Let me give you a little background; I went to university to study journalism. I knew what I wanted to do when I finished my degree – become a freelance journalist and blogger – and that’s what I did. Admittedly, becoming a full-time blogger and writer wasn’t the smoothest path. It took more time to build up than I originally comprehended. However, two years on and I am exactly where I want to be in life.
A lot of people dream of having a career working as a blogger, but it’s not as straightforward as setting up a blog and starting to earn. There’s a lot more to it than that. To give you a better insight into blogging (and freelance) writing as a career, I thought I would share the ins and outs of what’s involved.
Having a blog isn’t enough
Yes, it is possible to live off of the income from your blog alone. However, it’s not very common to be able to do that – only a handful of bloggers are able to do this. That’s not to say you can’t get there because you can. It’s just that it won’t happen overnight, so you need to have another way of earning money, aside from your blog. This could be freelance writing – it pays well, allows you to network, and allows you increase your experience and learn new skills. Or whatever method you want to use to earn a little extra.
You need a dedicated workspace
The last thing you want to do if you want to make blogging a career is work from your sofa. You need a dedicated workspace if you’re going to be a successful blogger. This is because when you’re sat on your sofa, you’re relaxed and in home mode. This makes getting anything done, somewhat difficult. Having a dedicated workspace, be it a separate office or a corner of another room, will allow you to focus on your work properly. When you’re sat at your desk, you’ll know that it’s time to work.
Outsource when you need to
It’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that outsourcing is only for larger businesses, but that’s not the case. Believe it or not, outsourcing can be incredibly useful and can make working as a freelancer and blogger much easier. From virtual assistant services to accountants services, there are various outsourcing options. Personally, I always outsource my accounts to a qualified accountant as I believe there’s no point in risking getting them wrong. It’s much quicker and easier to use an accountant, plus it saves me money in the long run.
Treat it like a job
Finally, if you want blogging to be a career, treat it like one. If you’re going to work from home, set an alarm for an hour or so before you’re due to start work. That way, you can shower and get dressed like you would if you were working in an office. Obviously, you can dress more casually, but spending the day in your PJs is going a step too far. My day-to-day work outfits consist of leggings, dresses and cardigans, jeans and cute tops, or a skirt and top – I never work in PJs. If you’re going to be successful at working from home as a blogger, you need to go about it in the right way. Don’t work unsociable hours; else you’ll end up missing out on seeing your friends. Work from nine until five like everyone else, just do it from the comfort of your home.
Blogging (and freelance writing) for a career can be a fantastic way to earn a living. However, it’s not suitable for everyone. You need to be someone who’s self-motivated, likes their own company, and is happy to outsource when needed.
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