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Blogging for fun. Remember those days? *stares whimsically out over a field of corn, breeze blowing in my hair*. A couple of months ago, I sent a tweet about how it seems that all blogging advice nowadays is written with the assumption that the blogger reading it is either a) a full time blogger or b) wants to be a full-time blogger. The “how to be a full-time blogger” posts have been rife over the last few years.
And I’m not excusing myself. I’ve succumbed to it as well, with more and more of my content over the last few years being about how to make money, how to gain sponsored blog posts and how to turn your blog into a business. And whilst I love those posts and love creating those posts, it hit me quite hard this year that just because blogging is my job and what I want to do, doesn’t mean it’s the same for everyone else.
- Not everyone wants to be a full-time blogger.
- Not everyone wants to or needs to earn money from their blog.
- Not everyone who blogs needs to write for an audience.
And honestly? I felt like a bit of shit that I had excluded such a large majority of people from my blogging advice because I’d started focusing so heavily on the money and business side of things. So I vowed going forward to start producing content that will aid those who are blogging for fun more.
Because I think people forget that you can want to grow a blog, increase your following and get more readers WITHOUT wanting to do it as a job. Those two things are not mutually exclusive.
Before we go on, I just want to talk about 4 things that will and still occur when you’re blogging for fun. Most of you probably already know these things already but if not, hopefully this will be a bit of a heads up for you:
Blogging for fun will still take up a lot of your time
If blogging is your hobby, it will STILL take up a lot of your time. Blogging is a very multi-layered thing. From content creation, to graphic design, to social media and more. So YES you can still grow your blog as a hobby blogger but it WILL take time and effort. HOWEVER, if you’re a hobby blogger, then you’re in control of just how much time you can / will put into your blog. As opposed to someone who blogs full-time, who has to put in a lot of hours to make it work.
It might still cost you money
Another point I want to make is that if you’re blogging for fun, it might still cost you money. It doesn’t HAVE to. But it might. But that’s okay because the way I see it is that a lot of hobbies cost money anyway. Enjoy painting in your free time? You spent money on the materials. Is one of your favourite hobbies playing video games? Games aren’t cheap. So accept the fact that blogging as a hobby might still cost you. But there’s nothing wrong with that.
Blogging for fun has no reflection on your skill or talent
Blogging for fun as opposed to blogging as a job has no reflection on your skills as a writer or content creator. TRUST ME. I’ve seen many blogs run by bloggers that aren’t doing it full-time which are head and shoulders above some full-time blogs. This is a bit of mindset shift that you might need to make but know your worth as a hobby blogger.
You might still want to learn about SEO
And finally, if you want to grow your blog (even if it is a hobby) then you might still want to learn about SEO. SEO is not resigned for those who want to take it full-time. It’s for everyone. And it’s a vital part of growing a blog. Crossing over with the money point of this post, you might want to invest in resources such as this Keyword Research for Bloggers eBook to help you with your SEO.
After doing a bit of research and asking around on Twitter, I identified 4 main elements of blogging for fun that people seem to struggle with the most:
- Time management
- Priorities
- Balance
- Goal setting
These are the 4 areas which cropped up the most in different variations. And luckily for me, 4 areas that I’m extremely passionate about. Time management, priorities, balance and goal setting are important factors into self growth as well as blogging so as this mostly a personal development blog, I’m very happy that they overlap.
I talk a LOT about that overlap and how blogging and mindset go hand in hand in my new course Blogging Mindset Mastery, which you can enroll in here and is definitely valuable for those who blog for fun as well as those who want to take this full-time!
I had questions like:
What tasks should I prioritize? What would you do if you only had a couple hours per week to blog? What are the easiest low-maintenance ways to make a couple bucks here and there?
I’m struggling building up my blog with limited time as well – e.g. I struggle to comment on others blog as much as I would like and approaching brands as a hobby blogger?
As it’s not my career, I find it difficult to balance my job and my hobby of blogging, as blogging can take up a LOT of time (even as a hobby) Would love any advice on that.
