The Cost of Blogging
- On July 11, 2011
- By Kate
- In Blogging, Inspiration
21
I have been wanting to write this post for quite some time now, but I simply have not had the time. It is kind of ironic considering the topic. Life is funny that way. What finally pushed me to sit down and write it was this fantastic post by Ashe that was posted today on Independent Fashion Bloggers (if you aren’t a member yet, what are you waiting for). The topic was the reality of blogging while having a full time job, and goodness is it something I can directly relate to. Furthermore, it directly ties into my thoughts about the overall cost of blogging.
(via Pinterest)
I need to begin with a little bit about what brought me to write this post. I have a full time day job. I work 40 hours a week at a video game company in San Francisco. I love my job, and the company, and the people, and honestly, until I can return to school to get my PhD (for Anthropology), this is what I want to do with my life. But it can be exhausting, especially because I am also a part-time blogger. I commute a total of two hours each day. I wake up at 8, leave my house at 8:55, arrive to work by 10, leave the office at 6:30, and arrive home by 7:45. My week days are long, sometimes unbearably long. I will admit that I often struggle to get out of bed each morning, knowing it will be over 11 hours before I am back. I use the train ride to and from work to catch up on blogs (via my Droid X), read books I have been meaning to read for months, and sometimes even write a blog post, but it isn’t nearly enough time. When I get home, I use what little daylight there is left to snap a few quick outfit photos (at least in the summer, when it is still light when I get home). At some point, I may eat dinner, which my boyfriend is kind enough to cook (truth is, he does 80% of all of the cooking). After I scarf down my food (because by 8:30 pm I am starving), I start editing photos and get the post written and scheduled for the following day, and this is only referring to outfit posts, which are the least time consuming of all my posts. I spend another 30-45 minutes catching up on more blogs. Maybe then I will take a shower and watch a movie, possibly watch an episode or two of CSI with Alex, but more often than not, I just shower and go to bed. Rinse and repeat the following day. Weekends I try to cram in all the things I lagged on during the week. Cleaning, laundry, shopping, sleeping, cuddling. Even then, weekends are only two days long, and I am left still wishing I had more time to do the things I enjoy. I have now gotten to the point where I am completely exhausted and worn down. I am headed towards blogger burnout. If I get there, I don’t know if I will be able to recover or return.
Anyone who says that blogging is an easy and free hobby, they are either crazy, have no idea what they are talking about, or know some secrets that they should share with the rest of the world. Blogging is, to be frank, an extremely costly activity. Now, it is not to say it isn’t rewarding, and worth those dark circles under my eyes. I did just write a post on five ways that blogging has improved my life, so it would be quite silly for me to sit here and tell you that I wish I didn’t blog. No, that is not it. I simply want past, current, and future bloggers (as well as all the blog readers out there) to understand just how much time, energy, and money, goes into blogging. So lets take a moment to look at exactly what a blog costs.
Cost #1 – Time
Probably the most obvious, blogging is a time costly activity. Depending on the type of blog you have time can be spent in a variety of different ways. Taking and editing photos, researching new ideas, planning an editorial calendar, writing posts, or publicizing your blog on various social networks. And if you have a side business to go with your blog, this costs even more time. Creating, finding or developing pieces to sell, creating a brand, advertising your shop or business, and shipping out orders. Furthermore, often bloggers are consistently finding new topics and ideas to blog about, which means every day they are thinking about how seemingly simple moments from their every day lives can be developed into a blog post. For many of us, blogging is always on our mind. And then there is the community side of blogging. Responding to comments, answering emails, finding new blogs to read and commenting on them, writing guest posts for fellow bloggers, sharing favorite found posts on Twitter or Facebook. Simply said, if you have a blog, even if it is not something you plan to monetize or make your full time job, it costs a lot of time.
For me, I spend on average 3 hours per day on my blog. This means that I spend a total of 21 hours per week on this hobby. Add in my 50 hour work week (including commuting), and I am left with a couple hours each day to fit in all the other activities I enjoy, such as playing video games (which I haven’t done in weeks), hanging out with Alex, reading a new book, or watching movies. I can only imagine if I had a kid, worked a full time job, and blogged part-time. I am pretty sure something would have to give (either the job or blog, the kid would be here to say).
Cost #2 – Energy & Effort
This is quite closely related to time. The amount of time you put into your blog can actually vary on the amount of effort and energy you put into it. If you post once a week, it is likely you will spend significantly less time on your blog, though that one post may take you a few hours to research, write and proofread. With this approach, however, it is also likely that your blog will remain relatively small, and likely just a place for you to release your thoughts and ideas once in awhile. If you would like a blog to grow and have a community develop around it, you will need to put in the effort and energy to make this happen. You will need to post at least a few times per week, and your posts will need to be thought out and well constructed. You will need to put in the effort to create an attractive and streamlined layout that presents your content in an easy to read manner. You will need to put in the energy to spread the word about your blog. You will need to make the effort to find new post ideas, and proof read your posts. When you start your blog you need to spend some time really thinking about what you want from it, as this will often dictate the amount of energy and effort you put forth, and thus the amount of time you spend towards making it what you would like.
