Today the big news all over social media is that it’s the date that Marty McFly came into the future in Back To The Future II. I can still remember seeing the first one in the theater back in 1985 — I had a healthy crush on Michael J. Fox (who didn’t???) — and I was just a BIT freaked out by Marty’s life being so changed when he returns to it at the end. My sensitive self was all bothered by how weird that would be, when your memories are so different from everyone else’s, and you can’t explain why… but I digress.
In my little life, this day is significant because it is my first blogging anniversary. (I refuse to use the word “blogiversary,” although it’s actually a thing, believe it or not. I think some words just were not meant to be smashed together. And basically anything with “anniversary” is a no-go in my book. Anyway…)
On this date a year ago, I published my first blog post — my easy chili recipe. All I knew then was that I needed something to do with my brain, since #2 had gone off to college and I was reeling from having two children gone instead of just one. And we needed more cash — for the same reason, lol. So I thought I would see if I could make money blogging.
Since then I have published 136 more posts, and I have learned A LOT. And I think one of the coolest things I have learned is that this blogging thing is a pretty good gig. I haven’t made it big, yet, by any means (more details later), but I am encouraged by what is happening. :-)
Remember Chef Gousteau’s motto in the movie Ratatouille? He says, “Anyone can cook.” Well, I’m here today to say that anyone can blog. If you are thinking about it at all, then try it and see if you like it. You may just find that you do. Yes, there are things to learn and adjustments to make, but if I can make money blogging, anyone can.
My experience (so far) trying to make money blogging:
1) I started from the beginning with the mindset that I was going to treat my blog like a business and my time doing blogging like a job. This meant that I didn’t see it as a hobby, as something I could do in my “spare” time. Instead, I made decisions as if it were a business — in other words, I didn’t rely solely on my emotions when it came to deciding what to post, how to design it, etc. I researched what was successful and tried to implement that. I also committed a certain amount of time, as if it were a job that I had to report to.
2) I did break one of the cardinal rules of blogging, apparently, which is that you shouldn’t start blogging just to make money. After all, I had two girls in college (and now there are THREE. Can you say “ouch”?). Why WOULDN’T I be wanting to earn some more money? Allegedly you’re supposed to have a passion for it, or for a subject, and that’s the only good reason to start doing it. Um, let’s be real, here, y’all. EVERYONE talks about blogging as a way to make money, and my guess is that’s why the majority of people start doing it. They just won’t admit it, for whatever reason. Here is some honest truth, though: Blogging is NOT quick money; so if you don’t enjoy it, you probably won’t keep going until the money does start arriving. But during the times when I question whether I enjoy it, my mindset from #1 keeps me pressing on.
NOTE: If you want to make money with your blog, download this awesome FREE resource that can get you going quickly: 7 Surefire Ways to Boost Your Blog Income Overnight.
3) I might just do a blog income report next month, because I can tell already that November is going to be my best month ever. But please realize that that is still only going to be in the triple digits (for maybe the second time ever), with the first digit being the number 1. So yea. After a year. Some people get going much quicker; but from my understanding, this is actually pretty good. But there is a snowball effect that happens, so hopefully things will just get better from here. That gives you a gauge of how quick to expect those millions to roll in. :-)
4) I did pick subjects that I already know a bit about and have fun researching what I don’t know about them. That helps a lot when it comes to enjoying my time spent blogging. Everyone has one or two subjects that are like that for them. Again, I don’t see the need for a PASSION — just something you like talking about or reading about or doing. My big two are Homeschooling (with an emphasis on high school) and Frugality/Personal Finance. But I also dabble in other subjects about being a mom, wife, and homemaker, because I am also interested in those things. Just not enough to write about them so frequently. :-)
5) But in doing #4 I broke another cardinal rule — according to the gurus, you are supposed to have a niche, one narrow topic that you can write about infinitely. This is the ONE decision (that I can think of) that was more emotional than business-like for me. Because I am not a niche person and never have been. In fact, my first blog name was “Ann of All Trades” because that has always been me — I’m not outstanding at any one thing but I’m passably good at quite a few things. (The name had already been taken by someone else, in case you’re wondering. Except she spells her name with an E, so it took me awhile to realize she was there…) The one thing I do know is that I can’t pretend to be someone else. Nor could I be interested in any one thing enough to write about it CONSTANTLY ad infinitum world-without-end. So I stuck with my multi-topic blog. It’s probably taking me longer to get noticed and make more money because of that decision, though.
