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Are you interested in blogging as a career but you already have a full-time job?
This article explains how you can transition from being a full-time employee to blogging as a career.
Most bloggers have to spend some time in the regular workplace before going full-time as bloggers.
This may not be living your best life but it can be very useful and hopefully at least somewhat enjoyable.
What’s more, if you make the transition to full-time blogging the right way, both doors will stay open to you.
Here are some tips to help transition to blogging as a career.
Are you ready to start blogging as a career?
Not so fast. You need an action plan in place so your transition to your blogging career goes smoothly.
Always put your job first
It’s perfectly fine to draw a line between your work time and your free time.
Even in your free time, however, you need to respect your employment contract. Never do anything which could create an issue with or for your employer. In particular, never create a conflict of interest with your employer, or even sow the seeds of a potential one.
For that reason, it’s safest to avoid monetizing your blog at all when you’re in employment. Just get it to a stage where you know you could monetize it. Then decide where to go from there.
I am a teacher-blogger. I don't blog about public education, but at the same time, I'm always cognizant not to publish any writing that could even remotely upset my school district.
The next-safest option is only to use monetization options that do not directly compete with your employer. Just make sure to do your research very carefully.
For completeness, learning to do thorough research on monetization/brand deals will stand you in good stead for the future. Reputable bloggers make sure they are very careful about what they promote.
Use your job to help your blog
Most employers are open to helping their employees develop themselves. What this means in practice depends on the specifics of your job, your employer, and your business sector. It’s up to figure out what opportunities are available to you and to make the most of them.
For example, entry level marketing jobs can teach you a lot of what you need to know about promoting a blog. Finance jobs can teach you the skills you’ll need to handle the business side of blogging.
IT jobs can help you to understand the internet in general and e-commerce in particular. Basically, whatever type of job you have, there’s something you can learn from it.
Also, take advantage of any networking opportunities your employer offers, formal or informal. Remember, the world really can be a small place. The colleague you chat with in the lift (elevator) might end up being your key contact with an important brand.
My colleagues know that I blog. Some have even approached me about teaching them to blog. However, I don't follow up and I don't discuss my blog unless I am asked.
Consider laying the ground for freelancing work
Freelancing is arguably a bridging step between employment and full-time blogging. Essentially, it’s a “no-strings” employment relationship. Generally, whatever services you provide will be rebadged under your client’s name. For example, if you write blogs for them, it’s usually your client’s name that will go on them, not yours.
With freelancing your obligation to your client is simply to deliver your best work. Their obligation to you is simply to pay you. That means you can go ahead and pursue blogging opportunities without regard to their opinions or feelings.
Freelancing during your employment can be difficult. The same considerations apply as for monetizing a blog. When you leave your job, however, freelancing can be a useful way to keep your cash flow moving. It can be particularly useful in the early stages of monetizing your blog.
Remember, even if your site is strongly monetizable, it can take time for that money to start to come in. For example, many businesses have 28-day payment terms.
Affiliate sites may take two or three months to pay out. Even once your blog is established, your income may fluctuate. Freelancing work can help to fill in gaps and smooth out bumps.
Find an organization system that works for you
When you’re an employee, you typically have a specific niche. You stay in that niche for as long as you stay in your job. That niche may change over time but the underlying principle remains the same. You have your set of tasks, you do them and you leave everything else to other people. You may not even know who these other people are.
When you’re a blogger (or a freelancer), however, then you are your own boss with all that implies. You don’t have to do everything yourself. You do, however, need to make sure everything gets done. That takes organization. In fact, it’s probably going to take a mixture of project-management tools (e.g. Trello), automation, and human help (e.g. a VA).
If you’re planning on working with brands, then it can be an excellent idea to invest in proper accounting software. This isn’t at all intimidating to use. You don’t have to be an accountant to understand it. You don’t even have to be a professional bookkeeper. The advantage of using proper accounting software is that it makes it much easier to keep track of invoices.
Blogging as a Career Frequently Asked Questions
Wrapping Up: Blogging as a Career
Even though my blogging dream is blogging as a career, I continue as a teacher who blogs in her free time.
If you do want to take the plunge and start blogging as a career, follow the strategies presented in this article: the do's and don'ts of transitioning to blogging as a career.
Readers, please share so part-time bloggers considering blogging as a career read these suggestions.
I look forward to your views in the comments section. Are you a career blogger? What advice do you have for people who want to start blogging as a career?
