I think that the blogosphere contains a lot of internal pressure. Bloggers give each other tips on growth, push each other to connect with readers, and will even meet in person to discuss blogging and how to become better at their craft. If you’ve been around the blogosphere for a while, you will have heard tons of tips including the following:
Stay active on social media!
Comment thoughtfully on other blogs!
Self-host your blog and custom design it!
Take high-quality photographs!
Respond to your readers promptly!
Post regularly!
Write respectfully and avoid controversial topics!
… and on and on.
I love the blog community, but I have heard (both implicitly and explicitly) fellow bloggers grow tired of all our regular blog-related obligations. So how do we decide when enough is enough?
If you’re a blogger, I think the main question to ask yourself is this: is your blog closer to a hobby or a business start-up?
Is this something you’re doing because you prefer to do it rather than play golf, knit, go camping, ski, play music, paint, volunteer, or take photographs? Or is it something you’d like to turn into a living?
Because hobbies and businesses are not the same thing.
People have written “how-to” blog posts with titles such as: “Turn Your Hobby Into A Business,” or “How To Make Money Doing What You Love.” While these tips are well-intentioned if not effective, I think that they’re merging two things that shouldn’t be merged: your approach to a hobby vs. your approach to a business.
What’s a hobby?
I can’t believe I’m actually articulating definitions, but I think we need to talk about this. A hobby is something you do for fun, during leisure time and with disposable income. Hobbies are luxuries that some people can’t afford to have, or at least to invest too much time and money in. But ultimately, we do these things for the sheer joy of them, and theoretically we can choose to neglect them whenever our more important life obligations call on us.
Your hobby should not stress you out; much less burn you out.
What’s a business?
A business, then, is something quite different. A business– whether it grows successfully or not– is something that usually demands an upfront investment without immediate payoff. Especially when we start our own businesses, the first few years can be characterized by serious hustling, perhaps even running at a loss. There are rules to a business– guidelines, etiquette, even laws. And at the beginning, it’s usually rough.
(A man I met at a recent holiday cocktail party recounted that during the first years of his startup, he made approximately 16 cents an hour.)
So, a business has the promise of becoming a livelihood and aims in that direction. But in order to make it that, you can’t treat it as a hobby. You can’t ask yourself, “Am I having fun?” Because you might have fun on certain days, but there certainly will be days when you won’t. And that’s not an excuse to quit.
So what does this have to do with our many blogging obligations? Well, I think that we need to decide for ourselves whether to treat our blogs as hobbies or businesses. This will determine how we feel about these blogging “obligations” and the amount of pressure we put on ourselves.
Blogging as a hobby might mean…
- You like this, but can choose to put many other things before your blog.
- You aren’t looking to monetize. Oh, and by the way: just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you have to do it for money.
- Growth is fun and even desirable, but you’re not looking for a certain investment/growth payoff.
- You write a blog that meets your needs, interests and expectations.
- You treat investing in your blog as you would any other hobby: as a luxury.
- You are not obliged to “please” your readers; they can come and go at no cost to you.
Blogging as a business might mean…
- You love blogging, and are willing to do everything it takes to develop it– even those things you don’t love to do.
- You think strategically about how you invest time and money in your blog.
- You expect to work hard with little return, especially at the beginning.
- You maintain relationships and develop a real professional network.
- You are constantly looking for ways to improve; you follow rules and industry standards.
- You evaluate methods of monetizing and try different options.
- You are obliged to “please” your readers/advertisers; they’re your clients and they pay for your work.
“I’m blogging for fun, but maybe one day I’ll do it for money.”
I’ve heard lots of people say this. My question is, when is “one day”? A year from now? Five years? Are you stressed about when that “one day” will come?
If you do want this, then perhaps you should treat your blog as a business. If running a blog business is not for you, then your blog is a hobby. It’s quite simple, really.
Ultimately, I think our vision for our blogs can change as we do. All I’m saying is that the pressure we put on ourselves should match that vision.
If your blog is strictly a hobby from which you simply hope to find joy, make a few friends, and create fun content, then don’t feel so pressured to do everything bloggers are told to do! Take things at your own pace. Invest what you can afford. Don’t stress when numbers take a nose dive or when comments aren’t coming in.
If your blog is a business, then by all means, hustle– in the way that’s right for you. I can’t advise much further than that, because (as you might have guessed) Simplicity Relished is a hobby.
