Welcome back to Day #2 of the
Love Grows Wild Blog Anniversary Celebration!
As promised, today I’m sharing all the answers to your questions from last week’s You Ask & I’ll Tell post! You guys asked some GOOD questions and really made me think about this past year when I began my blogging journey. I’m answering all your questions and have lots of great advice, embarrassing stories, and fun photos to share! So sit back, relax, and read all about my first year blogging!
{Pssst! There’s an awesome giveaway from noVae Clothing at the end of my answers, so make sure to check out the whole post!}
When I met my sweet husband 5 years ago and we started our family, I realized that I found such joy in being a homemaker. I loved designing our home and finding ways to decorate on a budget. I discovered a deep passion for food and cooking homemade, healthy (ok… sometimes healthy) meals for my family. I loved being creative and was so proud of the things I was able to accomplish! My husband was very sweet and patient every time I showed him the soup cans I wrapped in fabric or the coasters I made out of tile, but sometimes I wished I could do more with my creativity… something beyond texting my Mother photos of my latest DIY project. (Love you Mom!)
I went through different phases trying to find the right path, but none of them suited what I really wanted to do. After planning my wedding I thought about starting a stationary business, and then when the big cake pop craze happened I thought about selling cake pops… What was I thinking??
One day while browsing Pinterest, I started to take a closer look at the websites I found… These blogs that I loved reading and being inspired by. Who were these bloggers? How did they start these gorgeous blogs? I started reading everything I could find about blogging and decided that once we moved into our new house in Indiana in a few months, I would give it a try myself.
Once I made the decision to start a blog, I couldn’t get it off my mind… What would I call it? What would my blog look like? What would it be about? I glued myself to my laptop for about 72 hours straight and with the help of some Blogger tutorials, started Love Grows Wild.
When I started my blog, I thought it would be a fun way to share the crafts and recipes I made. I knew that was the base of what I wanted my blog to be, but it took a few months (or half a year, really) to pin down exactly what I wanted my blog to represent. Once I started learning more about the blog world and all the incredible opportunities available, I started to realize this “hobby” of mine could be much more than that. One of the things that sticks out in my mind is a speech from Brooke Walker at the 2013 Build Your Blog Conference: “Bloggers are influencers.” We aren’t just stay at home moms who post cute stuff on a blog… We have the power to influence thousands of people on our blogging platform, and we should portray ourselves that way.
I would be lying if I told you I didn’t think about making money when I started my blog. Of course I didn’t think I was going to immediately strike it rich with Love Grows Wild, but I did want to see where I could take my blog as a business. I did a lot of research and saw other bloggers that were able to make some income from their blogs, so I made it a goal of mine to do the same. Who wouldn’t want to be the creator of a huge awesome blog that makes some good money? I knew that turning my blog into a business would be a lot of hard work and wouldn’t happen overnight. It has taken a lot of hours… let me repeat, A LOT OF HOURS, to make my blog look the way I wanted and create content that is worth generating money. I still have a long way to go but I am finally starting to see some money coming in, and it is so gratifying to see that all my hard work is paying off.
That being said, I think it is important to also say that if money is your main reason for starting a blog, you may be left disappointed. You probably will never be paid for all the late nights editing photos, early mornings meeting deadlines, and all the time spent away from your family. But if you have a sincere passion for what you do, the satisfaction of doing something you love will be more than pay enough. The money and perks are just an added bonus : )
When I first started blogging, I only posted when I had something to write about. If I made a project, I’d photograph it and post it. If I made a good recipe, I’d share in on the blog. I probably only posted twice a week, sometimes only once. As I got the feel for blogging, I decided I needed to have a set schedule. It is hard to gain followers if they never know when or how often you’ll have something new to share. I decided to post three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My schedule has adjusted a bit since then, but having set times to post has helped me plan ahead and set deadlines for myself. Organization and preparation are a HUGE part of keeping my blog fresh with new content!
