I've Been Blogging For A Month And Made $0

In the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship, the journey is akin to a rollercoaster, with exhilarating highs and challenging lows. As a small business owner specializing in handspun and hand-dyed yarn, my thriving presence in the creative realm faced a turning point when the winds of change swept in. Instagram, once a bustling platform for my business, witnessed a decline in reach, and sales began a gradual descent. The challenges of 2023 and 2024, marked by rising rates, demanded adaptive strategies to navigate the shifting landscape.

In pursuit of resilience, I turned to an unexpected avenue—blogging. The allure of generating income without the complexities of inventory and shipping proved irresistible. Delving into the blogging realm, my quest extended beyond financial stability; it became a platform to share my passion beyond the confines of my product.

To fortify my foray into blogging, I invested in education, enrolling in courses by Sophia Lee. "Perfecting Blogging" and "Perfecting Pinterest" opened doors to the intricacies of content creation, SEO optimization, and the strategic use of keywords. The revelation came with a twist as I discovered the untapped potential of Pinterest as a marketing powerhouse.

While exploring diverse niches, a significant revelation unfolded—the search numbers in other realms dwarfed those in the knitting/spinning world. This realization prompted a pivotal shift in my content strategy. I chose to infuse more personality into my Instagram, blog, and YouTube accounts, transcending the boundaries of yarn to discuss the broader challenges and triumphs of life.

In the midst of this tumultuous blogging journey, a realization hit me—I need to step up my game. Attempting to maintain a weekly blog post schedule is commendable, but the demand for more is evident. The plan? A leap from one post per week to a robust three, a strategy to catch up with the relentless pace of the digital landscape.

The essence of successful blogging lies in addressing the needs and problems of your audience. However, it's equally crucial to offer a glimpse of yourself, creating a relatable connection. Unlike blogs promising quick riches, mine delves into the authenticity of shared lows and the commitment to mutual growth. Building a new audience means showing the real, imperfect journey rather than just imparting wisdom.

What am I even doing?

I'm trying my best to get a blog post out a week, and I think I really need to step my game up. I’m thinking at least 3 a week to play catch up. The key to blogging (from what I've learned) is blogging about what people want, what problems they need solved. But I also think there needs to be a level of them seeing themselves in you. In reality. Like this blog post. I'm not teaching you how to get rich in a month. I'm showing you that I have lows just like you, and let's change it together. I'm building a new audience.

Instagram Dilemma: Navigating the Uncharted Territory

I've also not shared my blogging adventure much on Instagram. My following there is different and not one that I can put a lot of faith in. Sorry, guys! I have about 12 thousand followers, but my engagement doesn't even reach 1%. I feel like the people I'll find from Pinterest and other social media will want to read and be used to reaching information. Instagram users are used to scrolling, and that's not my goal right now. I’m building a new audience, and even though it feels like crap right now, I know it is a long-haul situation.

The Power of Pinning: Unlocking the Potential

Another thing I need to do is pin more. The people who had tons of views pin at least 10 times a day. There is a strategy to this that I've learned from Sophia Lee and will not share, due to it being behind a paywall and all. I just feel like I need more blog posts to actually create pins to make that happen. It is hard in the beginning when you have two posts out. I have been mixing in picture and video posts within my regular blog posts too. People can click and see my work on Instagram or go right to my website. There is a degree of people who just love pretty pictures, and that is totally fine. I just hope I can funnel them into being more invested in me, the person, and hopefully being an affiliate customer instead.

As the gears of this blogging engine shift into higher gears, the journey continues. It's a blend of strategy, authenticity, and resilience, navigating the unpredictable terrain of the blogging world. Join me as I maneuver through the challenges, experiment with new approaches, and strive for not just quantity but quality in this intensified blogging adventure.