Before I close, I should note that I have absolutely no problem with blogs that make money. In fact, I have a lot of admiration for blogs that operate as part- or full-time jobs. It’s so fun to learn from bloggers who do this, and I’ve really enjoyed reading blogs that serve as an income for the blogger.
Simplicity Relished is a hobby because it neither promotes another product nor makes money from advertising. This is simply because I don’t think that this space is where I’ve been called to make a career, though I do so deeply enjoy blogging.
Ultimately, I hope that we all can see our own blogs clearly, and thus experience some freedom. There’s freedom in knowing what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, and committing to that. If you’re anything like me, you hate hustling when you don’t really know where you’re going. The unnecessary stress doesn’t help, either!
What are your thoughts? Is your blog more of a business or a hobby? Or TBD? I know there are lots of opinions on this, so I can’t wait to hear from you! Have a great weekend everyone!
I really needed to read this post. I don’t like hustling when I don’t know where I’m going either, and I’ve been doing a lot of that lately! Having clarity is really important, and breaking things down simply like this makes it easier to achieve.
Thank you so much Rachel!! Painting sounds like a wonderful way to create something precious and sell it!
Wonderful post, Daisy! Some really good thoughts. It actually made me think of painting, it’s something I want to make into a business, however I think it’s different from blogging in that you can make it both business and hobby, probably similarly to having two blogs, one for business and one for hobby.
Thanks so much Ashley!! 🙂 I love how you consider your career your passion and you blog with purpose. That’s awesome 🙂
Thank you Megan! It’s so good to be able to miss a few days and have it be no big deal. 🙂 thank you for reading!
That is great Danielle! It’s great to blog as a fun distraction, it’s a great creative outlet 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!
LOVE THIS!!! Mine is a hobby. I work a full-time career that I love and my career is my passion (although many ppl do look at me oddly when they find out I work as a tech writer). I love my blog. It’s a place where I can pour out my heart, talk to people, share and encourage without stressing over finances. I feel like my career is passion and my blog is purpose. The best of all worlds and I’m happy.
Amazing post! My blog is definitely a hobby. I really enjoy it and it’s fun, but I don’t take sponsors or write sponsored content. I like being able to write about what strikes my fancy as I have time, and though of course I personally push myself to post a few times a week, no one is going to be let down if I don’t get to it one week. 🙂
My blog is a hobby as well. I started it because I like to write and also like to shop, so I figured I’d give myself an outlet to indulge both things. I do occasionally receive press samples and the very rare payment for a post, but I’ve never considered trying to turn my blog into a business. I don’t think I have enough time to really do that, and I wouldn’t want it to become a chore. Right now my blog is a fun distraction for me, which is exactly what I need it to be!
Aw thank you Anne! Meeting up with you in person would be so, so fun. I love how you love blogging, it totally shines through and makes your blog all the more enjoyable to read (and sponsor)!
Thank you so much Madison! I think it’s the clarity and intentionality that so many bloggers forget, and then blogging becomes overwhelming. Glad you enjoyed this, Madison!
After reading so many of your posts I often find myself wishing I could sit and have coffee with you. I love your viewpoint and how you see things. I’d say I am at the in between point. I blog for a hobby but feel that I owe quite a bit to my sponsors since they are paying me. That end totally makes me lean towards business….since I collect money I better be there to carry out my duties as well as provide fresh content so they get viewed on my sidebar. But I love it!
I love this girl. I definitely think there’s a huge distinction between the two and it should be noted that not every blog HAS to make money, and it’s 100% okay for it to be a hobby alone or for you to want to make money from it. But making that decision and being clear (with yourself at least) about your intentions is so important!
No problem 🙂 Happy to answer questions whenever!
Thanks so much Daisy for sharing such wonderful information. That was so sweet of you:-) Blessings to you always! XOXO, J
Oh, what I mean is that you pay for your blog ad to be on other people’s sidebars. That way, their readers might click over to your blog. It’s a great way to grow! In order to find sponsorships (or advertise), you can go to passionfruitads.com to start shopping for sponsorships where you can advertise your blog. One sponsorship I really enjoyed was Anastasia Amour’s. You can find it here: http://anastasiaamour.com/sponsor/
When you pay for a blogger to read and tweet/share your blog with others, your numbers go up a lot!
If you want to try to decide which bloggers to sponsor, you can check out my post here: https://simplicityrelished.com/questions-ask-sponsor/
Also, as far as finding people to sponsor YOU, you can run your own sponsorship program (I suggest doing that after you’ve sponsored a few blogs!). You can also join an ad network! One I’ve heard is good is Weave Made Media. You can start working with them once you have about 7500 views a month. I hope that helps!