Cost #3 – Money
As a new blogger you may not know this, but blogging often costs money. Yes, there are many free blogging sites out there where you can blog to your heart’s content without ever having to pay a dime. But lets say your blog suddenly explodes and you would like to get your own domain, rather than yourblogname.wordpress.com or itsanawesomesblog.blogspot.com. you will need to pony up at least $10 per year for your domain name (I use name.com). Then lets say you want more freedom in terms of how much bandwidth and stability you have, so you decide to self-host your blog. Pricing plans can range from $20 per month to $100+ per month. And the larger your blog gets, the more bandwidth it requires, the more expensive your plan will be. Now lets say you want to get some extra exposure for your blog, so you decide to sponsor a larger blog. Depending on the size of the blog you are sponsoring, and the size of the add, sponsorships can range anywhere from $15 a month to $150 a month or more. Now, you have been blogging for six months and you are looking to get a new camera to improve the quality of your pictures that you post. But not just any camera, you want a nice new DSLR with two lenses. There goes $1200 in less than a few clicks. Now you want to do a giveaway, maybe to thank your current readers, or possibly to bring in new ones. You may be lucky enough to get an Etsy shop to sponsor the giveaway, but lets just say you are funding it yourself. Depending on the size of your giveaway, there goes $10 to $100. You have decided you want to update your layout to something more elaborate or unique, so you buy a pre-made layout for $60 and customize it to your needs. Or maybe you don’t have the time or skills to do any coding, so you hire a fantastic design company to create a custom layout for you. It costs you $350 (but goodness is it gorgeous). There is a great blogger conference coming up. Registrations costs $10. But wait, it is in Texas and you live in California. There goes $250 on a round-trip ticket. And another $300 on a hotel room for three nights. Another $300 on food, drink, socializing and shopping while there. As you can see, it adds up quite quickly. Again, it is possible to blog without ever having to spend a dime, but if you are looking to create a community out of your blog, or grow it into something that may become a full-time paying endeavor, you will have to shell out the dough.
Now, this all being said, I highly recommend you do create a blog. It is extremely fulfilling and a fantastic creative outlet. Find something (or multiple things) that you enjoy writing about and sharing, and get going! But just be aware, something that you thought you would spend $0 and 30 minutes a day on, soon it will be something that you think about every free moment. On a final note, be aware of how much time and money you are spending on your blog, and make sure you balance it with the other important things in your life, like your friends, family, job, health (mental and physical), and other hobbies and activities. If any of those are suffering due to your blog, it is time to take a step back. You definitely don’t want to reach the point of blogger burnout.
Now for me, I am going to take all this to heart and make the effort to do all the other things I love, like playing some video games, hugging my boyfriend, and maybe even reading a book (that might just be a little too ambitious). Blogger burnout, you will be thwarted.
Do you ever struggle with the “cost” of blogging, whether it is your time, effort or money? Were you able to overcome it, and if so, how?
blahblahbecky.co.uk
Hi Kate,
I just found your blog via the link you submitted to Links a la Mode – I just wanted to say I love it and am your newest follower!
I can identify with so many of the points you make here (I work full-time and blog on the side too). But I do agree with you that blogging is worth all the time/effort/money – I love it!
sparkling scribbler
I am amazed at how much time and thought my blog takes. I’m teaching part-time this summer, but when I return to work full-time in August and then have my son in October, I’m sure I’ll really feel it and have to adjust. But I also started my blog last month so that I’d have something to help me stay connected to myself. Unlike reading or journaling (which I love), blogging has a bit of accountability. At least a few people would notice if I stopped blogging and disappeared completely in teacher- and mommyhood.
http://sparklescribbles.blogspot.com
Kim
This post is very, very true. I’m currently still a student (for about 20 more days or so), but in my year of blogging I’ve combined blogging with my studies and freelance working & I already feel like I don’t have enough time to do everything I want (of course, I do realize that I’m still lucky that I have a lot of extra time to spare because it’s very different when you’re working full-time). Blogging & everything that goes with it takes up so much time, I do it because I find it rewarding – most times. Sometimes, I can really think about it and ask myself why I’m doing it. That’s the blogger burnout creeping in, and I can really understand why certain bloggers experience this feeling. I’m honestly a bit concerned and curious to see how my blog will evolve when I actually start working full-time.. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up with everything. Props to you for doing it all, but I’d say give yourself some much needed rest or a break in the mean time, too!
