I am currently in my 10th year of blogging. I started in December of 2009. When I started there was no intention for this to even be a money maker. In fact I did not even know that was a thing. When I started it was back in the days of link ups, blog hops, and blurry Blackberry photos. I feel like today and really the past few years more and more people start blogging TO make money and get to that point a lot faster. There is nothing wrong with that it’s just a different arena. I have been asked so many times when and how I started blogging full time so I thought I would share a bit of that journey.
When And How I Started Blogging Full Time
I started making SOME money from my blog in 2010. Not a lot but I remember a brand wanting to pay me $30 for a guest post and thinking that was the greatest thing ever. Then in 2011 I started accepting side bar advertisements. I did that for about 3 years. I honestly wish I hadn’t as it was way more work than it was worth, but it was a good learning experience.
I can’t remember the first sponsored post I did but I think it was sometime in 2012. This was not nearly as common then. During this time I had finished grad school and I was working for a company doing social media. I was also tutoring on the side and doing my own freelance social media work.
Then I had to make a choice in 2014. Andrew and I had just gotten engaged and he encouraged me to do my blog work full time. I still did a bit of social media freelance but I wanted to spend the time focusing on my blog. Once I took that leap and was able to focus my time on that my income went up.
In 2015 I completely stopped doing any freelance social media and ONLY did blog work. So since 2015 my blog has been my entire source of income.
The biggest factor in this decision was looking at what I was making in each area. I was making enough from my blog to be a full time salary and we knew if I could focus a full time work schedule on it it would grow even more.
Once I started treated my blog as a business it became one.
I encourage anyone who wants to blog full time to take that leap. To me it’s a “you never know unless you try” kind of thing and I think everyone should try to do something they are passionate about.
That’s not to say I don’t have stressful times. There will be weeks where no sponsored work comes in and I panic but I just keep creating content and plugging away and it seems to work out. Right now while blogging and social media influencing are a career option I feel grateful and lucky to have a career that allows me to not miss out on any of the fun of being a mom.
Please comment any questions below and I am happy to answer them!
This is very encouraging! As a relatively new blogger, I haven’t really known where to start to bring in an income. I have made exactly $0 with my blog so far…mainly because I haven’t known where to look to make money on my blog. Sounds like sponsor posts are the way to go. Where is the best place to get starting with sponsored posts?
I’m a new blogger. I left my sales job to and started blogging when I became a stay at home dad after my son was born (my wife’s job had great benefits and the only benefit my job offered was free coffee). I blogged more as a hobby and a way to keep my brain busy, but now we have a 2nd baby due soon so the past couple months I have been trying to make more of a career out of blogging.
Congrats on your 10 year anniversary! I hope to follow in your successful footsteps.
The statement: “Once I started treated my blog as a business it became one.” sums up everything for me. That’s exactly what it takes to take a blog from a hobby to a full time job. That, and a lot of hard work and commitment!
Wow, 10 years is amazing! I’ve been doing things around the web for a long time, but only have had my blog for 3 years and made it a serious business for 2 years. I found that treating it as a business rather than a hobby makes a big difference.
Ah so so so inspiring. I’ve been blogging for a little over 7 years now, probably about 4 of those I actually thought about it as a business. I’m definitely still figuring out how to make it more of my main hustle than my side hustle. I love getting to hear from people that are doing it and making it happen.
I know if I really wanted to go full time I could, but I actually like my 9 to 5 as well, which is what holds me back. You’ve had such a great journey and I’m glad that journey brought us together as friends!
This is really cool, Neely- congratulations first of all on blogging for 10 years! Indeed, once you give a subject your full attention, effort and time, it can become a full-on business- especially when it’s also a passion,
Yes! I’m so ready to start making money from my blog, too. Though I don’t plan on taking it full-time, I should still start treating it like a business so I can start being more consistent! Thanks for the post!
10 years of blogging is a great achievement and you should be proud. I have been blogging for only a year and I am doing it as my hobby and it can be challenging at times due to my other activities. Happy anniversary and thanks for sharing.
It is very much possible to earn a living from a blog if we treat that as a business.
I see most of the bloggers start a blog but they quit too early even without giving it time to grow. That is a big mistake. If you want to build your blog as a business, you have to be consistent.
However, thanks for sharing your journey here.
Really an inspiring one. Many congratulations to you on your 10th anniversary and wish you best for many more to come. Totally agreed that blogging needs time but once you dedicate time, it will bring great results to you.
I love hearing people’s stories to blogging full time. I remember back when it was all link ups and and blog hops, but I don’t miss those days. Sidebar advertising is definitely something I don’t miss!
Wow congrats on your 10 years of blogging. I love reading about people’s blogging journey, it never fails to inspire. I wish you many many more successful blogging years.
This is so amazing that you have been blogging for ten years. So many people think that you start one and then instantly start making money as a get rich quick thing. It totally isnt and you have to have a real passion for it!
Wow 10 years of blogging that is fab – well done and congrats. Deffo agree it is one of those you never know until you try and if its backed by a passion then thats a good start xx
What an amazing journey! I am just starting out, any advice on how often to publish? Unfortunately, I can’t take the full on leap of faith to quit my day job, but would love to start earning some side money. Thanks!
