Julia Garza Social Media Tips: What to Expect When You’re Expecting to Become a Blogger

What are the realities of building a business with a blog? What does it really take to get started?

There are a lot of misconceptions out there when it comes to blogging as a business.

Blogging is something that has changed my life, and it’s something that I’m extremely passionate about. But when someone comes to me and wants to know more about blogging, I want to make sure that I give them the real picture and don’t mislead them.

So this week’s live episode is all about what to expect when you’re expecting to become a blogger.

1. Expect Hard Work

Expect Hard Work

This is the first thing you should know. You’re gonna work hard.

When I first started my blogging business, I got so into it that I was like the Energizer Bunny: going…and going…and going…

There’s no way around it. It’s going to be hard work.

In some ways, what I do today is harder than the work I was doing when I had my job. Why? Because there are so many more things to think about than when you’re working for somebody else.

2. Don’t Expect to Make Money Quickly

This might be something you don’t want to hear. So many people will sell you on a program that will make you thousands of dollars in just six weeks!

Don’t Expect to Make Money Quickly

But for most people, that’s not reality. A few might get lucky, but for most of us, that’s not how it works. I didn’t make money right away, either.

You’ve got to build your audience. As you grow your audience, it’ll get easier and easier in many ways to make the kind of money you want to make.

I started blogging in 2008, and I left my job in 2014. That’s six years of building my business while I was still working full time. And when I left my job, it wasn’t because my blog was doing so amazing that I didn’t need to worry about money anymore.

It was a tough road. Three years later, I have no complaints. But you have to be prepared to pinch those pennies for a while.

3. Expect to Create Content Consistently

Let me tell you about my friend Mitch, who has a sports betting blog. We started blogging around the same time.

Create consistent content

At the start, Mitch was 100% focused on the content. He was putting out new content every day, and he built up a following really quickly.

At the time, a few of his blogging friends tried to encourage him to monetize, to take advantage of all the traffic he was getting. But Mitch hesitated. He didn’t want to monetize right away because he wanted to focus on the content.

And guess what? Today, Mitch has one of the most popular blogs on the internet, and he’s making a significant amount of money. That’s a big deal.

He put in the time to create content consistently. And now he has a team of people who create content consistently.

As a blogger, you’re a content creator. That’s what we do. That’s what you’re signing up for.

4. Expect to Become a Marketer

Expect-to-become-a-marketer

I know, I know! “Marketing” can seem like a dirty word…

But if you have a product or a service that you’re providing, and it can really help people, you’re cheating people if you’re not putting it out there.

If I find something that I absolutely love, I want people around me to know about it! You’ve gotta put your great content in front of the people it could help.

5. Expect to Learn About Business

A blog doesn’t make money. A business makes money.

Learn About Business

If you don’t build a business around your blog, you won’t make any money. End of story.

It’s not just about creating content. You have to start learning about affiliate marketing, advertising, product creation, sponsorships, and other things that will make you money. You’ll also have to learn about taxes and insurance and expenses…

Building a business takes work. Building a blog takes work. But there’s an upside: if I’m going to spend all that time building something, I’m going to choose a niche that I absolutely love.

So when you start building your blog, and building your business, build yourself something that you’ll love to wake up to every day.