Are you wanting to learn tools to save time and make money with your blog? I’m sharing ALL THE THINGS I’ve had to learn the HARD way.

You have a career, a kid and a blog. So is your partner annoyed yet about all the free stuff arriving at your doorstep and events you ‘need’ to attend?

It’s tough to make the transition from blogger who work for FREE to blogger who gets PAID

All kidding aside, you’re probably getting frustrated by the endless requests for unpaid work and overwhelming to-do list. Feelings of self-doubt probably creep in at this point. You wonder if all this effort is even worth it?

I’ve spent the last year coming up with a FREE guide that provides many more details, which I’ll invite you check out later.

Let’s get started, shall we?

1. Know Your Niche, Speak Only To Your Audience, and Set One Big Goal For Your Blog

There’s been lots already written about the importance of being laser-like with your focus, creating content that appeals specifically to your target audience, and setting only ONE big goal at a time.

2. Have Your Media Kit, Price List And Customizable Responses Ready To Go

As your blog and brand grows, so will the flood of messages in your inbox. Reading and responding to each one takes a LOT of time. You’ll need to switch up your strategy to keep on top of things.

3. Invest In An Invoicing + Accounting System

For many creative types, this is the unsexy part of blogging and investing in a system to make it easier is 100% worth it. This saves so much time and keeps things organized.

4. Cut Down On Saying Yes To Product For Post

Yes, collaborations are a great way to connect with brands and build your portfolio when you’re starting out. However, if your goal is to be profitable, it’s time to come to terms with the fact that free stuff doesn’t pay the bills. While big brands come with big budgets, small shops and non-profits are often a different matter.

5. Don’t Hide The Fact That You Have A Full-Time Career And/Or Post-Secondary Education

It’s likely that your following community is full of moms who relate to your struggle for work/life balance. Because they make their own money, it also means they have purchasing power when it comes to choosing products and experiences for themselves and their families.

If you have post-secondary education, certificates or awards, don’t shy away from including these under your email signature. It sets you apart and right or wrong, it can make brands take you more seriously.

6. Involve Your Family

Of course, mom-blogging provides a LOT of perks. It’s great to have access to activities and trips to spend quality time with your family. If your kids are interested in helping you set up photos or talking on video, encourage them to participate. Be sure to consider your family’s interests and ONLY say yes to opportunities that they’d genuinely enjoy. Anything else is not a good fit for your family at this time.

7. Take Most Of Your Own Photos

Yes, professional photographers provide high-end content and have valuable equipment and experience. However, we’ve all been in the midst of a stressful family photoshoot— the outfit prep, the drive there, the deadline to be there, the posing, and the sighing partner and kids who don’t want to play along. Consider investing in your own camera + tripod and self-shoot as much as possible, when it’s convenient for your family.

8. Set Your Hours of Availability + Be Creative With Meetings

Are your hours of availability clearly posted in your website? Be sure to prioritize planned family time over EVERYTHING else. Yes, you will lose a few brands’ interest, but MANY will absolutely respect this. If they really want to work with you, they will jump though hoops to accommodate your schedule.

9. Once Your Schedule Is Full, Let It Be Known

Some bloggers feel that announcing their schedule is full will deter brands from reaching out to them. Not true. If anything, it will have the opposite effect. It shows that you’re in demand and if brands want to work with you, they need to book you months in advance.

Make a practice of saying NO to ALL last minute invites or contracts.

10. Batch Work Is Queen

Take a close look at your to-do list and weekly schedule and create a plan that works for you.

11. Less Is Truly More

It’s better to do a few things exceptionally well than to be stretched so thin you lose yourself.

For starters, stop wasting your time posting every day. It takes a LOT of time to take photos, edit them, create posts and then engage with them. Why not aim for 2-3 a week instead? On the days you don’t post, spend some time engaging with accounts who follow you, as well as with ones who don’t follow you.

12. Think Long Term

Aim for long term contracts and ambassadorships (6 months to 1 year).

These allow you to have the opportunity to develop a long term relationship with a brand you admire. You will also have time to share their stories in depth– and it cuts down on the constant hustle for new contracts! Brands also benefit as it guarantees exclusivity in their niche for a set amount of time.

13. Learn How To Say No

While you’re so grateful for all the opportunities that arrive in your inbox, you just can’t humanly say yes to everything. It’s important to remind yourself that everything you say YES to inevitably means saying NO to something else– including family time and rest. Consciously saying NO to things that aren’t a good fit is both scary and empowering for people pleasers!

Before saying YES, ask yourself:

• Do I really want to do this?
• Does my family really want to do this?
• Is this SAFE for my family to do?
• Do I legitimately have time to do this?
• Would my target audience be interested in this?
• Is this good for my portfolio/ brand reputation?
• Is the pay or value exchange beneficial to me?
• Does it fit in with my niche?
• Does it support the one big goal I’m focusing on right now?

14. Ask For Help And Outsource Whenever Possible

Even with these systems in place, things don’t always go smoothly and sometimes you will find yourself with too many things on the go.

If you have a partner, friend, parent, or can hire someone once in a while– do it!

15. Don’t Forget To Have Fun And Get Rest

Take a deep breath. Now that you have systems in place and are posting less often, your schedule will open up. You now have more time to pitch brands, do interviews, respond to emails, take courses, listen to podcasts, engage with others, read good books, have coffee with friends, and RELAX.

Bonus 16. Resist FOMO + Keep Your Eye On The Prize

This is easier said than done, but stay focused on your own niche, target audience and your ONE big goal. Try not to feel competitive or jealous about what others are doing.

Thank you for getting this far! Are you interesting in finding out more?

You can download your FREE guide + workbook HERE