11 Years & $5 Million Later: What I Love & Have Learned About Blogging

It’s been 11 years since I began Making Sense of Cents, and I'm nonetheless utterly amazed that that is what I get to do for a dwelling!

In August of 2011, once I opened my laptop computer and began this weblog, I had no concept what I used to be doing. I didn’t even know that blogs might make cash.

This weblog began as a pastime as a result of I loved studying different private finance blogs and figured why not begin my very own.

11 years in the past, I had no actual goals or targets for my weblog. I used to be utterly nameless – I wrote with a pretend identify, and I didn’t even inform my mates or household about my weblog. 

For your complete first yr of running a blog, solely Wes and my sister knew what I used to be doing. 

Lots has modified since then! 

What began as a enjoyable technique to share my story has became hundreds of thousands of annual readers and lifelong friendships. And, I’ve earned a fantastic revenue that enables me to retire each time I would like, and I like what I do.

11 years in the past, I by no means would have guessed this for myself!

And, I've by no means been extra grateful, particularly these days.

Working my very own enterprise and having the ability to work minimal hours means I can spend as a lot free time as I would like with my husband and our child lady.

It’s a dream come true.

As a result of running a blog is a distant job, I get to do all of it with my household whereas we journey. Meaning I can spend time climbing, snorkeling, biking, exploring new locations, and extra. I even have the flexibility to sit down at house and have a soothing day understanding that my enterprise runs within the background offering for us.

My weblog has grown into an exquisite enterprise that has allowed me to take pleasure in my work, have a versatile schedule, and earn a fantastic dwelling.

What has all the time been superb to me is how little I knew about running a blog once I began.

I’m undoubtedly not a techy individual, and I’ve by no means thought of myself a author.

I convey that up as a result of lots of people assume it's good to be each to begin a profitable weblog.

Previously 11 years, a lot has modified for me, and it’s all as a result of I randomly began Making Sense of Cents at some point.

Running a blog was one thing I began and labored on along with my full-time day job as a monetary analyst, and round two years after I began this weblog, I stop my day job to weblog full-time (that was again in 2013).

Some enjoyable stats about Making Sense of Cents:

• My first weblog put up was printed on August 10, 2011. You possibly can learn it right here.
• I've printed 2,072 articles on Making Sense of Cents.
• I've obtained 134,434 emails (this doesn't even embrace the numerous emails I've deleted through the years, so the quantity might be over 1 million, haha!). I haven’t included promotional emails both – the 134,434 are merely emails from my readers.
• I've 67,410 feedback on my weblog posts. This was larger however I not too long ago deleted over 5,000 feedback that had damaged hyperlinks.
• I’ve personally replied to over 21,488 feedback.
• It took me six months to earn my first $100 from Making Sense of Cents.

 

How and why I began this weblog

I say this on a regular basis, however I believe it’s price repeating: I had no concept what I used to be doing once I began this weblog.

So many individuals assume that you simply should be a tech wizard or have expertise to begin a weblog.

However, that's so removed from the reality. Lots of the most profitable bloggers I do know have began on a whim. They discovered as they went and made plenty of errors.

And, that's true for me as properly.

I began Making Sense of Cents after studying a few private finance web site in {a magazine}. It began purely as a pastime to trace my monetary scenario.

I had no clue {that a} weblog might even make cash, that individuals did this full-time, the way to develop a weblog, or what a weblog put up actually was.

Again in 2011, I used to be working as an analyst at an funding banking and valuation agency. I had a anxious job full of a number of deadlines and obligations that simply didn’t curiosity me, plus I lacked any actual ardour and even considerably enjoyment for what I used to be doing. I chugged alongside working the 8-5, Learnnow-through-Friday grind and didn’t see myself having an pleasant future there. 

I utterly dreaded the workweek, and I knew that the job was not for me.

