Online writing is just a hobby, they said. It will never be a real job, they said. Well, that online writing myth can be busted right now.
Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Online writing is “big business.” There is so much competition out there in starting your online writing career now. Yes, it can be extremely difficult to gain traction online. But, it’s not impossible. You CAN still start web writing and have it be more than a hobby.
When Can an Online Writing Hobby Become a Business?
If you’re looking to start writing online as a business, you just have to find the right niche. That’s the most common advice you’ll find. Then again, you can just write whatever you want and not care about turning it into a business. That’s how I wrote for years.
Yes, there are web writers who write online just as a hobby. There’s nothing wrong with starting a blog as a hobby. But, most online writers do want to earn something from their web writing. Even if you don’t want your writing itself to be a job, some sort of monetization is a good idea.
Like any other business, it’s hard to get to the point of actually making your online writing profitable. But, there’s good news. While finding a niche is important, you don’t have to do something that’s completely different from what’s out there. You actually can write about what you want, even if it’s a competitive field. You just see what’s out there, and find a way to do it better. Doing that can be hard, but it’s very rewarding when you find success with it.
Writing online as a business is the same thing as starting any other small business. It’s just like an author has to treat his or her craft as a business. It’s all about differentiating yourself and offering value to your audience. Sure, your hobby blog could turn into a business success unintentionally. But, that’s highly unlikely.
Really, all you need to do to turn a writing hobby into a business is just finding ways to monetize your content. That’s really all there is to it. As long as you have an audience, you can do it. It doesn’t matter what you decide to write about. As long as you’re consistent and offer the best content that you can, there’s decent profit to be made. At the very least, you can make your website pay for itself.
So, Should I Really Make My Online Writing Hobby a Business?
With all the websites you can buy today to take over, it’s pretty obvious that you can make any blog or any other web writing venture into a business if that’s your intention. Starting a business is extremely hard. Web writing is just another business. Still, don’t feel forced to make your web writing or blog into a profitable business if you don’t want to.
But, whether you like it or not, web writing can make a lot of money. So, why not at least look into some sort of monetization if you can? There’s affiliate programs such as Amazon Associates, Google AdSense, ShareASale, and many others that can help you at least grind pennies and occasionally even dollars if your content becomes extremely popular.
But, the best way to get revenue for your blog is always going to be sponsors. All you need for that is a way to prove your content gets seen and that you have an engaged audience. Just be sure that your sponsors are on board with what you’re doing. Don’t let them dictate what you can and can’t do. Just like with any business, you have to stick to your plan. Make little changes if you have to, but if sponsors or ads don’t fit with your vision, it’s fine to let them go.
Do I Have to Devote My Whole Life to Writing Online to Make It Into a Business?
If you started a blog as just a hobby, you don’t have to devote your whole life to it. But, taking steps for it to bring you passive income is always a good idea whether you see web writing as a hobby or not. There’s little point to leaving money on the table, even if it’s just a few extra dollars each month.
But, yes, if you want to scale it up to a business, you are going to have to make web writing a full-time job. Most of the time, web writing becomes a second job in addition to your existing job that pays the bills. There’s just no getting around that.
Yes, writing online is fine as a hobby. But, it’s better for you financially to look into its potential as a business. Web writing isn’t only a hobby anymore. People can make a real living with their blogs and websites, after all. But, it can still be a hobby if that’s what you want. Just like anything, it’s all about what you put into it.
Still, don’t let anyone tell you that online writing is only a hobby and try to mock you for it. It’s a real job for a lot of people, and it’s a much harder job than what non-bloggers think. Between consistently creating quality content, promotion, keeping up your online presence, and more, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes.
Really, just relax. If you want to write online, even with just a free blog, just do it. Do it on your own terms. Write about whatever you’re passionate about. Share it where you can. But most importantly, build your audience and network by bringing other web writers up. That’s the key to becoming successful, not just in writing online, but in life.
Who knows, you may inspire someone to turn their own online writing hobby into a business. Just remember, there’s real money to be made. Find what you love and do it better, whether writing online is “just” a hobby for you or not.
~ Amelia <3