UPDATE: There is new info about this whole niche thing in my 2nd anniversary post: Avoid These 6 Mistakes New Bloggers Make. If you want to avoid some of the things that held me back, then go check it out. :-)
6) I did realize before too long, however, that I would need to find some angle that would set myself apart from other blogs so that people would know that I am me and I am not the same as everyone else. I thought about this for a long time; in fact, I kept trying to find a niche for myself for months after starting the blog. Never could accomplish that. But I did eventually hit upon the tagline of “making any & everything as simple and cheap as possible” — because that is also who I am. I really am lazy, y’all!! And I really do think a lot about ways to do things more easily, so I don’t have to work so hard, lol. I do think some sort of angle is helpful to getting noticed. One of my most-viewed articles fairly early on was It’s Not That Hard to Homeschool High School, which reflects my unique spin.
7) There will always be some things you don’t like to do about any job you undertake. For me, the hardest part — and therefore the part I procrastinate the most about — is putting words onto a blank piece of paper (or in my case, a blank computer screen). The rough draft is always the worst for me; once I have something, ANYTHING, down, then the edit/rewrite process is actually kinda fun.
8) Blogging has adapted well to my life. I am a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom. I did not want to take a job outside the home; I tried that once and it led to regrets. I can blog any time of day that is convenient, or I can skip a day if we are busy. I can put my family BEFORE blogging, which is not true of a job outside the home. It is a productive use of my time, even if I’m not being compensated much for that time yet. I still have deadlines, but I can arrange my agenda to meet them when it will work best for me. Blogging makes a great side hustle for that very reason.
9) Networking is crucial and helpful and fun. It’s crucial because that is how your blog will get noticed. It’s helpful because you learn things from other bloggers, and you are encouraged by them. It’s fun because you make new friends! I was surprised by this aspect of blogging — but now I wouldn’t be without it.
I share all this in the hopes that you will see that making money blogging is doable and worth the effort for anyone. Like any job or endeavor, it has its ups and downs, its positive aspects and its drawbacks. But on the whole I think anyone can prosper at it, if they are willing to work hard and learn. Do I consider myself to be a success? Well, I’m not making the big bucks, that’s for sure. But the blog is paying for itself and there is even a little extra. I am doing something productive with my time. I am helping and encouraging others. And I like it! So yea, in my own little world, I consider myself to be making good at this blogging thing. I think I’ll keep at it for awhile. :-)
To conclude, I’d like to share this message which Doc Brown (aka Christopher Lloyd, looking a bit older, if I may say so) recorded in the Delorean time machine. I posted the video of it on my FB page today:
Great Scott! If my calculations are correct it is now precisely Oct. 21, 2015. The future has finally arrived. Yes, it is different than we all thought. But don’t worry, it just means your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one.
Thank you SO MUCH, all you wonderful readers of this blog, for making my first year of blogging a GREAT one! :-) HUGS!! –Ann
P.S. If you decide to start a blog of your own, I recommend Black Chicken Host for your web hosting provider. I didn’t start with them, but I switched to them after blogging awhile because I heard of their reputation for great customer service. That has proven to be true with me! I love that they are small enough to attend to me personally, and I appreciate their values. Click here to check them out and see what I mean! :-)
Ann has written Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School: A Step-by-Step Manual for Research and Planning, Save Your Sanity While Homeschooling High School: Practical Principles for a Firm Foundation, and recently Taming the Transcript: The Essential Guide to Creating Your Teen's Homeschool Transcript from Scratch (without overwhelm). She also founded the popular Facebook groups It's Not that Hard to Homeschool High School and It's Not Hard to Homeschool K-8, and in addition she voices the It's Not That Hard to Homeschool High School Podcast.
- Homeschooling High School with Confidence: Essential Tips & Resources - March 7, 2025
- Turn screen time into story time with this innovative homeschool writing tool. - September 20, 2024
- The Secret to Finding God’s Will for Today - March 25, 2024
I love your website, am also a homeschooling mom (including high school to college), and am seeking additional sources of home-based income. Based on my interpretation of your numbers, it appears that if you are earning $200/month and blogging 2x week, there’s a low income to time invested. Your thoughts? Thanks!
