Jan Barley

If you’re eager to increase your blogging income, you’re in the right place. These top tips will help you achieve excellent results in time.

A few years ago, I remember staring at my analytics dashboard, thinking, “Is this it?” I was putting in the hours, writing blog posts, promoting on Pinterest and trying to keep up with SEO trends. But the income? Let’s just say it didn’t match the effort.

If you’ve ever felt the same, you’re not alone. The good news is blogging can be profitable. You need the right strategies and a bit of patience. This post is your shortcut to that turning point.

By the end, you’ll walk away with 9 practical, doable ways to boost your blogging income, even if you’re starting small. And I’ll share the one thing I wish I’d done sooner that changed everything.

And here’s the bit no one tells you: once you hit a tipping point, your focus shifts from hustling to optimising. That’s when blogging becomes more than a side hustle. It becomes a system.

Focus on Recurring Affiliate Programmes

My first affiliate sale was a £3 commission from a course I’d linked in a blog post. It felt like a win until I realised I’d need to keep making new sales every month to stay afloat.

That’s when I discovered recurring affiliate programmes. Unlike one-off payouts, these pay you monthly for as long as someone stays subscribed. It’s a smarter, steadier way to grow your blogging income.

The key is to promote tools that people need in the long term, like email marketing platforms, funnel builders, and SEO tools. For example, Systeme.io offers a whopping 60% recurring commission for every referral who sticks around.

Even if just five people sign up and stay, you’ve built a small, consistent income stream. I advise seeking merchants that pay a minimum 25% recurring commission.

You won’t see results overnight, but over time, these small monthly payments will add up. It’s like building a digital income ladder — one step at a time, with each post lifting you higher.

Create a Digital Product

For months, I believed digital products were only for “big bloggers” with huge email lists and perfect websites. But one afternoon, frustrated with the slow trickle of affiliate income, I asked myself a simple question, “what do people really need?”

Now, I’m planning several digital products and physical books to help my audience.

Digital products give you complete control over your income. There’s no commission split, no algorithm to please, and no need to chase pageviews. You create once, and it continues to work for you behind the scenes.

And when you’re ready, use Systeme.io to create a free sales page and email campaign to sell your products. You can also make one course entirely for free on the platform.

You don’t need perfection, just a solution that works. And once you’ve sold one, the motivation spurs you on to create more.

Use SEO to Drive Evergreen Traffic

It wasn’t until I wrote a post that ranked on Google for months, outperforming every other post by 500%, that I truly understood the magic of SEO for blogging. One blog post consistently brought in visitors, clicks, and affiliate sales, all without requiring any effort.

That’s what evergreen content does. It works while you rest.

SEO isn’t about stuffing keywords or writing like a robot. It’s about understanding what your audience is searching for and creating helpful, focused content that addresses their needs.

Use tools like SEOWriting.ai for blog content and Ubersuggest to find low-competition keywords with decent search volume, then clearly structure your content to optimise it for search engines.

Focus on posts that solve ongoing problems, such as how-tos, product comparisons, or beginner guides. Once ranked, they become silent salespeople for your blog, quietly building trust and income month after month.

It takes time, but SEO gives your content a solid foundation. And the deeper those roots grow, the higher your income.

Repurpose Content Across Platforms

There was a time when I’d pour my heart into a blog post and then share it once and move on. It felt like throwing gold into the wind.

Then I realised something simple but powerful: one piece of content can live many lives.

You can repurpose new blog posts into multiple Pinterest pins, a carousel on Instagram, a voiceover reel, or even a short-form video using Pictory.ai. The more places your message shows up, the more chances you have to attract readers, grow your email list and earn income.

Repurposing isn’t about doing more work; it’s about making your existing work go further. Take your most popular posts and turn the key points into short-form content. Use Repurpose.io to adapt content for each platform.

This strategy works exceptionally well if you’re short on time, and let’s be honest, most bloggers are. One post, many formats. Simple, powerful and surprisingly effective.

Build an Email List Early

If I could go back and start over, the first thing I’d do is start building my email list from day one.

When I began blogging, I focused on pageviews and Pinterest traffic, not realising how quickly platforms change. One algorithm shift and everything dipped. However, one thing I forgot (or put off), as most new bloggers do, is starting an email list.

An email list is personal. It’s direct. And best of all, it’s yours. No algorithm can take it away.

