I realized something very important in the last few months. After I launched the Strange & Charmed Shop, things began to rapidly change for me. I was no longer focused on the same things that had once held my attention. My income streams had been turned upside down in a matter of weeks after the shop was up and running, and the fate of my blog held in the balance. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am NOT about to tell you that I am closing the blog OR that I am going to stop blogging, that just isn’t going to happen! However, a shift in my perception left me thinking about how I use my blog, the things I share through it and the legacy that I want to create with it. Once it was clear to me that the shop was driving a large portion of my income, I lost a lot of anxiety around my blog and stopped actively seeking out sponsorships and ways to monetize the site. Once I became someone who was creating products, rather than merely someone who shared other people’s products, I realized that I was no longer a blogger. Instead, I am a business owner who blogs.
What is the difference between a blogger and a business owner who blogs?
To a member of my online community, the difference is subtle and perhaps barely even recognizable. When I was a blogger, I was intending to generate income from my writing and seeking the support of sponsors and advertisers in order to produce revenue. Because of this I was spending a good deal of time vetting emails from companies and brands that wanted to place products on my site as a form of advertising, or seeking out and building relationships with brands that I thought my community would want to see me working with. I was much more focused on creating content where I was showing my audience products, things to buy, and hoping to attract sponsors as well as new readers based on the products I was sharing.
Once I opened the shop and that began generating a regular income, it became clear that it was more effective for me to spend my time creating products and services that helped my customers, than simply curating items from other companies. Even though I had always held myself to a high standard when it came to what I shared, once I had the power to actually help solve issues that members of my own community were having through my products, a whole new world of possibility opened up to me. I am not sure if you have noticed, but lately, I have been much more focused on sharing tips, information and even glimpses into my life, more than I ever have before. Content creation back when I was a blogger was always focused on creating valuable content, but it was also compulsory that I found a way to integrate outside brands and companies so that I could monetize and sustain my work on the blog. It was so empowering for me once I made the shift from blogger to business owner who blogs, because I now had my priorities in order and my blog (and YouTube channel) had a new purpose.
I hope that over the last few weeks and months you have been enjoying these subtle changes in my content. For the most part, I doubt you can really feel the shift as a reader, but inside my own mind and at Charmed HQ things seem worlds away from how I used to approach content. It’s so much more relaxed for me to simply share knowledge with you all, give you my best tips and tricks and not have to worry about paying the blogging bills because I have a stream of income that is supporting not only my blog, but also myself and my family! Of course, I only have you, my readers and community, to thank for the success of my shop because you have really made so much more possible for me through your support!
I absolutely loved being a blogger, and for those of you who have never taken on the task you may not truly appreciate the time, effort and mental anguish that can sometimes come with being a full time blogger. If you have a favorite blogger out there on the internet that is constantly producing great content and working with brands and sponsors regularly, I highly suggest going over to their site and giving them a virtual hug and let them know how much you appreciate all they do to keep their content rolling in day after day and week after week. Bloggers sometimes get a tough rap and take a lot of slack for all the hard work they do to publish their content, so spread the love today and make your gratitude known. Thank you all so much for being here with me, and for giving me the opportunity to make this subtle career shift. I appreciate you all more than you will ever know!
xoxo,
Great post and great blog, thank you for sharing and always being on point:-)
Thank you so much!
once again, so inspirational. I want to be just like you when I grow up………ok, IF I grow up. 🙂
You are too sweet!
I really liked this post, and it’s made me understand the shift in stance of what you’re doing now. I like the change and it’s proved really helpful to me as I’ve been reading your blog and watching your videos. I know you’re not a blogger, but take this virtual hug from me anyway ((((alexis)))) I appreciate your efforts!
Aww! Thanks so much Cheryl! I’m sending you some virtual hugs as well!
Love your website, and your stories. Very insightful and very interesting. Wish I had you when I was young, these woman today are so lucky to have forums like these to learn so much from one another. You give so much, in every way. It comes across in every single way. Thanks again.
Thank you so much Lorraine!
That is a wonderful perspective to have and to share. So glad it’s working out for you! I’ve noticed the subtle change in content but I love where you’re going with it.
