The Business of Blogging

Banana Republic Trench Coat (similar here for under $140) // Comme Des Garcon T-Shirt (runs small, wearing a medium) // Madewell Belt // Rag & Bone Jeans (run TTS, wearing a 27) // Vans Classic Slip On Sneaker (go a half-size down) // Madewell Transport Tote

Perhaps it’s the beginning of a new season and motivation to start something new, but lately I’ve received several emails and questions about a) how to start a blog and b) how to make money from blogging. Let me start by saying that I started this blog back in 2012, before blogging was cool. Wait, is it cool now? No? Do you need to have a podcast to be cool these days? Send help.

Quick answer: If you want to start a blog, you should do it. Why? Because starting new things, researching tools and tricks and tips and creating something from scratch can be exhilarating. I’m 7 years deep of dabbling with this blog space and I still Google how the heck to code things in html every day and then get pumped when I actually figure it out. Part two of my answer: If you want to start a blog just to make money, you shouldn’t.

I still remember my simple thought process of WHY I wanted to start a blog… I was always dishing out styling advice to friends, answering the question ‘Where did you get that??’ and helping family clean out their closets, so I thought I should share the knowledge more broadly. I started Sharing My Sole with a service-based mindset, addiction to shoes and desire to share precious life ‘scoop’ (hacks, as the cool kids call it these days) that I was organically telling my friends.

Hence, the birth of this blog, a humble (and mildly ugly) site on the internet originally built with Blogger and filled with amateur photos taken on my tiny digital camera. It has come a longggg way, but I was not in it for the money then and remain on this space to provide VALUE to friends and readers.

I have a full-time marketing job that I love (I’m truly fortunate on that front) and I teach yoga. And then I blog. It’s a fun side hustle and hobby that I genuinely get excited to work on. I don’t always have the time to consistently post and create new content, so when I do post, I want to ensure its genuine and valuable. I’m not here for the money or the swag, heck, I still have a relatively small following. But I’m here to share things I love and bits and pieces of my life that may help others.

Similar Black T-shirt // Madewell Skinny Jeans (run TTS, wearing a 27) // Veja Esplar Sneaker // Madewell Transport Tote

But, come on, how do you make money blogging?

My blog continues to be a side hustle, so any income I make on this blog space is just nice extra money for a trip or savings. My main sources of income come from affiliate networks and sponsored posts or partnerships. If you click on a link on my blog or follow me on LIKEtoKNOW.it and make a purchase, I’ll make a small percentage of commission from that purchase. It ranges anywhere from 1%-10% of the sale. So yes, every single time you click on something, like a post, or buy something, you are supporting this small business right here and I am GENUINELY grateful and do a little happy dance from my side of the screen. These networks allow bloggers to make a small amount of money on the products we take the time to research and share.

Partnerships typically come through affiliate networks as well (rewardStyle, ahalogy and sway are my usual go-tos), and you’re compensated based on the post. A lot of RANDOM partnerships come into my inbox and I say ‘no, thank you’ to the majority. For example, I just got an opportunity write a post about buying Snicker’s fun-sized candy at Walmart. Huh? I don’t like Snicker’s and I’m not a Walmart shopper, so that was an easy pass. But, that is the stuff bloggers deal with… Getting emails and ‘offers’ to write an entire blog post and provide photography in exchange for one free pair of earrings. Hard pass, not worth precious time.

Also, keeping a blog up and running does have costs associated with it. You purchase and renew your url, pay for site hosting, maybe work with a designer to create a logo, buy software for photo editing, etc. So, there is overhead associated with starting and maintaining a quality website.

So, if you’re thinking about starting a blog for the sole purpose of making money, I would argue that is not the right mindset or motivation. Blog because you want to add value to someone’s life, share a journey or your story. Blog to connect. Blog to contribute.

My advice for new bloggers? Focus on what makes you different and focus on WHO you’re talking to, rather than talking to everybody. Trying to reach everyone won’t get you very far. Find your people. If you started a blog and no one ever read it, would you still want to start one? Hopefully your answer is yes, because it really is fun, and you’ll learn a TON.

Something I struggle with… How long do I really want to keep this site up and fresh? Does anyone still want to read and see what I have to say? Is anyone there? There will most likely always be ebbs and flows of doubts, especially when blogging is such a numbers and ‘followers’ game these days. But, I work hard to not let numbers and algorithms get me down. As long as I continue to share and bring value to your life, I’ll feel as though I am contributing in a positive way and connecting.

Finally – Thank YOU for supporting this space. For asking my opinion, for seeking advice. For your comments and likes and clicks and loyalty. It brings a sense of community, which is why I started it all in the first place.