The most uncomfortable situation for me is that which might be easy for anyone else with a different occupation: being asked what I do for a living.
Family get-togethers, social gatherings, or church services are often those places where I get asked that question.
“What do you do John?”
Answering The Question
I used to respond like this:
“Uh, I work part time at a day job.”
But then I would get asked why only part time. So later, I changed it to this:
“Uh, I work part time at a day job and part time as a internet project manager (or website manager).”
You might ask why I responded this way. Why didn’t I just tell the whole truth that I was a financial blogger? Well, you see, too many people don’t think you can make money at that. They would have looked puzzled and even if I explained how it worked with affiliate programs, SEO, and all that jazz, they would be more puzzled still.
Then a thought occurred to me: so what if they’re confused? Does that really matter? Does it matter what they think? Shouldn’t I just be an oddball and shine in the way God wants me to shine?
So today, I’m officially changing my answer to the question:
“I blog. That’s what I do!”
I’m going to wear the label proud, and I think you should too if you blog. Let’s change the perception too many people have out there. Let’s educate the people who want to know how it works, and leave alone those who don’t care to learn about it.
How To Become A Blogger
I’m probably not the best qualified to explain the ins and outs of blogging, but I do have a couple suggestions if you’re interested in starting. For a more thorough exploration into the world of blogging, read Peter’s eBook, Blueprint For How To Make Money With A Blog.
I’ve been blogging for about two years now, and I’m just starting to get off the ground. It wasn’t easy. It took time. So, if you’re going to start a blog, make sure you have extraordinary amounts of patience. Think forever.
Get to know people in the business. Talk with some of the blogging greats. Learn who is who and get your foot in the door. It’s all about networking and getting traffic to your site.
Learn how to code websites. You can find tons of tutorials online by doing simple Google searches.
The Curse (Figure Of Speech) Of Financial Bloggers
You better get ready to scrutinize your finances like none other. Believe me, when you write financial stuff every day, you get to thinking about your own financial stuff:
“Do I have the right health insurance?”
“Should I really refinance the house in my situation?
“How can I make more money? Wait, should I really be this greedy?”
Sometimes, it can drive you mad. But if you surround yourself with the right people, you’ll stay grounded and won’t lose your mind (thanks to the help of my wife, I can still make decisions without obsessing over all the financial options).
As a financial blogger, you’ll soon find out there is more to know than what Dave Ramsey can teach you. But he is an excellent place to start, and I trust his perspective on money above all else. What I mean to say is that you’ll question the smallest of financial details that Dave might not have covered in his numerous books or Financial Peace University class.
And that’s okay. Just make sure to stay grounded. Know that you’re serving the Lord and follow your own financial advice that you’re publishing for the masses.
What do you say? What are your thoughts on financial bloggers? Meet me in the comments!
Source: biblemoneymatters.com