Thanks so much Daisy:-) To be completely honest with you, I am not sure where to start getting sponsorships. Do I have to wait until sponsors reach out to me? I will appreciate very much your advice. XOXO, J
Thanks Carmen! I hope you continue to pursue that writing dream– I think that would be awesome, and blogging is a great way to get some daily practice 🙂 Thanks for reading, friend!
Thank you Heidi! So glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you so much Emily!! Blogging really is hard– there’s so much that goes on behind the scenes that doesn’t immediately meet the eye. Hope you keep enjoying your blog 🙂
Thank you Hayley, it’s so good to hear that you enjoyed this post! I think people do get disillusioned or stressed out when they read blog growth or monetization posts and realize that they’re not doing those things. So good to have insight into how you think of your blog, because I love it!
Thanks Elmira! I hope you do keep blogging! I don’t think everyone has to know exactly where they’re headed all the time– mostly just when it becomes a stressor. That’s when we need to ask why we’re hustling the way we are. Thanks so much for reading, friend!
Thanks for reading, Denise! I’m so glad that you enjoyed this. I have grown tired of reading blog posts about growing and making money (though I’ve totally written and read them in the past) and then hearing people get tired and disenchanted with their blogs. And I agree with you– our blogs can change as we do!
Thank you, I’m really glad you enjoyed this post. I love that our blogs can serve so many different purposes. Best of luck with your project!
Thanks so much Kaley! Best of luck with your transition– you should definitely consider sponsoring other blogs if you haven’t already! 🙂
Thank you friend! You’d be a great full-time blogger 🙂 I love that you want to refrain from too many sponsored posts though– it’s so good to maintain a bit of a balance there. So glad you enjoyed this 🙂
Thank you so much Jeannette 🙂 It’s good to know that you are intentionally growing your blog with those great possibilities in mind! You know, you could try sponsoring a few blogs if you want to really get your name out there!
Oh yes, blogging is a great inexpensive hobby (compared to so many things…). I hope you continue to pursue writing in general! Blogging is definitely a good way to build a portfolio and receive feedback.
Aw thank you so much! That’s a good approach to a hobby– don’t do it when it feels like work, because it shouldn’t 🙂
Thanks friend! Oh yes, there are so many skills that go into blogging that help with other things 🙂
Thanks so much, friend! And yes, growth is a great incentive to do well, and I think that a lot of bloggers will relate growth to money (which is not, in my opinion, necessary). I just checked out your blog, by the way. I love it!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Aw haha thanks Lauren!! you’re exactly right– hobbies should serve our needs and interests rather than the other way around! I sometimes still feel the pressure to keep posting regularly. And it’s true that with some things, it’s good to get started to realize how much fun it really is. But yes, posting regularly shouldn’t be a burden that keeps you from sleeping or spending quality time with those you love 🙂 So glad you enjoyed this post!
Aw thank you so much Gina, I’m so glad you found this post useful!! It’s really exciting to hear that you’re thinking about those things as a career– you are so gifted! 🙂 I wish you all the luck in the world. Just remember that slowing down for the sake of longevity is an investment in itself. So glad you enjoyed this 🙂
Aw thank you Summer! So glad this resonated with you 🙂
Aw, thanks for sharing that Shireen. I think there are definitely times when I’ve been stressed and moody about my blog, and things not working. My computer drove me insane sometimes… and then I realize that it’s no big deal and I should go do something else to put things back in perspective. Still, I think we all invest a lot in our personal blogs so it *is* still a big deal in some ways. I am so glad this post resonated with you, friend!
Very very interesting topic, Daisy. I really like your thoughts on the varying sides of blogging. I do want to make blogging my career — or writing per se. I’d love to be known for my words & thoughts & ideas. I’d like to write a book & a book of poems. So yes, I can say that is my ultimate goal & desire & career goal. :] Loved this! Hope you had a great weekend.
Thank you so much Megan!! And I think it’s a great way to point people to your shop! 🙂
Exactly. I’m tired of people equating growth and monetization with a good blog… it doesn’t have to be if you truly love something but feel compelled to do something else with your life. And all that stuff we have to do to keep up a real “business” blog– I just can’t. There are other things I want to do with my time!
That’s good to hear! I looked into monetizing briefly and realized that it was so much work that I didn’t feel like doing it!
