How I Became a Full-Time Blogger – Episode 7: PaleOMG Uncensored Podcast

I've been blogging since 2011 at this point. Every single day, every single week, and every single month I learn something new. I figure out a new way to cook, a new tool online, I learn how to shoot and edit video, or how to take better photos, I learn a new way to make money and help my family thrive. I'm constantly learning and that's exactly why I love my job so much. I make my own rules, I make my own destiny, and I decide what is best for me, my blog, and what I put out into the world. I wake up every day excited to take on the day because I know that the harder I work, the more benefits I will reap (most of the time).

I became a full-time blogger, I believe, around 2013. I don't remember the exact day or even month, but I do remember thinking - "Ok Juli, you're finally making more money at blogging than you are at coaching full time, so maybe it's time to do this every day and see what is possible and how much you can grow." I forgot to mention in this podcast that it was when I was making more money blogging than coaching that I decided to make the full jump to just blogging. I think people have a hard time figuring out when they should make the jump, so that's what worked best for me - knowing for sure I would be making more money blogging than my other job.

Here's a super quick run down of today's podcast! Every podcast I've been totally rushing trying to keep it under a certain time cap, but I recently just did something on the back end of my site so I don't have to rush anymore. So from now on, after this week, no more rushing! I'm hoping I didn't miss anything in this podcast, but here in a little run down of the main points!

Starting My Blog:

Started with a free template I found online and uploaded it to blogspot.com for free
As it grew, I changed over to wordpress.com (that was a pain in the ass - I recommend starting on wordpress.com so you don't have to transfer anything over)

Ways I get paid:

Advertising – I use to work with google ads and other companies, but I continued to run into issues with how the ads were placed or where they led the customer. I now work with Adthrive who was recommended by Lexi and I love it.
Affiliate programs – Affiliate just means that I promote certain products and if those products are purchased, I make a cut of that.

Book bundles
Ebook sales
Amazon (This just became available for Colorado people!!)
Real plans
Random Other Affiliate Programs - Liketoknow.it, food related, etc.

Sponsored posts and content

A company will reach out to me about working together, I will tell them my fees and we will sometimes negotiate

Books - I’ve come out with 3 cookbooks which I receive royalties on, but you just never know what you are going to make so it’s a bit of a crap shoot and it restricts you from your daily job of blogging which reduces traffic long term. But many publishers give advances to make up for that and help with that type of issue.

OMG! That's Paleo?
The Paleo Kitchen
Juli Bauer's Paleo Cookbook

Reader Questions:

Affordable host to get your blog started on: Bluehost
Get food photography inspiration from How Sweet It Is and Half Baked Harvest
This book taught me the basics about setting up a food photography, it's a really good book!

If you have any questions about becoming a full time blogger, please leave them in the comments below! I respond to comments on my blog much faster than emails, so please keep that in mind! And if you have podcast topics you would like to hear about, let me know! I also just got my podcast on Stitcher so feel free to listen to it here! And don't forget to rate, review and subscribe so I know what you guys are thinking!! Thanks so much for listening!!

Episode 7 Transcription:

This is Juli Bauer from PaleOMG and you are listening to PaleOMG Uncensored.

Juli Bauer: Hey guys! It’s Juli here, from PaleOMG. I just walked my dog, and I; oh damn he found a bone.