You don’t need thousands of subscribers to make it worthwhile. Even 100 loyal readers can bring in sales if they trust you. Offer a simple freebie that solves a problem, like a checklist, quick guide or planner. Use a tool like Systeme.io to create a (FREE) simple sales page, automate delivery and start building your list on autopilot.

Then, send value-packed emails. Share your latest blog post, a personal story, or a helpful tip. Show up consistently, and when you do share an affiliate product or launch a digital offer, they’re far more likely to buy because they know you.

Your email list becomes the heartbeat of your blog. And if you nurture it, it will grow into one of your most reliable income streams.

Add a Services Page

I’ve been writing SEO blog content for clients since 2020. It’s my bread-and-butter income.

If you’ve got a skill like writing, editing, social media, or design, offering it as a service can bring in income while your passive streams grow. It also builds confidence and deepens your expertise.

You don’t need to turn your blog into a full-time agency. One or two well-matched clients per month can create a steady income, especially if you offer packages or retainers.

Start by thinking about what people often ask your help with. Then, write a short services page explaining what you offer, who it’s for, and how to get started.

Selling a service doesn’t have to be a permanent solution, but it can bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

If you’re short of ideas, check out my blog post on 38 websites that pay bloggers to write.

Host Webinars or Workshops

This option might sound scary at first, but it works. Webinars allow you to teach, connect and sell all in one go. If you’re not ready to go live, pre-record using Synthesia, then automate the funnel. You could even create it as an evergreen workshop with Systeme.io’s free plan.

Raise Your Prices

Whether it’s your services, sponsored content or digital products, undercharging keeps your blog stuck. Test new price points. Positioning is everything, and often, pricing higher makes you more trustworthy.

When I started writing, my first client paid me £0.03 per word. It was chicken feed, but it got me the experience I needed to attract more clients. Nowadays, I earn an average of £250 per 1,000 words.

Focus on Other Traffic Sources Aside from Google

Google updates can decimate traffic. Additionally, if your website becomes slow to load, traffic will drop, especially for mobile browsers. There are two other fantastic search engines:

• Pinterest: Don’t sit on Pinterest. Start pinning your blog content as soon as you have enough to share once a day. Pinterest is my second biggest traffic source. If you don’t want the time-consuming hassle of creating pins, sorting descriptions and SEO, try Pin Generator. It generates 60 pins in a minute!
• YouTube: Owned by Google, a YouTube channel can drive traffic to your blog. Additionally, you can build a community, sell products, and generate ad revenue income when your channel gets monetised.

Start both of these channels as soon as possible. I wish I had started YouTube earlier. That said, I started two channels in a different niche from my blog because I can create content more quickly. My goal is to generate passive income from multiple sources, and I encourage you to set a similar goal for the foreseeable future.

Read: Goal Setting for Bloggers

My Turning Point for This Blog

The moment I stopped treating my blog like a diary and started treating it like a business, everything changed. It didn’t happen overnight, but these 10 strategies built layer upon layer until things finally clicked.

Remember that income from blogging takes time, as you need a significant amount of traffic. Take the pressure off yourself and generate revenue from offering writing services. Select a niche you enjoy and begin reaching out to potential clients.

If you’re wondering where to start, pick one. Just one of these tips. Implement it this week. And if you stick with it, the next time you check your income dashboard, it might just surprise you.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. 

“How often should you blog?”

I used to ask myself that question all the time, sat staring at my pathetic Google Console stats, wondering if I’d made a colossal mistake starting a blog at all. But then, one tiny shift changed everything for me. I’ll share that in a moment, so hang tight.

Why How Often You Post Blog Content Matters

How often you blog isn’t just a random number. It can shape your traffic, your growth, and, yes, your sanity.

Search engines like Google love fresh content. So does Pinterest, if you’re driving traffic that way like I do. More on that in my post about my favourite Pinterest traffic strategies.

Regular blogging tells these platforms, “Hey! I’m active. Recommend me.”

But it’s not just about robots. It’s about your readers. Ghost them for three months and suddenly pop back with a “Hey guys, I’ve been busy” post? They’ve probably moved on. I’ve been there. Ouch.

The “Blog Every Day” Myth (AKA, How I Almost Burnt Out)

There was a phase where I thought blogging every single day was the holy grail. Spoiler: it wasn’t.

Instead, I ended up writing rushed posts, doubting myself, and wondering why my blog still felt invisible. It felt like shouting into the void while running on empty.

