I started blogging 11 years ago, which means I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way. Since it started out as a hobby, I didn’t have any kind of strategy. I didn’t need a strategy at that point! But once I started to think about my blog as a business, there were a lot of things I had to change. While the laundry list of mistakes is long, today I’m going to share my top 3 mistakes!
My Blogging Mistakes
1. I didn’t start an email list right away
I knew I needed to start an email list but it just seemed too daunting. I didn’t know where to start so I just didn’t do it. Don’t wait another day! If you’ve been dragging your feet on starting an email list, now is the time to start! Even if you don’t start sending emails right away, you can at least start collecting email addresses for later. You can even start with just one email a month if that’s all you have time for. The sooner you start collecting email addresses, the sooner you can build your list! Remember, your email list is something YOU own! Don’t rely on social media platforms! (P.S. if you need an email platform, I love Flodesk! You can use my affiliate link to get 50% off.)
2. I was afraid to reach out to brands
I was hesitant to reach out to brands so I relied on influencer networks for all my collaborations. Networks can be a great way to meet brands and earn money, but don’t be afraid to reach out to a brand you’d love to work with! If you’re just starting out, offer a blog post in exchange for a product. Or reach out to a local brand that might have a small marketing budget. It can be as simple as sending a DM on Instagram to get the conversation started. Don’t be afraid to ask!
3. I was hesitant to invest in my blog
If your budget is tight right now, think about how you might be able to earn a little money that you could quickly invest back into your blog. If you have an eagle eye for grammar, could you offer editing services for another blogger? If you’re an expert photographer, could you offer to do product photos for a local brand? Look for ways to earn money that you can quickly invest back into your blog. I remember when buying a $300 camera felt like a huge investment. But as my blog started to earn more money, I was able to invest more back into it and I was able to see the return. (Years later, I invested in a $3,000 camera and didn’t even flinch. As you earn more money, it’s less scary to invest money back in your business!)
How long have you been blogging and what’s one thing you’ve learned? Share in the comments below!