For me, it is totally finding a way to set realistic goals for development when it’s not about getting sponsored posts or making a certain amount of money coz I’m floundering right now with what I actually want!
So, in order to do this justice and give people the advice they really need and want, in the New Year I’m going to be starting a series of blog posts which address all the problems people are facing above and more. From mindset to time management, finding balance and goal setting. If you’re blogging for fun and feeling like the advice for you is lacking, you’re definitely going to want to stick around in the New Year.
My aim is to help hobby bloggers grow their blog and thrive in this industry. And as soon as I realised that I wasn’t catering to that HUGE group of people anymore, I realise things needed to change.
Are you looking forward to this series in 2020? Are you a hobby blogger who’s struggling with finding advice catered to you? If there’s anything else you’d like covered, let me know in the comments!
[…] seen plenty of changes within the industry and within my own feelings about it, having turned from hobby blogger to a full-time […]
[…] to my argument. Another thing that I learned this quarter was that writing a blog is very easy and can actually be fun. I learned that by completing the blog assignments and practicing writing about different topics […]
So thrilled to find this post. I blog and just love the community I’ve built up and got to know. The skills I have learned are phenomenal. But there is such a push to monetize my blog. I get inundated with emails, then I go down the rabbit hole of thinking about it. I even created a course. But in my heart I just want to have fun. It’s so amazing to hear other womens’ experiences in the comments.
Thank you! I’m glad you found this post then, sounds like you’re feeling that pressure of monetizing. I hope this whole series helps!
[…] it’s a hobby or a job, it’s supposed to be enjoyable. And you absolutely can’t tell me that […]
Thanks for sharing, Jenny!
[…] Blogging For Fun: The Lost Art […]
What about those of us who blog for fun but want to blog to promote hue art and make money from their art. I am working on how to promote my blog. I use Pinterest to share my posts and spend time getting to know other bloggers.
Well selling art would mean you were a business so you’d definitely have to look down a business route for that! But obviously you’ll still need to have fun along the way!
[…] time management tips for hobby bloggers. I explained the need and want for this series in my post The Lost Art of Blogging for Fun, which I published last year and I’m thoroughly enjoying writing these and being able to give […]
I am not a full time blogger. But I might as well be, as I enjoy it so much, I do it every day, without fail. 🙂
Many thanks for following my blog.
Best wishes, Pet.
You are perceptive! I’m in this group who does blogging for fun and continuing learning to keep my brain active. In the process, i hope it does the same to readers who take the time to read what I write. 🙂 Thank you for this supportive article.
That’s amazing 🙂
This is such a needed post! I currently blog about books and writing on my author website and I do it for fun. It would be cool to get paid as well but I don’t think book blogging gets you a lot of money although I wouldn’t mind free books. 😀
Haha no it definitely doesn’t. I used to be a book blogger and the only way I made month through it was to start my own business! Free books are great though!
Hey thanks for sharing those points and encouraging blogging for fun. Sure, I’d love to earn income from it, but I do it as a hobby. Your point on it taking much time is a big deal b/c it really does require effort and focus like any hobby.
My biggest area that’s lacking is SEO. Why is it so important, why do my tags seem ignored, what key words should I use? I’ve always avoided SEO b/c I was afraid to get too technical and thus take the fun and joy out of blogging. I don’t want to blog for a search engine.
I totally understand that dilemma. Although SEO is definitely important for traffic, if that’s not something you care about then that’s totally fine!
[…] links // Last year, I published a post talking about the lost art of blogging for fun. This post got QUITE a reaction, with a lot of people agreeing with what I was saying and also […]
In all honesty I needed to find this read because I am new in blogging world . I think South Africa fall in the category of third world countries and growing in the family that I can classify as below poverty level ,choosing a career was based on getting employment . So writing was always my thing and I’m glad I came across your post and honestly I would love to grow my blog . I think I need your help and good post over all.
Thank you. The first post in this series is live!
I blog for fun because it is my creative life journal. Yes I want to build a community through my blog and and promote my work.