Thank you so much Kiki, I’m so glad you enjoyed this post 🙂 I love your blog and the way you share little tidbits from your life. Being free from the pressure to maintain a certain standard on a blog can be tiring and can even squelch creativity. Thanks for reading, friend!
Thank you Jenna! And yes– I think it’s exactly the difference between a business and a hobby– choosing to do those “necessary” things for your blog when you don’t feel like it!
Thank you Sheryl!! Glad you enjoyed this post. And yes, so many people start blogging for fun, but I think we’re all vulnerable to being sucked into this “culture” of constant growth… which isn’t what everyone needs. I think it’s a great idea to attach your blog to your counseling practice– that’s such a cool thing to do.
So glad you enjoyed this post, friend. I think we can all reflect every once in a while about why we’re blogging! 🙂
Aw thank you Miriam. It’s so easy to loose sight of what our blogs are about when we hope to write posts that are always popular. But the truth is, that’s not always possible! So glad you enjoyed this post. I hope you’re doing well, friend!
Aw so glad to hear, Terrence! Merry Christmas to you, friend! 🙂
This is such great perspective! Thanks for sharing this Daisy, it was truly eye-opening.
Heidi D.
http://www.wishesandreality.com
Great thoughts as usual! I agree that my blog is a hobby & I admire blogs that do operate as a business. I’ve learned that blogging is hard!! I have always told myself the day I don’t enjoy it is the day I stop.
Twenty-Somethings
This is such a great perspective! I think many people do try to blur the lines and then get frustrated because they either aren’t growing how they want to or are not enjoying it any more! I don’t know that I would call my blog a hobby, but it’s definitely something “fun” I do on the side. With that being said, the time/money I invest and the decisions I make are definitely made from the place of thinking of my blog as a business! GREAT post!
Interesting post, Daisy. In my case, I love blogging about my personal fashion style and home decor and enjoy it tremendously but at this point because I am very new to it, I am ok with not knowing if I will be treating it as one of my hobbies or as one of my businesses and I am very very ok with it:) have a good Sunday!
xo
Elmira
http://www.wellputtogetherstylebyelmira.com
This is definitely a change from the norm about blogging. I like the advice given here and how it is different than what I usually hear when i read about blogging advice. There are definitely days for me where it is a hobby and other days I treat it like a business (although lately I have been neglecting it)! Thanks so much for sharing your ideas about this!
Denise
http://www.fashionloveletters.com
Good post with smart advice. I see too many bloggers who are confused about what they’re doing. They expect fame and fortune which will never come. We can enjoy blogging for a variety of reasons and, as you point out, it’s helpful to understand our goals and motivations.
My blog is a combination of art-project (to exercise my creativity in writing and photography) and autobiography (to record my gradual transition to a female identity). I’m utterly unconcerned about it making any money.
Great share! I definitely started my blog as a creative outlet and am now trying to transition more into the business aspect. It has also been a great outlet for meeting wonderful people and fellow bloggers 🙂
xoxo
kaley
http://myclosetlife.com
I often think about this! I think my blog is more of a hobby as it’s a product of my enjoyment of both writing and fashion. However, I guess I would like it to turn more into a business. I’m very cautious though, as I don’t want to be one of those bloggers that churns out sponsored posts after posts and looses all of their personality.
Great post hun!
Rachel xx
http://www.thedailyluxe.net
Hello wonderful Daisy! What a wonderful post! It actually came at the right time and gave me a lot to think about. My blog is a hobby but I am actually treating it as a business. I love and enjoy what I am doing and always remind myself that Rome wasn’t built in one day. I believe that passion is the driving factor when it comes to achieving success in anything we do. If we do what we love and do it with all of our passion, inevitably you will succeed. I am taking mine a day at a time and I am open to all possibilities that life has for me. Thanks for sharing and loved it very much. XOXO, Jeannette
http://www.msjeannieandhercloset.com
I would say that my blog is a much beloved hobby…and I’ve particularly liked it because it’s not as expensive as my sewing hobby, for example. 🙂 If I didn’t enjoy blogging so much, I wouldn’t do it. Writing itself, on the other hand, is the career I dream of, which is why I work on building my portfolio of published articles in a variety of magazines, submit stories, work towards my various book ideas, and hey, even self-publish some when I decide that traditional publishing is too slow!
Great post, defiantly hit the nail on the head. Although for me, blogging is and always will be my hobby. The day I start to think of it as work is the day I finish!