The biggest challenge for me has been finding the balance between blogging and normal life. (You mean I’m supposed to have a life outside of blogland?) I’m the type of person that doesn’t do anything half-heartedly. If I set my mind to something, I’m going to fight for it with everything I have. I let my ambitions consume me at times. It’s a good thing to be driven, motivated, and passionate, but eventually you will burn out it you don’t have balance in your life. It’s something I have to make myself work at everyday : )
I’d be afriad to add up how many hours I actually spend a week blogging. Between planning and scheduling posts, creating recipes and projects, finding the perfect time of day to photograph, editing photos, writing interesting content, and being social media savvy… It’s a lot. I sometimes miss the days when I would get on Pinterest just for fun. I used to feel guilty about the hours I spent blogging and worried my family would think I was just ignoring them to play on the computer. But I decided a few months back that if I’m going to work at growing my blog and making money from it, I need to treat this as a job. And to do that I usually end up putting in 8-10 hours a day.
I wake up at 6:30am during the week and get a bit of blog time in before the kids wake up for school. I usually spend this time answering e-mails, scheduling out my day, and linking up to link parties. Once I get my oldest off to school, I TRY to spend at least one hour doing housework. This usually involves giving one room a good cleaning and starting a load of laundry. Then in the afternoon I get back to working on my blog.
Since I post 3 times a week, I alternate my schedule: one day is a “work” day, and I create a project or recipe and photograph it. The next day is an “editing” day, and I edit my photos and write a blog post. Once my son gets off the bus, I shut my laptop and spend time doing homework with him. It’s important to me that I give him that undivided attention during homework time. The evenings are usually a blur and by the time we finish homework, cook dinner, and do dishes it’s almost time for bed. After bedtime stories and snuggles, it’s back to working on the blog, and I often don’t get to bed until 11:00pm or later.
That’s a good question! It is so hard when you work at home to not feel the guilt of taking time away from your family, but there are a few thing I’ve learned that have really helped find the balance between blogging and family:
1) Quality over Quantity. I may not have all day to snuggle and watch cartoons or help build Lego sets, but when I do spend time with my boys, I make it special. My Grandma Ginny and my Mother always taught me that it doesn’t matter how much money or time you spend, it is the fun and memories you make together that counts… even if it is simply washing dishes together : )
2) Set a date night! My husband is so patient and supportive with my blogging dreams, and all too often I’m staying up late to finish a blog post instead of spending time with him. Lately, we’ve set Friday nights aside as our “date night” and the computer gets shut off once he gets home from work. Most weeks we don’t even leave the house. We just put comfy clothes on and catch up on TV with a glass of wine. No one is going to die if I take a few hours off on Friday nights, and he really enjoys having my undivided attention for a while. Even if we get busy the rest of the week, we both know Friday nights are reserved for each other.
3) Probably the most important thing I’ve learned is that if you don’t take time for yourself to feel happy and fulfilled, you won’t be the best you can be for your family. A happy Mommy = a happy family. So spend time with your family when you can, and don’t feel guilty when you can’t! They would rather see you happy, trust me!
My kids love crafting and cooking with me, and I let them help out every chance I get. This is especially true with my youngest son who is only three and home with me all day. Wyatt is my #1 taste tester and thinks he is top dog when I let him ride in the car cart at the hardware store while Mommy picks up paint and lumber. We spend many hours at Menards, Lowe’s, Hobby Lobby, and Joann Fabric, and that boy could navigate his way through those stores blindfolded!
Other than getting my family involved, I try to stay organized and on a schedule as much as possible. If I have a plan for the week, I’m able to finish my projects without being stressed and still have time to carve out for my kiddos.
If you think it is something you would like to do, go for it! There will never be a perfect time to start your blog, and you will never know all there is to know about blogging before you start. If you have a passion for something and think it would be something others might be interested in, get yourself started! I didn’t have the first clue about how to run a successful blog when I started out, but if you do some research and read tips from other bloggers, you’ll pick up on things and learn what works best for you and your blog.
One thing I would definitely recommend is attending any blogging workshops of conferences you can. They are definitely the best way to get some great information about the ins and outs of blogging, and a fantastic way to network with other bloggers just like you! The blog buddies you make will be your greatest resource for help, advice, and information! Conferences can cost a lot of money if you live far away, so I would highly recommend taking online courses like Online BlogCon or Tip Junkie’s Mom Blog to Money Blog Workshop. You’re able to learn from the comfort of your own home and “meet” some amazing new people! I found some of my best blog friends when I did Online BlogCon this past year!
There are lots of different ways you can make money from your blog, such as applying to ad networks, sponsored posts, affiliate ads, selling handmade items, writing an e-book, and more! So far I’ve had great success using Google Adsense and doing sponsored posts for Collective Bias and Clever Girls Collective. I’m also an affiliate for Pick Your Plum and Silhouette.
