But while I loved writing about our adventures and sharing things with my family, I really loved it when a DIY project I did was shared was other people. That’s when I started writing for a broader audience, and I haven’t looked back.
Blogging is becoming a very popular choice for people to make a side income, and there’s a reason for that. It can be a great way to make money. But just because you can make money doing something, doesn’t mean it’s right for you. I learned that lesson the hard way when I tried (and failed at) direct sales.
If you’re thinking about joining the blogging community, here are 8 signs that blogging might be a good fit for you:
You love to write. No matter what you want to blog about, even photography, you’ll have to write… a lot. If that sounds like a drag, you probably want to find another enterprise. Blogging is writing. Period. And though the writing style in blogs is more conversational (allowing you to get away with things like starting a sentence with “And”), you’ll still need a solid grasp of grammar, spelling, and structure.
You’re self motivated. As a blogger you won’t have a boss telling you what to do, a schedule to keep to, or colleagues to collaborate with. This can be a total blessing if you’re a self-motivated person who loves what they’re doing. If not, you’re going to struggle to meet (or set) deadlines and publish posts, which is going to make it difficult to gain loyal readers. On the plus side, you can set your own schedule, work during your most productive time, and have the flexibility to live your life.
You are open to learning new things. Blogging is more than just writing. If you want to make money blogging you’re going to have to learn a lot. You may have to tweak your writing style, or learn about blogging in general. You may have to learn about plugins and coding, or SEO and social media.
You have something to say. A blog has to be about something. Anything, really. Whatever you’re passionate about, there will be other people who share that passion. Think about what you love to talk about, what you’re really good at, things for which other people come to you for advice. Don’t worry about trying to reinvent the wheel – there’s plenty of room on the internet for you – even if someone else is writing about the same subject, only you can write about it from your perspective.
You are willing to dedicate time to blogging. No matter how frequently you’re going to post, you’re going to need to set aside time for blogging. You must proactively schedule time to brainstorm, plan, write, edit, and create your graphics. If you’re trying to blog in your “free time” you’re never going to get it done. You must make time for your blog.
You’re willing to make mistakes. And learn from them. Like anything else, you’re going to make mistakes as you learn. You must be willing to accept your mistakes, figure out what went wrong, and adjust. You’re going to have to redo things you’ve written, redesign your site, and even delete posts you love because they just don’t fit. It’s going to be hard and you’re going to stumble, but every mistake is a chance to get better.
You’d do it for free. Truthfully, you will do it for free for a while, and you may even be in the red for a while. It takes a while to build up an audience and start to turn a profit. At first you’ll feel like you’re talking to yourself. Then you’ll get a few loyal readers, then a few more, and a few more. It will take time, but people will come.
You love to write. Yes, this is on the list twice because this is the beginning and the end. Nothing else matters if you don’t love to write. When I put my daughter to bed, all I want to do is work on my blog. When I have a few free minutes at school, I’ll edit and revise a post. When I’m doing chores and running errands, I’m thinking about and looking for things to write about. I love to write.
At this time last year, if you’d told me I was going to be a blogger, I’d have laughed at you. The fact is I never thought of myself as a writer until just recently. It’s something that evolved as I worked my way through the beginning stages of my blog.
If you’re considering starting a blog and responded positively to everything above, don’t let the fact that that you’re not “a writer” stop you. Just start writing!
