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Be taught what you actually need to find out about running a blog full-time from somebody who is aware of precisely what it takes to be a blogger day by day. Whether or not you’re a blogger trying to turn out to be a blogger, to take your weblog full-time, or to study extra concerning the every day lives of full-time bloggers, this submit shares an insider’s look into my very own private experiences running a blog as a full-time profession.
For background, I began this weblog as a part-time interest in October 2019, and I left my full-time job in February 2022, once I began specializing in my weblog full-time. Nevertheless, I did even have prior information of WordPress, search engine optimization, and how you can make cash running a blog.
Initially, earlier than I focus on running a blog full-time in-depth, I’d like to handle just a few widespread questions which can be associated however don’t actually match into different areas of this text.
First, lots of people ask why I stop my prior job (a lawyer) to turn out to be a full-time blogger, however there have been so many elements that got here into play that it’s onerous to state succinctly. Nevertheless, I do speak about among the benefits of full-time running a blog under, which had been main issues. I can even add that it actually satisfies my private passions, even once I’m coping with among the disadvantages (additionally mentioned under).
Second, lots of people additionally ask when is the suitable time to take your weblog full-time, and there’s no easy reply to that both. It is determined by what you think about to be a full-time earnings, what your bills and time/financial obligations are, what sort of security internet you could have, what the job market is like if you could return to conventional employment, and so on. I personally felt glad with all of those elements once I stop my prior full-time job, plus another life elements had been steering me on this path, like the flexibility to journey extra regularly, which is a crucial a part of my husband’s job.
Moreover (pay further consideration to this), you want to have the ability to have accessible A LOT of cash for taxes. In case you are in the usA., I like to recommend you get an concept of what your estimated taxes will seem like BEFORE you make the leap to changing into a full-time blogger — mine had been considerably increased than I anticipated.
I additionally need to observe that this submit is about my private experiences as a full-time blogger, not a full-time social media influencer.
90% of my time spent and earnings earned is by means of long-form articles on this web site, not my social media channels, so I actually can’t supply the experiences of somebody whose work is predicated on social media right here.
This submit about running a blog full-time shares my work schedule, earnings particulars, the professionals and cons of running a blog full-time, tips about how you can turn out to be a full-time blogger, and, lastly, solutions to regularly requested questions on running a blog full-time to be able to study every thing you actually need to find out about it.
It’s half “behind-the-scenes” and half recommendation!
What You Must Know About Running a blog Full-Time
Full-Time Blogger Schedule
Beneath is my very own private full-time blogger schedule. I can’t say everybody’s is similar, as each individual AND enterprise is totally different, however I’ll say that many, if not most, full-time bloggers I do know do work full-time hours.
I had a really regimented schedule in my prior full-time job, working about 8:30 a.m. till 5:30 p.m. on the pc, so I’m used to those hours and that continues to be the schedule I preserve as a full-time blogger, with the caveat that I now work earlier than and after hours extra typically, in addition to on weekends. This was widespread in my prior job however undoubtedly much less widespread.
After all, I hoped to work much less once I stop my prior full-time job, however I shortly discovered that working a enterprise requires my full-time consideration to each keep its present degree of success PLUS develop. (On the finish of solely my first week full-time, I misplaced considered one of my greatest streams of earnings! This sort of factor occurs ALL THE TIME in enterprise.)
That being stated, I actually love spending my time this manner and infrequently CHOOSE to work on my off hours, which I couldn’t say earlier than.
Right here’s what “every week within the life” appears to be like like for me:
Monday to Friday:
Once I first get up, I examine my telephone for all my statistics, emails, social media, and so on. I like to instantly know each the place I stand and whether or not there are any main fires to place out.
As soon as I begin working, I usually spend the primary hour on administrative duties, like responding to emails, writing electronic mail newsletters, studying articles concerning the running a blog business, and so on.
Then, the majority of my days on Monday by Thursday (not Friday) is spent writing weblog articles. I write one every day, they usually can take anyplace from half a day to a full day from analysis to writing, publishing, and advertising and marketing them.
