One of the biggest struggles women face today is the struggle between what they want for their life and what everyone else says they should want. I spent too many years wasting time in that struggle. Like many of you, I followed the path that was expected of me, instead of the one I truly desired. That is until one day, I decided I was done living my life for everyone else. And ultimately that is why I started blogging.
I dreamed of a life that was considered old-fashioned, irresponsible, and impossible in today’s economy. I wanted to be a homemaker. You would have thought I wanted to fly to Mars the way people reacted when I told them what I wanted to do. The biggest argument was that it was impossible to have a single income family in today’s economy. Yes, it can be difficult if you’re not married to a millionaire, but it’s not impossible. It’s all about priorities.
Do you dream of having a work from home job that is meaningful and provides extra income? Where you can be creative, help people, and have time to nurture your family and home? Impossible right?!? I thought that too. Until I found out about blogging.
What is Blogging?
I can’t tell you how many times I have had to try and explain exactly what it is that I do. It’s totally okay, most people don’t really understand what blogging is or even how you can earn a living doing it. The only time I get frustrated is when people I know don’t understand that just because I work from home doesn’t mean I’m sitting around watching TV eating bonbons all day. I’m sure many bloggers, as well as, homemakers can relate to this!
I like to explain that blogging is almost like running an online magazine. It’s very similar, only I think it is way more interactive.
Why I Started Blogging
When I began looking for a work from home opportunity I had to really think about what I was passionate about. I always knew the only way I would be successful at anything is if I chose something that I could be proud of. A career that I could be passionate about. I wanted something I could put my whole heart into and use my talents to their fullest. There are a lot of different ways you can earn a legitimate income from home. But only one seemed to suit me perfectly and that was blogging.
I have always been a writer. I love to research and I love helping people. Blogging, for me, was the answer. But how do you start a blog, do it right, and make a livable income? That was where my natural ability to research came in handy.
At the time of my decision to pursue blogging, I was working as a resource librarian. I loved my job a lot. But there were so many aspects of it I didn’t love. Mostly the personal safety aspect (that’s a story for another time). I was also missing out on time with Aaron because we worked opposite shifts. My job was only fulfilling some of the requirements I had set for my life’s dream. Blogging would fill all of them. So I took a chance. Or as my mentor, Ruth Soukup says I decided to, “Do it Scared“. I joined Elite Blog Academy.
The Truth About Blogging
Being a blogger is just like any other job. It has good days and bad. And I work hard. I personally work 10 hours a day, 5 days a week on my blog. But that is totally my choice. The reason I work so hard is that I want to be successful and do it in a shorter amount of time. Like anything, what you put into it is what you get out of it.
A lot of people go in to blogging thinking they will become a millionaire and it will happen overnight. This is soooo not true! Yes, sometimes you’ll find that one blogger who is earning a 6 figure income after only blogging for a year. But that is what I refer to as the “lottery” bloggers. For whatever reason the stars aligned for that person. It is very uncommon. I will say it is possible to be earning that kind of income. But from what I’ve seen, the average is after about 3 years of blogging. And that is only if you work your butt off. So yes, it is possible to have a super successful blog. But you have to really want it and work your tail off. You also have to have a good mentor.
Learning the Business of Blogging
When I started blogging I knew I had to look for someone who was similar to me, successful, and then figure out how they did it. That was what led me to Elite Blog Academy (no, I’m not an affiliate. LOL). I had been following Ruth Soukup for years. I found her YouTube channel back when she was doing couponing videos in 2010. So I subscribed to her blog to get all her latest tips. And then a couple of years later I unsubscribed. Yes, I said unsubscribed. Her website was a mess. You couldn’t see the actual blog for all the clutter.
Back in 2017 when I was looking for a blogging course her name came up. And I remembered her website and thought, “Wait. She has a blogging course?”. So I checked it out. Well to say she had figured it out was an understatement. Her website looked amazing! So I re-subscribed and decided to see what her blogging course was all about.
Ruth has managed to create a very successful business with her blog, EBA, her podcast, and she is also a New York Times best selling author. This was definitely someone I had something to learn from. After all, she had been in my position years ago. Trying to make ends meet and still be able to be there for her family. My goal wasn’t necessarily to be a millionaire like her. But I wanted to at least earn enough to help Aaron retire young and create our dream of a homestead.
