Starting a blog can be a very nerve wrecking thing to do. Having a platform that represents you and will always be a pathway to judgement or criticism can be a downer, but it can also be a source of fun and success when done properly.
I’m not saying everything needs to be done with a strategic plan, but when having fun doing it can be a great place for others and a great passion to expand.
I started this blog in May of 2015. With many many bumps in the road, and many breaks from anxiety getting the best of me to hit the publish button, I finally got my just sucked it up and revamped my blog. Investing in myself and brand, launching on self-hosted in October 2016, I finally earned my first income of $141.84 from a sponsored post. This was a lot of time in between, but I must admit a lot of changes that led to this.
Reflecting on them, I thought I would do a list that led to my first income ever!
1. Decide your main passions (You don’t necessary need a niche)
One of the main things that caused me to keep taking breaks or want to give up was the fact that I couldn’t decide my Niche on what I wanted my blog to be about. Having a topic for your blog can be very helpful, especially making sure that your blog is organized and isn’t all over the place. Which is where your menu is very helpful.
When picking through things, I originally had the idea that my blog had to be centered on one topic and that was it. But that isn’t always the case. I learned that you can have a blog with many different topics. I wouldn’t get too carried away, but having 2-5 topics is just enough to have a blog of variety. For example, mine are life, health, medicine, and style, and writing. It may sound like a lot, but it can be a very well rounded blog if done right and organized.
Always remember, its your blog! Make it a place you enjoy and get to talk about your passions. There will always be someone who loves it just as much as you do! They can love it so much that it can also lead to you getting an income to talk about the things you love.
2. Find your Inspiration
When making a blog, the first thing I did before even investing in my platform, was look at other blogs that I enjoyed, and seeing what I loved and what I wanted to add or take away for my own blog. By doing that I observed the following things:
- Writing style
- Topics on blog
- Visuals
- Tips by blogger on blogging
By looking at this, it gave me a really solid idea on what I wanted to do with the blog, and also advice on how to start and succeed.
3. Actually do it, and do it RIGHT
As time went on with blogging, I began to realize that this could be an actual resource of financial security but also a way of opening a door to many opportunity while still having fun. 
There is always a lot of time put in for planning and finding your foundation on as to what you want it to be and the goals you have for your platform. It can almost be a barrier as to starting your blog as well.
By taking the leap of faith you can start doing something you love and also make a living off of it as well. I’m not saying it will be easy, there will always be something new to learn or new methods as to marketing your blog, but it will still be about you doing something you enjoy and working for.
When starting the blog, having a plan is also a crucial part of earning your income. When do you want to publish? How long do you want your posts to generally be? What type of images do you want involved?
These are things to think about when creating your first blog post. Which will be your first impression to your audience as well as brands who may want to work with you. The possibilities are endless and they’ll begin once you hit ‘publish’!
4. Network Network Network
This has got to be the greatest factor in earning my first income. When blogging, networking is the greatest thing you can do if you aim to get your blog out there and meet fellow bloggers as well.
Making sure to spread your blog around social media and even collaborating with other bloggers or influencers can be very beneficial in spreading your brand and also increasing your views as well.
Although its one of the most important thing to growing your blog to a future profitable platform, its also the most simple and quickest thing.
By taking time, listening to bloggers projects such as podcasts on the way to work. To walking to work or class and sharing your blog post to all your social media accounts. To setting 20 minutes a day to support other bloggers and getting inspiration by reading their posts and commenting others as well. Making new friendships is always fun but it can also open more opportunities as well!
Blogging can be tough at time when it comes to brainstorming, but in all, it can be the most rewarding. I never thought that I would want to be a blogger, I also never believed that a person could make a living off of doing only what they love on their own time. Now, that is an option as a second income for me. It can be for you as well, even as a full-time income.
Everything is possible with hard work and faith! Blog on!!