Thanks, Nicole, and yep, you are right! Great question!! Right now I am making maybe $3/hour, lol, if that much. And if you consider all the hours I worked to get to this point, when I wasn’t making anything, or maybe $5 per month… BUT the idea behind blogging is that it snowballs. As you build your website and your traffic, you begin to earn more and more money for the same amount of work. I’ve only been at it a year, so it’s early days yet, actually. If you choose to start blogging, you have to go into it with the mindset that it can take a long time to get really going. One of my friends has been at it for several years is making a few THOUSAND a month. So that’s what I’m working towards. That’s one of the reasons why you do have to actually enjoy doing it, and enjoy what you’re writing about, because otherwise it’s difficult to invest that kind of time or effort. I do see it as just that — an investment. And hopefully over time I’ll have a home-based business that is all mine and is helping us out significantly. :-)
This is a great post, Ann. Thanks so much for sharing. I just started my blog about three weeks ago and am discouraged by how much tech there is to learn (ad stuff, theme stuff, affiliate stuff, etc). And I did this because we are in need of a second income, but I don’t see how that’s gonna happen from my website. lol. I just have to keep on keeping on. How is this so much harder than when I was just doing a friends/family blog on blogspot?
Thanks, Stephanie! And yes, I was the same way when I started — as in, “Wow, I had no idea how much was involved in this!” But it does all gradually start to come together; just take it a piece at a time. I tried to look at it as implementing one new thing with each successive blog post. Perhaps it’s harder because you are feeling more pressure to perform, which is normal — but try to set that aside and let growth come as it will. In the meantime, see yourself the same as if you were taking a college class to broaden yourself. That would be a perfectly reasonable use of your time, and you would feel good about it, even if it were hard, and even if there were no obvious results other than your own knowledge. Hang in there! I have faith in you! :-)
Thank you for this inspiring and honest post. I started to blog 3 months ago and hope I can also look back after a year with similar results. Congratulations on this achievements!
Thanks for stopping by, Rolene! Keep at it and I have no doubt you will! :-)
Thanks for the honest and authentic insight into your first year of blogging. I’ve been at it 2 weeks and this article was a much needed read to keep me going. Pinned it!
Yay, Sam! I’m glad to help! Thanks for encouraging ME by commenting! :-)
So, in all honesty, I started my current blog hoping to make money and to get my children’s book manuscripts discovered and published, I am finding a lot of very talented bloggers out there that I would otherwise not connect with.
It is nice for me to share my writing and thoughts and it lets me utilize my creativity and my photography.
Out of your article #8 hit it the most for me. I always wanted a job, to earn money, but I don’t feel working outside of the home would work in my life. I am not even sure if working in the home would work, but blogging….blogging allows me to put the computer down, to still be with my kids, take them to appointments or pick them up from school.
Now I just need to start making money from it! Haha!
Yes, exactly! I read in a book today that as bloggers we are entrepreneurs. We are our own bosses. We are building not just a blog, but a business. I like that idea!! :-) Thanks for the comment, Jess! (P.S. The other thing I read today was that we have to keep telling ourselves that all this work will pay off eventually — so hang in there! You can do it!!)
This is great and I totally agree with a lot of the “rules” you broke! I did start a blog in hopes of earning some money (gasp!), and I don’t have a super specific niche. Thanks for sharing your experience! :)
Thanks for commenting, Erin! Above all we have to be ourselves. Sometimes that means a narrow niche — but I think there are plenty of successful blogs out there that are not. If Pioneer Woman can do it, why can’t we?? :-)
Love this! I am TRYING, trying, Trying to make my blog more than just my space for words and make little side money.. so I can stop slaving away at a desk 40+ hours a week. Thanks for your views and tips. ALSO thanks for suggesting a blog host, I need to switch to something different and more versatile and now I have somewhere to start my research. Congrats on your one year!
Thanks, Brittany! Keep pressing on — I bet you’ll get there! (Hopefully we both will!) :-)
This is exactly what I needed to read this morning! Thanks for keeping it real and simple. Sometimes this blogging thing can be overwhelming. It’s good to know that you can get out there and do it! Merry Christmas!
Yes, just one step at a time, and we’ll get there! Thanks for stopping by, Amanda! :-)
Hey Annie,
So I just totally swamped my Pinterest followers with pins from your blog, haha!
However this one I wanted to comment on, I love that you mentioned you were hoping to make money from your blog. I just went self hosted, (scary!!) and I do hope to make money someday. I have no idea how to go from point A to B, but I know it will come together some how/day. Research research research!
I as well kinda of have a branched out focus, homeschooling and life. So it might take me longer, but I don’t plan on homsechooling forever so we shall see.
Thanks for this post, so real and encouraging to read.
Yay, thanks, Jen! That is my goal, to be real — it’s too exhausting to be otherwise, and I’m too lazy for that! :-) This is a very exciting time for you with a new blog, and I’m thrilled to hear about it from the ground up! I agree that research is key, as is networking. Keep me posted!
