Welcome to the Blogger’s Success Series here at LAAB. Not everyone realizes how much work there really is to blogging. They also don’t realize how many of us do this for a living.
To breakdown stereotypes and to promote the true spirit of blogging, I want to highlight successful bloggers in many different niches.
I have quite a few interviews lined up this month, and today we’re going to kick this series off with Alexis from FITNancials. Enjoy!
If you’re interested in starting a blog, I’ve written a detailed guide on how to start a blog. Pricing starts at just $3.95. Plus, if you sign up for a 12-month hosting plan, you’ll receive your domain name ($15) absolutely free through this Bluehost link. I highly recommend having a self-hosted blog if you’re serious about earning money online and being taken seriously as a blogger.
Tell me a little bit about your blogging journey? What led you to blogging?
When I was 19 years old, my sister Michelle at Making Sense of Cents told me she started a blog.
I was inspired because at the time, I lost 60 pounds and wanted to share my health journey and help others change their life as well.
My $10,000 car was paid off shortly after, and I had a lot of money saved up in the bank for someone my age. I knew I could help others do the same.
Traveling eventually became a hobby of mine, and I started writing about my adventures living in South America, Europe, as well as traveling Asia and Australia.
What is the name of your site and what is it primarily about? Your mission…
My site is FITnancials and as you can see from the title, it’s about fitness and finances.
I started traveling the world as a full-time blogger, and have been traveling across 5 continents for the past year.
My mission is to show people how to live an exciting life on a budget, and stay healthy in the process.
Do you currently blog full-time or part-time?
I blog full-time as of October 2016.
I’m also in school full-time, finishing up my degree so I can eventually teach English abroad in a country that requires a degree.
What’s your blog’s business model (or how do you earn revenue through your website)?
I earn income from affiliate marketing, ads, and sponsorships.
What does your typical day look like (from a side-hustle or a full-time perspective)?
I usually start the day working on the social media aspect of blogging, which is setting up my posts in schedulers such as Hootsuite and Tailwind.
Posts are ready in a month in advance, and I also edit posts regularly before I publish them to make sure I’m sending out the best content.
I spend an hour a day on blogging courses, network with other bloggers, guest post, and fix articles that are already published.
I’m constantly emailing brands and other bloggers, as well as doing a million other little things throughout the day.
What do you feel is any blogger’s biggest challenge?
Constantly having to educate yourself on how social media is changing and what you have to do as a blogger to succeed.
Algorithms have changed on all major social media sites, making it more difficult for your content to be seen.
Also, work is never done as a blogger. It’s not a 9-5 where you get off work and are done for the day. There’s always more to be done.
Where do you see yourself and your blog in two-years?
Taking a break from traveling, starting an animal sanctuary, and becoming friends with more bloggers.
I’m going to Fincon this year in Dallas and looking forward to networking and learning from others. (Editors Note: Me too. I can’t wait to see you there, Alexis!)
What is failure to you when it comes to blogging (or in other words, why do you think many who start blogging fail?)
I think a lot of bloggers go into it with only money in mind. I have friends that have started blogging, and ask me when they’ll start making money.
This is the wrong mentality to have, and it’s quite toxic. Blogging is hard, hard work, much harder than the average person would think.
People assume all I do is write a few posts and publish them, that’s it. There’s constant work that needs to be done as a blogger and it can become quite overwhelming.
What tips would you offer to individuals interested in blogging?
Don’t go into it solely with money in mind. You need to be passionate about your niche, and develop genuine relationships with other bloggers and your audience. People will notice if you’re only there for the money.
Any other advice or comments?
Blogging can be the best job you’ll ever have in your life, or the worst. It’s really what you make of it. It’s also not for everyone, to be completely honest.
Wrapping Thangs Up
As you can see, there’s a lot to blogging. It can be a fun way to earn additional income and it can also be the means to getting rid of the typical 9 to 5.
I love the message that Alexis is sharing over on her site and I can’t wait to see her continue on her blogging journey.
If you’re interested in following along too, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.