If you’re asking how often should you blog, the answer isn’t “as much as humanly possible.” It’s “as often as you can sustainably create valuable content.” Blogging should build momentum, not break your spirit.

There is an optimum frequency for blogging that few people discuss. Or, if they do, they fail to explain their reasoning for the frequency of their blogging.

Different Blogging Frequencies for Different Goals

Here’s where that tiny shift comes in: your blog doesn’t need to follow anyone else’s pace. It needs to follow your pace.

• Starting Out: If you’re just getting started, try posting 1–2 times a week. It’s manageable and builds your blog steadily. I did this while juggling other projects and learning the ropes.
• Fast Growth: To achieve rapid growth, posting 3–4 high-quality posts per week can be beneficial, provided you can maintain this pace without burning out.
• Time Strapped: If time is tight, one solid post a week, or even every two weeks, is enough, as long as it’s useful.

Remember: it’s your blog. It should fit around your life, not consume it.

Quality Over Quantity, But Don’t Use That as an Excuse

Assuming you have a goal, then yes, blogging regularly is essential. Still, good content beats frequent content every time. I’ve seen plenty of bloggers wait months between posts because they want everything “perfect.”

Perfectionism is the enemy of progress.

So, if you’re wondering how often should you blog to grow, aim for content that’s real and helpful. Keep your bar high but realistic. No one expects Pulitzer Prize-winning essays, just posts that solve a problem or inspire.

How to Find Your Ideal Blogging Schedule

I never really thought about my blogging schedule until much later. In hindsight, that’s bonkers because I bang on to clients about having a consistent publishing schedule.

I came to my schedule by realising my blog didn’t need to mimic anyone else’s schedule. It needed to align with my rhythm, one that matched my energy, time, and goals. Another factor was what I wanted my blog to do, and that goal needed more traffic.

Ask yourself the following questions – and be honest:

• How much time can I realistically dedicate weekly?
• What’s my primary goal? Traffic, income, creative outlet?
• How long does one post take from idea to publish to promote? Be realistic. However long you think it takes, it will always be longer.

If you can write one post a week, that’s your baseline. Fantastic. Stick with it.

As for me, I started with around 4-6 blogs a month, and initially, that generated good growth. However, in April 2025, my traffic hit a wall. My site had a technical issue that caused slow loading.

I didn’t notice at first, as the decline was slow. Then, I discovered I’d lost a significant number of keywords (Google penalises slow sites, especially for mobile browsing) and started panicking.

After I sorted the slow loading, I reflected on my blogging strategy.

I got approved by Journey by Mediavine in April, so the more traffic I get, the more I can earn from ad revenue. At the moment, it’s a teeny, tiny amount. So, I decided to do something different.

These days, I batch ideas ahead, use tools to speed things up, and sometimes skip a week without guilt. I usually have 2-3 weeks of content planned ahead (or I’d go nuts).

I’ve recently committed to publishing a minimum of three blog posts weekly, come rain or shine. However, there’s something else: another powerful yet simple-to-implement SEO strategy that I almost forgot to include in this post…

Don’t Forget: Updating Aged Content Can Be a Game-Changer

If you’ve been blogging for a while, you might be sitting on some older posts that don’t get much love anymore.

Here’s a little secret: refreshing your aged content can be just as powerful as writing new posts when it comes to SEO.

Sometimes, all your blog needs is a good spring clean. Update facts, add new insights, refine your keywords, or enhance the formatting to make your posts more readable. If you have a WordPress site, install a content update plugin (I use WP Last Modified), as that shows readers (and Google) that the post is fresh.

Additionally, you can remove irrelevant content to help Google bots better understand your content theme. Use the removal tool in Google Console to stop deleted pages from getting indexed.

Search engines love fresh, relevant info, so updating old posts can boost your rankings without the sweat of creating something from scratch. Plus, it’s a time-efficient exercise disproportionate to the positive results it can give you compared to publishing a brand-new post.

If you’re wondering how often should you blog, mixing in updates with new content is a smart way to keep your blog active and climbing in search results.

The problem we all have as bloggers causes most new bloggers to quit, but it’s easy to overcome.

3 Tips for Blogging Consistently Without Losing Your Mind

Earlier, I said I’d share three things that keep me consistent, even when life gets chaotic, so here they are:

1: Batch Your Work

Writing several intros or outlines in one go is way easier than starting a fresh post every time. It helps keep you in flow. This step is crucial if you want to stay consistent without losing your mind or burning out.

