I’ve been running my blogging business full-time for the past six years now & I can honestly say that it is the best job ever. It wasn’t any kind of an accident tho. I was determined to make blogging my job and by the third month of starting my online business, I’ve received my first paycheck. 

My story might be a bit different than most as I started my blog back when I was still studying at the university. I was able to support myself through student loans & scholarships which allowed me to experiment and grow my business without worrying about the income too much. Luckily, I didn’t have to look for a job after I graduated. By the time I was finished with my studies, my blog was already bringing me a full-time income which I felt and still feel so grateful for. However, I know exactly what I did that helped me turn my blog into a business and I want to share this with you!

Here are 5 game-changing things I’ve learned about blogging that helped me go full-time:

#1 I Took My Blog’s Branding Seriously

Let’s start from the beginning. Type your blog’s domain into your browser & load it on the new tab. How does it look? Are you proud of your blog’s branding?

The reality is, you can have the best posts published out there, but if your blog’s layout looks like a mess- I’d leave straight away. Sorry, but that’s the truth. Your potential clients & sponsors also wouldn’t be too impressed. Don’t let this happen to you.

Your blog design matters, trust me on this! If you want to become a successful blogger, you have to make sure your blog’s branding is on point. Luckily, sorting out your blog’s look doesn’t require you to be tech-savvy, simply choose a premade theme and have a professional design ready in minutes!

I’ve been working with designing your blogs for years now and through my experience, I’ve learned to develop a scheme to help my clients choose an ideal layout for their blogs & take a look at these 10 tips for you all to follow when choosing an excellent theme:

1. Make sure your new theme represents your brand.
2. Stick to maximum 3 fonts per layout.
3. Social Icons must be clear & visible. Preferably displayed in more than 1 place within the template.
4. Consider how easy to it is to navigate around the theme.
5. Strive for simplicity. You can always include a funky logo or more colourful pictures if you need something more outstanding.
6. Your theme must be responsive. It’s not optional anymore.
7. Are step-by-step installation instructions included? We provide free installation services with all of our themes.
8. Make sure post width is suitable for your image sizes. Full-width templates work best if you shoot your images on DSLR. If you prefer smaller image sizes- look into the themes with sidebar area.
9. Look into unique functionality. Featured posts sliders, promo areas, unique categories display– you name it.
10. Your site should be easy to navigate, we all love then blogs that flow smoothly.

I hope you get the idea by now, huh? Check out KotrynaBassDesign website for easy to use premade blog designs or get in touch for custom services. We’re here to help!

#2 I Was Never Afraid To Pitch Myself

During my blogging career, I had some wonderful opportunities working with my favourite brands. Not only I was able to earn some extra income this way, I also created very useful connections which helped me grow my blog and business along the way.

The truth is, I do not just sit there and wait for e-mails with sponsored deals to come my way. I am not afraid to reach out to brands myself if I see that we could be a great fit for each other.

The best thing is, reaching out to brands is fairly simple.

On many brand websites, you should be able to find an email dedicated to PR/Blogger Collaborations. If it includes the name of the person in charge- make sure to use it in your e-mail! It creates friendlier atmosphere straight away. Introduce yourself, offer your services, describe the promotion you have in mind and don’t forget to include your media kit.

You never know until you try, huh?

#3 I’ve Created Digital Products For Sale

A lot of bloggers think that to be a full-time blogger, you need to earn money from ads and sponsorships. Pull that mindset out of your brain. It’s not really how it works. Of course, you can make some type of money from sponsored deals once you grow your audience, but that’s not really what you should be focussing on in the beginning.

Did you know that majority of my income made online come from my digital products? I believe that selling your own digital products can be a great and very efficient way to monetise your blog. However, coming up with a digital product idea can be a hard task if you’ve never done this before. Make sure to read this post to get a better idea of what products you can offer!

Or, if you have an idea already, go ahead and start an online shop straight away!

#4 I Invested In My Blog From The Early Beginning

I believe the first course I took cost me around $200 and damn that was scary! I wasn’t making a lot of extra money at the time, but I just had a feeling that it’s going to take me & my blog to the next level. I’m so glad I’ve listened to my inner voice! This was a huge game changer for me. As soon as I’ve started to really invest in my blog, my business blossomed and kept growing faster than ever.

We all know by now that blogging can not just be called just a hobby anymore. With so many people out there successfully turning their blogs into thriving brands & businesses, you should make no exception and start taking your blog seriously if you really want to make money from it and eventually take it full-time. Listen, you have to go for it, put yourself out there, be yourself & keep growing daily. Take online courses, hire a web designer, research best services and don’t be afraid to invest. The sky really has no limits when you’re a blogger, but you should really be ready to hustle!

#5 I Was Determined To Make It Happen

Guys, this is the biggest difference. Not gonna lie, I first started my blog without a huge plan, but once I’ve started seeing an impact my blog can make, once I’ve realised that I am able to help other people through my services & once I’ve started to treat my blog as a business- it all shifted. If you want to start blogging full time- you really have to promise yourself to go all in. There’s no halfway here…

Let me know if you’re currently working on taking your blogging biz full-time!