Running a blog was an outlet for my anxious day job, and my curiosity rapidly grew, although it was only a pastime. It gave me area to put in writing about my private finance scenario, have a assist group, maintain monitor of how I used to be doing, and extra. I didn't create Making Sense of Cents with the intention of incomes an revenue, however after solely six months, I started to make cash with Making Sense of Cents by sponsored partnerships.

A buddy I met by the running a blog group linked me with an advertiser, and I earned $100 from that first commercial deal.

That one deal sparked my curiosity, so I made a decision to take my weblog extra significantly and learn to make much more cash running a blog.

I now earn a fantastic dwelling from my weblog, and it began so randomly, not even understanding that blogs might make cash.

Running a blog utterly modified my life for the higher, and I urge anybody who's to learn to begin a weblog as properly.

Running a blog has allowed me to take management of my funds and earn extra money. It means I can work at home, journey each time I would like, have a versatile schedule, and extra.

And, all of this occurred as a result of I began some random weblog eleven years in the past.

I made so many errors at first, and I nonetheless make errors at present. However, I proceed to study and enhance, which has formed this weblog into what it's at present.

I used to be so afraid to stop my job once I did, particularly for a weblog.

Folks thought I used to be completely loopy and making the worst resolution of my life. 

Right this moment, I’m going to speak in regards to the 11 issues that I like and have discovered about running a blog over the previous 11 years. I really feel like what I take pleasure in about running a blog and what I’ve discovered go hand-in-hand. I add one new factor annually, and I all the time have enjoyable taking a look at my annual blogiversary put up.

If you haven’t yet – please follow me on Instagram.

Associated content material:

Right here’s what I like and have discovered about running a blog.

 

1. I like being my very own boss

After I first began Making Sense of Cents and realized I might make an revenue from it, I rapidly discovered how a lot I like being my very own boss.

I like being in full management of what I do, and changing into self-employed might offer you that very same feeling. I take pleasure in deciding what I'll do every day, creating my very own schedule, figuring out my enterprise targets, dealing with behind-the-scenes work, and extra.

I even have a rule in my life/enterprise about not doing something until I actually need to. Whereas I nonetheless comply with plenty of alternatives, I’m not doing something that seems like a complete drag or is towards my beliefs. This has actually helped enhance my work-life stability, which is nice as a result of having the ability to select the way you earn a dwelling quantities to creating positive you like all the things you do.

I truthfully love each service I present – writing on-line, selling, networking, interacting with readers, and extra.

Working an internet enterprise (and being your personal boss) might not be for everybody, however it’s one thing I take pleasure in.

 

2. Having a versatile schedule modifications your life

Top-of-the-line issues about working for your self and being a blogger is you can have a versatile schedule.

I can work as far forward as I need to, I can create my very own work schedule, and extra.

I like having the ability to work for just a few hours within the morning, do one thing enjoyable in the course of the day (similar to climbing), after which work later at evening when I've nothing deliberate. I may schedule appointments in the course of the day, and it’s actually no large deal.

I can work at evening, within the morning, on the weekends – I can work each time.

However, this will also be one thing it's good to regulate as a result of having an excellent work-life stability is so vital.

 

3. Being location impartial is fantastic

Spending the previous few years being location impartial has been an extremely fantastic expertise.

I like having the ability to work from wherever I'm, and it’s allowed me a few of the greatest experiences I’ve had, like dwelling in an RV and on a sailboat. All I want is an web connection and my laptop computer.

The one drawback with being location impartial is that it makes it tough to separate work from the remainder of your life. You could end up working on a regular basis, regardless of the place you might be, and whereas which will sound nice, having the ability to take a real trip is usually a laborious process.

Nevertheless, I’m not going to complain as a result of the work-life stability I've proper now's fairly unbelievable.

 

4. Keep in mind, success takes time

Many bloggers stop only a few months after beginning.

In truth, the statistic I’ve all the time heard is that the common blogger quits after solely six months.

I utterly perceive – beginning a weblog will be tremendous overwhelming!