The first post in this series is live today!
It was a very interesting read, I’m definitely gonna need this, I just started blogging, and I’d love advice for it!
[…] Blogging For Fun: The Lost Art […]
Nice to read, always experienced words are more valuable…Thanks for sharing
I’m so glad you’re going to start a new series! I think when I first started my blog, I wanted to become a full-time blogger. In reality, after blogging for 4 years, I’ve come to realize, that while I want to grow my readership, I don’t necessarily want to make this my full-time job? So I’m definitely super excited for what your blog brings in store during 2021 xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Then this series is going to be exactly for people like you! 💖
I seem to have a love/hate relationship with my blog. It should be fun.. but it seems to not be and sometimes I wonder.
If it’s not fun, you definitely need to take a step back
Great post Jenny really make lot sense because when doing something for fun it means that even if you not getting paid for it , you’ll continue doing it . Mostly when you do that results just come automatically so is important to apply all the elements to it .
Absolutely 🙂
Great post Jenny! I’m kind of trying to blog for fun but also,admittedly, in the hope of making an income but I’ve not achieved either yet. I shall definitely check out your helpful resources. I’m an amateur but have been researching about blogs for over 9 years I would say. I finally started posting this year despite the fear but I don’t have a niche nor any readers! I don’t filter/edit my thoughts. I just post albeit with a bit of research where I’m mentioning links. If you have any specific advice or feedback for me bad or good please let me know when you have a spare second. Thanks
Congrats on starting your blogging journey! If you need any advice, drop me an email. Always happy to help!
Thank you and merry Christmas xx
I love this so much, blogging for a hobby isn’t spoken of much so I’m really looking forward to reading more of these posts! Lisa @lovefromlisa.com
I always appreciate reading about other people’s experience, and especially their advice!
Thank you 🙂
Great post! I think blogging is a grand adventure…like all adventures, some things may change a bit along the way. I think it is very important to have fun and enjoy the journey. Along the way, you will make new friends, learn new things, and discover things about yourself you did not even know. I believe you must keep an open mind, be flexible, and set goals for how much time you want to invest, and what you hope to achieve.
Ah thank you totally agree x
Thanks for sharing, for me it’s the balance of having fun and improving my skills that I have allready, so I’m hoping that I can get that balance right 🙂
That’s a great way to blog!
What a lovely post to read! I dream about being a full time blogger, but then the lockdowns this year have taught me that I love working in an office and having colleagues. Looking forward to the new series next year xxx
Thank you 🙂 It’s amazing what this year has taught us!
I love this post, I honestly thought that I was the only one who just wanted to blog for fun, little did I know there were loads of us out there, Blogging has always been an escape for me and it will always be hobby of mine I love it, and I love the fact that there is no pressure for me to grow quickly, I can do everything at my own pace! Great post x
You’re definitely not the only one!
I still blog for fun and share what I want even though it’s my job too. There so much pressure to monetise which I think is sad especially when some say we should always ask for payment – it should be on a personal level. There’s plenty I’ve taken as gifted because it has saved us money xx
I mean, I blog for fun even though it’s my job too. I think it should ALWAYS be fun, if it’s not you need to take a step back. But there’s a different between blogging as a hobby and a job. I also agree with the asking for payment thing. I’ve worked on a gifting basis SO many times and it’s worked for me and that’s fine.
I don’t understand why blogging should be free. All hobbies cost, so why should this particular hobby be free. I see the “pressure” to earn money to pay for hosting and other things, but if cooking was my hobby (it is), I would spend more money on ingredients in an year (to try new things, as a hobby, not food-shopping) than I would spend on hosting and domain.
I also agree with you that not everyone wants to be a full-time blogger, which, as I have 3 blogs (lifestyle, food, and books) people always assume about me. If I write a book review on my blog I’m supposed to be a full-time blogger, but if I write the same review on amazon/goodreads, that’s ok and nobody expects to make a living out of that. It’s bonkers.
Exactly! My point exactly about the money thing!
