To think I can make money doing this?

[redribbonss]

I see so many bloggers making money and I think what if I could too! It looks really easy and there seems to be a lot of money to be made

I'm a sahm right now but I don't want to go back to the 9-5 after my child starts school in September. I want to make my own money
AIBU by thinking I could do it or am I being a fantasist? Have you ever wanted to start one but didn't? I can't get the idea of doing it out my head

surewhatsanotherone

I've never read a blog or been on a website that wasn't retail or bbc news.

After 26 years of being on the internet I'm pretty sure I've never read a blog. Genuinely don't know where to find them.

I know someone who writes about skincare and make up - she had bad eczema and it started with that, with her trying different things. She has an MA in Creative Writing, too. She's been going for years but still only really gets free gifts - loads of make up and perfume and bath stuff, which is lovely but it really doesn't pay the rent.

@GloGirl I've been the subject of too many MN threads to say too much (no, I'm not Mrs Hinch ) but I'll help where I can.

First of all, I know my subject inside out. I'm passionate about it, and this helps. Because then people trust your opinion on something and you build a following.

What jumped me from the hundreds to the thousands was a mixture of things. I offered giveaways (at my own expense - they're now brand sponsored) and encouraged people to tag others. My content is engaging and people would share this. I'm known for fostering a nice environment where all are welcome and people like this. And soon, (I say soon, this took about 18 months) the following became more organic. I'm not 'the big time' or anything but the following grows on its own, maybe 1000 -1500 a week. It's basically putting in the slog to build it up at the start and one day you'll see the growth is organically happening

@GloGirl another tip. If you know someone who has a blog that's halfway successful - a friend, for example - ask them to collaborate with you or share your content.

I was lucky enough to know a few people with followings that were larger than mine a few years back and they kindly shared my bits and pieces. That brought in new followers.

I know a full-time blogger who does make a living out of hers.
It's genuinely a full-time job, and writing content is a very small part of it, even if it's the most important one in a way, but it's not enough.

Going on holiday is hard work, because she has to write all her posts and schedule them for when she is away.

It's not easy money.

also you need very thick skin.

Not everyone is pleasant on the internet. If you think YABU is tough, wait until you read comments about your own business.

@WhenOneFacePalmDoesntCutIt never a truer word have I seen on here. I am continually astonished at some of the things I have read about myself. People literally just make things up to suit their own narrative. I disengaged with it all a long time ago

Thank you very much for the advice and inspo!

I used to write a fairly popular blog, back when blogging was more text based and less of a PR tool - I started in 2006. When I was getting to the point I knew I was going to stop blogging (because of work) I was just beginning to have brands asking me to work with them, that was in 2012. I never did, because I felt like it would change the tone of my content. The landscape has changed a lot now, because of Instagram partly, but what grew my following was developing a bit of a “circle” of other bloggers, mutual sharing of posts and linking to one another’s sites, and very prompt engagement with comments.

My feeling is that the blogging bubble has largely burst, and many people who were regular, successful bloggers have moved platform to Instagram, particularly Insta Stories. I think this is short-sighted, personally, because if Instagram falls out of favour, or goes tits up, what happens then?

I work for a pr agency and we work with bloggers and influencers day-in, day-out. Chances are we’ve looked at or worked with Felicity at some point!

I would echo what the bloggers on the thread have said, you need to find your USP, know it like the back of your hand, be imaginative enough to come up with fresh, engaging content that sparks organic chatter and do it regularly. You will also need a real understanding of the technical side, so SEO, tags, how you will measure and report engagement etc to those brands you want to earn from.

It’s not easy, brands won’t be falling over themselves to give you free stuff or paid partnerships if these fundamentals aren’t in place.

Oh and ‘will a pr agency do the social media stuff?’ as a blogger that would be your job.

Also, your content needs to be authentic. It’s easy to spot blogs where there’s no souls or genuine love of the subject or products being plugged. Readers will turn off from anything that doesn’t feel genuine, as will brands.

Starting from the view of ‘what can I blog about to make money’ most likely won’t lead to authentic content.

Its far from easy. You need social media accounts and have to post several times a day on each. The algorythms tend to change a lot and it does get a bit complicated. Start of doing what you enjoy and if it begins to make money then take it from there. The more money something like this makes often the more intrusive it becomes on your life.

