Personal Blogging vs Professional Blogging

I started my blogging journey back in 2007 on a platform called homeschoolblogger—which no longer exists. Back then, it was a personal space to share my family adventures and gardening. But somewhere along the way, I realized blogging could be a real business.

I started my new site, The Free Range Life, and set out to create a real business that brought in a real income for our family. As of Feb 2018, my homesteading blog brings in over $8000 per month.

Professional Blogging is all About Your Reader

This is a big mindset shift. When you are blogging personally, you write for you—what YOU did or what YOUR family is up to. But if you want to blog professionally, you need to be writing for your reader.

Keep the phrase "What's in it for them?" in the forefront of your mind. Even if you are writing about a personal experience, your reader should come out of it having learned something they can apply to their own life.

Evergreen Content is King

Evergreen content stands the test of time. Three years after you write the post, people can still search it out and learn something. This tends to be things like lists, how-tos, and educational articles.

You Should Own Everything About Your Site

I moved from Blogger because I don't own Blogger—Google does. I wanted complete control over my content, customization, and monetization. For a professional business, you need to be self-hosted. I use WordPress (.org, not .com) for full control.

It's a Business

Blogging professionally means setting office hours, putting out quality content on a regular basis, tracking expenses, and paying taxes as a self-employed individual. It is not just a hobby; it is a livelihood.

Blogging is Hard Work

When you're a professional, stats matter. You'll track pageviews, subscribers, and engagement. It can be discouraging during slow growth, but professional bloggers stay the course, constantly learning how to improve their craft.

Does your blog have what it takes to be considered a professional blog?