That’s great! I’ve been blogging for 14 years, and could never make it work as a full income. It’s still giving much work for peanuts. I get a lot of collab proposal from US companies and brands, and when they find out I’m in Switzerland, they step back..
Hey,
Wow congrats on your 10 years of blogging. I love reading about people’s blogging journey, it never fails to inspire. I wish you many many more successful blogging years.
this is such a nice blog , The biggest factor in this decision was looking at what I was making in each area. I was making enough from my blog to be a full time salary and we knew if I could focus a full time work schedule on it it would grow even more.
Happy 10th year, Neely! What an amazing journey it’s been! Thank you for sharing your blog story – you’re a real inspiration! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
This is very encouraging! As a relatively new blogger, I haven’t really known where to start to bring in an income. I have made exactly $0 with my blog so far…mainly because I haven’t known where to look to make money on my blog. Sounds like sponsor posts are the way to go. Where is the best place to get starting with sponsored posts?
If you search sponsored posts on my blog I have a huge list of networks!
I’m a new blogger. I left my sales job to and started blogging when I became a stay at home dad after my son was born (my wife’s job had great benefits and the only benefit my job offered was free coffee). I blogged more as a hobby and a way to keep my brain busy, but now we have a 2nd baby due soon so the past couple months I have been trying to make more of a career out of blogging.
Congrats on your 10 year anniversary! I hope to follow in your successful footsteps.
Congratulations! I love reading stories of how other people got started on their blogs! Also, we have the same “blogging day” coffee mug 🙂 🙂
The statement: “Once I started treated my blog as a business it became one.” sums up everything for me. That’s exactly what it takes to take a blog from a hobby to a full time job. That, and a lot of hard work and commitment!
Wow, 10 years is amazing! I’ve been doing things around the web for a long time, but only have had my blog for 3 years and made it a serious business for 2 years. I found that treating it as a business rather than a hobby makes a big difference.
Happy 10 year blogging anniversary! Thanks for the overview of how you started blogging full time!
Ah so so so inspiring. I’ve been blogging for a little over 7 years now, probably about 4 of those I actually thought about it as a business. I’m definitely still figuring out how to make it more of my main hustle than my side hustle. I love getting to hear from people that are doing it and making it happen.
http://kaylainthecity.com
I know if I really wanted to go full time I could, but I actually like my 9 to 5 as well, which is what holds me back. You’ve had such a great journey and I’m glad that journey brought us together as friends!
ME TOO!!
This is really cool, Neely- congratulations first of all on blogging for 10 years! Indeed, once you give a subject your full attention, effort and time, it can become a full-on business- especially when it’s also a passion,
This was a great read! Thank you for sharing this with us newbies!
Yes! I’m so ready to start making money from my blog, too. Though I don’t plan on taking it full-time, I should still start treating it like a business so I can start being more consistent! Thanks for the post!
10 years of blogging is a great achievement and you should be proud. I have been blogging for only a year and I am doing it as my hobby and it can be challenging at times due to my other activities. Happy anniversary and thanks for sharing.
What an amazing post. Congrats on 10 years of blogging. Your post is so encouraging.
It is very much possible to earn a living from a blog if we treat that as a business.
I see most of the bloggers start a blog but they quit too early even without giving it time to grow. That is a big mistake. If you want to build your blog as a business, you have to be consistent.
However, thanks for sharing your journey here.
Really an inspiring one. Many congratulations to you on your 10th anniversary and wish you best for many more to come. Totally agreed that blogging needs time but once you dedicate time, it will bring great results to you.
I love hearing people’s stories to blogging full time. I remember back when it was all link ups and and blog hops, but I don’t miss those days. Sidebar advertising is definitely something I don’t miss!
Wow congrats on your 10 years of blogging. I love reading about people’s blogging journey, it never fails to inspire. I wish you many many more successful blogging years.
Congratulations on 10 successful years! It is quite an achievement. You’re such an inspiration.
This is so amazing that you have been blogging for ten years. So many people think that you start one and then instantly start making money as a get rich quick thing. It totally isnt and you have to have a real passion for it!
Wow 10 years of blogging that is fab – well done and congrats. Deffo agree it is one of those you never know until you try and if its backed by a passion then thats a good start xx
What an amazing journey! I am just starting out, any advice on how often to publish? Unfortunately, I can’t take the full on leap of faith to quit my day job, but would love to start earning some side money. Thanks!
That’s great! I’ve been blogging for 14 years, and could never make it work as a full income. It’s still giving much work for peanuts. I get a lot of collab proposal from US companies and brands, and when they find out I’m in Switzerland, they step back..
Hey,
Wow congrats on your 10 years of blogging. I love reading about people’s blogging journey, it never fails to inspire. I wish you many many more successful blogging years.
Very inspiring story! And congratulations on 10 years (now 12 years)!
this is such a nice blog , The biggest factor in this decision was looking at what I was making in each area. I was making enough from my blog to be a full time salary and we knew if I could focus a full time work schedule on it it would grow even more.