Blogging 1101

I have never tried or thought about making blogging a lucrative activity, so I don’t have the best advice on how to be a professional blogger. It has always been a labour of love and apart from google ads on my blog that not nearly pays for annual hosting fees. In fact, I invest more in my blog – design, updates, newsletters etc more than I generate income from it. It’s a hobby and labour of love.

One of the core reasons is that I’ve been brought up on the rules of “no such thing as a free lunch” and I find it very difficult to live life as a freeloader AND be objective about reviews and comments. In this new economy, bloggers do advertorials for certain fees or in exchange for free stays and meals and then regurgitate the press releases in whatever PR speak they are fed.

It’s tough striking a balance.

I often get the “pick your brains” conversation from friends, acquaintances and pseudo prospects that have no intention of paying for services, which I used to indulge, but given how time poor I already am, and trying to run a business, I can’t possibly continue to be charitable.

So, here is a post to hopefully help you kick start blogging goals. Invest in some classes – there are plenty online and they’re pretty good.

1. I did this Creativelive class with April Bowles last year and found it really useful and inspiring.

2. Love receiving news from Beautiful Mess and they also run blogging workshops.

3. Design Love Fest, another one of my favourite blogs that offer online workshops.

There are plenty of people who successfully run blogging as a full time job. Have a look at Pinch of Yum who tracks and shares her income reports, some months making over 30K USD. Her photos are stunning and I bought her Tasty photography e-course. It’s fab and worth the investment – and this isn’t even an affiliate link so I make zero profit from telling you about it!

I have stuck with wordpress the last decade and feels like the easiest platform to add plugins and migrate from old site to new. Check out all the blogging tips on my Pinterest board. Trying to get a new business off the ground? You might find this board helpful. Or social media tips and tricks.