Thank you Mackenzie!
Great post! I love that you said you’re a business person who blogs, because I think people get categorized as a blogger— and it’s usually a negative. I’ve been blogging about various things since 2010, and have found myself getting almost a snotty attitude about it from those around me.
Somehow, in my personal experience, blogging is looked at as me being childish and not working towards a “real job,” etc. The last couple of years, I’ve found myself more and more not wanting to tell anyone that I spend my free time blogging, because I’ve become almost embarrassed by it.
Last year, thanks to one of my blogs, I was invited to cover a movie premiere in Hollywood. It was something I never dreamed would happen, and was an amazing experience. However, a couple professional photographers and media reporters treated us bloggers with a lot of disrespect. They hated that we were there since they were the ones who somehow “earned” a spot, yet we hadn’t just because we weren’t getting paid.
I left there thinking I wanted something else for my life. I soon closed down that blog, and another one, and found myself thinking “What next?” Late last year, I told myself to start over even though I had no real direction.
I wanted to thank you for inspirational posts like this, and your videos, for saying I can still blog— but I don’t have to be defined by it. My blog can be a by-product of whatever I do with my life. If I decide to open a business, or write a novel, whatever it is my blog will be something to add to it, instead of taking away from it.
Sorry I rambled on!
Thanks for your insight lady! I tend to try to ignore what other people say. They don’t get to live my life, so their opinions don’t matter lol!
Not gonna lie! this scared me for a bit! then when I started reading I realized your perspective on things. Nice post! 😉 Just bought your workbook (Although i already have a logo and site set up) Has great info and also I’m looking forward for blueprint #2 because I’m done with the first parts and now need to focus on actually getting it moving. (Traffic etc)
Enjoy! The new workbook is now out on Communication, so if you are trying to build a blog and social media feeds, definitely check it out!
Dearest Alexis,
I recently discovered your blog and all of your awesome planner tips. As a teacher, I thrive off of planning and simple diy’s for the classroom. Your blog has been a really great help for my personal planning. Continue the great work and blogging.
Your charmed follower 🙂
Thank you so much Cin!
I’ve been feeling this shift lately too, not as much as you I think, but the blogging arena is changing so swiftly, lately!
It has!! We should discuss this!
I understand your position and I will soon be in the same boat. Not to my plannerbug site, which is still my personal space. I formed a company at the beginning of the year and will be in charge of the social media aspects of my new company after we launch our product to the public. This includes running a blog but writing technical or business related articles will be rather different than personal blogging.
Excellent! Good luck to you with your new business!
I noticed the shift in the titles of your YT videos and became curious with the change. I am so glad to hear that your shop is providing you with an income. Generating adequate income online is something a lot of people struggle with and it takes focus and perseverance to reach that point. I have been following you silently for a while and I really enjoy your content and personality. You provide a great mixture of practicality and pretty. I am learning to navigate the social media landscape with my IG account @planner_joy which I started as a springboard to transition my husband’s brick and mortar woodworking business into the digital landscape. Prior to starting my IG account I knew nothing about leveraging and promoting content. I have worked hard to learn the ins and outs of Instagram and growing my followers. I am still figuring out best strategy for my husbands business but at least I’m starting with a decent knowledge base. Thanks for educating us Alexis!
You are so welcome! If you are still looking for information on social media strategy, definitely check out my new Communication workbook! It talks about the various social media sites, how to use them and how to grow your following!
I really enjoyed this post – it’s interesting to hear about your business changing and growing and to see this reflected in your content.
Being a blogger who works with brands and sponsors, I find it really hard to just keep up with the email traffic that comes with monetising a blog. I think in the UK we are a bit behind the US in terms of brands noticing that bloggers can be influencers, but we are getting there!
It’s definitely got me thinking about whether I am a blogger or a business owner who blogs too! Can I be both?!!
Being a business owner who blogs is sorta both! At least thats what I think, but for sure I know how much work it is just to deal with brands and sponsors. I’m so glad I have written those off my list haha!
such a lovely post…for me my blog is a hobby but it still takes a lot of work so I can only imagine how much effort it takes to be able do it for a living.
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