As to what I write, it’s closely data-driven, and I normally do search engine optimization analysis and plan all the 12 months upfront. Then, I enable issues like private inspiration or model offers I get to affect me to alter my content material calendar alongside the way in which. I identical to batching the content material plan nicely upfront to avoid wasting time on a day-to-day foundation. Many full-time bloggers I do know plan content material forward of time as nicely.
In no matter time is left every day, I then work on social media and “massive image” initiatives. These initiatives are extraordinarily diverse in nature, nevertheless it appears I all the time have one thing occurring behind the scenes. It may be product creation, tax or authorized points, studying a brand new talent, technical points, outreach/networking, updates that have an effect on some or all weblog posts (a whole lot) and require guide consideration, and so forth.
(For a extra particular instance, proper now, I have to replace sure model colours on 500+ posts, and I’m making an attempt to do at the very least 5 per day.)
At night time, I spend some quasi-personal/quasi-work time on social media and, right here and there, I’ll have a lingering weblog challenge I select to proceed engaged on earlier than the subsequent work day. I normally examine all my statistics once more too.
Fridays are “catch-up” days. I usually don’t write a submit that day, however somewhat I do my accounting and work on no matter initiatives are nonetheless excellent. I’m hoping to get again to running a blog on Fridays too, nevertheless it normally feels out of attain.
Saturdays and Sundays:
I are inclined to all the time spend time on social media on the weekends, and I typically decide up my laptop computer once more for just a few hours Saturday and/or Sunday to sort out my inbox, a challenge I need to get completed, and so on.
All Days:
As a result of my weblog is primarily a e book weblog, which means I additionally have to learn rather a lot, which is a mixture of enjoyable and work. I typically take heed to audiobooks throughout the day once I can, and I normally learn a tough copy of a e book for about one hour per day at night time. Typically it’s purely my alternative of what to learn, and typically I’m studying one thing extra with the weblog in thoughts. Lately, I’m studying for functions of the weblog a lot as a rule.
Hours per week:
Not counting studying, 45-50+ hours sounds about proper, usually talking, and together with studying, 50-60+ sounds about proper. However, that is simply me, and that’s excellent now.
Full-Time Blogger Earnings
There’s a reasonably honest likelihood you arrived at this submit about running a blog full-time to study extra a couple of full-time blogger wage and/or the quickest strategy to turn out to be a full-time blogger financially.
However, it’s an extremely advanced query, so I’ll do my greatest to take care of my very own private privateness whereas additionally providing you with some perception into what a full-time blogger earnings appears to be like like.
For starters, once more, a full-time wage means one thing totally different to every individual.
That being stated, most bloggers earn an earnings through some mixture of the next:
show adverts (such as you see on this web page)
affiliate internet marketing (commissionable hyperlinks by which you earn on the purchases a reader makes from the linked retailer)
sponsorships (a.ok.a. model collaborations)
product gross sales (like my Studying Journal)
and companies (teaching, consulting, and so on.).
Nevertheless, every of those earnings sources varies dramatically for every individual primarily based on a numerous variety of elements, together with, however undoubtedly not restricted to, what number of web page views and followers your weblog has, the worth of commissions and merchandise bought (excessive ticket versus low ticket gadgets), and so on.
However, belief me, it will get far more difficult than that, and it could actually even rely upon dozens of things as detailed as what font dimension you employ!
There are full-time bloggers who earn anyplace from a few hundred {dollars} monthly to a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} monthly. (Sure, you learn that proper!)
For extra particular numbers:
I’ve used the info within the video under as a guidepost for years now, and I’ve discovered that it gives fairly good averages total at quite a lot of ranges.
However, observe that simply since you publish a sure variety of posts doesn’t imply you will note the numbers specified within the video mechanically. You want a stable enterprise technique to see these outcomes, which requires plenty of training, implementation, and pivoting.
Professionals and Cons of Being a Full-Time Blogger
Each job has professionals and cons, and running a blog isn’t any totally different! What I discover particularly attention-grabbing right here is that among the professionals and cons could be intermixed, relying on the way you take a look at them.
