Unmasking the Real Expenses Behind Running a Blog as a Side Gig.

Blogging: The Real Deal Behind It
By Chris Panteli

Is blogging the golden side business we think it is? With roughly 70 million posts shared monthly, many would argue ‘yes.’ Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as setting up cheap hosting and belts out some articles. The reality: only 2% of bloggers earn more than $150k annually, while the majority (63%) make less than $3.50 a day. So, what’s the true cost of starting a blog?

Why Blogging?

I, like many, was drawn into blogging by attractive earnings reports and the dream of managing an online business from wherever I like. But with a fast-food business to run and personal life changes, I questioned, ‘Is this the right time for my blogging dream?’

The Brutal Truth Of Blogging

Originally, I didn’t realize blogging’s time-demanding side. It takes a lot to compete with millions of other successful blogs out there. Posting quality content is crucial, but it’s not the end game. Your articles don’t just need to be well-written for your readers, but they also need to be Google-optimized.

Aside from crafting the perfect article, which could take 10-15 hours, there are other tasks to be done: social media promotions, backlink building, keyword research, content outsourcing, finances monitoring, and more. Yes, blogging demands nearly 30 additional hours a week!

So, is it worth it?

I’d say, yes, but be ready for its high financial and emotional costs. Blogging needs more than just initial setup costs. You have to spend on continuous learning to stay updated with various skills: understanding SEO, email marketing, content outsourcing, sales funnels, etc. It certainly needs your full-time commitment!

Driving Blog Traffic

Like many, I started promoting my blog through Pinterest. However, free traffic there has since decreased, and the focus has shifted to SEO for long-term benefits. While SEO presents its challenges and requires persistence, your patience can pay off.

The Main Price: Time!

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this, it’s that time is everything in blogging. Blogging might seem overwhelming at first due to the multitude of necessary skills, but if you can dedicate a few years to learning and strategy execution, your blog can flourish.

In the end, if you’re ready to put in the time and dedication, blogging can be the perfect side gig which could eventually evolve into a life-changing business. Like anything in life, you get what you put in and in this case, it’s time well spent.

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