I sure hope so! You’ll find out right along with me because we are diving head first into all things side hustle and first up is my blog. Consider this the behind the scenes version.

Blogs take dedication, hard work, and consistency – now that I’m a month old expert I can comment on that. I’m still figuring it all out. There is a definite learning curve, but if this is something that you might be even the tiniest bit interested in, you can do this!

Real Talk: Financials

So far I have invested a grand total of $32.04 into my blogging venture. Will I ever get that money back?! We’ll talk more about that later (perhaps in months time), but I want to upfront about what I’ve spent and what I’ve made so far which is ………**drumroll**……. $0. Welcome to my first blog!

As I have been researching “work from home jobs” over the last number of months, blogging kept appearing on lists over and over. I had a few initial thoughts about this:

1) there is no way that bloggers make much money (apparently I’m very wrong – I’ve since googled… some of the really successful blogs are making over $100,000 a year!)

2) there is no way I have something interesting enough to blog about that people would read

3) there is no way I could ever create a website and I know nothing about blogging (still partly true… I know nothing about blogging but a little about creating a website now that I’ve actually done it)

Have you had any of these thoughts? Good! Let’s dispel them here on our trek to be fearless and financially free!

What If You Could Stop Living Pay Check to Pay Check?

I’m currently finishing up my last month of maternity leave. I am not returning to my job as an administrator in the education system which was an exciting, but scary decision to make. I’m staying home to be with our children which I believe to be a privilege, but in doing this we are going to be cut down to just my husband’s income. Things will be tight.

I assumed it would always be that way unless I found an evening job or stay at home job. At this point, a call centre seemed my only option. I considered applying for jobs I could do in the evenings so my husband could stay with the kids while I worked. This still created an issue for me: I wanted something that actually filled my bucket, that I was passionate about, not just something that brought in a little extra money each month.

Then something changed for me. I discovered the world of “side hustle” on TikTok; focusing especially on “stay-at-home mom side hustles”. Within this realm of new super exciting really “easy” side hustles, I realized that I could indeed try some of these things – what did I have to lose?! Sure, I’d be out of a bit of free time, but what if I was actually successful with these things? What if I COULD be making 6 figures from my “side hustle”?

I grew up believing that you needed to graduate, go to college or university, then get a 9-5 job. I’m realizing that in 2024 that is absolutely not the case. With the internet, it seems the possibilities to make extra money online are endless.

Then a thought occurred: what if I could test blogging along with all of my other side hustles that I’m trying? I could use this as a platform to actually help others and encourage them to gain financial freedom along the way.

Am I The Guru You’re Searching For? I’m kidding…. kind of?

At this point, I’m a guru of trying new things. Why should you listen to me? That is an excellent question. Maybe you shouldn’t. I’ve been doing side hustles for a few weeks without a ton of success. I’m not sugar coating that. What I do bring to the table is a huge appetite to provide financially for my family. Along the way I’ve talked with a lot of friends (most of whom have children) who were also wanting to find something extra (be it for cash, or just the pure enjoyment of creating something) but weren’t sure how to make it happen.

SO, I thought maybe I could be that guinea pig? I was so tired of being click baited by claims of great money on a Pinterest Pin, only to be taken to a site that encouraged me I would hit it big with Bingo Clash, (I’m serious – you play bingo on your phone for prizes – maybe we’ll try it later) I finally snapped and decided the world needed to hear from someone who has actually tested these things.

The honest truth is I am super hopeful but also skeptical. If I can make this work for me then I know you can absolutely do it too. I’ve found a niche that I love talking about and I’ve combined two of my passions: 1) helping others and 2) talking about my new found love of side hustles.

So, let’s look at this project as a work in progress. I’m giving you my advice in real time. Will it be a total flop? A huge success? Somewhere in between? All are a possibility but if I can help even a handful of people with finding a legitimate way to help alleviate money stress in their lives than that’s good enough for me!

Don’t Let Yourself Get In Your Own Way

I’m hoping you see this as motivational. I’d love for you to try something that you never thought you could do… look at me! I’m blogging! I’m allowing myself to be clumsy and stumbly and imperfect. I know I will need a lot of work and crafting and I am not expecting to be good at this immediately and that’s ok.

