If you are a blogger or are considering being a blogger, this post is for you!
When people learned that I was making more money blogging than I did at my day job, the questions started rolling in. Keep reading to learn answers to questions I commonly get asked in regards to blogging, or jump to the bottom of this post for a 2-day special offer that is just for current bloggers and future potential bloggers!
Alisha’s F.A.Q’s about blogging.
How did Meal Planning Mommies get started and how did you know you wanted to be a blogger?
I’ll be honest, in the beginning I didn’t know I wanted to blog. In fact, I didn’t totally understand what a blog was, or how a blog worked, when I started.
A friend of mine saw the vision before I did.
I learned what a blog was from my good friend, Sarah Anderson. She introduced me to the first blog I ever really got into, Money Saving Mom. Crystal Paine started Money Saving Mom many years ago to help moms save money through coupons, sales, and self-discipline.
After following Crystal’s blog for a little while, Sarah was inspired to start one of her own. In 2008, Sarah called and asked if I would consider partnering with her and another friend, Katie Brabson, doing a meal planning blog. It sounded like fun so I told her, “YES!”
You can read more about how we started and the evolution/time table of this blog here.
The long and short of it is this:
We started MPM back in October 2008 just to have fun and possibly make a little money in the process, then we took a much-needed break in 2010.
With fresh inspiration and excitement, Sarah and I picked it back up in 2015. Over time, my passion and enthusiasm for the blog grew while Sarah’s slowly diminished and she offered to let me to take over the blog.
Now I am confident that this is what I am supposed to be doing.
The blog continues to grow little by little everyday. In the beginning I didn’t know if I wanted to blog, but because it seemed risk-free I went with it, and now I can’t imagine my life without it. I am very grateful to be where I am today!
How were you aware this niche was needed (not already filled)?
I didn’t know for sure. The truth is, everyone who starts a blog goes into it not 100% certain that it will resonate with people or that it will take off one day.
Blogs start with a vision and a whole lot of faith.
With a combination of doubt and faith, a blogger starts when they choose to let faith run the show while pushing doubt aside. Without faith, it can be easy to be taken down when the first sign of insecurity or uncertainty rears its ugly head (because it will).
A blogger has to trust their gut while also being willing to adjust when they realize something just isn’t working. A blog evolves as the blogger evolves. Many bloggers start with one idea, realize it is not working, and adjust accordingly. This is my story. Over time, the MPM blog narrowed down to a very specific niche but it started very broad. This is normal, I think.
Where did you go to learn how to start a blog?
When Sarah came to me asking me to do the blog with her and Katie, she talked about Crystal Paine at Money Saving Mom, and how her success with blogging was the inspiration that she needed to try to create a blog of her own.
This was several years ago and we googled answers when we had a question. Since then, countless books, ecourses, and blogs have been created to help new bloggers get started. With the resources available, literally anyone can start a blog if they want to. There are TONS of great blogging resources available now, but the best deal I know of is the Genius Blogger’s Toolkit. (I will talk more about those at the bottom of this post)
What makes a blog successful?
First and foremost, consistency. It’s the number one ingredient to success.
Many, many people start a blog, do it for one month, and let it go when they realize it won’t grow from zero pageviews to thousands in a matter of just a few weeks. Patience and persistence are absolutely necessary. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Learn as you go, keep improving, take risks, be willing to be vulnerable, be true to yourself, and have fun! The joy is in the journey.
Do you ever worry you will run out of ideas?
I did in the beginning. I don’t worry about it anywhere. The inspiration is literally EVERYWHERE! With recipes, in particular, I find inspiration when I am in restaurants, eating at friend’s houses, in recipe books, and just by experimenting with different ingredients.
I LOVE food… usually, I see this as a bad thing, but when it comes to this blog, it is a very good thing. What makes you tick? What do you love? Who inspires you? What stories do you have to tell? Think about your past, your present, and who you want to be in the future. Then, let the combination of the three steer you as you kick off your blog. You be you.
When did you realize blogging might have real potential and be more than just a hobby?
I have been blogging consistently for 3 years now, but it wasn’t until January of this year that I was able to quit my day job and focus solely on the Meal Planning Mommies blog. Of course, no one goes from zero to hero. There were milestones along the way that gave me the push I needed to keep moving forward. Here were some of the milestones for me:
1.When I was associated with other great bloggers.