For me, I find that the best way to make money is to pick a few options that best fit your blog and work hard to make them successful. If you’re an affiliate for a million different companies or have a hundred ads cluttering up your page, you’ll never see a good return.
The bottom line of making money is page views, page views, page views. And that can only come from great photos and great writing!
I started generating interest from sponsors when I started to really market my blog as a business. I created a media kit and advertised on my blog and social media that I was open for advertising. It takes some time to set up, but once you have your media kit in place, it will be a great tool to help sell your blog and bring sponsors your way. Sometimes I have a lot of interest from sponsors and sometimes I go months without getting any emails. I’m okay with that though, because I would rather find sponsors that truly match what Love Grows Wild is all about. My husband keeps begging me to get hooked up with a guns and ammo company, but I just can’t picture that on my pretty little blog : )
I’ve learned who Liz is. It sounds completely cheesy, but when I got married and became a mother I lost a sense of who I was… the woman outside of diapers, laundry, and dishes. Starting Love Grows Wild allowed me to explore who I was as a writer, creator, photographer, designer, businesswoman, and so much more! I found ME again!
Well I would definitely love to go back and re-photograph some of my early photos… YIKES some of those are terrible! I wish I had better photography skills when I started off! But honestly, if I had a chance to rewind and start everything over, I don’t think I would change a thing. When I look back on those horrible old photos, I realize how far I’ve come this past year, and it makes me excited to see where I’ll be in another year from now!
I feel like everything happens for a reason and has led me to where I am now. If I hadn’t decided to do Online BlogCon last year, I wouldn’t have connected with Jocelyn from Inside BruCrew Life. I realized she only lives about 45 minutes away from me! If I hadn’t met her, I wouldn’t have gotten tickets to fly out to Utah in February for the Build Your Blog Conference and met some of my favorite bloggers like Six Sisters, Alyssa from The Recipe Critic, and Ashton from Something Swanky! All those connections have given me awesome opportunities and friendships that I truly cherish.
(Jocelyn, Alyssa, and I at the Build Your Blog Conference)
So I wouldn’t change anything. Horrible, ugly photos with flash and all.
What didn’t I want to be growing up? I remember wanting to be a singer and veterinarian, but most of all I wanted to be a Mom. I wanted two cute little kiddos to kiss and squeeze and tickle and love, and that’s exactly what I have today. I’d say life worked out pretty well : )
Whew, that was a long post! Thanks so much for playing along with all your awesome questions, and I hope I’ve given you a fun peek behind-the-scenes of Love Grows Wild! I’ve e-mailed the winner of the You Ask & I’ll Tell special gift… so go check if you’re the winner!
But FIRST make sure you enter our second Blog Anniversary Giveaway:
a $25 Gift Certificate to noVae Clothing!
noVae Clothing is an online boutique that sells stylish, modest clothes for women. I got connected with noVae Clothing at the Build Your Blog Conference (see I told you to attend those conferences!), and have fallen in love with their clothes and mission to find cute, modest clothes for women that is both fashionable and affordable! I love these pieces from the noVae website:
Wouldn’t you love to add some new pieces to your wardrobe for Summer? Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter:
For more blog tips and advice, check out this post!
Catch up on the rest Love Grows Wild Blog Anniversary Week!
How to Decorate Wood Letters & a Wood Creations Giveaway
Ask Liz: Your Blogging Questions Answered & a NoVae Clothing Giveaway
The Best Blogging Advice from your Favorite Bloggers!
Easy Chalkboard Art & a Silhouette Portrait Giveaway
Let’s Keep In Touch!
P.S. I’m sharing this post at some awesome link parties… Check them out HERE!
Enjoyed this! I’ve always wanted to do one for my blog, but I was scared that I wouldn’t get any interest or questions 🙂 Your post has encouraged me… might just give it a try in the near future.
i love the la idol capris
Love this post! 🙂
I truly enjoyed this post! So much great information for a newbie blogger, like me! I am having a hard time with the time management part…it is the perfectionist in me. I am not able to post as often as I’d like and tend to stress about it. I am an elementary school teacher and that in itself is extremely time consuming! I want to implement several changes to my blog and had NO IDEA when I started how much I would learn about HTML. I need to realize everyone feels overwhelmed when they start…I’m not alone. Thanks for the inspiration! I’m going to try to take one of the online workshops you mentioned…and accomplish what ever I can each day!