MJ
You are soo not kidding with how much time it takes to blog! I also work a full time job as well as run my blog, write for two other ones, freelance, and working on a novel and my time is definitely stretched! I am soo grateful to have an understanding husband and family but I also have to aware that I do need to spend time with them.
It’s hard juggling everything but you have to give yourself permission to be lazy, to relax, and to recharge every so often because burn out will affect everything that you’re working so hard for. You also have to remember why you’re blogging in the first place. If you want to do it professionally then all the time and money is an investment and makes the hours spent a little easier to deal with!
M @StyleSizzle
Hi,
I found your blog through this week’s LALM and totally agree, it’s hard. Sometimes downright discouraging. Sometimes I’ll spend hours on a post and feel like no one read it. Sometimes, one little comment will completely make my day. As in, “Yay! THIS is why I do this, so happy!” It may sound cheesy but it’s just like anything else in life, you just have to keep at it and work hard and figure out if it’s right for you. If it’s an investment for your future, maybe the sacrifice is worth it. If it’s just a hobby and your family is suffering? Maybe it’s ok to cut back a bit.
I did take a break once from blogging for a few months. While I regretted how much traffic I lost and felt like it took forever to build it back, it gave my blog a whole new perspective. Refreshed and recharged, I was able to put into it what it really needed all along.
Castle Fashion
Honestly, I feel like another cost would be your own personal style. A lot of bloggers sort of force outfits. Like, I neeeed to color block because everyone else is doing it :/ I wish more bloggers would just do they’re own thing and stop copying each other. I don’t want to see the same outfit over and over.
This post makes me a bit sad because these problems are always going to exist..but I would never want to give up blogging. I say, take a short leave (because the big blogger burnout won’t be nice!) and come back refreshed. I took a 3 month break before. I feel so much better now.
Yasmeen
Castle Fashion
Kate
You are so very correct about this being another cost, and it is something that I have actually run into a number of times. If you are Style Blogger you often end up spending more on clothes than a non-style blogger. Part of this is because you simply love clothes and sharing them with others via outfit posts. Another part of it is you feel like you need to be part of all the current trends, and that if you don’t buy the new trends, people will stop visiting your blog. I found myself falling into this and quickly put a stop to it. Now I take the approach where I do not care about current trends and I dress however the hell I want. And since I am relatively poor and can’t afford all these ASOS/Zara/Rebecca Minkoff items (hell I can barely afford F21 and H&M), I shop at thrift stores, and let’s be honest, thrift stores aren’t exactly the place to go to find current trends.
Thank you for the very thoughtful comment, and you are 100% correct about Jefrrey Campbells. To me they are NOT attractive and I would never want to buy a pair.
Angeliki
That’s such a nice post, Kate. I was nodding my head all the time while reading it. Blogging takes so much time and energy and it can cost a lot of money. When I’m working too hard on my blog for a long period I certainly start thinking:
“Why am I doing this again?” and I need to step back and take some breathing space but I always come back because I love it so much.
I’ve been following your blog for a few weeks now and I’m very impressed with the high quality of your photos and articles and your original and helpful posts. Now that I know you have a full time job and you commute 2 hours I’m more than impressed. Hats off to you!
Rie
I definitely agree on every point you made with this post. I knew that when I began blogging it would take up a lot of my time and commitment, but honestly you don’t realize the full scope of it until you’re actually doing it. I work 40-50 hours weeks on a midnight shift and taking/editing pictures, writing up posts, social networking, etc takes up so much of time. It’s a labor of love and I wouldn’t give it up. However, my copy of Dragon Age II has been collecting dust for months.
Nick
I agree. Money is a big issue around being independent. Let alone, WordPress is costly alone about $20 if you want to attach a domain to your blog while remaining on their free service. Becoming independent takes so much more besides money. As you’ve experienced Kate, you’ve had to learn a completely new game of control. New panels, stat software, plugin flexibility, and fixing things yourself. It can be rewarding, but, be very tiring.
Kelly
Phew,, I’m pretty sure you covered all the major points on blogging! It really isn’t an easy task at all. But I think that time was the hardest one for me, and because of time I had a lack of energy & effort. And I didn’t really overcome it until I graduated college, and am now unemployed aside from being a blogger, and fashion designer. But I think that all these things can be bypassed if you really set a schedule, and really just have a passion for blogging, writing & everything else that comes with it!
<3 Kelly
Ashe @ Dramatis Personae
This is wonderful to see! I always try to remind people that our readers are all not bloggers, and I think you’ve broken down a lot of points for those non-blogger readers…. it’s HARD. I won’t lie, I have a lot of friends who want to make money off blogging… and I tell them not to bother. It’s a lot more work and energy than I know many of them are really willing to put in to it, to be honest!
