I will never forget the moment I finally decided to start writing this blog. Rob and I were sitting on our second couch in our apartment in Vietnam (after we broke the first one because we are tall Americans on small Vietnamese couches) and I was reading two of the blogs I loved. Monica from Run Eat Repeat was recapping a race she had gotten a free entry to in exchange for a blog review and Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers was recapping a partially comped trip she and her husband took to Hawaii while she blogged the experience.
My decision was made. Not just because I wanted the free stuff, thought that is a perk, but because I wanted to be able to have these cool experiences that I could share with others.
It took me about two days to come up with the blog name, which Rob and I hit on while stretching after a workout at our gym in Vietnam. The second we said it (I cannot remember who said it first), we knew it was the one.
Here we are 5 years later and this little space is still going strong. My first few years of blogging were pretty bad as I only posted when I felt like it, had long stretches of silence, and really was not sure what I actually wanted to write about consistently. Now with most of that figured out, though no guarantees it will not change, I have this love for blogging that has kept me coming back to this space again and again.
If you are thinking about starting a blog, on whatever scale feels good to you, there are a number of reasons I think you should stop waiting and just start doing.
You get to share something you know a lot about. As a teacher, this is just a natural part of who I am. To share, to help, and to teach. If I can help one person make a positive change to their health, or inspire one good workout session, then I am calling it a win.
You get to connect with other people. I have met so many incredible people through the blogging and business Facebook groups I am part of, the podcasts I listen to, the races I have run, and the retreats I have attended. There are so many women out there crushing it in the blog space and I find them incredibly inspiring, especially since they are not people I would meet in my day to day life as a classroom teacher.
You have an opportunity to make a little side income. There are so many blog income reports out there that show some huge numbers people earn from their blogs. While Wrecking Routine is nowhere near those staggering sums, it does pay for groceries and a bit extra each month. Why would you not want to capitalize on that little extra money in your pocket, especially if you are doing something that you enjoy.
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You can blog from home in as much time as you have. I spend about 7-10 hours a week cultivating this little space. I work on it when I have time which is usually an hour before work and during naps on weekends. There are some super successful bloggers who spend less time on their blog. The whole point is that you can work on your blog as little, or as much, as you want and still have fun (and make some cash) while doing it.
You can start it for very cheap. If you consider blogging a hobby, then it is a really inexpensive one to start. WordPress lets you blog for free once you choose a domain name that is available. If you are going into blogging with a business and money-making mindset, then I recommend using the paid version of WordPress and Bluehost to host your site for only $3.95 a month. This allows you to monetize your site. Even if you opt for the paid versions, you do not have to spend a lot!
You will get you out of your comfort zone. There I things blogging has encouraged me to do that I never thought I would! For example, attending retreats, working with brands, writing invoices. All of these things are out of the teacher’s scope of practice and while at times it has been stressful and a big push, I am loving all the learning and cultivating of new skills.
You create a portfolio. Have dreams of writing a book? Owning your own business? Working from home? Your blog is a wonderful platform for creating a portfolio of what you can do. It showcases your writing skills, highlights your marketing abilities, and connects you to others in different ways through the various social media platforms. All of these can be used to leverage your new found skill set to another position.
You will have fun trying new products and attending events. Once you start to build a little traction with your blog, you will be approached by brands asking you to test out a product. Many of them will ask to send you the product for free in exchange for a review and that is a great way to get started on working with brands and delivering on blog posts. Plus, it is a fun way to try new products!
You can also approach brands and events yourself and offer your blogging services in exchange for free product or entry to an event. For example, I was able to run the Thelma and Louise Half Marathon for free through an agreement like this.
Once you build even more traction with your blog, I do recommend you stop doing the unpaid reviews and opt for paid instead. There are a number of websites that will connect you to brands and pay you for your work of words, pictures, and social media shares. Here are a few of those websites that I personally use:
You can combine a lot of your interests into one place. Yes, a lot of blog advice recommends that you niche down on your topics. While you do want to have the same strain of ideas throughout your posts, there is nothing wrong with sharing a number of different topics on your blog. For instance, while I predominately post about health living and fitness, I also embed a bit of blog talk, budget, and travel into this space. You want to write a blog that you would actually want to read and I am so much more than just nutrition and working out!
You have something that is completely yours. I just love that a blog is mine. I have ownership over what I write, how I share it, and what brands I work with. While in my teaching career that is not always the case, having complete autonomy in this blog space is a breath of fresh air.
You will have fun! Yes, there are some stressful times when I have a brand deadline, I am behind on my content calendar, my pictures showed up upside down, or I am trying to install a new plugin or page and cannot figure out how to do it, but all in all, blogging is just fun. Sharing the topics I love to talk about, meeting new people, getting the opportunity to write, and making a little money all adds up to a fun little side business.
I could talk about blogging for pages and pages, but it all comes down to, if you have been thinking about starting one, you absolutely should. Even if you are not sure if you will keep up with it, there is only one way to find out!
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Read more about blogging in these posts:
What appeals to you about blogging?
I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.
Oh great. Now I want to start my blog again! Thanks!!!BTW look at those young kids in the pic from the Would You Rather post!