What I Learned About Blogging, Money, and Freedom

This yr marks 14 years of running a blog for me. Yearly, I prefer to mirror on my weblog and the enterprise that I’ve constructed. Right here’s what I take into consideration running a blog after incomes over $5,000,000 and dealing on-line for over a decade. Over a decade in the past, I began this weblog with no actual plan. I used to be…

Over a decade in the past, I began this weblog with no actual plan. I used to be only a 20-something with a whole lot of scholar mortgage debt and a dream of changing into debt-free. I had no expertise, no formal writing background, and no thought what I used to be doing. However I knew I wanted a change.

Immediately, that tiny weblog – Making Sense of Cents – has earned over $5,000,000. That quantity nonetheless surprises me.

However what may shock you much more is what I’ve realized alongside the way in which. As a result of this journey hasn’t simply been about cash.

It’s been about freedom, flexibility, errors, development, and determining what success actually means.

Really helpful studying: How To Monetize A Blog: How I Grew A $5 Million Blog

Who I’m and why I began this weblog

Earlier than we start, I need to rapidly share some details about myself and my weblog in case you’re new right here.

I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, the founding father of Making Sense of Cents. I began this weblog in 2011 once I was drowning in scholar mortgage debt and month-to-month payments, and I used to be in search of a means to enhance my monetary state of affairs.

Again then, I had no thought my little weblog would develop right into a full-time enterprise, permit me to depart my day job, assist me journey full-time, and ultimately earn thousands and thousands of {dollars} on-line.

I merely simply preferred the running a blog group, studying new methods to make and get monetary savings, and listening to about everybody’s debt payoff, journey, and early retirement tales. I’ve all the time discovered it actually motivating and thrilling!

I went full-time with my weblog in 2013 once I give up my day job as a monetary analyst. I noticed that I might make a full-time earnings with my weblog, and I cherished it a lot that I took the steps to make the leap. And, I’ve been doing this full-time ever since!

Some enjoyable stats about Making Sense of Cents:

My first weblog put up went reside on August 10, 2011. You can read it here.
I’ve written over 2,000 articles on Making Sense of Cents, however I deleted a lot of them a few years in the past (as a result of I didn’t assume they have been good or they have been outdated) and at the moment have 1,556 revealed.
I’ve obtained 168,710 emails (this doesn’t even embody the numerous emails I’ve deleted through the years, so the quantity might be over 1 million, haha!). I haven’t included promotional emails on this complete both!
I’ve obtained 66,181 feedback on my weblog posts.
It took me six months to make my first $100 on this weblog, Making Sense of Cents.
Whereas I not publish weblog earnings experiences nor share my earnings (I finished on account of privateness causes, however yow will discover the previous ones right here – Blog Income Reports From A Multi-Million Blog), from 2011 to 2018, I made round $5,000,000 complete. Since 2018, I’ve made a very good earnings annually that I’m very pleased with.

Really helpful studying: I’ve Done Over 20 Side Hustles in My Life: Here’s What I Think of Each

What I’ve Realized After 10+ Years of Running a blog

When you’re simply beginning a weblog or questioning if it’s nonetheless value it proper now, I need to share the largest classes that truly mattered. These are the issues that stunned me most – the components nobody actually tells you about.

Thanks to my blog, I was still able to work while we went on a 4 month trip around the world to nearly 30 countries. — *Because of my weblog, I used to be nonetheless in a position to work whereas we went on a 4 month journey world wide to just about 30 international locations.*

The largest influence wasn’t simply the cash – it was the liberty

Incomes a full-time earnings from my weblog was one thing I used to solely dream about. And over time, that earnings saved rising – greater than I ever anticipated once I began.

Sure, I’ve earned thousands and thousands from running a blog. And whereas I’m very, very grateful for that, the quantity itself wasn’t probably the most thrilling half.

What actually modified every little thing wasn’t the cash; it was what that cash made attainable:

I might work fewer hours and construct a versatile schedule.
I used to be in a position to journey extra and say sure to experiences I used to solely examine.
I had the liberty to say no to issues that didn’t really feel proper for me.
And most significantly, I gained time – time to be with my household, to relaxation, to reside slower once I wished to.

The liberty is what I worth most. And that’s what I hope for everybody – whether or not they earn $5,000 or $5 million.

Running a blog nonetheless works (sure, even proper now)

I hear it on a regular basis: “Is it too late to begin a weblog?”

The quick reply: Completely not.

Running a blog has modified, positive. You need to care extra in regards to the other ways to develop a weblog and your content material wants to face out.

However I nonetheless assume that folks prefer to learn weblog posts and that running a blog remains to be about serving to folks remedy issues, share concepts, and construct belief.

Right here’s why running a blog nonetheless works:

Folks nonetheless Google questions – they usually need solutions from actual folks.
You personal your weblog – not like social media platforms that may change in a single day. So, even when you plan on beginning a social media account the place you primarily plan on being lively, I nonetheless extremely, extremely suggest having your individual web site to associate with it.
It’s versatile – you possibly can construct a weblog round your schedule, your passions, and your objectives.

I additionally know individuals who have began blogs just lately – inside the previous yr – they usually’re already rising their site visitors, incomes earnings, and constructing a enterprise that they take pleasure in. So, I feel it’s nonetheless attainable to begin a profitable weblog in the present day.

My largest wins got here from issues I didn’t plan

Among the greatest moments in my running a blog journey weren’t a part of a method – they have been simply me following issues I used to be excited by or saying sure to one thing new.