However, good issues don’t come simple. If running a blog have been simple, then everybody can be doing it.

It took me six months for me to earn my first $100 from Making Sense of Cents. If I had stop simply earlier than then, I'd have missed out on all the things I've skilled up till this level.

Keep in mind, success takes time.

 

5. Don’t write once you really feel compelled

One factor I've undoubtedly discovered about myself through the years is that I write greatest once I’m not compelled, e.g. once I’m on a deadline.

As a substitute, I all the time attempt to write content material properly earlier than I plan on publishing it.

I used to put in writing issues the day earlier than I deliberate on publishing, however I discovered that to be tremendous anxious. Even every week prematurely was too anxious for me.

I prefer to be a minimum of a month forward as a result of I can really write once I really feel impressed, and I’m all the time joyful to put in writing this manner.

Presently, I've about 4 months price of content material written prematurely, and I wish to be even additional out from that.

 

6. Get able to study

The whole lot about having a weblog is a studying course of.

It's nonetheless so new, and it’s not such as you’ve discovered these abilities at school.

Running a blog will not be a get-rich-quick scheme, and anybody who tells you that it's (or acts like it's) is mendacity.

Running a blog will not be simple.

And, you received’t make $100,000 your first month running a blog.

In truth, you almost certainly received’t make $1,000 your first month running a blog.

Running a blog is plenty of work, particularly at first. The trade is all the time altering, which implies you could proceed studying and adapting to the expertise round you. This contains studying about social media platforms, operating a web site, rising your platform, writing high-quality content material, and extra.

That is one thing that I like about running a blog – it’s by no means stale. There’s all the time a brand new problem.

 

7. Cease seeing different bloggers as competitors

Okay, so this isn’t precisely one thing that I’ve discovered personally, however I would like everybody else to know it.

I've all the time had the mindset that there's room for everybody within the running a blog world. Nevertheless, not everybody feels the identical approach.

So many bloggers see different bloggers as enemies or competitors, and it is a mistake.

I principally see this in newer bloggers, and it will possibly actually maintain you again as a result of networking is so vital if you wish to create a profitable weblog..

Bloggers must be open to creating running a blog mates, attending conferences, sharing different blogs’ content material with their readers (similar to on their blogs, Twitter, or Pinterest), liking posts on social media, and extra.

Networking may help you take pleasure in running a blog much more, develop your abilities, learn to make cash running a blog, make nice connections, and extra. If you wish to make cash running a blog, then you need to community with others! In spite of everything, networking is the rationale why I discovered the way to make cash running a blog within the first place!

The secret is to be real and to present greater than you're taking, that are the 2 principal issues I all the time inform individuals in terms of networking. I obtain so many emails on daily basis from individuals who clearly aren’t real, and it’s all the time apparent.

I’ve made nice mates who're bloggers and influencers, and it’s really a fantastic group to be in.

 

8. You don’t want earlier expertise to achieve success

As you discovered earlier, I didn't have earlier expertise once I began Making Sense of Cents. I additionally didn’t have the primary clue about what it took to turn out to be profitable.

To turn out to be a blogger, you don’t want any earlier expertise. You don’t should be a pc genius, perceive social media, or anything.

These are all issues that you'll study as you begin a weblog.

Almost each single blogger was model new sooner or later, they usually had no concept what they have been doing.

I’m proof of that as a result of I didn’t even know that blogs existed once I began Making Sense of Cents, and I undoubtedly didn’t know that bloggers might make cash. I discovered the way to create a weblog from the underside up and have labored my technique to the place I'm at present. It’s not all the time simple, however it’s been rewarding!

With running a blog, you’ll have quite a bit to study, however that doesn’t imply it’s inconceivable. It’s difficult, however in a great way.

 

9. You can also make a dwelling running a blog

That is most likely the most effective issues I’ve discovered since I first began my weblog – you may truly make a dwelling running a blog!

