Writing Prompt #1: Think of the things you DO have and write about them. For example, maybe you don’t have much money and/or no one is responding to your pitches. So what should you do? Fret about it? Waste of energy! Instead, use your free time to take inventory and then write them down in your blog. This inventory can help remind yourself and your readers who you are and what you do, and perhaps attract new readers who are searching your particular keywords. You may opt to “stick this post to the front page” (check the box next to the Visibility option on the right hand nav in your admin).

Writing Prompt #2: Now, let’s build on the previous writing prompt. You’ve got your inventory, now how about writing a separate blog post about each of those items in your inventory? Expand on each item by adding research from online articles, quotes from previous clients, a flickr or lightbox photo gallery that illustrates this particular item in your inventory, and if you’re really feeling inspired, use your web cam to make a video of yourself talking about that item by creating a free account on Ustream.tv (or you can use YouTube, if you know how to edit a video and upload it).

Writing Prompt #3: If your already exhausted from prompts #1 and #2, you may want to have a guest blogger write about your particular inventory items. It should preferably be someone who has first-hand experience with your inventory. Having someone else’s opinion helps you add things you didn’t consider, or delete things that shouldn’t have been published for public consumption. You are also building a relationship with this other blogger, and this will both of you increase traffic to both your sites.

Writing Prompt #4: You’ve got quite a lot of content now, so post each blog entry to your Facebook or Twitter account so that your friends, family and colleagues can check them out if they are interested. But don’t post them all at once. Milk this time so that you can rest before you get to the next writing prompt.

Writing Prompt #5: Open up a Paypal account so you can charge for your inventory now – whether they are products or services. Sure, you are counting on banner ads and affiliate marketing to make you money, but this is your opportunity to create other potential revenue streams you never thought about before embarking on this series of writing prompts.

Write your bio/memoir.

1. This will help you figure out your “niches,” as well as make the best use of your Rolodex of reputable sources. If you were a court reporter for 10 years, you could create a blog that fictionalizes some of the articles you wrote for your newspaper or magazine. “But I didn’t know I could write fiction in a blog!” Why not? Get your head out of that box and start using that big brain of yours.

Come up with a name for your blog.

2. “But all the good domain names are already taken!”

Whine, whine, whine. This may have worked when you were working for someone else, but now you are an entrepreneur and it’s time to start seeing opportunity rather than doom and gloom.

If your name was well-known in your industry, perhaps the name of your blog will be YourName.com.

Or maybe you want to be more creative. Just like there are defunct, empty strip malls throughout the U.S., there are tons of defunct, available domain names that never got a chance to be developed: THISLITTLEPIGGYSHOES.COM, FOXYGIRLSHOES.COM, EATMYSHOES.COM are all available, and are just waiting for your little creative mind to add content to their otherwise pointless existences.

Get a Hosting Account

3. Now that you’ve come up with a domain name that is catchy and will get the attention of a Googlebot, it’s time to register the name and get a year-long web hosting account with Hostwire.com. Why Hostwire.com? Have you seen our prices?

Get a Design

4. After getting your Hostwire account, you can install WordPress with a theme that suits your niche/personality, and includes banner ads that will make you a few cents per click/impression. Could you do this yourself? Yes. Stay tuned this week for a blog post that will give you step-by-step instructions (with screenshots too!).

Create a Publishing Schedule

5. You need to decide how often you will update your blog. Perhaps you will post when you feel like it or when inspiration strikes. This may be OK in the beginning, but if you expect consistent traffic and a steady revenue stream, your blogging should be consistent and steady as well. Updating 2-3 times a week should suffice, and then you can work yourself up to one post per day. It’s kind of like exercising. If you want results, you’ve got to train. You may also want to jot down a list of topics you plan to cover each week. It’s much easier to determine if you follow the calendar cycle of seasons and holidays. For example, when it’s close to Labor Day, write about that holiday in the context of your subject.

Get business cards printed with your blog address.

6. Hire 4fx.com to design your business cards and then get them printed with our holistic printing friend, Carey Stokes, who has been sourcing printers for clients for 12 years.

Get Paid

7. Sign up for affiliate programs that will help you make money as you build traffic to your site – Amazon.com, Hostwire.com, SeedsofChange.com, Linkshare…there are a bunch, just do a Google search for the specific product you would like to sell.

There are lots more things you could do, but these 7 steps will get you started.