Annabel ♥
Mascara & Maltesers
These are great points to think about. Blogging is a hobby for me, but I have learned skills (such as photoshop) that help me with my husbands business.
ashortblonde.com
Great post. Blogging is and has always been a hobby for me. I do think I spend a lot more time blogging now than I used to. I am seeing my readership grow and that’s what keeps me going and you want to produce better content for your readers. I don’t see it as a business, not yet at least. I don’t know where or when my turning point will be. For now, it’s all about having fun!
http://www.theavantguardian.com
This is really on point, Daisy (and bonus points for breaking down the definitions so eloquently!). Blogging is definitely a hobby for me, and like most of my hobbies, I just don’t have the time to give to them during the semester. Unfortunately, the pressures you talked about definitely do exist… and I often feel bad for not posting frequently. This is a good reminder not to feel bad about it. Especially if it’s truly a hobby. Hobbies are for the hobbiest, and not vice versa.
Wow, I first off have to thank you millions for this post. This came at the perfect time for me as I’m going through some blog changes and trying to figure out what my hobbies are, what I want my career to be after I graduate and things like that. In the past I thought of blogging as a hobby, but it slowly became something more, as it became associated with my major in college and I realized that I enjoy offering blog design for others. But I totally understand the pressure involved with treating a blog like a business, and I think we have to realize we need to take breaks and that not everyone is going to like what we create. I’m struggling a little bit with this right now. Ultimately hoping to find that freedom in knowing where my blog (and my upcoming TBD business) is going! Thanks Daisy so much for your insight!!
Thank you for sharing, Daisy! I love, love this post and agree that hobbies and businesses are not the same thing. I love how you took the time to distinguish how they’re not and explain them both in detail. I enjoyed reading this!
I take my blog a little too seriously sometimes, yesterday was a good example. Actually got into an argument with hubby because I was freaking out about today’s post, there was no sun and the post I wanted to do was going down the drain. He looked at me and said just relax, it’s nothing major and I instantly got mad thinking ‘why doesn’t he understand this is important to me?!’. Thinking back now and especially after reading this post, he was right after all. I’m not blogging for money, it’s my hobby, something that I enjoy and passionate about so I shouldn’t be stressed out about it. This is one of my top favourite posts form you, Daisy and thank you for reminding me why I do what I do. xx
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
Wow this is good! That really cleared it up for me. I definitely think my blog is a hobby. But I think I am using it as a way to make connections to grow my small business!
So agree with this: just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you have to do it for money. I’ve felt lately that I needed to do certain thing to consistently grow, since I offer sponsorships and such, but blogging is ultimately my hobby. If that means phasing out advertisements, then that’s just how it is! I kind of love the idea of my blog being my business, but I don’t like what I’d have to do to make that a possible reality, and I’m fine with that.
Mine is a hobby. I used to be able to make money off it when it was more of a business, but now I have turned it into a hobby. I find it way more fulfilling now and far less stressful!
My blog is definitely my hobby. I love doing it and connecting with so many wonderful people I may never meet is a blessing in itself. I’ve only been blogging a little over a year and where there is a lot of room to grow, I can almost bet my blog will never become a business. I think my blog has been a way for me to connect and network. I’ve always had a passion for writing, so maybe, in the future, my blog will become something completely different. For now, I just want to focus on motherhood, food, and my lifestyle. I don’t want that pressure of being perfect to represent a brand. This was a great post Daisy. Had me thinking hard this early morning. Have a great weekend!
This is such a great perspective! My blog started out as a hobby, but it has transitioned into a business. While it’s still something I love doing, I also have had to learn to treat it like a business. There are some days I don’t feel like writing or promoting my posts, but I do it anyway.
Daisy, you are so correct in this post. I believe that many start blogging as a hobby and then become fascinated with the possibility of making money but yet they can’t (or aren’t able to) hustle and move it to the next step of a business. My space is my hobby but I do desire to attach it to my counseling practice (which is somewhat different than the traditional business). Thanks for such a wonderful post.
What an insightful post! You’ve really given me a lot to think about. There’s so much to consider in the blogging world that hasn’t crossed my mind yet, so I really, really appreciate this.
lovejoanna.com
Oh boy have I missed your posts!! This is such an insightful post. My blog is definitely a hobbie, however I have found myself not posting something because it has proven not to be popular, which is against what my blog is about- it’s personal and a hobby, if people don’t like that particular post that’s okay! Thanks for bringing me back to focus!
Hey girl! This is really good! Both of my parents own their own businesses and this assessment sounds spot on! Merry Christmas 🙂