I go to a lot of blogging events around my city and I’ve noticed that very few of us actually do this work full-time. In fact, the question I get asked the most is how I managed to become a full-time blogger.
I was recently asked this at an event by someone who is an aspiring fashion and lifestyle blogger. She already does this full-time for a media company, but she wants to do it on her own. In this article, I’m going to tell you the same things I told her.
Figure out how you are going to make money.
You need to pay your bills. Period. That’s why the first step in becoming a full-time blogger is figuring out where the money is going to come from. At the end of the day, you need to treat your blog like a business.
What’s interesting is despite all the information out there about how bloggers make money, few people realize there are more than one or two ways to make an income as a full-time blogger. Here are all the ways you can make money as a blogger:
- Affiliate marketing.
- Influencer/spokesperson work for brands.
- Selling your own digital products.
- Freelance writing and blogging.
- Coaching and consulting.
- Ad revenue.
That’s six different ways a full-time blogger can make money. Yes, six. Ideally, you’ll want a mix of all of them so you have money coming from different places, but start with one or two and focus.
Realize your blog is your brand.
People who can call themselves a full-time blogger all have one thing in common: They take their blog very seriously. The reason they are able to do that is that they realize a blog is just an extension of their brand.
The reason bloggers make money is because of their expertise. Beauty bloggers make money because they are experts in beauty. Financial bloggers make money because they are experts in finance. A blog is just a marketing tool that shows off your expertise.
Make a plan.
Those who ask me how to become a full-time blogger usually have day jobs they want to quit. This section is for you.
If you’re looking to quit your job to blog full-time, there are certain financial considerations you need to keep in mind. Granted, there is no one-size-fits all formula, but taking care of these things will make the transition easier.
- Zero or minimal debt (if you can).
- Lower your living expenses as much as possible. (This is temporary until you start making money)
- Keep your finances organized.
- Have some savings in the bank.
If you’re able to do these four things, you’ll set yourself up to be able to quit your job sooner. The truth is that becoming a full-time blogger will not be easy on your finances at first. But, the silver lining is this is the case for any kind of business.
Final Thoughts
It is absolutely possible to become a full-time blogger in this day and age. You just need to see your blog as a part of an overall business and manage your finances. While it may be a rough at first, it will be totally worth it when you see the money rolling in.
