Running your blog as a business

Many people are gobsmacked when I tell them I earn a full-time living wage from Fashion and Style Police. It makes no sense to them how I can earn money writing on this blog. They wonder how it can be possible to earn anything tangible as a blogger working from home. Well, if you are one of these people struggling to understand how bloggers make money, then you are on the right blog. It is very possible to make good money from your blog. I know this because I am one of those bloggers fortunate enough to make money from blogging.

In other to make money as a blogger, you have to run your blog as a business. Running your blog as a business means you have to publish quality articles on the regular. It also means you have to charge the right prices when approached by brands and PRs. So how do you go about these? Let’s start with charging the right fees first.

 

Mind on the money

 

Fashion and Style Police Image

 

Now this media kit above is an old kit but it still works. Every blogger should have a media kit that clearly outlines what services you offer and why brands should work with you. I have had a few brands ask for a media kit so it is quite handy to have. You could also include your rates on your media kit if you wish but I rather not as my fees vary from campaign to campaign.

So what should you be charging? That is a question only you can answer. No one else can tell you what to charge because our circumstances all vary. I always have a figure I want to earn every month in my head and that figure guides what I charge every brand. Also, I have a minimum fee in my head that I can’t go below. This helps me get rid of time wasters that want to pay me $20 for a job worth $200. Knowing what to charge happens once you know your worth. It takes time but if you have a business mindset, you would get there quicker than others.

 

Ignore your competition

I know this goes against everything we have been taught by the business gurus but trust me on this one. When it comes to blogging, variety is truly the spice of life. You don’t want to be like any other blogger but yourself if you intend to turn your blog into a business. You have to stand out from the rest of the crowd and you can only do so if you ignore your competition and focus on your focus.

Ignoring your competition means focusing on publishing quality content on your blog and social media platforms. It means following like minds and making friends with the bloggers you get on so you are not isolated. But it also means you don’t spend the whole day stalking your blogger role models on Instagram or Twitter, and trying to be them. It means not copying their fashion sense or writing style. It means being true to yourself. You can get inspiration from those in your niche you admire and stay in your lane at the same time!

 

Fashion and Style Image

 

Focus on the content

Content is king, let no one deceive you. Everything else works on the back of good content. If your content is not up to scratch, your dreams of making money from your blog may never become a reality. What makes a content good? Good content to me informs, educates or entertains. It is written in good clear English, with a captivating writing tone. Good content has great photography and usually gets people talking.

 

Remember to register as self-employed with HMRC once you start making money from your blog. It is the law in the UK.

Thanks for reading and please drop any tips, suggestions or questions you may have in the comments section below.

Have a great week ahead.

63 responses

  1. I am in the process of trying to monetize my blog, and so far I haven’t been all that successful. I am just starting to have people reach out to me to sponsor my stuff, so I think I am heading in the right direction 🙂 Thank you for providing an example of what a media kit looks like! I have always wondered what they were, and what types of information is included. That was super helpful!!

  2. I agree with you. I don’t write just for the sake of having a new blog post. I have to have an inspiration, or a “push” to write about a certain topic. When I get that light bulb moment, I write with so much passion! Oh, and yes, I use lots of photos too. So far, I have found success with people asking me to write for them. 🙂

  3. Thanks for sharing your insights. I have never earned money from my blog, but I am intrigued as to how to go about setting something up as a side-income to my f/t job. It is refreshing that you are sharing what you have learned rather than keeping it to yourself. All the best with the future of your blog, and thanks 🙂

  4. Persistence and consistency – those are the two things that come to mind when I think about blogging as a business. I’m not making a ton of money, but I am able to pay most of my bills, and that makes me very happy.

  5. I am a pretty new blogger, and you are right. You can’t spend all your time looking and taking other people’s vibes. You have to create your own thing.

  6. I hope to become a professional travel blogger in a couple years, this post was very useful in helping me get started with that! Thanks for sharing!

  7. I hope to get to where you are at with your blogging sometime! I love the tips and am feeling inspired to create a media kit 🙂
    keep up the good work and thank you for your advice!

  8. This is such a helpful post, thank you. I’ve been blogging for around 18 months as a hobby in adition to working full time. I’m currently off on maternity leave and would really like to use the time around caring for my newborn to work on my blog.

  9. In the US we are advised to register as a small business owner when we monetize, but it is not mandatory. It just helps you look more credible and be taken more serious by brands.

  10. This is super helpful. Eventually, I want to blog full time as a business which is why I’m starting now to create a brand for myself in my niche. The tip about ignoring the competition is on point. I think there’s always room for more. Variety is indeed the spice of life.

  11. Thank you for sharing! I always love your posts! 💜 I have a blog tea party on the 3rd and I’m encouraging my blog readers to drop their link off on my posts. Would you care to share your world with us?

  12. I always love this post and your blog because it shows us all that with hard work and determination you can make a living from blogging. I’m not there yet but I believe I will be someday! Write no I’m following the advice from you and other bloggers! Thank you for this great post and advice!

  13. Thank for a very informative article. I’m new to blogging. I’m not sure if I will make money doing it. Mostly it’s to share my art and writing. I have been curious about how making money blogging works and you answered my questions!

  14. Pingback: Running your blog as a business – The Beautiful Boss Magazine

  15. Articles like this are encouraging to me. I really want to make blogging work. I have been working on treating it like a business with scheduled tasks and less like a hobby. Thank you.

  16. Pingback: Giving Your Blog Visitors The Chance To Become Members - fashionandstylepolice fashionandstylepolice

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