Hi Ann,
I am one of those strange bloggers, I guess??, that have been blogging for a few years and haven’t really thought of doing it to make money – as I have never seen how that was possible. Now, like you, my oldest is off to college, actually graduating in May and planning to marry soon, and my second oldest is preparing to move into her first apartment – so with only two left to homeschool, and one of them on his way to college in a year, I think I’m ready to turn my blog into a business. But how? How do people make money at blogging? Where does the money come from and what do others get for the money they invest into the blog? I must be missing something… Are you talking about getting paid for advertising or for telling others where to buy something like at Amazon and getting a commission for it? Or for selling your own product on Etsy, maybe? I loved reading your article, it got me thinking and I am very intrigued and ready to step into a new season of blogging. Thank you for the inspiration Ann! Blessings :)
Yay, Constance, I’m so happy to have been encouraging to you! For now, my income comes from the ads (they pay you as people view and click) and from sponsored posts. I can’t be an Amazon affiliate because of where I live. Other people sell ebooks or printables — there are so many possibilities. If you’ve got a blog on WordPress.org, you can sign up for Google Adsense and start trying to make some money! I’d say go for it! :-) Thanks for stopping by!
I have enjoyed so much reading this article. I actually just started my own blog and for the same reason you did. I laugh so hard when you admired to being lazy, bc I do too. Though anyone that knows me would disagree. Anyways I learned so much from this, maybe you can give me a few pointers! No pressure though. Thanks for the article it will help me!
I’m glad you liked it, Omarelis! Thanks for stopping by! :-)
thanks for your honesty. I will like to contact you in private donations. Can I?
I am not sure what you mean, but my email address is on my contact page. I love hearing from readers. :-)
Ann this was a refreshing post to read! I appreciate your candor and honesty. I’m a co-hostess for Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. If you would like to join our link party, I think you might find some like-minded folks in your niche that’s not a niche. ;-) We have quite a few homeschool moms that link up posts. I’m never quite sure how to comment on those posts except to say thank you for joining us. I am sincere when I say thank you… yet it always feels so generic. Ugh. The struggle is real.
By the way, I was in Pinterest when I saw the title of your post. If it has homeschool, I wouldn’t have read it. Just being honest. Ha ha. However, I am glad I stopped by. Truly, your honesty is a breath of fresh air.
Olivia
Reinvented Collection
P.S.
I won’t leave my blog link in the comment because Google sees that as SPAM. If you would like to join Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop, come by my place around 7 p.m MST, which is 5 p.m Alaska time, 4 p.m California time on Wednesday evenings. ( I get all messed up with time zones. Just thought I’d help a girl out with the whole time zone thing)
My “niche that’s not a niche.” Love it! Thanks for the invite, Olivia — I’ll check it out! :-)
This was very helpful. Thank you!
This is the most honest post about making money blogging I’ve read! My blog is currently still a hobby but recently I’ve been thinking about how I could use it to bring in a little extra cash. Thanks for the post!
Thanks, Kayleigh!! If you have the time for it and enjoy it, there’s no reason not to go for it! But yes, it’s important to come at it realistically. Thanks for stopping by! :-)
What a lovely post. I like that you stress blogging is not easy money. Everyone seems to say that, but somehow your post resonated more than others.
Thank you, Diana! Yep, I’m actually still not making much more than when I wrote the post. But I do see progress, and that’s the main thing! :-)
That’s good that you found something that you sort of like and can be a little bit of side income. For me its been more of a passion /hobby with an occasional bonus. Good luck.
Great post! I’m a new blogger and I know it’s not easy, and to not do if yfor the money. I like looking back at my post and reading about that stage in my life .
Thanks for stopping by, Brandy! :-)
Great honest post! I’m new to blogging as well and encountering some of the same things – I’ve never be much of a niche or specialized person. And, with one toddler and a little one due in October, I’m totally do this for extra cash!
You go, girl! :-)
Never told hpw you did earnef the money specifically
Hi Alan, mostly through the ads on my site. Some of my income is from sponsored posts. Good question! :-)
I enjoyed reading this because I can totally relate. I don’t feel I’m great at one certain thing but I’m good at a few. Plus I’ve started my blog with the sole intention to make money! I’ve read countless things that say you must have a niche. I’m really struggling with this idea because I have lots I want to talk about;).. This gives me hope that there’s still a chance I can make it! Happy anniversary
Haha Nisha, blogging will probably be a good fit for you if you like to talk! :-) I think you CAN make it, and over time you will learn more and more what works for you and what doesn’t. That will help you narrow down a bit if you need to. Thanks for stopping by! :-)
Hi Ann! Thank you for sharing your experiences! I started blogging in January and it’s fun to read about someone elses journey. :)
Welcome! I hope you end up enjoying it as much as I do. :-)
This sounds just like me at this point in time. Thank you for your post!