Learning something new is exciting and scary and frustrating and thrilling but at the end of the day you come out on top because you have challenged yourself and grown in some way.

I have no idea what I’m doing or where this journey will take me and in the past this would have held me back. Does this sound like you? I like to have a solid plan and know the outcome before starting something. The fact that I’m trying this scares the pants off of me, but at the end of the day, I would have regretted not doing it more than trying and failing.

Old Holly (me) would have watched a ton of videos, read any article I could find and probably would have convinced myself that it was too hard and wouldn’t have tried. I have zero experience in website design or creation. A few days ago I wasn’t even sure what Word Press was. FYI: WordPress is a user-friendly tool for building websites and blogs. It lets you create and manage your online content without needing advanced technical skills.

I have had some experience on Canva (a really wonderful design program) since I’ve used it in the past at work and in a few of my other side hustles – we’ll talk more about those later. Had I overthought this set up process, I never would have started at all. I took it one step at a time and didn’t overthink.

Common Misconceptions About Blogging As A Side Hustle:

• • It’s Quick and Easy Money:
    
    • • Misconception: Many believe that starting a blog will lead to quick and easy money.
    • • Reality: Building a successful blog takes time, effort, and consistency. It often requires months or even years before seeing substantial income. *This will not be a super quick side hustle. We are looking at the long term goals here.

• • Anyone Can Do It Without Effort:
    
    • • Misconception: Blogging is perceived as something anyone can do without much effort or skill.
    • • Reality: Successful blogging involves various skills such as writing, marketing, SEO, and graphic design. It requires continuous learning and adaptation. If this appeals to you, GO FOR IT! I’ve learned so much already and I am only three days in.

• • It’s Passive Income from Day One:
    
    • • Misconception: Blogging is often thought of as a source of passive income from the beginning.
    • • Reality: While passive income is possible, it usually comes after substantial upfront effort. Bloggers often invest time and energy into content creation and promotion before seeing significant returns. Many report taking 1 – 2 years before seeing solid returns.

• • You Need to Be an Expert:
    
    • • Misconception: Many believe they need to be experts in their niche before starting a blog.
    • • Reality: While expertise is beneficial, many successful blogs are born from a journey of learning and sharing experiences. Authenticity and a willingness to share the learning process can resonate with readers. I am an expert in trying new things at this point. I am not an expert at any one thing. Do we ever really feel like an expert on anything?

• • Success is Guaranteed with a Specific Niche:
    
    • • Misconception: Choosing a specific niche guarantees success.
    • • Reality: Success depends on various factors, including the blogger’s passion, dedication, and the ability to connect with the target audience. Success is not solely determined by the niche.

• • You Need to Blog Every Day:
    
    • • Misconception: Some think that posting content daily is necessary for a successful blog.
    • • Reality: Quality content is more important than quantity. Consistency is key, but it doesn’t necessarily mean daily posts. Focus on providing value rather than overwhelming frequency. My goal is two posts a week. That seems attainable for now.

• • It’s Only About Writing:
    
    • • Misconception: Blogging is often equated with writing alone.
    • • Reality: While writing is crucial, successful blogs incorporate various elements, including visuals, SEO, marketing, and community engagement. Bloggers wear multiple hats.

• • Blogging Is Saturated:
    
    • • Misconception: Some believe that because many blogs exist, starting a new one is futile.
    • • Reality: While many blogs exist, each blogger brings a unique voice and perspective. Finding a specific niche or a unique angle can help a blog stand out. There are lots of of passive income blogs or mom blogs, but I couldn’t find a blog solely focused on what I care about right now which is how to balance being a full time mom while bringing in some extra money for my family. Hopefully this is you too and it lead you here!

First Steps: Getting Started

I googled, watched some videos and read a few articles and it seemed like Bluehost would be the best choice for my beginner blogging journey. It has great reviews and the best thing about it: it’s super cheap. For the entire year I paid $32.04 for my website / domain name. I had no idea it would be that affordable.

