Grey Layers

of style and of substance

From Blog to Business

I started my blog about 4 years ago as an outlet for creativity. I was a nursing and healthcare management major in college who was blisteringly miserable that found comfort in photography, relatable quotes and writing.

Then the worst thing happened. I got fired. Not once, not twice, but three times. All for the same reason – because I had a blog. Nowadays, brands would use that to their advantage and hire bloggers. Before, it wasn’t looked at in that same light.

My fiancee told me to stop looking for a job. He told me to focus on my blog, full time and go into it full throttle. Go big or go home, right?

I would sneak in time to apply for jobs on craigslist in between writing blogposts. I didn’t believe in my work enough to even begin to think it would make a living for me, full time.

But it proved me wrong and. Here’s how:

I. Dream.
1. Don’t overthink it. Stop leaving things as drafts. Stop this: “It’s not ready yet” because the truth is : You’ll never be ready for it. So just start.
2. Define your long term goals and short term goals.
3. What is your blog’s mission statement ?
II. Do.
1. find your aesthetic. ( Bohemian, Minimal, Free Spirit)
2. create your branding ( Your logo and brand book – these will be your “avatar” for brands to distinguish you by).
3. Start your team. ( photographer/s, project manager, assistant, intern etc).
4. Separate your personal account from your business account.
5. Sign up your blog as an LLC.
6. Build a bouquet of services. ( Social platform post, product review etc).
7. Have a media kit. Think of it as your portfolio/ resume. You can order these templates off of etsy or map one out for yourself to make it more unique.
III.  Invest 
1. Don’t buy designer pieces. Work with what you have. You can make anything look pretty for as long as you have understood and mastered your mission statement.
2. Start saving 20% of what you make and use that to start building your blog business investment.
3. Invest in your team. They will be the pillars. You won’t be able to do this alone. Trust me.  ( Unless you want to start hating what you love doing).
IV. The additions
1. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Focus on your strengths and have one of your team members focus on your weaknesses. This way you can be more productive.
2. Learn to stop being a perfectionist. Nothing will be perfect. Let your team do what they do best while you stay creative.
3. Learn a bit of everything : Photography, Editing, Video, writing, photoshop etc. You can’t teach your team what to follow if you don’t know it yourself.
TIPS:
1. Practice control and save.
2. The most popular thing on Social Media isn’t always the best thing. Focus on your own message and aesthetic and follow through.
3. Don’t just go through the motion of creating. Create substantial content that you are proud of / that you would actually read yourself.
4. You never have to start big. Just start and start strong.
5. It won’t be easy, but nothing that comes easy is worthwhile.

 

Look at your blog as a business and treat it like one. The only way for it to flourish and financially stabilize is if you make into a professional brand with structure and discipline.

 

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About GreyLayers

GreyLayers is style partnered with substance. Meshing both together in harmony creates depth-filled style, travel and living. Jeanne Grey created GreyLayers to influence the everyday and awaken passion within others through the layers that make her who she is.

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