The first time I really felt like the blog was going somewhere was when people started sharing my blog alongside of other majorly big-time recipe bloggers like SkinnyTaste.com and EmilyBites.com. It felt like a big deal to see people suggest Meal Planning Mommies to their friends, along with other big blogs.
2. When a brand approached me about doing a sponsored post.
When my first sponsored post opportunity presented itself I put together a media kit along with a package deal offering a sponsored post, links on social media, and an ad on the sidebar taking people to a coupon for that particular food. I suggested a price of $1,000 and I was THRILLED when they said they were on board! It felt like a game-changer to me. It let me know that like people liked my blog and who I am enough to partner up with me. That was hugely motivating.
3. When I started to get positive feedback.
At first, kind and affirming comments and messages are hit or miss. Over time, you get enough consistent feedback and you get a sense of what is helping people. Of course, I can’t let every comment dictate everything I am going to do on MPM, but I do take each comment seriously. Many of my ideas on MPM originate with a question or suggestion from one of our readers. (This post is an example of that)
4. When I discovered how to be an affiliate.
Affiliates are a small way to make money in a more natural, organic way. When a blogger tells people what they love and uses an affiliate link to that product they become an affiliate for that product. Amazon Affiliates is one of many small avenues of revenue for us. Since I share products I love all of the time on here, being an affiliate just makes sense.
Another example is the Genius Blogger’s Toolkit. Since the toolkit helped me so much, I decided to be an affiliate. This means, I will talk about how it helped me and provide a link for others who are interested in learning more.
5. When I Created my first ebook!
When we sold our first ebook, I felt like I was finally providing exactly what our readers were looking for. Because people were asking if we had ebooks, I knew there was enough interest to make it worth it the effort we were putting in.
Once you work your blog long enough, you will start to get feedback and you will get a sense of what people are asking for. At that point, you can create the thing they are asking for and be able to sell it. This is a win-win for everyone.
Currently, I am working on a “Table for Two” ebook. This will be a meal planning ebook for people who feed dinner for 1-2 people each night. I already know that people want this because they have been telling me for months now. They don’t want to do the math or have lots of wasted food. And who can blame them, right? There is a need for this kind of resource. Needless to say, I am really excited to get this ebook on the market.
How many hours per week/month do you devote to your business?
The answer to this question changes from week to week and month to month. The beauty of having any business, blogging or otherwise, is that you get to call the shots.
Some weeks I put in LOTS of hours, especially when we are about to kick off something–a series or a product. Other weeks, I slow down and take a breath. There are also weeks when I am really excited about an idea and I spend lots of time pouring into the idea. And then, other weeks I feel the need to focus more on what my family needs and less on the blog.
Striking up a perfect balance takes time.
For me, finding a good balance overall means not being so rigid in my blogging schedule that I am forgetting about what is important in my personal, social, spiritual, and family life.
The answer to this question is different for everyone. Some people thrive on a perfectly consistent schedule. I am not one of those people. Every blogger finds their own personal best rhythm by trial and error.
What would you tell someone considering starting a blog for the first time?
Slow and steady wins the race. Invest in the success of the blog like you would any hobby you love.
If the Genius Blogger’s Toolkit was an option when we started I would have definitely jumped on it. The good news is that it IS available to you! I will go into more detail about what the blogger’s toolkit is on Monday. For now, be sure to put May 14-15, 2018 on your calendar! (That’s this Monday and Tuesday coming up)
Truly, the toolkit has EVERYTHING you need to start (and grow) a blog. There is something for beginners, intermediate bloggers, and professional bloggers. The toolkit is PACKED with valuable information for bloggers!
What is the Genius Blogger’s Toolkit?
When people tell me they want to start a blog I tell them they need the “Genius Blogger’s Toolkit”.
The Genius Blogger’s Toolkit is a comprehensive collection of 89 eBooks, eCourses, videos, and workbooks that will show you how to…
- Consistently create meaningful content that keeps readers coming back for more.
- Attract new readers using proven strategies like SEO, social media, and guest posting.
- Get paid for your hard work by creating products OR earning affiliate commission.
- Understand the legal and accounting side of blogging to give you protection and peace.
- Take advantage of the newest best practices and strategies so you can grow faster.
- Rock your blog even on a busy schedule, so you’ll be ready for your big breakthrough.
The toolkit is not available until May 14-May 15, but you can go here to be notified when it becomes available, and I will send out a reminder on Monday!
Sign up here to get a notification sent to your email when the Ultimate Blogger’s Toolkit is available for purchase!
Come back Monday for more information and how/why this toolkit helped me personally.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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