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Most bloggers never profit a dime from their writing.
Some just write for exposure or merely as a hobby. Other bloggers would like to make money from their writing but just haven’t figured out how to do it.
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a blog from a hobby into an income generator, make sure to read this one until the end.
Today, I caught up with Stephanie Lee, pro blogger and the founder of Beauty Brite.
Future Sharks: What is Beauty Brite? How did you come up with the name?
Stephanie: First off, thank you so much for having me on Future Sharks!
I started Beauty Brite as a blog for myself. Originally, it was going to be a place for me to try and share homemade beauty recipes. I started with a few homemade beauty masks, toothpaste (that was interesting), and even homemade laundry soap.
Then, I discovered other bloggers doing product reviews and I wrote about a few products I purchased on my own. It just expanded from there.
When I started Beauty Brite, I knew I wanted to write about beauty. These days, we have since expanded to a “Lifestyle & Family” site. So we do write about more than JUST beauty.
I wanted a simple name for my blog. I am a child of the 80s and 90s and I quickly thought of “Rainbow Brite.” That’s where “Beauty Brite” comes from.
Future Sharks: What do you blog about?
Stephanie: I’m lucky enough to have an amazing review team. Our team is made up of women and/or moms all over the United States. Some of us have kids and some of us don’t.
I value our unique backgrounds. I love that each and every one of us is so different. Our kids are all in different age ranges too.
Our blog can cover a variety of topics. We aren’t just one family, we are one of many! As I mentioned earlier, we cover more than just beauty.
There are topics I am unable to write about, while someone else on our team can. I think that is what makes us so special.
Future Sharks: What have you learned from being a blogger?
Stephanie: Remember back in school, when you had to read a book and write a book report? Remember those dreaded research papers or essays? I don’t know about you but I never really looked forward to doing those. I really didn’t like writing.
Since I started blogging, I realize how much I love writing. As a blogger, I can express myself. I have a voice. I have my own platform, so to speak.
I love learning new skills. I also love learning what other bloggers do. I may try to do what they do or try my own version. I am always learning as a blogger. I keep an open mind and always open to trying something different.
Future Sharks: What advice would you give to newbie bloggers?
Stephanie: If you’re on the fence about starting a blog, do it. You’ll soon discover whether or not it’s your passion or not. Write about what inspires you. Don’t feel like you have to follow everyone else. Be true to yourself and your audience.
If you start a blog, switch to a self-hosted blog, such as WordPress. When you are self-hosted, you own all of your own content, as opposed to when you use a free host. Make the investment in yourself. If you’re serious about blogging, make the investment. Diversify your circle of friends. Find your tribe. Find those who you can trust.
Future Sharks: How have you been able to monetize your blog?
Stephanie: The first step to earning money is creating an audience. If you don’t have a sizeable readership earning money is impossible. Once you’ve built an audience the best way to earn money as a blogger is to sign up with affiliate programs. While there’s nothing wrong with promoting products for free, I did it for years. But if you’re already doing that type of thing, you might as well get paid for it, right?
Make sure to check out the WordPress plugins that affiliate links automatically. Those have been extra useful in helping me monetize.
Future Sharks: Which social media platforms have been the most effective in building your blog audience and why?
Stephanie: I seem to have great interaction on Instagram. I feel it’s more personal to connect with like-minded people, whether they are fellow bloggers, moms, women, similar hobbies, etc.
Since everyone spends most of their time on Facebook, your Facebook groups, fan page, and network are a great way to promote your blog. It’s a great way to share posts, inspiring quotes, funny memes, etc.
All social media can work to your advantage. Find people who are like-minded. They don’t always have to write about the same topics you do.
You can find Stephanie on Instagram here.
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