Our first goal: make $32.04 so we can get out of the negatives and onto our journey! Bluehost was super great to work with. I found some really helpful videos online that walked me through how to get free templates, how to edit them, etc. etc. There was a bit of a learning curve and a few new words and terms to learn, but I honestly had a blast doing it. I can’t believe how it all came together.

If you’ve been thinking about doing a blog but have been nervous because it seems like such a big step, please DO IT! I have no regrets. Even if I don’t make my $32.04 back this year, I’ll be happy knowing I learned a ton of new things. I’m already way more confident with the platform after just a few days.

I knew it would take some work to get the blog up and running and so far that has been true. I was not prepared for how obsessed I would feel about getting it done so that I could start blogging. It’s all I’ve been able to think about in a really good way.

In fact, I am so obsessed to tell the world (Pinterest) about my new blog that I am throwing caution to the wind and launching before I have ten completed posts. Is this blog suicide? That’s why I’m making the mistakes so that you don’t have to!

It’s given me my spark back and I am so excited to be creating again. If you feel like you’re in a slump and everyday is the same, starting a new side hustle could be exactly what you need. Let’s check back in a few weeks to ensure the spark is still there.

How In The World Do We Make Money Here?

Let’s talk monetization or how to make money off of a blog. I’ve enabled Google Adsense to run on my platform. This seems like a good choice for new blogs until you build up a steady, larger stream of traffic. At that point, you would upgrade to another option that is much better paying.

We’ll need about 10,000 views here to make $100. If things grow and go well, I’ll detail the full process in future blogs. Let’s make it happen!

Next up for monetization is Affiliate Marketing. If you’ve been doing any sort of research on side hustles, a lot of people will tell you that this is the easiest way to earn an income. I do believe you need to have a solid community before you try to sell anyone anything. Affiliate marketing is like a commission-based partnership. Imagine you recommend a product to a friend, and if your friend buys it based on your recommendation, you earn a small percentage of that sale. In affiliate marketing, you’re the recommender, and companies pay you for sending customers their way through a special link you share.

It’s a way for individuals to earn money by promoting products or services they like. I’m still figuring out how I’d best like to feature that here. Please know, if I ever recommend something to you, it is a product I’ve tried and believe in personally. I am currently an Amazon affiliate (we’ll explore that more in later blogs) so you may see recommendations pop up here from time to time when relevant. We’re trying all things side hustle here, people!

I hope to build a community where we can share experiences, triumphs and flops together. I’ll write more in depth about the growth (I hope!) and how I’m tracking it with my analytics. I’ll fill you in on views and what you can expect as you start.

Real Talk: Balancing Blogging With Daily Life

On my short, short journey with blogging, I’ve realized that I’ve actually spent much less time on my phone. I’m already super busy in the run of a day taking care of two little people, so I didn’t have much time for scrolling to begin with. Now it’s even less because if I can get a spare second you’ll find me working on the blog. I’m really enjoying that aspect for now.

My kids go to bed at 7pm, which leaves me a few precious hours after the regular chores are through to get through any side hustle I want to work on. So, if this day sounds anything like yours, it is absolutely do-able to start a blog. If you have a topic you’re passionate about, why not?!

As we get further into this journey, I’ll be better able to give you a more accurate schedule of what my daily life looks like. For now, know that I’m doing my best to squeeze in time whenever I can.

If you’ve been considering blogging, I’d love to hear about it. If you’ve been blogging for a while and have had success I’d love to hear about that as well. I still find it oddly terrifying to hit publish (I’m sure I’ve revised this post 20 times), but I’m hoping that by letting myself face my insecurities, you can face yours too. It is my hope that starting this journey from the very beginning as opposed to hearing it from someone who is already at the top of their game will give you encouragement. We are here to celebrate the way forward.

Balancing anything with daily life is a challenge for a lot of us right now – I get it. If you’re not ready to take the blog plunge just yet but you feel you might be at some point, keep following along. I’d love for you to see how this plays out in real time. Also, just write your thoughts down now. Start to let the idea get some traction in your mind. It is not far fetched. If I, a little ol’ lady from the East Coast of Canada is able to publish my own blog about side hustles, then you absolutely can as well. Let’s get this party started!

I can’t wait to see what hustles we’ll get up to next!

Holly