What It’s Really Like to Run a Blog Like a Business

What It’s Really Like to Run a Blog Like a Business

I remember when I first started this blog. I was uninspired at work. I had long been obsessed with fashion and become the go-to gal for my friends and family before the mall or a big event. Shopping was an outlet. Styling was meditative. I had an idea for a magazine that I wanted to read that was all about people and what they were wearing. I felt like each item of clothing a person wore was a good excuse to tell a story. I didn’t know you could turn such a concept into a business. I didn’t know a blog could be a business. I didn’t ever envision myself running a business. I was a journalist, after all. I just wanted to tell cool stories about cool stuff.

Fast forward to 2019, we’ve experienced the chaotic and profitable growth of social media, rapid developments in digital journalism, and a unique evolution in industries including fashion, travel, and wellness. Here I am, just trying to figure it all out amidst a changing personal and professional life. I make a significant portion of my personal income through this here blog I call Sweet Sauce. I also am a freelance writer and marketing consultant, so some of this background applies to those freelance business ventures, as well.

I get a lot of questions about how I got here and what it’s really like. Thanks to QUID, I’ve got the encouragement I need! You can see the apps Widget on my sidebar, which welcomes you, my sweet followers, to pay a few pennies or dollars when you’re inspired by my content. As you’ll see below, every bit helps.

I spent some time digging through bank statements and into my past to paint a full picture for you. Let’s jump into a few realities about running a blog as a business….

You Can’t Stop Learning or You’ll Fail

Widgets, codes, algorithms, lenses, software, trends, audience habits, SEO, social platforms–the list of skills required to master the digital publication known as a blog is endless. I don’t mean endless as an exaggeration. I am fortunate that I also am a marketing consultant, so I have to keep my chops up for more than one reason on this blog. I can’t learn it all, though, and sometimes that looking pile of the unknown is intimidating, especially when you know there are full-time bloggers out there who have the time to learn and apply new skills and tricks.

Money is Never Consistent

My main source of income from Sweet Sauce is through sponsorship fees. For example, I worked with QUID on this post. It’s up to me to be honest and open with you guys–I always am! The fees vary from collaboration to collaboration. The timeline in which a brand engages me for work and actually pays me also varies. I may do work in July and get paid in October sometimes. It’s hard to keep track. I use tools like QuickBooks, but it’s an ongoing struggle for me.

I also earn income from affiliate links. This is a very small piece of the pie and it depends entirely on you, the follower, to click on links like those in this post about backpacks and purchase the products. I earn anywhere form 5-10% commission if you buy those items. I also share those links on Insta Stories and Facebook to encourage you to click and buy things I love.

As I mentioned above, I pair my income from my blog with other sources of income as a freelancer. This helps keep me afloat despite inconsistencies. If followers aren’t inclined to buy, but like my content, I think QUID is actually a really smart way for you to show support of my work here. I think of it kind of like a magazine, or premium subscription.

The Cost of Doing Business

Blogging isn’t free. It’s like a job you have to pay to do, then ask people to pay you back for all of your creative work. Sounds weird, right? That only sounds weird if you haven’t worked in the creative industry before. I try to treat my blog as if it were a project for a marketing client. How valuable is an hour of my time? What tools am I using and who do I need to hire to help me get the job done? If you want to create high quality work for yourself, for your followers and for the brands you work with, you need to do it the right way. That means spending three hours styling and editing photos. That means using the best apps and software.

In one month, here’s a snap shot of my expenses:

• Phone: $151/ month
• Internet: $75/month
• Google Drive: $1.99/month
• Drop Box: $11.99/month
• Planoly App: $9/month
• Adobe Software: $9.99/month
• Microsoft Software: $6.99/month
• Quickbooks: $20/month
• Bookkeeping: $100+/month
• Canva: $12/month
• Website templates: $151/year
• Website hosting: $96/year
• Photography: $100+ per session
• Admin Support: $120+ a month
• Self-Employment Tax: $1,250/yr
• Travel: Costs associated with Lyft or Gas
• Beauty: Nails, lashes, skincare, hair (It’s not all comped)
• Props for Shoots: From gum to drink mixers
• Food and Drink: Coffee shop meetings, happy hour photo shoots, (this isn’t all comped, either)

Depending on the breakdown, we’re talking $1,000 a month to be in this business with the right tools.

Wow.

I never put it into perspective like that. Some of these expenses obviously bleed into my other freelance work and personal costs I might spend anyways. Yes, I can also claim some of the costs on my taxes. Trust me, it only does so much good. It’s still money out of my accounts. Coming out in the green is a little more difficult when brands pay you months after you work with them, too.

There’s a lot more to say about this subject

I’ve written a few articles about what I’ve learned about blogging here, here, here, here. Click through and let me know if you have anymore topics you’d like me to cover. I have some ideas already cooking!

Want to support bloggers you love?

Click on their affiliate links. Comment on their posts to increase their engagement. Tell your friends about them. Consider giving a few dollars if you have it. Click on my QUID widget to the right and drop what you can to see if feels good. If it does, then maybe you can support your other blogger friends and idols, too.

Thank You!

Thank you for each and every reader who tunes in on my website, on my social channels and even in real life! You are the reason I keep doing what I do. I’m also grateful to partners like Quid who support me as I keep pushing to create valuable, inspiring, and useful visual and written content for each and every one of you.