Blogging isn’t easy. There I said it. If blogging was easy, everyone would be successful in doing it.
But that’s not the case, it’s actually quite the opposite. Only 4% of bloggers actually make a full-time living from blogging, 4%! That’s not very much, but it’s also not impossible either.
A big reason bloggers don’t make it to the 4% is because they start a blog thinking ‘How hard could it be? I’ll just take really great pictures and get free stuff’. Even if you’re posting on your blog/Instagram in exchange for products (without monetary compensation), it can still be challenging. Brands are particular in who they work with even if they’re not paying.
None of this stuff is to discourage you, in fact, it’s to encourage you to be the most prepared, hardest working, and determined blogger out there.
So here is what you need to know before starting a blog:
Blogging is 20% creation & 80% promotion…
You can be the best content creator in the world but if you don’t know how to promote and market yourself, it’s pointless. You have to grab your readers’ attention through strategic promotion and then hook them with beautiful, meaningful content. This is the most time-consuming part about blogging in my opinion, but it’s also the most beneficial.
From different social media accounts to groups, to hashtags, specific times, location tags, etc. - all of these things play a role in your blog promotion. If you’re producing content and only putting it on your blog or your personal Facebook page, it won’t reach many people, (unless your friend list is maxed out at 5,000 or whatever the limit is). Even still, 5,000 isn’t that many people to reach. Ideally, you want to reach hundreds of thousands of people if you’re trying to make blogging your full-time job.
You’re always “on”…
Being “on” means that everything you do and put out in the world needs to reflect your brand. If you’re enthusiastic and bubbly, you need to be enthusiastic and bubbly in everything you do on and offline. Obviously, we have our “off” days and that’s ok, but for the most part, you should be on-brand at all times.
Some people will see your dedication to your blog and social media as sacrificing time with family, friends, being in the moment, etc. but the fact that you’re always documenting your experiences is actually a benefit to you. Not only does it create content for your blog and your brand, but it gives you something to look back on while everyone else was too busy “being in the moment” as you captured it.
There is nothing wrong with being super passionate about your blog.
In fact, it’s the bloggers that make their blogs their lives and their lives their blogs who are the most successful. Once you’ve been blogging for some time, your day-to-day life will easily be your inspiration for your blog and social channels. The people in your life will have to understand that, and those who truly support you will.
Success doesn’t happen overnight/isn’t guaranteed…
Our generation is extremely spoiled in that we can have almost anything we want instantly. I say almost because nothing is ever guaranteed. Successful blogging consists of a very unique recipe that is different for everyone. Just because you start a blog or social media account doesn’t mean you’ll instantly be a star and get all kinds of gifts and get to travel the world for free.
Blog success takes patience, hard work, and a positive attitude. It sounds corny and cliche but ask anyone who’s “made it” and they won’t tell you it’s because they were lazy and pessimistic. You need to go into blogging with the reality that things may not turn out as you hoped. You also need to realize you can make anything happen for yourself by the amount of hard work and perseverance you put forth.
Make sure your resources are readily available…
Because blogging can be quite overwhelming - you basically run an entire business by yourself - you want to make sure you and the tools you need are readily available. So if you need an hour a week to shoot photos for your blog with a DSLR, you need to make sure you have the time, someone to shoot you, and a DSLR.
If you plan to take on all social media platforms you need to have content lined up and ready to be posted in advance. You also need a phone to post on social media from! Without these things, it’s certainly not the end of the world, but it will make things more challenging for you.
For bloggers who are blogging as a side hustle, you should post on your blog 1-3 times a week - once a week at minimum. If you can’t do that, you should reconsider starting a blog. A successful blog is only successful when there’s consistency. You need to be available just as much as your tools.
Blogging full-time is a 24/7 job, but blogging as a side hustle, even if you’re balancing a day job, relationship, family, your health, etc. is 100% manageable. You have to set aside time for your blog; the time isn’t just going to magically appear. You have to make it a point to be available, otherwise you don’t want it (blog success) as badly as you thought.
And I know it’s possible because I do all of the above. And if I can do it, you can too.
Do you have a blog OR are you thinking about starting one? Tell us in the comments!
xx Britt
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You Should Also Read:
How to Make Your Blog Content Shareable
3 Steps to Handling Collaborations Like a Pro Blogger
How to Blog About Stuff People Want to Read
