I was in my twenties driving around Atlanta Georgia USA with my Korean friend in my 1990 something burgundy Toyota Corolla. We were lost and I was tired. I was supposed to be picking up someone from the airport. But, had taken the wrong turn.
We ended up in a not so good place. I pulled into a pretty run-down gas station parking lot – picture closed down gas station, cracked concrete, and no other cars. I slowed the Corolla to almost a halt to regroup when I saw a man approaching the car flagging us down. I’m pretty sure he thought we were either selling drugs or wanting to buy drugs.
I sped back up to get out of there and we decided to return home. Mission unaccomplished.
I had to call the person I was supposed to pick up and apologize so they could send someone else. Exhausted, embarrassed, and defeated.
I didn’t have Google Maps back then, and all those exit ramps and one-way streets in Atlanta can be killer.
Your blog journey can be like that.
You start with a mission but get lost in a dark neighborhood somewhere completely disoriented. With people trying to sell you things you don’t want that may just make you more disoriented.
But, I don’t want you to give up and go home.
You have something to share on your blog that no one else can share the way you do.
Whether your blog is a full-time gig, side hustle, or even a hobby, it is a good idea to treat it like a business from the start or now, if you haven’t already. You never know what it could turn into for you.
It could create extra income for a special trip, feed your family’s emergency fund, or fuel your creativity and spirit which is just as important.
When I started, I was CLUELESS.
Just like I was clueless about how to get back on the right path that day in my little Corolla.
I had no idea what I was doing with blogging. And I made plenty of mistakes along the way. That’s ok. It’s a journey. Sometimes you’re on the right highway and sometimes you’re off on an exit ramp to who knows where!
The friend with me that day was more clueless than me. It wasn’t her fault. She was visiting the Country.
Fortunately, with blogging, we have many who have gone before who know the right roads and can help us along the way. I have learned a ton from other bloggers and still have a ton to learn.
I’m always learning and growing and want to share with you some mistakes I’ve made and some changes that helped remedy those. And the things I’m still learning.
So this is not a blogging 101 post, rather some things I wish I had set up right from the start but, I’m doing now and see the improvements. If you are in the same place, it is not too late. Just learn and move forward.
Blog Like A Business
Get out of that shady neighborhood and step into the light. It’s really lovely.
1.Get Your Hosting Right To Blog Like A Business
I tried some different hosts with my blog here at ImmenselySocial.com and some cheaper ones that other bloggers promote. Some of those hosting deals are great when you are starting out. They can get you to just start without a bigger financial commitment. But, I highly recommend you do your research.
I was having some problems with this site in the past and got on with tech support with one of the popular hosting companies, the one I was using at the time. I won’t name names. They went into the backend of my website and changed some things without my permission and I lost a ton of site edits and design changes that I had just completed.
To say I was frustrated by losing hours of work is an understatement.
I have switched to WP Engine for hosting here at ImmenselySocial. Yes, I am an affiliate but I became an affiliate because I believe in the team.
Plus you get the Genesis Framework and over 35 StudioPress themes free, which I love because they can be pricey!
I use the Brunch Pro theme for this blog. So Awesome. And the Foodie Pro theme before that. Both awesome themes whether you are blogging about food or not and there are many more great choices.
Just today, the site was running slow, my fault-installing too many plugins and not optimizing images- and I got on with tech support to see if they could help me. I got someone in the US who knew what they were doing and he was super helpful. He even put a plugin to speed up the site for free that I thought I was going to have to pay for and he helped me get WordPress back running like a dream.
If you think you want to make some income from your blog then get your hosting right!
2.Track Your Finances To Blog Like A Business
Part of treating your blog like a business is to get your financials in order. I use QuickBooks Self-employed but hear that FreshBooks is also great so check them both out and see which one has the best plan for you.
Quickbooks self-employed allows me to separate personal and business, but you may want to have separate accounts and cards too. Something I’m working on. I’m certainly not one to give financial advice so seek the advice of a professional when it comes to your small business finances.
I lose track of my business expenses from time to time myself. Sometimes you add subscriptions and forget about them, but it is important to keep up with or you will not know what you are spending on your blog. QuickBooks makes it easy.
Knowing how much you need to spend to make your blog successful helps you set income goals.
Again, I’m no expert here. Fundera has a nice guide with a better overview: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Small Business Finances
3. Implement Systems To Blog Like A Business
Something I am still working on tweaking but productivity and consistency is key. And I have super struggled with consistency. Trello is my go-to for organizing my business and life. And It’s Free!
I love how easy it is to create cards and lists and move stuff around.
But there are many other systems out there that can help your blog. Asana is another one similar to Trello. Or maybe you need a content management platform like CoSchedule.
Find systems that work for you or create your own. There may be setting up time or a small learning curve to use systems but this saves so much time and stress in the long run.
Bonus: Find Your Team To Blog Like A Business
If you are struggling with something, don’t go it alone. Find a blogging friend. Ask questions in groups. Take some classes. I like SkillShare. Get two months of premium free here.
Keep growing and don’t give up and just go home as I did on my tiring search for the airport.
Need work inspiration? Check Out: How People Work Around The World
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Leave me a comment and let me know how you plan to Blog Like A Business!
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