For instance:

I wrote a put up about how I paid off my scholar loans in 7 months. That one put up was shared like loopy and introduced in tons of site visitors.
I began answering the identical reader questions again and again about affiliate marketing online – so I turned these solutions right into a course (Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing), which has now helped hundreds of bloggers.
One week, I performed a recreation on my telephone and ended up earning over $300 – so I wrote about it. That straightforward and actual weblog put up introduced in additional affiliate earnings than many who I spent weeks writing.

These weren’t strategized enterprise strikes. They have been simply me being trustworthy and useful.

Lesson: You don’t must have all of it found out. Simply begin, listen, and be open to what unfolds.

What I believed would matter … didn’t

I used to assume I wanted:

A flowery and costly web site. I completely love my design, however I do know different bloggers who’ve spent tens of hundreds of {dollars} on their weblog design – and that’s positively not wanted for the typical weblog! You possibly can find premade blog designs from my web designer here (and save some huge cash!).
A giant social media following.
A brilliant strict publishing schedule.
An enormous group of individuals working for me.

However actually? None of that mattered as a lot as I believed it could.

What mattered extra:

Writing content material that truly helped folks.
Being constant (not every day – simply constant).
Constructing belief with my viewers.

You possibly can spend months tweaking your emblem or colours. But when your content material isn’t fixing issues or telling a narrative folks join with, it gained’t get pageviews.

So, deal with what issues: your message, your readers, your story.

I obtain so many emails from readers who’re anxious in regards to the small stuff when actually, you simply want to begin. You may make modifications and enhancements as you go, and I feel simply getting began is nice as a result of it can educate you a lot!

Running a blog let me construct a life I really like – however that took boundaries

There was a time once I labored 60+ hours per week on my weblog. I used to be hustling exhausting – attempting to develop site visitors, create content material, and handle every little thing myself.

Ultimately, I hit a wall.

Burnout is actual. And it doesn’t matter how a lot you’re keen on your weblog – when you’re working nonstop, you’re going to get drained.

What helped:

Setting work hours (and sticking to them).
Taking actual breaks – like full weeks off.
Outsourcing duties I didn’t take pleasure in or that took me too lengthy (like tech stuff, graphic design, or modifying).

Boundaries helped me take pleasure in running a blog once more and reside the life I truly wished.

The perfect funding I made was in myself

I used to assume investing in instruments or programs was dangerous.

At first, once I first began my weblog, spending $100 felt scary. However over time, I noticed that the largest returns got here from investing in myself and this enterprise.

That included:

Taking programs that taught me about search engine marketing, Pinterest, Fb, and the other ways to monetize a weblog.
Paying for skilled instruments which have saved me hours of time.
Hiring assist so I might deal with creating content material (a process that I take pleasure in) as a substitute of burning out.

When you’re scared to put money into your self, begin small, like buying your blog domain and your web hosting.

Your weblog can begin small and nonetheless change every little thing

Once I began this weblog, nobody was studying it. I didn’t have a “marketing strategy.” I used to be simply writing posts about budgeting, debt, and what I used to be doing.

However that small begin led to a enterprise I by no means might have imagined.

You don’t want:

An enormous viewers
Fancy pictures
A viral launch

You simply want to begin. Write one useful put up. Then one other. And one other. Join together with your readers. Reply their questions. Hold exhibiting up.

Success in running a blog isn’t about going viral. It’s about being helpful, reliable, and constant.

What’s subsequent for me

After greater than a decade of running a blog, I’m at some extent in my life and enterprise the place I really feel financially safe. I’ve hit my model of monetary independence (FIRE – Monetary Independence, Retire Early).

That doesn’t imply I’m quitting work fully (I take pleasure in what I do an excessive amount of for that).

However it does imply I’m altering how I work.

My purpose now could be to work much less – with out sacrificing the full-time earnings I’ve constructed. I would like extra gradual days, extra time outdoors, extra adventures with my household.

And in terms of this weblog, I plan to spend my time doing the components I really like most:

Writing and sharing useful, trustworthy weblog posts that actually join with readers.
Answering emails and messages from folks in my group.

I’ve realized that I don’t have to say sure to every little thing.

I’ll be focusing much less on the busy work and extra on what issues. That’s the liberty this weblog has given me.

As of late, I’m extra targeted on working smarter, doing what I take pleasure in, and maintaining issues easy. I’m not attempting to develop as quick as attainable – I simply need to maintain serving to readers, share what I be taught, and benefit from the freedom this weblog has created for me.

Really helpful studying: How I Created a Life That Doesn’t Revolve Around Work

Wish to begin a weblog?

If running a blog is one thing you’re fascinated with, I 100% encourage you to offer it a attempt.

You don’t must be tech-savvy. You don’t want an enormous social media following.

In order for you assist getting began, I’ve a free running a blog course that over 80,000 folks have taken. It walks you thru easy methods to:

Arrange your weblog.
Select a subject to jot down about.
Write useful content material.
Begin incomes from affiliate marketing online, advertisements, and extra.

You possibly can be part of right here: Free How To Start A Blog Course

From Facet Hustle to Freedom: What I’ve Realized After 10+ Years of Running a blog – Abstract

I began this weblog with one little purpose: repay my scholar loans. I didn’t even assume I’d generate income from my weblog; I merely wished to be taught extra in regards to the other ways to make more money and be taught from the monetary running a blog group.

What I obtained was a lot greater than that.

Running a blog gave me freedom. It helped me go away a job that wasn’t making me blissful. It allowed me to create a enterprise I really like, one which helps my household and provides me time to be current in my life.

It additionally gave me confidence. I by no means considered myself as a author or an entrepreneur. However by way of running a blog, I realized to belief myself – to attempt new issues, to fail, to develop, and to maintain going.

When you’re fascinated with beginning a weblog, right here’s my recommendation: