What to expect when you are full-time blogger?
Being a full-time blogger is a great thing, but it comes with its own responsibilities and challenges. I would like to point them out in this post. Maybe it will be useful to those who are thinking of going full-time.
Challenges of being a full-time blogger
- You have to be consistent
- You have to be persistent
- You have to be creative everyday
- Be ready for colleague-less life
Being consistent is a challenge of its own. When you are a full-time blogger, and if you are serious about it, then sun or rain, work or holiday, you should deliver same number of posts every day - consistently. How frequently you should post is a different topic, but whatever is your own post frequency, you should stick to that and keep it coming.
Most blogs post 1-3 posts a day, some blogs post one post in 2-3 days. You should remember that you can’t post too many posts a day, because that’s the first reason why readers unsubscribe from your blog RSS. If you post too less then your blog’s traffic will be on the slower side. So keeping to one post a day is a safe choice for many blogs.
Some people get excited when they start earning some money from their blogs and quit their jobs, and go for full-time blogging. However full-time blogging won’t guarantee that you will be earning same amount of money or more, you have to be prepared for down times as well.
When these unfortunate times arrive, you have to keep going, you have to be persistent in what you do even if it does not show results. Sometimes the solution for these times (down times) is persistence. Many people give up these times, you shouldn’t!
It’s not an easy task to keep blogging everyday, you have to be creative in coming up with new topics that will be interesting to your readers. Blogging about what you love or blogging about what you are expert in will be a good help here. Just like hobbyists, when it’s something that you love doing, you can go for years doing the same thing, that is - writing interesting posts about particular topic.
I have heard stories that some people even became depressed after quiting their job, because they got used to office life so much, and that they were now lonely (with only blog to stare at). To combat this, some people even rented office rooms to get that feeling of “going to work” everyday.
Personally I didn’t experience such things, maybe that’s because I never really liked going to office. Even before I became full-time blogger, there were times when I had quit my work for up to 1 year and survive on my internet business earnings. And during these times I became so attached to this work-at-home life, being your own boss and not going to work. After that I tried to join a company again and only lasted there for a year. That was the turning point for me, so I went full-time blogger! Since then life has never been better.
So these are the challenges that I could think of from my own experience. If you have anything to add please do so in the comments. I hope it will be useful for part-time bloggers to consider these points when they decide to quit their jobs.
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By Jennifer on Aug 9, 2007
Thanks for the post. I am in the transition of becoming a part-time blogger who actually needs and uses the money from my blogging. I am getting a divorce and up until now my husband’s money was the prime and my blogging extra cash was saved in my retirement or put in my daughters college fund or used for vacations or whatever. Now though…I will be using it to pay the bills.
I am still going to be bus driving, but I need to up my blogging game to be able to eat well. Do you have any extra advice??
By Ades on Aug 9, 2007
Hi Jennifer, have you thought of starting more projects/sites? I think it would be more safe to run few sites, than relying on one blog. Also if you have an established blog that would help to market your other projects.
By Jennifer on Aug 9, 2007
I have Too Much Truth and Franklin Rocks both of which are not very current. I really need to spend a lot of time on both/either of them to make them at least a little profitable. I am very partial to my Ladylike4.com site though. I guess because I enjoy it the most.
I can see myself enjoying my rocks site too though. I just have to get after it. I am going to post information posts about different rocks that can be found in southern PA and interviews with different members of my club very soon here.
By Jeff Caylor on Aug 9, 2007
Hey Ades, this is really great blog. I have a couple questions.
Do you find yourself often trying to write really splashy articles everyday since you’re blogging full-time? You know, stuff that will bring lots of new readers?
Also, I see that you also have several side-businesses in your blog. I don’t mean to be nosey, but are you technically a full-time blogger, or do you earn a variety of incomes that add up to a reasonable income?
I’m very fascinated (obsessed?) with trying to earn some money from my site, so any input you have would be really appreciated.
Keep it up!
By Ramil on Aug 9, 2007
Blogging should not be the only source of your income when you want to quit your job, unless your blog is as popular as Ades Blog or JohnChow. As Ades pointed out, you should be doing some internet business together with blogging.