I never complete a blog from scratch. I plan to create a batch of 2-3 pieces together, including research, keywords, and titles. Next, I do outlines. Then, I write the first draft.

After that, I edit with Grammarly, check for plagiarism and leave it for 24 hours.

I then use the ‘read aloud’ feature in Word to ‘hear’ mistakes, sticky sentences, bad grammar, etc.

Yes, this is my process. It might not suit you. Remember, these guidelines are from my personal experience. Tweak what doesn’t work for you.

It’s a perfect process for my ADHD brain. It prevents me from getting burned out and helps me produce a large amount of content.

2: Repurpose Like A Pro

Turn each blog post into pins, emails, reels, and more. (Here’s a reasonably-priced tool I use to repurpose content to get the most mileage)

3: Use Scheduling Tools

Don’t rely on memory. Tools like Trello or Google Calendar help you plan and stay on track with your schedule. Even a simple Excel doc can help keep you on track. That’s what I use.

These simple shifts keep me showing up, even on days when my brain wants to hide under a duvet.

Oh yes, of course. I forgot. There’s a fourth tip. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on the one thing that helps me write blog content in a fraction of the time.

#4: Use AI tools to maximise your time and input

I use two specific AI tools that I couldn’t live without…

Speed Up Your Blogging with AI Tools

If you ever feel stuck or short on time, AI tools like ChatGPT and SEOWriting.ai can be absolute lifesavers.

ChatGPT helps me brainstorm ideas, draft content, and even polish my writing without losing my voice. Recently, it’s had a memory update. If you use it regularly, go and ask it to tell you about yourself. The results are shocking!

I also use it to do the following tasks:

1. YouTube scripts and descriptions
2. Brainstorm titles and create outlines
3. Provide a list of secondary keywords and synonyms
4. Create prompts for AI image generation for blog posts.
5. Write Pinterest descriptions with SEO keywords and hashtags
6. Assess a competitor’s top-ranking blog & suggest how I could improve on it. Ahrefs charge £99/month for that!

Just those six tasks are equivalent to around two days of work, but using AI tools, I can complete them in maybe three hours a week.

Meanwhile, when I really want to save time, SEOWriting.ai provides me with SEO suggestions, allowing my posts to get noticed by search engines without hours of legwork.

I still spend time editing what SEOwriting.ai produces, but it’s speedy, and the content output usually only requires a bit of fine-tuning. Additionally, the company is constantly improving its results, as they weren’t that great when I first started using it.

Using these AI tools doesn’t replace your creativity, but it does speed up the process, helping you publish more consistently and confidently.

Some people say AI is stripping us of our creativity. However, AI helps my creativity because I’m not exhausted trying to do everything myself. I get fresh ideas from a brain that doesn’t fry to a crisp like an overcooked onion.

If you’re wondering how often should you blog, AI tools might be the secret weapon that keeps you on track. Producing a lot of content isn’t easy when you have an entire life to work around.

AI technology is advancing faster than we can imagine. The bloggers who adopt it now and learn to become proficient at prompting will succeed more than those who are resistant to AI.

Conclusion: What I Wish I Knew When I Started My Blog

If I could talk to newbie me, all excited but overwhelmed, I’d say: “Don’t stress over ‘how often should you blog. Just start.” 

Keep showing up. Adjust when life changes. Trust that consistent effort, even if it’s once a week, adds up faster than you think.”

If you can only manage to publish one blog post each week, accept that growth might be slower.

In hindsight, I wish I’d started with two posts a week. Still, it’s been a learning curve. It still is and probably always will be.

I’d also start Pinterest marketing sooner, as that is now my second-highest source of traffic. To prove a point, I recently earned a $498 commission, my first big one.

That commission tracked back to someone clicking on a four-month-old pin about the best Pinterest courses I’d completed. Pinterest is a slow burn, but pins are evergreen, so they can continue driving traffic to your blog for years. Pins can also rank in Google SERPs.

So, in conclusion, how often should you blog? As frequently as it’s possible to create helpful, authentic, and sustainable content.

That, my friend, is the magic frequency.

And if you’re wondering what to write about, check out my post on 21 blog post ideas for beginners.

See you soon x

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. 

I lost 200 keywords almost overnight because I ignored the fact that goal setting for bloggers is something I should have been on top of.

