7 Steps To Go From Hobby To Full-Time With Your Blog

Just like you, at one point my blog was just a hobby site.

I still remember when I finally made the move to full-time.

Even my wife quit her job to help me with the growing business, it was an exciting time!

After 10 years of running a multi-six-figure website, I want to share some advice that I think can help those who are currently on their journey from hobby to full-time blogging.

1. Position Yourself as a Business, Not Just a Blog

If you tell me you are “just a small hobby blog” then I have no choice but to believe you.

Professional branding, having an LLC, a business address, a diverse business model, and simply presenting yourself to people as a legitimate business can go a long way with how others perceive you.

This is no different than “dressing for the occasion” when you attend an event.

You wear what is expected, so your blog and other assets should “look as expected” if you want to be taken seriously as a business.

Follower counts, email subs, and website traffic do not define your legitimacy as a business.

2. Be Consistent With Your Content

Real businesses work on their business every day.

A hobby is something you do when you have free time.

It’s really simple, work on your brand every day in some capacity and it will begin to take over your life.

Step-by-step, article by article, until you hit the tipping point and you can leave your job.

3. Start With Content Partnerships

Everyone thinks the fastest way to make money with your blog is with affiliate links and AdSense.

Content partnerships, paid and unpaid, can be formed almost immediately after launching your brand.

These collaborations can immediately drive a targeted audience to your website.

If you are passionate about your niche and professionally present your brand, people will work with you.

The number one currency online is credibility.

Credibility comes from what others say about you.

Be the person that can give these brands credibility and you’ll be more valuable than you’ve ever imagined.

4. Focus On Building a Direct Access Asset

The one thing that separates a successful blog from an unsuccessful blog is audience ownership.

When you have direct access to your audience at any moment you’d like, you can get things in front of people quickly.

Email and SMS should be your top priority, followed by partially owned audiences like Facebook Groups, Discord servers, and other community platforms.

Your blog becomes infinitely more valuable when you aren’t trying to capture a new audience every single day on Google Search and social media.

5. Track Your Progress

Keep track of your main KPIs (key performance indicators).

How many new followers? How many new email subs? How many brands did you reach out to? How many articles did you write this month?

Keeping track of these numbers will help you see when and why you are succeeding or failing.

Not only can this be a motivator but it also keeps you organized so you can easily diagnose issues with your growth.

6. Follow the data

Collecting data isn’t enough, you need to use it!

Learn how to analyze all your data points so you can follow the data to success.

Never guess on something, KNOW YOUR NUMBERS.

Collect engagement data with Microsoft Clarity.

Collect visibility data with Google Search Console.

Track important conversions with Google Analytics.

Use a social media monitoring tool that can help you visualize where you’re headed.

7. Set A Financial Goal

If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?

over 90% of blog owners who I ask “How much money do you need to make to go full-time blogging?” don’t know the answer off-hand.

It is okay to dream big, it isn’t about the specific number.

It is about visualizing your goals and taking small steps that compound so you can reach them.

Knowing your current situation, then using your data to estimate what it will take to reach your goal, and defining your goal are key ingredients to being successful.

What’s Next?

I hope these steps give you a clearer understanding of what it takes to go from hobby to full-time like I did with my blog.

In some cases, it is a lot simpler than it seems but you typically don’t figure that out until after you took a few lumps.

For all those still on their journey to full-time blogging, I wish you nothing but the best and just hope you never give up because “all overnight success takes years”.