As you know I was at FinCon about a month ago. Here are notes I took on one of the seminars, how to go from hobby blogger to money expert in 2 years, by Jessica Moorhouse. What I loved about this talk was that Jessica revealed her numbers transparently to show how doable it really is. It’s nice to be able to relate to her from where she started to where she is now. In this post I’ll reveal the numbers she revealed to us during her seminar. Disclaimer: While all attempts are made to present correct information, there is a chance I’ve written notes incorrectly!
Going from Hobby Blogger to Money Expert in 2 Years (FinCon 2019 Notes)
$28,018 earned in 2016 after the year of the rebrand
In the beginning of her blogging journey, Jessica created Mo’ Money Mo’ Houses and blogged from 2011-2015. She decided to do a rebrand and made the website her own name (Jessica Moorhouse) and she decided to rank for “Millennial Money Expert”.
After she did this rebrand and went specific in what she wanted to rank for, she received around 39 media mentions and features in 2016. Jessica got a lot of attention because of the update!
- $16,420 sponsored blog posts
- $4,000 freelance writing
- $3,900 podcast sponsorships
- $3,000 speaking & social media
- $698 Media interviews
Jessica kept challenging herself by rebranding and doing public speaking, and she created a Millennial Money Meetup event in 2016.
2017 Year 1 – Full-time Entrepreneur
In 2017, Jessica quit her job and became a full-time entrepreneur. She received 47 media mentions + features and made $71,071 that year.
- Blog & social media campaigns = $26,600
- Millennial Money Meetups $18,266
- Freelance writing $8,341
- Podcast sponsorships $7,680
- Money 20/20 Race $4,959
- Rich & fit course $2,716
- Affiliate commissions, $1,364
- Consulting $560
- Speaking $435
- Financial counseling $150
Total = $71,071 in 2017. Business expenses = $31,095
2018 Year 2 – Full-time Entrepreneur
Jessica started doing financial counseling and created an Investing Foundations for Canadians course on her website.
35 media mentions / features + regular TV spot
- Blog & social media campaigns = $59,507 – Q&A, Facebook lives, twitter chats,
- Freelance writing $17,003
- Podcast sponsorships $13,353
- Financial counseling $8,500
- Millennial Money Meetup $6,675
- Speaking $5,760
- Investing course $3,914
- Affiliate commission $1,269
- Consulting $250
Total Earned = $116,231. Business expenses = $29,959
In 2018, she worked smarter instead of harder and worked way less than in 2017. It is important to figure out what you are earning most on and what can you double down on.
7 Blogging Tips to go From Hobby to Profession
Jessica then went into her favorite tips to go from hobby blogger to professional blogger.
1. Have a clear brand proposition
Everything you put out should be a true reflection of your brand’s voice and values, and the benefits you’re providing to others. Anyone should know exactly what expertise you provide within minutes of landing on your website or social profiles.
2. Have proof of your expertise
To be taken seriously as an expert you need to back it up with proof, such as a published book, or strong testimonials.
3. Say yes until you can say no
At the start, say yes to every opportunity and give 100%. You never know what small opportunity will lead to something big later on. As your business grows, be more strategic in what you say “yes” to, and don’t be afraid to say “no” if it does not fit your long-term vision.
4. Invest in your business wisely
Don’t be afraid to spend money to grow or improve your business. If it makes sense, hire contractors, outsource to virtual assistants, and pay that extra money to save you hours of work. But also be mindful with your money. You may not need to buy that business course or hire a coach to become successful.
5. Diversify your income streams
Don’t depend on just one thing to earn you income. Have multiple streams of income as a safeguard if one stream dries up or if there’s a slow period during certain times of the year.
6. Charge more than you think you should
The only way to earn more is to charge more. Talk to your peers to get a range for how much you should charge. If you aren’t getting pushback when you share your rates, you’re not charging enough. Make sure as your business grows to increase your rates.
7. Never Stop Trying New Things
Don’t get comfortable. If things are going well and you’re achieving your goals, it’s time to make bigger goals. Always continue to try new things to grow or improve your business.