What I have learned from Elite Blog Academy has given me the foundation for building a successful blog and brand. I highly recommend it! And I am definitely in good company with the likes of Melissa K. Norris, Jennifer Maker Marx, and Rosmarie Groner just to name a few.
How Do You Earn Money Blogging?
Like I said earlier, you’re not going to get rich overnight being a blogger. But there are many, who after tons of hard work, have made amazing incomes. Check out some of your favorite blogger’s income reports if you’re curious. Just be careful and realize there are many aspects to earning an income from blogging. And many bloggers don’t reveal the hard work that takes place behind those huge numbers.
Where Does Blogging Income Come From?
- Ads: Like magazines, many bloggers earn money from ads. The more traffic you have the more you can earn.
- Affiliate sales: Being affiliated with companies can bring in quite a good income depending on the product. I feel strongly about only being affiliated with companies I can stand behind and that I absolutely love.
- Your own products: Whether you make a physical product and sell it on your website, have an online course, e-books, a physical
book , or sell electronic products you can earn a decent income that you control. - Coaching or consulting: This is another way many bloggers earn money. By literally selling their time and expertise.
What I Love About Blogging
I started blogging not only as a way to earn money from home, but also to help others return to a simpler life. To use my knowledge, the experience of 20+ years as a homemaker, and my ability to find any information at the drop of a hat. I also loved the idea of using my creativity to do all of it.
I can’t tell you how much joy I get from the amazing comments and emails from people touched by something they read on my blog. How they have found hope or finally got answers to their questions. It really does make all the hard work worth it for me. I remember when I was struggling as a young homemaker, how hard it was to find answers and now I can help others with the solutions I’ve found. It really is a rewarding job.
Benefits of Working at Home as a Blogger
- Work on your own schedule
- Be your own boss
- Make an income doing something you love
- Help others who have struggled with your same struggles
- Meet amazing people with the same interests
- Turn your love of something into a side hustle
- Express yourself creatively
- Learn new things
What I Don’t Like About Being a Blogger
With all the good there is bound to be a downside. Trust me when I say there have been times when I wanted to give up. But like anything in life the struggles pay off when you have successes.
I have a few things I truly cringe over when it comes to blogging. Not least of which is when I get an exceptionally mean comment from someone who hates my blog posts. But I have developed a thick skin over the last year and a half. I just hit delete, block, and I move on with my happy little self. Because in the end, I know that they aren’t who I’m trying to reach. It’s all you lovely people that I speak to. That being said there are some other disadvantages to being a blogger.
Disadvantages of Being a Blogger
- Open yourself up to criticism and negative comments
- It takes a long time to earn a livable income
- Tech troubles
- Learning about taxes and business licenses
- It can be lonely at times
- You can fall prey to the comparison game
- People won’t understand that you have a real job
- It costs money to blog just like any business there are start up and maintenance costs
- Procrastination
Why You Might Consider Becoming a Blogger
You might want to consider becoming a blogger if you’re like me and love the idea of using your creativity to help others. If you want to be able to work from home and earn an extra income while still being able to be there for your family.
I have struggled and wanted to give up at times. But I have never regretted my decision to follow my passion and become a blogger. I have been really proud of my accomplishments. And I have started to finally earn a small income. At the end of the day, I absolutely love what I do!
Should You Become a Blogger?
Here are my tips to consider if you think you’d like to join me on this amazing journey as a blogger.
- You like to work hard and love the idea of creating something you can be proud of.
- You love helping people find answers to their problems and want to inspire others.
- Having your own business has always been a dream of yours.
- Being able to work independently is not a problem for you.
- There are one or more topics that if given the opportunity you would talk about all day.
- You are creative and like to write or enjoy photography.
- Understanding blogging is like any business and there will be upfront costs and that doesn’t bother you.
- Your message is more important than any negativity that might get thrown your way
- You have a dream and nothing will get in the way of that.
My Big Dream for My Business
I have come a long way in the last year and a half. As I said, it hasn’t always been easy. But the blessings I have gained since beginning this journey have made it so worth the struggle. I have grown so much and have learned even more. Making the decision to follow my dreams to better mine and my family’s lives has been amazing. And I have met some really wonderful people along the way.
I dream of the day when I can reach many more women and help them create the home life they love. When they can be proud of what they’ve done and to know that they did the best for themselves and their families. When homemaking, once again is considered one of the most important jobs a woman can have. Knowing I was able to help pave the way for other homemakers to create a simpler, happier, healthier home life. That will be when I consider myself successful.
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