No, not each single individual will turn out to be a profitable blogger (it’s NOT a get-rich-quick scheme), however I do know many profitable bloggers who began in an identical approach as I did – running a blog as a pastime that grew from there.

For me, I've earned a excessive revenue with my weblog, and I've sufficient saved to retire each time I would really like. I'm nonetheless engaged on my weblog, although, as I take pleasure in what I do.

 

10. I like truly having fun with what I do for work

Earlier than beginning this weblog, I completely dreaded the workweek.

However, that isn't the case anymore.

Running a blog is one thing that I simply take pleasure in a lot, and it's a big ardour of mine.

I get up and really take pleasure in working on daily basis. Certain, there are days once I could also be drained or obtain a impolite message from a stranger (sadly, that’s simply the net world for you), however, generally, on daily basis has been superb.

I take pleasure in writing new weblog posts, speaking with readers, researching and bettering monetization strategies, working with corporations, being energetic on social media, discovering new methods to develop Making Sense of Cents, and extra.

 

11. The start shall be powerful

Whenever you first begin your weblog, it is going to be laborious!

In spite of everything, beginning a brand new enterprise includes studying so many new issues. The problem you expertise at first is totally regular.

I obtain so many emails from readers who inform me that they're afraid to begin a weblog, afraid to place themselves on the market, and many others., and they're on the lookout for my high piece of recommendation about getting began.

My high piece of recommendation – simply make the leap!

Almost each blogger I do know (even the actually profitable ones) was afraid to place themselves on the market.

That is tremendous regular.

Nevertheless, you received’t know until you try to lastly make that leap.

Maybe you are able to do issues to encourage your self, similar to create a imaginative and prescient board or write out the long-term targets you hope to attain with running a blog.

No matter you determine to do, don’t let worry maintain you again.

 

What’s subsequent?

Truthfully, my principal objective is just about the identical as it's yearly – get all the things deliberate and scheduled for the subsequent a number of months.

Being a brand new mother takes up plenty of my time (and I’m so grateful I get to expertise all of it!), so being forward on work makes life quite a bit simpler.

I'm additionally engaged on discovering new methods to develop Making Sense of Cents. I've considered presumably beginning a TikTok or moving into Instagram Reels. I really feel like these are two nice methods to develop proper now; nevertheless, my time is restricted. I additionally need to proceed to develop my search engine optimization visitors and discover new methods to assist my readers.

Talking of my readers, I'm so very grateful for all of you, and I'm joyful that you're all right here.

If there’s something you’d like me to put in writing about on Making Sense of Cents, please ship me an electronic mail at michelle@This Weblog.com or go away a remark beneath.

Thanks a lot for being a reader of Making Sense of Cents!

 

There are lots of useful, free assets for bloggers!

I'm going to finish this weblog put up with my favourite record of running a blog freebies.

I didn’t spend any cash at first in an effort to learn to weblog – as an alternative, I signed up for a ton of free webinars, free electronic mail programs, and extra. You possibly can undoubtedly do the identical!

1. For those who don’t have a weblog created but, then I like to recommend beginning off with my free running a blog course How To Start A Blog FREE Course.
2. Affiliate Advertising and marketing Suggestions For Bloggers – I launched this free 36-page e-book to show you all about internet online affiliate marketing for bloggers.
3. How To Improve Your Google Site visitors (FREE Video Coaching) – That is my favourite free, search engine optimization coaching, and it teaches you the way to enhance your content material so to rank by search engine optimization.
4. The Free Running a blog Planner – The Running a blog Planner is a free workbook that I created only for you! On this free workbook, you’ll obtain printables for beginning your weblog, creating weblog posts, a every day/weekly weblog planner, targets, and extra.

I additionally advocate studying Greatest Running a blog Programs & Sources That Helped Me Make $100,000+.

Are you curious about beginning a weblog or your personal enterprise? What questions do you could have for me?