Beneath are my private opinions and experiences on the professionals and cons of being a blogger full-time.
Professionals of Running a blog Full-Time
First, you’re your individual boss AND co-worker.
Not everybody likes or needs this, however when you do, this implies you don’t must reply to anybody however your self on the finish of the day, and also you additionally don’t must take care of petty gossip, time-wasting conferences, poisonous cultures, and so on. One of many first issues that shocked me about being a full-time blogger was that an 8-hour work day actually produced 8 hours of labor product.
Second, you may work anytime and anyplace.
Once more, not everybody likes or needs this, however when you do, it may be probably the most extremely releasing feeling. I not must overwhelm myself with stress about site visitors; break day for sickness, emergencies, or appointments; cultures the place folks solely assume you’re working if they will see you sitting at your desk, and so on.
Third, you may earn a dwelling out of your ardour.
what “they” say — do what you’re keen on and also you’ll by no means work a day in your life. Most bloggers are obsessed with writing and/or the subject they weblog about, so this profession actually can scratch one or each itches.
Fourth, you may doubtlessly earn extra earnings than you probably did in a “conventional” job.
That is definitely not assured, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly doable. The earnings you make go on to YOU — not your boss, and never a company, whereas in a conventional job, chances are you’ll usually see solely incremental raises over time, and that’s not assured both. Your weblog can be one thing that may be bought at a revenue when you resolve to stop running a blog. I like to think about it as digital actual property.
Fifth, you study an enormous array of transferable expertise.
Running a blog is exclusive in that you just grasp so many expertise, together with copywriting, coding, SEO, images, videography, advertising and marketing, public relations, social media, gross sales, accounting, legislation, and on and on. All of those expertise are beneficial it doesn’t matter what you do sooner or later.
Cons of Running a blog Full-Time
First, every thing, and I imply every thing, is your duty.
And, even if in case you have help, the buck nonetheless stops at you. Your full-time weblog IS a enterprise, and you’re the CEO in addition to the worker (normally, as most bloggers don’t have groups or have small groups).
Most of us simply need to write articles all day and work together with readers, however you continue to want to take care of your web site as a chunk of digital actual property so to talk — not a lot totally different than if it had been a extra conventional enterprise that might take care of repairs, customer support, tax points, and so forth, or the enterprise would fail.
And, because the CEO, you additionally have to handle the long-term technique, make massive enterprise choices, and the like.
Second, bloggers get burned out.
After studying the previous paragraph, you will have already realized that running a blog could be overwhelming, and it requires a sure mindset (plus good old style work) to realize and keep success.
I’ve discovered myself overwhelmed at varied instances studying model new expertise for the primary time, needing to grasp a number of utterly totally different jobs by myself, and coping with every thing from advanced authorized points (like logos and worldwide gross sales tax) to advanced technical points (like hackers and issues that “break” on my website).
It could possibly additionally really feel like varied threats are looming in what you are promoting all day, day by day. (I do know many enterprise homeowners, not simply bloggers, really feel this manner.) There are some common threats, just like the recession and synthetic intelligence, after which extra particular threats, like rising competitors within the blogger/influencer area, adjustments to algorithms, and so on. Because of this it’s essential to remain on prime of every thing.
On prime of this, it usually takes a number of years of labor earlier than bloggers see cash persistently coming in. For that reason, many bloggers stop and/or break down at instances.
Third, running a blog is all the time altering.
This will not be totally different than every other job, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a “con” right here too. It appears nothing in running a blog stays the identical for too lengthy and, as quickly as you study one thing (like a sure social media platform), the panorama adjustments, and it’s important to transfer with the tide to take care of your success, which usually requires extra work AND extra uncertainty about the way forward for what you are promoting.
Fourth, you lose some quantity of privateness.
The extent of privateness that bloggers hand over varies from somewhat to rather a lot, however usually talking, at the very least some aspect of privateness is misplaced once you’re running a blog full-time. The results can vary from receiving imply feedback from strangers to going “viral” in a method you didn’t intend and even bodily safety dangers.
And lots of, if not most, bloggers lose some degree of separation of area between work and life, which has turn out to be an issue in many roles lately.