Ria
Such a thought provoking post. I personally started blogging just before the Christmas break from University, so at first found it quite easy to manage my time especially with more free time as a student. But once it hit January and Summer exams I did feel the pressure of having to keep up with posting, add that to the fact that I’m relatively new to the game to was desperate to network and expand. Blogging is hard work, but I think if it feels more like a chore than fun then it’s an indication that you may need a break.
And I do feel as a blogging community readers of any blog will be very respectful of any fellow blogger trying to move mountains in order to get a post out and definitely won’t feel any annoyance if you haven’t posted for a while (in fact it makes us even happier when you do post after a brief absence ^_^)
I also agree about the money issue. I haven’t personally had to fork out anything yet, but obviously things like domain name costs and cost of giveaways are always in my minds eye (no matter how far off into the future that is for me)
Well I think I’ve waffled on for long enough lol Great post again! xoxo
kavery
Made for very good reading. You are so right in blogging taking time and money and yet so many of us are still at it. So the pros must outweigh the cons. For me being able to write and have an audience who likes reading my posts is enough to keep doing it.
Midnight Cowgirl
Wonderful post! I often struggle with the cost of blogging. Finding the time to post and respond to comments can take up so much time, and there are times when I feel the need to go on a shopping spree in order to have something to write about… However, I think the rewards of blogging are worth it.
Debbie Baker Burns
I agree 100%! I cannot find enough hours in the day for all I want to do in my real life and my blog. I’ve been rethinking how many times per week I post. right now, I’m finishing up a 30 for 30 remix and it’s been crazy. One beautiful blogger I follow who has tons of followers blogs two times a week, but her posts are so enjoyable and you are able to keep up and not miss posts. It definitely got me thinking.
I’m a thrifter, too, and I’m glad I found you and started following through LALM.
Debbie http://thriftygirlvintage.com
Miss Rockwell
OMG..This is MY life-in terms of time anyway. And though I love playing video games with my boyfriend (we’re Army of Two junkies) and reading I always feel like I’m missing things in the blogosphere when I do those things. Its extremely hard for me to keep up most times but I do the best I can. I truly admire those that have huge followings, are able to post daily, and still continue to be of sound mind. Great post. I’m sharing this immediately!
http://thriftyandshameless.blogspot.com
Janine @ Alternative Housewife
Yeah, I’m not so sure about this. A lot of your costs are extras. My hosting is $5/month at the moment. Sponsoring another site is not necessary and you can even make money with ads and posts if you build your blog enough. Blogging is definitely cheaper than most hobbies.
bonita
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I gotta say Kate, I think you are pretty spot on. I only blog 3 posts a week & 1 share post {partly to promote my fellow hard working bloggers & partly to give me a break!!} and that’s enough for me… And I don’t even have an outside job! {I am an amateur photographer, housewife and first time Mom which is pretty demanding, but not so hectic}
Blogging costs a lot of personal resources, and I would encourage you to not only keep up the marvelous work, but to also give yourself a break before you do burn out! Maybe do less posts per week? I happen to know that if you do less posts but if they continue to be as thought provoking and well constructed as your posts are, we’ll all still be here ready and willing to read! Good luck with it.
xox,
bonita of Depict This!
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Jamillah
I am constantly struggling with time. Really, although I love my blog and the community and believe in all the hard work that goes into it, I am constantly SHOCKED at how much time I spend for the blog. I hope I will find the balance soon.
I am really a tad new to your blog, Kate and I have to say you are so thoughtful and articulate. Thank you for writing this, I feel sometimes that it is so easy for others and maybe I’m the only one struggling with juggling the blog, a demanding job, keeping in touch with my large family and friends and then remembering I have a boyfriend who is great. This post really made me feel not so lonely in my struggle.
Arabelle
Such a good post. I’ve gone through blogger burnout multiple times, aka hiatus’ that have been month long stretches and have often cost me thousands of readers, so I totally get you. I used to swear that once blogging became a chore I’d stop doing it, but even as I have become more business oriented about it and treat is as much like a resume as a blog I still do it because I can’t imagine not doing it. I like it and it is a pain at the same time, you know?
That being said, I totally don’t spend as much as you do on blogging, I never even heard of blog sponsoring and I’ve been blogging for 3 years?! I spend like $10 a year on domain costs and that’s offset by the $$$ amount I make monthly from company advertising on my blog. Blogging has only been expensive to me in terms of time and for attending events at fashion week and whatnot, but even those costs are typically offset by magazines or brands that I collaborate with because I don’t like to do things for free.