The days when blogging was a hobby are long gone. More and more bloggers have turned their passion into a side hustle business, and some have even managed to make it a full-time business.
If you are still at the beginning of your blogging journey, it’s understandable that you might be cautious about your next step. It’s okay; we know what you’re thinking. Is blogging truly suitable as a professional activity? Believe it or not, but you’re not the first person to worry about it.
Indeed, a lot of bloggers dislike the term ‘professional blogger’. The truth is that, regardless of how you choose to refer to it, blogging is becoming for many an income-generating activity. It’s a long journey full of lessons – and some experiences will be more painful than others. Indeed, in the blogosphere, as people use to call it in the late 1990s, some bloggers compete for visibility.
Businesses, too, have become savvier when it comes to working with bloggers. Some may present fantastic experiences, while other projects may leave a bitter taste in your memory. It’s all part of your learning journey, and the more you blog, you more you’ll get to know about it – and the better you’ll become at handling it too.
However, if you’re going to embrace the full potential of your blogging side hustle, you need to be ready to commit to your writing activities. No hobby blogger can replace their household income overnight! On the contrary, you need to invest in time and money in your creative business for it to bear the fruits of your labour.
How much can bloggers earn?
The first and most important question every new blogger asks is whether their hobby is financially viable. The answer is, at the time you’re asking, probably no. It takes time to build a professional and profitable presence. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean it’s not possible. In fact, some popular bloggers have fully replaced their income via their personal site. Take a look at this American lady, Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, who first created her finance blog to teach people how to save money. In 2019, she’s making approximately $125,000 a month. That’s over 1.5 million dollars per year. If you’re unsure about the exchange rate, she’s earning around 1.1 million GBP. While it doesn’t mean you will hit such results overnight, her story is proof that you can achieve amazing results over time. The keyword to remember here is hard work because, without it, you won’t be able to make it happen.
But it’s only me and my laptop
If you’ve decided to commit to your blogging hustle, you need to build a home office you can use. Indeed, while the idea of the laptop perched precariously on the arm of the couch while you catch up on your favourite TV show is appealing, it’s not going to work in the long term. You need a space where you can focus on your writing and be productive. In the typical British home, there’s a variety of options for your home office. Some bloggers decorate an unused nook in the lounge and turn it into an everyday writing desk. Others turn their spare bedroom into a cosy and functional home office – and they use their IKEA Family Card for the furniture and decor! Finally, if you can’t find any space inside your home, how about installing one of those practical and thoroughly inspiring garden rooms? Your garden office is an extension of your household. It’s perfect for the busy mum who needs some quiet and peace to get writing!
Don’t be afraid to reach out to other bloggers
Do you remember what you’ve just read about the blogosphere being a competitive zone? While it is still partially accurate, you need to forget about your fears of engaging with other bloggers. In fact, most of the positive things that happen to you as a blogger only happen when you start networking with others. It pays off to make friends with other bloggers. First of all, you’ve got someone who can share your content – while you share theirs, of course. But more importantly, you can combine your creative work to reach out to a broad audience, and maybe even tackle joint projects together.
You can’t grow if you don’t put the time in it
At first, blogging can seem like a fun hobby. But if you’re going to make it an income-generating activity, you need to make time to blog. Not just half an hour over the weekend, but you need to commit to your blog regularly. Finding time to write is a balancing act. But, unfortunately, you can’t go any further as long as you don’t make it a priority in your schedule. That doesn’t mean you should quit your day-to-day job right now. But, you need to reduce your leisure time to blog more often. If you’re serious about blogging, and you have been using free platforms that aren’t really helping with your visibility, setting up your own website is a great step. Many beginners wonder, “How much does Bluehost cost?” when considering affordable hosting options to start their blog. You want to keep on top of your finances, but spending a bit can help in the long term.
Actually, writing online is not the same as blogging
You might find that you need to develop your profile as an online writer before your blog can become profitable. What does it mean to become a respectable and respected writer online? In short, it means you have to write articles that pay and that come from respected places. Contributing to an online magazine, for instance, can get your name out there. Additionally, you can also propose your services to businesses. Many companies need bloggers to create engaging and valuable content for their site.
Can you publish a book?
What if you can’t find any article opportunities in your specific niche? Chances are that, if your area of expertise is too narrow, you might struggle to find magazines or businesses that need your input. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t make your name visible to a broad audience. You can publish a book about your experience using the Amazon self-publishing platform, for example.While you may not be able to sell tonnes of books, you are guaranteed that it’ll help to boost your online presence.
Taking your blogging efforts to the next level doesn’t happen overnight. While investing in your marketing activities is a good idea, it isn’t sufficient to make yourself relevant to your audience. Instead, you can choose to dedicate your writing efforts in 2020 to building a reputable blogger’s profile in your niche.
*Collaborative post*
Leave a Reply