Fifth, folks could not take you severely.
I debated whether or not to contemplate this a con of running a blog (as a result of we shouldn’t care what anybody thinks), nevertheless it form of drives me nuts on the similar time. Feedback like, “What do you do all day?” and “Didn’t you stop working?” sting greater than I need to admit, particularly as a result of I’m so passionate and pleased with my work each personally and on a communal degree (Selling literacy advantages everybody!).
Since so many bloggers are ladies, I additionally assume these perceptions concerning the job proceed a historic cycle of undervaluing the work of ladies. I strive my greatest to have a look at it as a chance for dialogue, however as a lot as I hate to say it, it’s not all the time straightforward.
7 Recommendations on How one can Make Running a blog a Full-Time Job
Now that you recognize extra about what full-time running a blog is like, chances are you’ll be considering how you can make running a blog a profession for your self. Listed here are just a few of my prime suggestions for what acquired me from zero to full-time:
First, imagine in your self.
I believed in my running a blog skills from the minute I began, and I used to be utterly unwilling to listen to any opinions on the contrary. It may be onerous to maintain going when different folks doubt you. This meant I needed to set many private boundaries, together with not even discussing it with among the folks closest to me for the primary few years.
Second, run your weblog as a enterprise.
Discover I stated “as” and never “like.” A full-time weblog isn’t “like” a enterprise, it IS a enterprise. Set your weblog up the way in which you’d begin every other enterprise: conducting analysis, making investments, complying with the legislation, budgeting, strategizing and planning, setting objectives, making projections, and so on. (My Weblog Planner can assist you with this.)
The reason being that, generally, companies don’t persistently produce a full-time earnings by magic or luck. And also you additionally have to be ready to face as much as everybody else, together with the federal government and actually anybody on the planet who could assault what you are promoting for no matter purpose, both enterprise or private.
This will likely sound over-the-top, however I can let you know with certainty that my running a blog enterprise required the identical focus to develop to a full-time standing AND it nonetheless faces threats that concern me each single day of the 12 months (see “bloggers get burned out” above).
Third, put money into your weblog.
Running a blog is VERY low-cost and simple to start out so far as companies go, but many bloggers nonetheless balk at spending cash on it, particularly once they aren’t but earning profits. This REALLY holds you again each personally and professionally.
You want the most effective running a blog assets so as to have a weblog that capabilities nicely, and also you want a well-functioning weblog so as to develop. The givers of weblog site visitors, like search engines like google, don’t reward websites that don’t adhere to greatest practices. Higher assets additionally assist preserve your website protected and safe. For instance, you aren’t saving something when unhealthy assets allow your website to get hacked and you may not entry it.
Investing in your weblog additionally means investing in your self. It’s worthwhile to study A LOT so as to develop. Weblog programs can assist with this dramatically and shortly, regardless that they price cash. I’ve taken extra running a blog programs than I can depend and, whereas they haven’t all been price the price individually, the prices balanced out total. On the finish of the day, I made far more cash than I ever spent. I simply advocate doing all your analysis earlier than you resolve on which programs to take a position.
Beneath are the running a blog programs I like to recommend probably the most:
Fourth, work onerous.
Running a blog is a marathon, not a dash. It requires constant effort over time to achieve the end line. There’s merely no different method round it. I don’t like to advertise “hustle” tradition, however I additionally don’t assume you’ll turn out to be a full-time blogger when you don’t put within the work each day over a protracted time period.
Fifth, work good.
Working good is extremely essential. Running a blog includes plenty of duties, and plenty of these duties could be “time sucks.” (I personally would categorize social media this manner, however that’s not the case for everybody.)
It’s essential to establish what the time sucks are for you, what the money-making duties are, and to regulate your schedule accordingly over time as what you are promoting develops. You may’t do all of it, and just some duties will make you cash on the finish of the day.