This is such a brilliant read Jenny! And you are so right! Blogging always does seem to be aimed at full time bloggers and bloggers wanting to make money but there are so many other people out there who like just reading blogs and running one as a journal or fun! and these blogs are so relaxed and interesting to read its amazing!
I wish I knew what category I fell into at the moment, I literally have yet to work this out myself! but as you know I am aiming more and more as a full time blogger!
–
Love,
Alexa x
Thanks lovely! It definitely takes some time to figure out!
Love this post Jenny! I’m a hobby blogger for sure, although I wouldn’t say no to making an income from my blog at some point in the future. I am very much looking forward to your series! I work full time so I have to fit my blog in between working Monday – Friday for 8 hours a day. So time management is really important for me, and sometimes really difficult. I still love focusing on SEO as well, and I’m always looking at growing my blog as much as I can! xx
Thanks Chloe! I think you could definitely make an income from your blog but obviously working full time as well that’s a huge task so I think you’re amazing for just running such an amazing blog!
I’m really looking forward to reading these posts Jenny. I do think a lot of the ‘blogging help’ posts I’ve seen recently have focussed on making money. I’m definitely a hobby blogger and do it for fun. But at the same time I do want to grow my audience and improve my blog, so any advice I can get on that will be gratefully received!! If an opportunity did come up to make some money from it, then great! But for me that’s not the most important thing right now. I’m sure there’ll be many people like me who are excited about this series of posts x
I think that’s great that you’re in that place where you know what you want from your blog! I hope these posts help! 🙂 xxx
I think this is a great aspect of blogging to focus on. Originally, I started my blog thinking I would eventually want to monetize it, and while that’s still a possibility, I also really just enjoy blogging and the blogging community. Focusing both on money and having fun seems like the best way to go!
Thank you! 🙂 x
I definitely still blog for fun and wouldn’t consider my blog a business. The best bit about that is that there is no pressure which I love.
That’s definitely a huge positive!
I started blogging just for me and started my current site when the first post in a series got 700 views in less than 24 hours. I wish i had known what I was throwing myself into at the time
That’s amazing, well done!
I definitely fall into the hobby blogger category! But I do spend more time with the writing, pictures and editing bits here and there 😊 however, I personally do not want to go full time. I studied Psychology as a degree and masters and that is what I am truly passionate about, and I love being creative. So I think blogging for me will always be a hobby 😊 this sounds great and I’m looking forward to this series! Xx
That’s amazing that you have those 2 areas of your life you’re passionate about! I bet psychology was absolutely fascinating!
Blogging JUST for fun? What even is that? HAHA. I’ve been blogging full-time from the start because it was something I decided to do when diagnosed with a chronic illness that wouldn’t allow me to work “normally” ever again. So I definitely didn’t do it the way I would recommend to anyone else, but it’s only just begun to be fun for me, truly. I finally found my groove and now I love it AND it provides an income, so I’m grateful. But this was so interesting to read!!
That’s great to hear you’ve found a stride and are happy with it now!
I’ll be honest, I blog for fun and also to help people, but I’d be super happy to make a little side income from it too. Hasn’t happened yet though 😅
If you need any advice you know where to find me!
My biggest problem is traffic so if you have any advice to get more traffic I’ll take it! I think my blog is still too new for search engines to bother with it. I’ve made every social media account and I’m actively trying to engage. I’ve tried to make SEO as good as possible. But it doesn’t seem to be picking up any.
I am so looking forward to this series! So much blogging advice is targeted for people who are in it for the money while still trying to stay passionate about what they are doing. Once money becomes a focus, it is so hard to still do what you love. It takes its toll.
I love that you are going to be writing about blogging for fun and sharing your advice! I think it is entirely possible to blog for fun and still make a little money/do some sponsorships without that being a main focus. 🙂
True. It’s so important to find that balance and I feel like I finally have!
I used to only blog for fun but not it’s definitely more of a job x
I am SO excited for this series! I love this post: fully supportive of those who do it full time but it does mean some of the advice posts don’t always mean as much. I’m really looking forward to seeing what you cover!!
