Turning Hobbies like Blogging into a Career

It’s been a strange 18 months, where many of us have had to think outside the box in order to still earn money.

The main source of my self employment nearly completely dried up due to this pandemic, which is scary when you’re a single parent.

But rather than mope, I’ve spent this time experimenting with my passions to see if they can become work rather than just hobbies.

Blog Life

I’ve been blogging as a hobby for nine years now, because writing has always been my passion.

Qualifying in journalism 12 years ago was brilliant, but it was as the recession hit and jobs in that industry were hard to get.

So I went back to social work, and turned to blogging to keep my creativity fresh.

Blogging is one of my favourite things, but it’s very hard to turn into a paid career.

Very few manage it, especially now where social media has become a lot more popular for quick fixes.

Sites like this aren’t dying though, because whilst social media’s brilliant for bursts of information, blogs are helpful when you want more detail.

Revamping the Site

To start turning this website into a job, it needed a new look.

It was previously a free template on Blogger which limited what I could do with it.

I invested in going self-hosted and totally redesigned the site.

It’s still a work in progress, as there’s a backlog of 400 old posts to edit, but I love the fresh, clean look.

Finding My Niche

When setting up a business, finding your uniqueness if key.

Doing what everyone else does won’t make you stand out. so you won’t get noticed.

I write best when it’s about subjects I enjoy, so I’ve focussed on creating content about parenting, mental wellbeing and health.

These things interest me, which is conveyed in how I write and improves my work.

Social Media

Currently social media continues to be used by so many, with sites like Instagram and Tik Tok being very popular.

These platforms are a great way to get your blog seen.

I’ve spent time trying to produce content for these platforms, and building a community of people with the same passions and interests.

This has included creating Mental Health Mumday, to encourage mothers to openly talk about their mental health to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of parental mental health.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

The success of Mental Health Mumday has inspired me to continue speaking out about mental health, but not just on Instagram.

I’ve come up with the idea of creating a podcast with a friend which is something neither of us have tried before.

Trying something new is scary, but can teach you new skills and lead to other great things.

I’m sure when it starts I will be writing about it here!

Business Cards

I had business cards made a few years ago, but wanted to update them to include the podcast.

Aura Print are a boutique printer who specialise in creating business cards that make a good first impression.

They produce custom printed cards from a huge range of customisation options that most companies cannot match.

There’s various shapes, textures and sizes available, as well as the option to use plastic or 100% recycled paper.

I opted for a traditional rectangular card, but with rounded edges and in portrait to have a more modern look.

A double-sided card was designed, so I could have the blog one on side and the podcast on the other.

It was easy to order, as I emailed them with my requirements and the logo images and that was it!

There’s also an option to design them yourself on the website.

I was impressed with the quality of the colour and the thickness of the cards.

My previous cards were much more flimsy and easier to get bent up at the bottom of a handbag.

These are much thicker, so less likely to damage and will last longer.

They’re very striking and I love how I can have both of my different ventures on one card.

Many people have already commented on how professional and eye-catching they look!

Getting Out There

And the last thing I’ve done, is spent time finding ways to get myself out there and seen.

You need to attract people who are likely to want to read what you have to say.

This can include offering quotes for other bloggers’ websites about topics that are relevant, or even guest posting for them.

It can also be contacting companies who offer products or services that your readers may want to know about.

If you have any other suggestions, please comment below.

The business cards were provided to test for the purpose of this review. All opinions are honest and my own.