Earlier this year, I put a call out for topic ideas for a new video series called “Sarah Says.” Well, ahem, six months later, I finally filmed episode #1. The topic du jour? Blogging as a career. This was the first comment I received in regards to subject matter, and a few people seconded the motion.
Honestly, I wasn’t going to touch this topic with a ten-foot-pole because I didn’t want to drone on about things that most of you don’t care about, but I ultimately decided to dig in and do it for the team. I hope this is helpful for the four of you out there that wanted to hear my thoughts on the matter. (Also, by no means will all of the subsequent “Sarah Says” videos be 13 minutes in length. GEEZ. Grab a snack.)
Also, have a topic you would like me to cover? Leave it in the comments!
Esther
November 18, 2013 at 12:38 pmLove this!
Out of respect for the video (and the insanity that goes along with posting them), I enjoyed it until the end. :-)
I’ve only been blogging for a year, and haven’t started doing any monetizing, but I love these ideas for general blog building!
Erica W
November 18, 2013 at 2:05 pmya loved it! I know you said your media kit is private but do you mind sharing a list of what you include? Thanks!
Annie
November 18, 2013 at 3:54 pmGreat advice! I just started blogging and am not sure I want it to become a career, but your advice was excellent! I especially resonated with finding a purpose. Very helpful!
Mari
November 18, 2013 at 6:09 pmYou are so wnderful to share such a helpful video. Thank you for the time and tips!
Mari
November 18, 2013 at 6:14 pmAnd by wnderful I mean wonderful!
Dorothy Lidsky
November 18, 2013 at 7:28 pmHoly smokes! I have been toying with starting something- blogging, vlogging, I don’t know. It all seemed a little complicated to me. But this video was amazingly helpful.
Thanks!
erin cooper
November 18, 2013 at 7:47 pmLOVED this video. Loved the bit about working hard & being nice. It’s really the best advice you can give anyone, and it helps make the internet a better place to work & play.
Mia
November 18, 2013 at 8:20 pmSarah, I’ve been reading your blog since around the beginning; and sooo many others. You can imagine I’ve seen this type of video a time or two, yes? ;) Still, I was curious to see what you had to say on the topic…. I stopped it mid-way and said to my husband, “this is the best ‘how to blog’ video I’ve ever seen.”
Thank you for sharing well thought out, useful, honest advice. You didn’t gloss over the topic and tie it up in a pretty package while managing to not really SAY anything. You did the opposite, and it may have been the most engaging I’ve ever found you. I could have listened to another 13 minutes! I think you may have found your new niche. ;)
jennifer
November 18, 2013 at 10:47 pmHey! Loved the video.
I really love your first tip the most on knowing what you want to do or what you want to accomplish.
Sorry about the gravel pile. That’s a bummer.
Love the lip stick. Just found an awesome Nars one called pop life. It lasts forever and doesn’t kiss off on kids foreheads.
xo from san francisco
Jen
Sarah
November 19, 2013 at 7:03 amI heard so much here about big companies, what they want, how to attract them, how to get great partnerships, how to write content for them, how to network… but not so much about your readers, your audience, and what they want to read. I found your blog many years ago when Wito was very small, and what I loved about you was your honesty, and hearing about your day-to-day life, and the joys and struggles of motherhood. Now, it’s sponsored posts, shilling for companies and just the tiniest snippets of your actual life. I realise you have to make a living (and I know you’re more of a beauty/hair blogger than a mommy blogger anyway), and you’re right – this is the way blogs in general are going. But if you lose your readers, you lose your precious partnerships, right? You can’t blog as a career if no one wants to read what you write.
Please, no more posts about the many uses of honey, or selling off vast numbers of barely-worn jeans.
Write from the heart. That’s how to grow a blog.
J.Mill
November 19, 2013 at 8:35 amThis is so helpful! Don’t downplay the importance of talking about blogging on your blog. Keep in mind, a lot of blog readers are blog writers too. We love hearing what makes people successful!
Kristen
November 19, 2013 at 12:34 pmThis was great, and I think pretty right on. Nicely done, and it’s fun seeing your face!
meagan elizabeth
November 19, 2013 at 5:21 pmOh, this was too good! As someone who likes to blog just for the sake of blogging, I still enjoyed the tips on how to forge relationships. It’s all about community and respect (in life, not just in the crazy internets)
Love your accent by the way!
Angella
November 19, 2013 at 9:01 pmReason #496 why we are friends. Love you. Miss you. xo
jennifer
November 20, 2013 at 8:46 amAs a professional blog reader (HA!) I thought this was very interesting. It was kind of like a behind the scenes, how’d they do that kind of thing for me. I enjoy reading and have never really thought about the business part of blogging. Anyway, thought it was a great video and kept me watching until the end.
For what it’s worth, in regards to what Sarah said earlier about not writing as much about your kids/family, etc. I think it’s good for blog readers to remember that when a mom chooses to write about her life with a baby and toddler, that can start to change a whole lot as the kids get older and don’t want or need to be talked about online. I of course have no idea what your reasons are, nor do I need to, but what I’m poorly attempting to spit out here is, only you know what’s best for you and your family, so keep up the good work doing what you’re doing!
whoorl
November 20, 2013 at 11:35 amExactly, Jennifer. Like I said in the video, you have to evolve and always move in a forward direction. I used to feel more comfortable writing about my children when my readership was smaller, but now that’s not something I want to do anymore. But I don’t want to close up shop either!
And yes, Sarah had a good point about losing a percentage of readers by not writing about what they consider to be the most engaging content. However, that’s a risk I’m willing to take because 1) I prefer not to write about my personal life all the time, and 2) the percentage of readers I’ve gained over the years far outweighs the ones I’ve lost.
I wish I could keep everyone happy, but that’s just not possible. Very thankful for the ones that stick around!
Sarah
November 20, 2013 at 11:50 amI think you do a great job of balancing it all.
Sarah
November 21, 2013 at 7:33 amTotally fair point. I realise it’s a bit rich to sit here demanding all the juicy details of bloggers’ lives ;)
Sarah
November 21, 2013 at 7:34 am(I was the original Sarah, btw. Well, not THE original. You know what I mean. TOO MANY SARAHS.)
Christy
November 20, 2013 at 10:47 am“…don’t be entitled. It’s gross.” Love that!
Shelley
December 2, 2013 at 10:39 amYES!! Loved that part most of all, LAUGHED OUT LOUD actually having just viewed your video after Thanksgiving, and having just had a lengthy discussion with my kids about the season, their holiday wish lists, writing in their gratitude journals received from their lovely grandmas… could not have summed it up better. Awesome. But great video, aside from that, as well! Lots of solid, well thought out tips, that I think would put someone well on the path to making a brand/name for themselves. Well done!
Kimberly
December 9, 2013 at 3:57 pmIndeed. The standout quote of the video.
Great video, Sarah!