Also, when I quit my job, I have no blog at all and just doing freelancing jobs and some online business. I don’t like going into office ;)
By John on Aug 9, 2007
I really don’t think most wannabe’s appreciate just how much work is involved, or, as you say, how lonely it can be - then again that’s a good reason to join a blogging network perhaps, at least you’ll have coworkers on IM to chat to.
By Ades on Aug 10, 2007
Hi Jeff,
I do try to write original articles, but i do not find them so difficult to write. Something pops up to my head everyday, so I just blog about it.
I consider myself a full-time blogger, it’s my main job at the moment. I do have other projects too, but those are self-run (automated) sites. I don’t really manage them daily, maybe from time to time. So I can say I am technically full-time blogger.
By Ades on Aug 10, 2007
Hi John, I think wannabes should know the reality before they start full-time blogging.
By Budget Babe on Aug 11, 2007
Great post! I am just taking baby steps in the world of blogging so I guess I am what you would call a part-time blogger. It would be absolutely amazing if I could make this a full-time occupation (what a wonderful goal!).
Anyway, I am really glad I found your blog and will be back again for sure.
Budget Babe xoxo
ps. I don’t enjoy going to an office everyday either. Not my cup of tea!
By Ades on Aug 11, 2007
Thanks for stopping by BudgetBabe, I hope you will become one of the regulars here. Good luck with your blog!
By HighFivez.com on Aug 12, 2007
Very nice post. Was always curious about pro-bloggers lifestyles. The “colleague-less life” would be a challenge for me because I enjoy meeting new people.
By Dave Nofmeister on Aug 18, 2007
Great post! I’ve been considering jumping in the blogging ring, and it’s nice to hear someone elses opinion. Thanks!
By Ranjani on Sep 12, 2007
Nice post!I have been thinking a lot about becoming a full time blogger,of late and your post really helped me a lot.No job is without risk and I have decided to do the same in the near future.Thanks for sharng the post.I loved it!
By Chuching on Dec 22, 2007
Maybe I’ll try becoming a full time blogger in the future. Thanks for the added information..
By balootisme. on Jan 24, 2008
im part-time blogger…but i think im going to full-time blogger.
why? because i think blogger can make enough money for me to live.
and also become successful affiliate marketer ;)
maybe about 1 to 2 years later.. LOL!
anyway, nice post Ades!
By Marketing Man on Apr 11, 2008
Hi Ades Design
How do you bill clients for blogging.
By BillinDetroit on Apr 13, 2008
I StumbleUpon any time inspiration lags. It never takes more than a few clicks until I have more inspiration than time to write.
By wii guy on May 4, 2008
The easy bit is writing a list like this. The hard bit is to implement the ideas!
If I ever become successful at blogging I will only have it as something on the side. I would not like to spend my whole day on my own. It would give me flexible work hours but I don’t think that would be the main thing I need.
John
By PS3 on May 5, 2008
Does colleague-free end up turning into friend-free or maybe even family-free?
I’ve got to hold my hands up and say I am addicted to everything pc and internet. I need to go to work to socialise!
By Ades on May 5, 2008
It depends, if only friends that you have are from office then you might find yourself alone.
By Ralph on May 7, 2008
Being a full time blogger sure is not easy, but imo not everyone can blog to the same level. Those who has been successful bloggers are people who like to read and share their experience and most of the other blogs are just wannabes of the big blogs.
By komodo dragon on Jun 9, 2008
consistency, persistence, creativity, all essential components of the big picture !
By Mike on Jun 16, 2008
its a nice post. but blogging, be it part time or full time is not the same experience for everyone!!
By Eva White on Jun 23, 2008
Its easy to be all those points in the begining, what do you do to keep your own interest going once it becomes boring and monotonous? I seem to be in a rut these days.
By Ades on Jun 24, 2008
Hi Eva, one of the success factors for the full time blogger is “persistence”, so keep going! I am sure it will pass and you will get your energy and enthusiasm back.
P.S I am struggling to keep up my pace too. So much things to do these days.
By Platform Beds on Jun 24, 2008
Thank you for sharing with us on what it is like to become a full time blogger and the challenges that come with it. I agree that you should be consistent in writing, never pass a day or two not blogging. Of course in writing, there should be persistence, most especially, there must be creativity. You must also show your uniqueness in writing.
By Varun on Jul 11, 2008
Nice post
I expect really tough times tracking the entire web about my blog topic and giving the best to my readers