The Pros and Cons of a Blogging Side Hustle
I’m a big fan of side hustles, not only are they a great way to foster a hobby, but they can also be an additional income stream. Think about what an extra $500 or $1000 could mean for you and your family each month. When it comes to online side hustles, the sky is really the limit and there are numerous bloggers making six or even seven figures a month. There are numerous pros and cons to getting into blogging as a side hustle, so if you’re interested in learning more keep reading.
A Creative Outlet
Blogging for me is a creative outlet. I write about the things that interest me and that I hope will interest others. It allows me to enjoy writing, knowing I’m putting content out there for an audience. While you don’t have to be particularly talented to explore a side hustle, I do think it makes sense to focus on doing something you enjoy. If you’re interested, Caunce O’ Hara has a great article on the rise and fall of side hustles that can give you some suggestions of where to start for your own side hustle.
An Opportunity to Make New Friends
When you’re in the world of blogging, you’ll soon see it is a relatively small world. I have a few blogger friends and it’s been such an asset to me to have those friendships as I navigate the world of blogging, making money online, and turning my side hustle into a full time thing. We’ve shared tips, both in terms of dealing with clients and also growing traffic. You can even go to blogging conferences to meet people and to expand your side hustle social group.
Another Income Stream
They say that diversity is the key to financial freedom, and so creating a new income stream can be a great way to get closer to your financial goals. There’s really no limit to how much you can make from a blog. Of course it depends on how much traffic you get and how well you monetize your blog, but there are many people making mind blowing amounts of money from their blogs. The great thing about earning from blogging is you move away from a ‘per hour’ rate or a salary, instead you earn as much as your blog does.
It Can Be Addictive
When I first started blogging, I got a little obsessed. I felt that all my free time was time I could otherwise be spending making money. I thought about my blog all the time and constantly wanted to make new content for it. As time went on, things calmed down a bit, but having a blog can be an around the clock kind of thing, so just be prepared for it. If you open up matching social media accounts, you may find it very hard to ‘switch off.’
Putting Yourself Out There
It can be a little nerve wrecking putting yourself out there, after all you don’t know how you’re going to be received and if you’ll get any negative attention. But sometimes we have to be vulnerable in order to move forward, and for me at least the rewards far outweigh the risks. It may be worth being very intentional before you get started about how much you want to share about yourself and your family, so you have very clear boundaries from the get go.
A blogging side hustle can be honestly life changing, so if you’re on the fence about getting started, perhaps this is the sign you need to take your idea to the next level.