For me, one factor this meant was setting boundaries with the various authors who reached out to me for (free) advertising and marketing help each single day. It was changing into a job simply to reply to emails, not to mention learn and promote their books, and it triggered me plenty of nervousness and guilt as nicely. So, I created just a few weblog posts that function good, free assets for them (as a result of I nonetheless need to assist), and I can now passively assist them by providing the hyperlinks with out giving up an excessive amount of of my time every day.
Don’t simply set objectives — set money-making objectives — if you wish to turn out to be a full-time blogger as quick as doable.
Sixth, give attention to the reader.
Your weblog is rarely actually about YOU, however your readers — the identical method any enterprise is about its prospects/shoppers on the finish of the day. The needs of most full-time blogs are to assist readers: typically by informing, typically by fixing an issue or answering a query, typically by providing inspiration and proposals, and typically by making another person really feel much less alone.
The reader ought to all the time be on the forefront of your thoughts, and you must all the time be gathering up to date suggestions and studying about your prospects as you develop so you may greatest serve them. Each time I’ve actually listened to what readers wished from me and altered course in that path, my enterprise has grown considerably, typically in methods I by no means anticipated, but that’s precisely what acquired me right here right this moment.
Seventh, construct a novel model.
The extra time goes on, the much less I see distinctive manufacturers within the running a blog area. There’s much more flat-out copying to attempt to obtain quick development (It’s unlawful, by the way in which, and I do look ahead to it, acquire proof, and take motion once I imagine it’s warranted), slapping up huge portions of content material with no private expertise on the subject (typically even written by robots) so as to get web page views, and so forth.
Briefly, some bloggers right this moment are extra centered on getting extra eyeballs than extra engaged readers. And to get eyeballs, lots of people copy what was profitable for you and/or attempt to sport the system.
There are such a lot of issues about these methods that make no sense to me. First, all of us have very totally different audiences with totally different wants. Second, it’s illogical to create content material that’s aggressive somewhat than distinctive. Wouldn’t you somewhat have much less competitors on a submit than not?! Third, readers should still view your posts, however they most likely received’t stick round except you give them good causes to take action. And in the event that they bounce, you received’t make as a lot cash.
I personally see these as short-term success methods and, in my first 12 months of full-time running a blog, one of many greatest and greatest classes I discovered was to focus somewhat on constructing a neighborhood and a model, and to have very private, significant intentions behind each weblog submit and each enterprise resolution I make.
I ask myself plenty of “why” questions and think about what distinctive qualities I could supply earlier than I do something now. This goes hand-in-hand with my prior level to place your readers’ particular wants first.
It’s modified every thing when it comes to the standard of my work product and the way readers obtain it, and I stay up for seeing the way it continues to influence my enterprise. In my view, that is what offers you the most effective likelihood of avoiding dangers, maintaining your readers invested in what you are promoting over time, and sustaining your full-time earnings over the long run it doesn’t matter what adjustments happen within the running a blog business and threaten what you are promoting.
Steadily Requested Questions About Full-Time Running a blog
Beneath are fast solutions to regularly requested questions on running a blog full-time.
Can running a blog be a full-time job? Sure, many bloggers weblog on a full-time foundation and earn a full-time dwelling from running a blog by show adverts, commissionable hyperlinks, model partnerships, product gross sales, and/or companies. How a lot do full-time bloggers make? Full-time bloggers make a variety of cash, relying on many elements, together with what number of web page views their blogs obtain. Many full-time bloggers earn hundreds of {dollars} monthly, and a few earn 5, and even six, figures monthly. What number of hours do bloggers work? There is no such thing as a set quantity of hours that bloggers work. They will spend any variety of part-time or full-time hours on them. Nevertheless, many full-time bloggers do work full-time hours on their blogs. How do you receives a commission on running a blog? Most bloggers receives a commission cash from running a blog by a mix of show adverts, commissionable hyperlinks, model partnerships, product gross sales, and/or companies. Is there a draw back to running a blog? There are a lot of downsides to running a blog. First, some degree of privateness is misplaced by publicly posting content material on-line. Moreover, running a blog requires bloggers to grasp a big number of totally different expertise, is time-consuming, and may trigger burnout.
That’s every thing I feel you could find out about full-time running a blog as a full-time blogger myself.
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