Thank you! Hope these posts are helpful!
This is all so true! There are so many posts nowadays about ‘making money’ and ‘blogging full time’ which like a lot of other people, I have clicked on thinking it’s going to give me the magic advice to start making money haha. I blog as a hobby and have done for the past 2 years, I’ve also never made a penny, yet I’ve spent money on my blog, and I’m ok with that. I’ve never desperately wanted to make money, I just spent the money for my satisfaction of making my blog look nice, if that makes sense! Great post!
Jared x
Makes total sense! And I agree with you – if it’s your passion project then why not spend some money on it? 🙂
I can’t wait to read more about this! I’m still at blogging as a hobby and would be good to know how to make the most of this!xx
Thank you 🙂 Hope these posts help in the New Year!
This was a super interesting read, thank you for sharing! I think I’m somewhere in the middle with this. I don’t see myself as a fulltime blogger within one or two years, but maybe some day I will. However, the focus on things I read are mainly about making money etc. I never thought about the strangeness of that though!
Yep that seems to be all anyone talks about!
Thanks for sharing this – specially about investing time, money, and a bit in the technical skills.
You’re welcome 🙂
Loved this post! I think blogging should always be considered fun. for me, it’s a creative outlet. I think some people have developed the need to write for their audience more so than themselves. And i think that’s ok to a point, but i think we should always aim to write for ourselves.
~ Brittany
Oh for sure! It’s my job but I absolutely LOVE it and love doing it every day. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t.
Fantastic post! Tell me about it, my blog has gone from my hobby to my main income source! So I’ve started a second blog which I’m hoping to keep as a hobby blog.
I’ve pretty much done the same thing actually!
Hi Jenny. Yes, yes, yes. I started my blog just for fun and, at one stage, I began to wonder if I was the only one that wasn’t looking to make a full-time income from it! I’m so glad that you will be writing some posts geared more towards us fun types 🙂 I wish you the best of luck with it.
Haha definitely not the only one!
Yes, yes, yes! Blogging for fun because it’s, well, fun! That’s how I started out (and massively underestimated the time involved and the costs, as well as how addictive it quickly became). Fortunately, my blog isn’t my main source of income, but I’d be lying if I said the income doesn’t help. But as long as I enjoy writing, if I get paid at the same time that’s a bonus. It’s just not the primary driving factor behind my blog, luckily. Sorry, this has turned into a ramble, but I am SO excited for your new series in the New Year, yay! xxx
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
Thanks Lisa! It is fun and it always should be, regardless of what you get out of it! xxx
This is such a great post! I started my blog for fun and still do it for fun, whatever comes along with it is just a bonus. I couldn’t blog with the intention to get somewhere, as I feel like it would become more of a task rather than be enjoyable xx
Hannah | https://luxuryblush.co.uk/
I think that’s a pretty popular opinion! xxx
Such a great post and i’m so excited for this series. I’m currently blogging for a hobby, I’d like to turn it into a business one day, but at the moment I enjoy just doing it for fun. One thing I really need to look into is SEO, on my list of things to do x
Steph | http://www.stephhannam.com
Ah SEO, that ol chestnut! I have some recommendations if you need them!
I couldn’t agree more with this! I love blogging for fun, I’ve never really blogged to make money but I do like to learn about SEO and I do sometimes use affil links. I mostly do it because I love writing and yes I still spend money. Just the other week I bought some photography props, but I can’t help myself because I just find blogging so fun, it’s something i’ve done since I’ve been 13, and I can’t see myself stopping now!
That’s amazing and I’m so glad you enjoy it so much!
Loved this post! I used to be a hobby blogger within my field which is Nutrition! Now that I am registered and can take clients in the future, I hope to become a full time blogger and nutritionist! So, your advice really spoke out to me on how to manage time and work on building my blog!
That’s amazing, well done!
Thank you 💕
I’m so excited to read the new series, it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. I’ve been swamped with posts about how to make money and everything else but that’s not what I need. Thank you!