Quite recently, I hit a wall. I’d just got approved with Journey by Mediavine, which somehow caused me to take my eye off the ball. I’d become lazy about writing blog content and stopped thinking things through before deciding what to write.

Then, my site speed suddenly tanked.

Core Web Vitals. Friend or Enemy?

Because I hadn’t thought about the fundamentals of goal setting for bloggers, such as site speed, Google slapped me on the wrist, took away privileges, and made me sit on the naughty step. I lost 200 keywords practically overnight. That was totally gutting.

I realised something had to change. Fast.

The optimal Large Contentful Paint (what loads above the fold on your website for mobile loading speed) should be less than 2.5 seconds.

Mine was 3.3s, which isn’t abysmal, but other statistics performed poorly.

If you’ve struggled with staying motivated, sticking to goals, or knowing where to start, I’ve got you. I hope this post on goal setting for bloggers will help you avoid the mistakes I made.

However, before we discuss numbers or traffic spikes, we need to address a few things. Why do most blogging goals fail before you even hit publish?

Let’s start there.

Start With Your Why, Not Just Your Word Count Goal

If you haven’t read Simon Sinek’s Book “Start with Why” I highly recommend it. It genuinely helps you to focus on the reasons behind what you do.

It’s tempting to set blogging goals that sound impressive. “I’ll write 100 posts this year” sounds fantastic on paper, but if the reason behind it is just “because that’s what other bloggers are doing,” it’s not going to stick. Trust me, I’ve tried. And here’s why it fails.

I set a target to write over 100 blog posts in 2024. If you had asked me why, I genuinely couldn’t tell you. I achieved my target, but it yielded nothing, or at least only enough income to cover six months’ council tax.

When I first started setting goals for my blog, I was obsessed with statistics. Technically, obsession is an aspect of my ADHD (read Blogging with ADHD) that I struggle to manage.

My site continued to trend upwards, even recovering promptly after Google updates. Still, without a clear purpose behind those goals, I continued to burn out and get distracted.

Those numbers didn’t mean diddly squat because they didn’t translate into anything useful, such as income.

Read: Blogger Burnout is Real: 5 Kick-Ass Strategies to Beat it

Start Shifting Your Blogging Mindset

My motivation didn’t vanish overnight. It just slowly trickled away every time I lost sight of why I started blogging in the first place. I felt depressed and wondered if I had wasted an entire year focusing on the “wrong” things.

So before you start working on your blog, ask yourself this:

• Why did you start your blog?
• How will you know if it’s working?
• Have you set up an email campaign?
• What do you want it to do for your life?
• What challenges are you likely to face?
• What time-saving systems do you have in place?
• What will you do when you inevitably lose motivation?
• Is it a creative outlet? A route to passive income? A way to escape the 9-to-5 hamster wheel?

For me, it was freedom. Freedom to be creative, to work on my terms, and eventually, to earn a living doing something I genuinely enjoyed. I wanted to stop relying on the feast-or-famine nature of client work and build something financially sustainable.

Still, I hadn’t thought it through. I hadn’t considered that goal setting for bloggers meant more than writing a few posts. I hadn’t created an anchor or asked myself any of the questions mentioned above.

Subsequently, I began anchoring my goals to the core reason I started a blog. To do something meaningful and make a full-time income.

Remember it Takes Time

I must be honest and say that it’s early days, so I can’t say that everything has fallen into place yet. However, I have stopped publishing posts just to tick boxes. I’m now building something that matters to me.

If you’re serious about goal setting for bloggers, this is where you begin. Otherwise, every goal you set will feel hollow, and staying motivated will be like trying to wallpaper a wet wall.

Now, once your why is clear, the next step is to make sure your goals don’t feel like an overwhelming to-do list. It’s easy to think that busy means productive, but often that’s not the case. You need structure but not stress.

The next step for goal setting for bloggers is to get specific without feeling stressed or panicky.

Get Specific, But Not in a Way That Triggers Panic

Once you’ve figured out your “why,” it’s time to break that grand vision into something you can get done without drip-feeding coffee.

One of my blogging goals for this year is to publish 150 posts. Sounds massive, right? It is. Isn’t it the same as my intent to write 100 posts in 2024? Yes, but here’s the thing:

• I now know why I’m doing it.
• I’m clearer about my niche.
• I know how challenging it can be.
• I’m not trying to write them all in a single weekend.
• It’s not the only thing I’m doing for my blog: I’m also putting together an email campaign, working on creating digital products and building Pinterest and YouTube accounts.

