she did. I believe Tracy's case study is a powerful one for any other person who wants to start a blogging business but feels their niche is already well served by others. The great thing about the internet and blogs in particular, is that one option does not replace another. A person with acne can read Fran and Tracy's blogs. Instead of ruthless competition, bloggers can work together to cross promote and support each other. Of course you still need your own angle, your own point of differentiation. As Tracy demonstrates, when it comes to blogging, the differentiation point can be you - who you are, your story, you way of writing and your dedication to sharing and nurturing your own community. I'm certainly not the only blogger who teaches how to make money blogging. Tracy is not the only acne blogger who can make a living from it. I honestly believe there is room for everyone who is genuinely committed to providing value to others and has something unique to say. [Tweet "You Can Start A Blog About The Same Subject As Other Blogs And Still Succeed. #blogging"] A One Woman Show There's one other incredibly point about Tracy's story - she's done it all herself. I don't recommend you do everything yourself, in fact for some people who don't have technical skills trying do it yourself will kill your project before you even start. However I think it's important to demonstrate that in this case study, Tracy was able able to grow her audience using blog posts, youtube videos and an email list,