I hope these help! 🙂 xxx
Great post! I needed this kinda of series when I was a hobby blogger—but likely because I still am a hobby blogger moving towards something more, I can still use this!
You absolutely can!
When I started blogging four years ago, my blog was a hobby, but I think of it as side hustle, even a second job that rarely pays! This is a great post Jenny! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Thank you 🙂 x
I have been blogging for fun and as a hobby for years xx
I am one of those people that blogs as a hobby but still wants to grow my following and increase engagement. I think it’s great that you mentioned how everyone has different reasons for blogging, some have it as a source of income whereas others just blog for fun! I do agree that blogging can be a hobby but it still takes up a lot of your time, I have definitely experienced that!
Oh for sure! But… other hobbies take up a lot of time too! It’s no different 🙂
I can’t wait for your new series! Whilst I have earnt money from my blog in the past, this year I realised a lot of the fun of blogging had gone as I’d just become so focused on just making money through it and had stopped posting about things I really genuinely love, like I used to. I’ve made a few changes over the last few months and much prefer my blog now. I think it’s very easy to get sucked into the idea of making money from blogging when there’s nothing wrong with just keeping it as a hobby! xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
I love that you realised that this year, my love! You seem so much happier and more yourself with your blog as it is NOW with your business as well 🙂 xxx
I just blog for fun, but mainly as a distraction from my illness. I think, like you, most people assume you want it to be a full time job! X
I think it’s a great creative outlet though!
Brilliant post, I loved it so much! I’ve always blogged as a hobby and it’s only been recently that I’ve looked into monetising it with some collaborations. I love that because it still is predominately a hobby, I can just enjoy it without the worry of an income – and if I do get a paid collaboration, it’s a bonus for the fun I’m having xx
http://www.dellalovesnutella.co.uk/
Oh absolutely. That’s a great place to be with it!
This completely resonated with me. I blog for fun. So far I haven’t felt the need to plan posts or think about what next? It started with book reviews and now its anything and everything under the sun. I love the freedom of expression and the fact that I’m putting all my thoughts in a safe space. I don’t plan to make money out of my blog.. I only see it as a way to improve my writing and thought process.
That’s amazing that you’re happy in your blog! I started with book reviews too 🙂
Yes please Jenny, definitely looking forward to it 👍
I’m so glad!
I’m blogging full time at the mo, I don’t make much money from my blog as I turn down a lot of opportunities as I want my blog to be about things I’ve purchased, so I can give honest feedback. However I do receive quite a few gifted items but don’t always include in my blog. x
Zoey | http://www.zoeyolivia.com
It’s great that you’re selective about who you work with!
So excited for this new series! I would definitely class myself as a hobby blogger and though it would be fab to earn a bit of money on the side from my blog it’s not my priority. I agree with everything you said in this post, thank you for sharing!
Tash // A Girl with a View
That’s great to hear and thank you!! xxx
Your new series sounds really interesting! I want to love my blog more, it’s a full time job and sometimes it really feels like that. This year has shown me that I need my blog to be me so I should enjoy it more!
Rosie
https://www.loverosiee.co.uk
You absolutely should. I’ve changed my whole philosophy this year and it’s been AMAZING xxx
I blog for me, people read it which I’m always shocked by, but ultimately it’s my outlet away from life and things x
That’s great to have 🙂
This was such a great read. When I told people I created a blog, questions I got were mainly focused on how I was going to monetize it etc. But I honestly want to stick with the initial reason I created the blog which is to share and voice my passions/insights and connect with new individuals 🙂 So I am really excited to read your future posts!
It’s definitely a bit annoying when money is the first thing everyone’s minds go to!
I think I pretty much fall in to this category still, and I am almost feeling like I want to fall MORE in to that category if I am honest. I need to spend more time on me next year then on my blog I think.
I am really looking forward to reading your new series, I think a new perspective on blogging advice will be really useful for a lot of people x
Thanks Claire. It’s great that you’ve realised you need to reevaluate some things. As long as you’re not going anywhere, that’s fine with me! xxx