Happy Blogiversay
xoxo
I heart you!!! I am so glad we met and connected through this fun world of blogging 🙂 I think we need to get our next get together on the calendar!!!
Thanks so much for sharing! I can relate to soooo many of the things you said. It is so difficult sometimes to balance blogging and family, as well as balancing all the things that go into blogging (projects, photos, editing, writing, etc.) Glad to know someone else is right there with me!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
Thin Stripe Maxi Skirt is sooo cute, I would probably buy that
Thin Stripe Maxi Skirt is soooo cute, I would probably buy that!
Found your blog via the Lil Luna link party… Reading this, it seems like we have a lot in common- except for the cooking part LOL. I’m also excited to have found another blogger who lives in Indiana! I don’t think there are too many of us. 🙂
I loved reading all about you! It’s fun to hear about other bloggers lives and schedules 🙂
Thanks for the Novae giveaway!
This is a great post with wonderful information! Thank you for sharing your insights. If I won the gift certificate, I would use it towards the vintage floral wrap dress. That is so cute!! Keep up the great work!!
This is a great post, filled with a lot of wonderful information. Thank you for sharing your insights. Keep up the great work! If I won the giveaway, I would get the vintage floral wrap dress. It is so cute!
I’d buy the Striped Asymetric Dress!
I love the insight into your world. I’m a new blogger and love to hear how people got their start. BTW, I love the mint chevron cardiganfrom Novae Clothing!That’s what I would buy (once it’s available) if I won!
I love the polka dot ruffle wrap!!! Thanks for hosting this great giveaway and for answering all the fun questions!!! It was fun to read :o) I’ve got a great cutting edge stencil giveaway going… I think you could use $50 in free stencils :o)
http://www.nap-timecreations.com
I loved reading your post! I followed you link from HOH. I am a new blogger with a very high need 1 year old so I feel like I never get anything done. I’ve felt the guilt that I’m ignoring him but I try to remember that if I want to make this blog work, I have to treat it like a job. But he just doesn’t play well by himself yet:)
Thanks for all the information! You have a new follower!
The Navy Striped Maxi Skirt is too cute! Would be first on my list!
So many cute things! I love the Lace front shirt! I would buy that!
First thanks so much for answering my question and sharing your tips. Second I think I would get the dolman shirt I love the way they look. Thanks!
I found your blog through the “From Dream to Reality” linky party. This was a great blog post! It answered so many questions I have as I have been working on growing my blog for similar reasons to why you started. Count me in as a new follower!
http://caldwellcouple.blogspot.com/
Hi Liz. I’m following your pin that you posted on our Blogging Tips Community Board. This is a really fun and informative and educational post. You offered a lot of great of advice and set my heart and mind at ease for putting in sooo many hours/day on my blog. It looks like you have a really cute family. Same as Hanna {from the above comment} ~ count me in as a new follower. Have a great evening.
Love the scarves!
Thanks so much for the great advice! I’ve only been blogging for 5 months now, so I’m still very new. Your answers have given me a lot to think about, and decide what I want from my blog. Thanks so much for sharing! Have a wonderful weekend!
Great post! Thanks for the giveaway!
Great insights. Thanks for sharing. I’m just starting out and love to hear others’ experiences.
We have basically the same exact schedule Liz!! It’s crazy!! I really enjoyed reading this post! 🙂 xoxo
Thanks for partying with me last week! Can’t wait to party with you again tomorrow evening at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality!
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. I’m just starting out and have awful photos! I take them all with the ipad so I don’t have to grab the camera and computer and cords – I know, you’re cringing right? Too bad the easiest way isn’t always the best way…
Wow, that was interesting! I love hearing someone else’s story. I found you, just today, through A Bowl Full of Lemons. My story, on my blog, is just beginning, but I’m looking forward to seeing where this adventure will lead!
~Linda
http://www.lindalmartin.com
http://www.ernestmartinjr.com
I can’t tell you how much I loved reading that. I’ve been blogging “fulltime” for almost 90 days now. And boy have I learned a lot. Your post just further confirms it for me because like you I feel like the best thing has been finding Me again. I’m going to take your advice and do a course online to help even more.
Thanks again for a great post and your awesome blog.
Therese @ Fresh Idea Studio.com