One of my daughters is a "microinfluencer", she is in her early 20s, has between 10-20k insta followers, has a fashion/music following and blogs feminist stuff. She was in a relatively successful local scene band. She gets some free shoes/clothes/makeup and even guitars, but doesn't make any actual money and works full time in an expensive ish clothes shop. Shes been at that level for about 3 years.
She thinks she could possibly push it to the next level but there's no guarantees and would be a lot of work...

Op, sadly I don't think you have any chance of success with this. You don't have an area that you are truly expert on so have something unique to share with people, plus you don't have the social media experience or contacts to make it work.

Really, you've seen some blogs and thought 'that looks easy money' but the reality is that it isn't. There's a lot of knowledge about a subject plus expertise in the use of social media, plus an element of luck too involved in being successful.

Look for something else and accept there's rarely 'easy money' for most people.

I think you're looking at this the wrong way round. Rather than thinking, I'd like a blog, what shall I blog about, I think you need to be asking yourself, what am I interested in, what do I know about, what am I already involved in, and then consider how that might be reshaped into a viable blog.

My sister blogs about politics. She's established and knowledgeable in her field, which is somewhat but not directly related. She's also an experienced writer. I think she's aiming to parlay it into a career change, but whatever happens it elevates her profile in a way that won't do her any harm in her current field either. It fascinates her and she finds it personally satisfying, but it doesn't make her any money as such (though occasionally she gets paid to be a talking head on TV or radio). She makes a new post about once a week but spends a lot of time then promoting that post and interacting with other commentators via traditional and social media about it and debating generally.

I also have a friend who blogs about having a child with a genetic disease. Her knowledge and experiences have been invaluable to others, but again, no money unless it leads to something else one day.

I actually have a blogging idea myself that I'm too to describe in much detail, but the blog would be intended as a stepping stone to a book or TV programme. It's related to my day job and I feel passionate about sharing it and would do it even if I knew there was nothing in it for me.

Being honest, I don't think what you're currently considering is viable as an earner unless you (a) write very well and (b) come up with something very original and interesting/inspiring to others. I also think you need to think in terms of what it would be leading to rather than as an end in itself.

Most of the bloggers you see doing very well now, have been doing it for no money for the past 5-8 years. I think you've missed the boat OP.

Whilst we’re talking about bloggers etc. Does anyone know of any good ones who do high street fashion? I see lots of fashion but not nessesarily specifying where outfit if from etc.

I always need fashion inspiration but I struggle to find people on Instagram or find people my style!!

I don't do a blog but I do have a social media account with over 50k members. I post jobs in the local area and let employers do the same. I don't charge as I only started it to help people struggling to find work. You definitely need a thick skin and a lot of free time. I regularly have to filter out scams, porn and MLM bulls**t.
Ive been approached by a couple of the big job websites but I've refused to join them. It would mean giving up control of my own page and I'm sure they must be looking at a profit somewhere down the line, it just isn't behind the ethos of my page. If I charged 1 pound to every member and asked the employers to pay to post jobs I'd be rich!

Good luck to you, it's not easy!

I think there’s plenty of space in the blogosphere for newbies! I don’t think you need perfect photos or tons of followers to make money. I started making £300 a month by my third month by working with a coach so that I spent my time on the right things. I work on my blog maybe 4 hours a week and have made £800 this month so far, on too of a full time job. I don’t even have 5,000 followers on Instagram

Instead of blogging would you consider working on DIY/crafts in a practical way, such as painter and decorator or curtain making? Obviously getting the relevant training and experience as you go.

I say go for it OP. What have you got to lose?

I would do as pp suggested.

Start it for fun. See where it goes. But for back to work too.

I think that people are being very negative. I have a couple of blogs and if you have good, original content that you are giving away for free then you should be able to get people visiting. I give away free printables on my blog (I design loads for work so I don’t mind giving some away). Then I use my blog to direct people to my online shop. So I might not be making money from blogging in the way the more modern bloggers do but it is a nice steady way.

I have smiled at those who think DIY/ crafts isn't terribly interesting ... Who would have thought that cleaning would have generated so much interest?!

Boys I don’t think people don’t think it’s interesting, it’s just that the OP needs to have either real skill, passion, insight or a unique take on it. It needs to be more than ‘can’t think of anything else so that will do’. I think the OP is being a bit naive in thinking it’s easy to make a living this way.