When I first pressed publish on my small blog, I had no concept of how far it would go. In those days, it was all birth updates, streams of consciousness, and the occasional product that I adored from the shops. Never, in a million years, would I have imagined that I could call it a business. But here we are. And now that I’ve spent years of trial and error figuring out how to do it all (usually the long way round), I figured that I would post a few things that I wish that I had known when I first began to treat my blog as more than a hobby.
You Need Not Do All Of That Now
The second you know you need to monetise your blog, hundreds of tabs are open in your mind. SEO, Pinterest, domain ranking, how to reach out to brands for sponsorship, email lists, Instagram reels, and you haven’t even had your cup of the day. Frankly, that is a lot. But if I could go back, I would tell myself that it is fine to do one thing at a time. You do not need to become an expert on all of them in a week. It is fine to learn in the process.
Your Time Is Also Of Value, Whether You Are Still Finding Your Footing
I devoted so many hours in the early days working on posts, fine-tuning my layout, and answering every PR message that fell into my inbox. It was thrilling, then. Don’t misunderstand, I learned a lot. But I also committed to things that weren’t all that helpful to me. A terrible lot of free products, guest posts for the sake of guest posts, things that weren’t me, you know. Just because you’re in the early stages of learning doesn’t mean that your time isn’t worth something. It is.
You’ll Be Spinning A Lot Of Plates, And That’s Okay
Blogging as a business means you’re suddenly not just the writer anymore. You’re the admin person, the social media manager, the editor, the photographer (even if it’s with your phone), and the tea-maker. It’s a lot. And if you’re a parent like me, there’s a good chance you’re doing all that between nursery drop-offs and snack demands. Eventually, I started outsourcing small things or putting a bit of money back into tools that helped. Even something simple like having proper commercial furniture in my workspace made me feel like I had a real setup, not just a laptop balanced on the edge of the kitchen table.
People Matter More Than Numbers
This is something I still remind myself of now. It’s so easy to get caught up in stats. Pageviews, followers, DA scores, all of that. But the best parts of blogging have always come from people. The blogger friends I’ve made. The kind comments on posts I nearly didn’t publish. The DM from someone who said a post helped them feel less alone. Community is everything. And supporting others in the space always comes back around in the loveliest ways.
You Don’t Have To Wait For Brands To Find You
I remember thinking brand work was only for the “big bloggers” with fancy cameras and thousands of followers. But actually, you don’t need any of that to get started. Brands want to work with bloggers who have real connections with their readers. If you love a product or company, send them a friendly message. You’d be surprised how often a simple email can open doors.
It’s Not All About The Money (Even Though That’s Nice Too)
Some of my proudest blogging moments haven’t made me a single penny. And that’s the truth. Of course, it’s lovely to earn from something you’ve built yourself, but sometimes it’s the comments, the shares, or even just finishing a post you’ve put your heart into that matter most.
You Don’t Need To Be Everywhere Online
I used to think I had to be on every platform going. I tried keeping up with Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook groups… and it wore me out. I’d spend ages trying to figure out algorithms instead of just writing. Eventually, I picked two places I actually enjoyed showing up and let the rest go. No one’s going to forget about you if you’re not tweeting every five minutes. Promise.
Your Voice Is Your Most Important Element
I tried for a while, trying to blog like everyone else. The ones that were all sleek, funny, put together as they could be. But that never felt natural. My best posts, the ones that got passed on or commented on, were the ones in which I simply sounded like me. A bit meandering, a bit rough. It’s that voice that people identify with. Not some perfected internet you, but you. You’re the real you.
A Little Routine Is Good (Even If You’re Not A Planner)
I’m not naturally a colour-code-your-entire-existence type. But when I started working with brands and juggling deadlines, I needed to set myself some kind of rhythm. I have an ideas notebook, a rough-out calendar of when things are due, and an invoice folder. It’s not much, but it stops me from last-minute panics. Create a rhythm that is useful to you, even if that is scribbled notes on a Post-it on your kettle.
There Is Neither Right Nor Wrong In This
If you’re blogging in between school runs, after work, or in naps, that’s a go. If you’re blogging only once a week, that’s a go too. You do not need a Pinterest-ideal workspace or a viral reel in order to be doing this “correctly.” Nobody creates their blog the same, and what works for someone might not work with you at all. That’s okay. The good thing is that you’re able to shape it however you need.
So if you’re reading this and you’re agonising about whether you might be able to turn your blog into a business, then my response is a thousand times yes. But leave some room for you to learn, grow, screw up a bit, and then keep going. You don’t have all the answers before you can get started.
If you ever doubt that you’re the only one stumbling along, you’re not. We’re all stumbling along in some form. You’ve got this.