In today’s digital age, blogging has become a popular avenue for those seeking a side hustle, quick income, or passive earnings. The allure of working from home, sharing your passion, and potentially making money is enticing, but is blogging really the dream it’s often portrayed to be?
Many bloggers make it look like a walk in the park, especially if they work from home. But for those considering blogging as an easy side hustle or a quick source of passive income, this article is for you.
No matter your situation, this article will provide insights on:
- Tips for newbie bloggers.
- The 5 reasons you might end up hating blogging.
- Why do so many new bloggers give up within the first 3 months?
We’re packing a lot of information into this, so let’s dive in!
1. Skill
Blogging requires acquiring a wide range of skills, many of which may be new to you. As a new blogger, you’ll need to learn WordPress, hosting, SEO, social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube, graphic design, website design, basic coding (CSS and HTML), email marketing, proper writing and grammar for your audience, and various tools and terminology.
While you may come across articles promising “easy steps to make money blogging,” the reality is that mastering these skills takes a significant amount of time and effort. Graphic design, in particular, can be challenging, and quality design often requires investing in paid platforms.
Some advice includes creating a private Pinterest board to gather design inspiration, maintaining a consistent brand look for your blog, and seeking advice from experienced bloggers.
2. Time
To earn income from your blog, you must have realistic time expectations. Creating a single blog post can take several hours, including writing, editing, creating graphics, optimizing for SEO, and other tasks. Some ambitious bloggers even aim to write dozens of posts within a short period before focusing on monetization.
Understanding the time commitment is crucial. For those juggling blogging with work and family, progress may be slower. This emphasizes the importance of support and motivation from peers who are on a similar journey.
3. Lack of Support
Support is crucial for new bloggers, but it can also be quite challenging to find. If you’re planning to blog without anyone knowing, it won’t be easy to keep it a secret for long. Your spouse may become suspicious of unexpected large expenses.
Your kids might wonder why you’re glued to your computer every evening. Your classmates could be curious about the multitude of tabs open on your laptop. Your friends may wonder why you keep declining their invitations.
But if you’re determined to blog in secret or want to prove yourself, don’t let this discourage you too much. It can still work. Consider finding support from like-minded people through avenues like social media communities, YouTube, Facebook groups, or Reddit.
4. Money
If you’re aiming for a blog that generates passive income, be prepared for the financial investment required to make it successful. Blogging is not as inexpensive as some may portray it to be. There will be initial and ongoing expenses, and it’s crucial to understand your financial situation.
In our first few months of blogging, we spent around $600 on expenses like themes, hosting, themes, courses, graphic design tools, and Tailwind. While these investments can pay off over time, it’s important to be financially prepared and informed.
Consider your financial situation and educate yourself about managing money effectively, as blogging may not yield immediate returns.
5. Motivation
Maintaining motivation is a major challenge, and it’s one of the reasons many bloggers quit within the first few months. Successful bloggers are those who overcome the “3-month hump,” a period filled with trial and error, failures, and little to no income.
Before starting a blog, it’s essential to have the right mindset. If your sole goal is to make money, it’s advised to approach blogging as a passion rather than just a means to earn a specific amount of cash. Your first month might be exciting, but it’s easy to get discouraged when you see others’ success. Avoid comparing yourself to more experienced bloggers and focus on setting realistic goals.
Stay motivated by:
- Setting both short-term and long-term goals.
- Avoiding procrastination.
- Investing in a comprehensive blogging course.
- Being realistic about your progress and avoiding comparisons.
In summary
Blogging can be a rewarding journey, but it’s far from the effortless side hustle some may perceive it to be. To succeed in the blogosphere, be prepared for the challenges ahead. Build a support network, maintain your motivation, invest in skill development, understand the financial commitment, and manage your time wisely. Blogging can lead to passive income and personal fulfillment, but success requires dedication and perseverance.
