So, You Wannabe a Blogger, eh?

Are you already bored because the cold days of Fall have set in? Not once, not twice, but four times this week I’ve been messaged or emailed about “this blogging thing.” I don’t really want to write about blogging because that is not my niche, but I understand you just might be curious about this blogging thing.

Blood, Sweat  & Tears

Unless you have some natural born talent to connect and go viral, blogging takes blood sweat and tears to get anywhere. I’ve owned this domain for three years and didn’t get serious about blogging until my second was born. When I finally sat down and got motivated to make this blog grow, I did. I doubled my numbers from May to August, and continue to experience growth on most of my social media platforms.

But it hasn’t come easily. There have been moments where I have dropped the kids at babysitters to blog. I usually stay up an extra hour or two blogging and spend my nap time writing never-ending series of pitch emails and apply for contracts.

Realistically, I spend 3 hours a day on my blog between social shares, chore threads, blog content, and emails. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Honestly, I’m not very good with my time and usually waist a lot of it. 

Full-Time Income?

You are so funny.

No, I’m not making a full-time income on blogging.

Maybe one day, but I ‘m not sure when that day will come. You can earn full-time income blogging. Some bloggers do. But I’m just not that courageous, nor that creative. 

I finally dare to ask brands for financial compensation for the posts I write, but it’s still not anywhere close to a full-time income. Becuase product doesn’t pay my hosting fees or for a babysitter, or for a new camera.

I do earn money from the annoying ads on my website, but that just covers my blogging expenses: domain fees, social media schedulers, grammar edit stuff, and more.

Where do I start?

I’m not sure.

Join a few blog groups on Facebooks. There are tons for every different niche, and every different social media platform (Instagram Strategies, Facebook Marketing Strategies, Pinterest Strategies, etcetera).

And then just soak it all in.

That’s terrible advice.

But, I learn so well from just soaking life in that it’s hard to give real advice. I’m that person who doesn’t have to study to ace a test. #sorrynotsorry. 

I read all the comments, I check out what other people are doing and just skim everything off the surface. Probably why I’m not raking in the moolah yet, but just kinda floating by. That’s my honest story. 

That’s what I did.

You can find a million and one blog posts on the internet about how to make it in the blogger world. Most of these posts are written about other microblogs like mine, so I’m not sure what to take or what not to take.

Be Authentic

Most importantly, if you want to blog be your authentic self.

The world of personal blogging is dead; nobody wanted to know about your vacation last week. We do want to know the answer to our problems, but we also want to be able to relate to someone

Trying to find balance in that is hard.

I checked out another “big blogger” the other day, and every post on social media and her blog was ‘sponsored.’ I left because I was like “why, do I want to follow you?”

Yes, the FTC is cracking down on influencers/bloggers who don’t properly disclose relationships with brands, but sometimes we need to just write our authentic self.

And yes this applies to Canadians because technically if Americans read your blog they need to know about these relationships and a good portion of my readers are American. It’s just good faith. If someone gave it to you in exchange for ANYTHING it’s #sponsored or #ad. If you might earn an income from a purchase via a link then it’s #affiliate and needs to be declared BEFORE the person sees or clicks the links. Now you know. 

So, while I have a ton of sponsored content coming up, I’m trying to make more space for my authentic self so that you the reader have a reason to feel connected and engaged. I think I do a terrible job at it because I’m #notfunny, but I try, and other bloggers try to.

So, you wanna be a blogger, eh?

Do you really? What do you want from blogging?
It’s a lot of work, and the pay off can be subpar if you’re not naturally inclined to it.

I want to be a blogger because I’m a chronic oversharer in life. I blog to let our myself and because long days at home with two kids I need a purpose in life.

My life goal is not to live off the income of my two blogs, but to keep sharing my stories. I need to get back to that and leave the sponsored posts by the wayside (or trim them down a little). My goal in life is to work with brands as a social media manager, or a social media customer relations person. I would love to get better on Instagram, but I fear I don’t have the eye for that. I would love to excel at Facebook, but video marketing scares me. Who knows, I’ll just be mom blogging here, and tiny house blogging over at Tiny Northern Living 

Not the answer you want? Send me a message, I might have some time to help you out, but only if you are super specific. If you’re local to me in Prince George, let’s connect. First I love making mom friends, the second I love talking in real person. #wannabelocalblogger And you can’t make it without friends; you need to connect with other bloggers to go places, you do.