My goal has become a bit easier because I’ve focused on mastering prompting AI to deliver the best results more quickly.

Don’t Set Impossible Goals

That’s the trick. Goal setting for bloggers doesn’t mean setting impossible targets that leave you paralysed. It means being honest about your time, your energy, your intent, and your ability to get distracted by watching funny parrots on YouTube shorts (guilty).

So, instead of the goal to “grow my blog,” try:

• Publish one blog post a week for three months
• Update one old post every week.
• Batch three post outlines on Mondays.
• Learn to use AI tools to speed up mundane tasks.
• Create a content strategy that you’ll actually use.

Small, clear actions give your brain something to work with. They reduce decision fatigue and help you stay focused on what matters most: consistently publishing targeted blog content.

I still get overwhelmed sometimes, especially when juggling blog work with other projects. But knowing precisely what I need to do each week and why I’m doing it keeps me from spiralling into panic and subsequently doing nothing.

That said, writing blog content regularly isn’t the only thing that helps your blog grow. You could post daily, but if your site takes ten seconds to load, your bounce rate will be higher than your coffee budget.

Let’s talk about how fixing your blog’s foundations can make your goals possible.

Fix the Foundation First, Speed, Tech and Structure

Writing great content is key, but if your blog feels like a slow, creaky old jalopy, you won’t get far.

I learned this the hard way when my site speed suddenly plummeted, and I lost 200 keywords practically overnight. Google has zero tolerance for slow-loading pages, especially on mobile devices.

Shared Hosting vs Virtual Private Server (VPS)

I didn’t know my blog was on shared hosting. There was no mention of that when I started my blog.

What is shared hosting? It means you’re sharing space with other websites. It’s like living in an apartment with ten people and only one bathroom. What if everyone tries to use the bathroom at the same time? Suppose, even one website on the shared hosting receives a lot of traffic, it can slow down your site’s loading times.

If you want your blogging goals actually to pay off, you’ve got to fix the basics first. That means checking your theme, hosting, and overall site performance before obsessing over your next post.

For me, switching from shared hosting to a VPS is a no-brainer. It will make my blog faster and more reliable.

If you feel horrified at the thought of migrating files, don’t worry. Most companies offer a service where they do it for you. It’s costing me £100 + VAT, but it’s worth it.

Updating to a faster and cleaner WordPress theme will also help. My current theme is no longer supported by the company from which I purchased it. Bummer!

These are things that nobody talks about when you start a blog, but they become critical as your blog grows.

Here are some easy ways to get started:

• Utilise free tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify areas precisely where your site’s speed and mobile usability require improvement.
• Consider upgrading your hosting if your current plan is slow. Avoid shared hosting.
• Keep your WordPress theme light and simple, and avoid bloated plugins that can drag down performance. Delete unused plugins.
• Back up your site before any significant changes so you don’t lose everything and have a mini meltdown. The free BackUpWP plugin now features automated daily backups.

Once your blog’s foundation is solid, all your goals, from publishing more posts to growing traffic, suddenly feel more achievable.

And speaking of goals that connect with your audience, have you considered how storytelling can boost your blog? Posting regularly is one thing, but making your readers care is something else entirely.

Let’s explore how adding storytelling to your blog posts can keep your readers hooked and coming back for more.

Add Structure to Your Creativity With Storytelling

Publishing blog posts regularly is great, but if your content feels like a jumble of facts and random thoughts, your readers will lose interest faster than you can say “bounce rate.”

That’s where storytelling comes in.

I used to write posts like a robot churning out information, and I wondered why I wasn’t getting sales. Then, I discovered how a simple storytelling framework could turn my blog into something people enjoyed reading and sharing.

Here’s a basic storytelling formula:

• Start with a hook that grabs attention — a question, a funny moment, or a relatable problem.
• Share a personal story or example to connect emotionally.
• Offer clear tips or advice that readers can use right away.
• Finish with a takeaway or call to action so readers feel inspired to do something.

If you want to build a connection with your readers, goal setting for bloggers must include storytelling elements. This structure makes writing easier and keeps your readers glued to the screen. They’ll feel like you’re chatting with them over a cup of coffee rather than lecturing from a dusty textbook.

Now, once your posts are engaging, you might want to think about how blogging can become more than just a hobby. How are you actually going to generate income?

Have you considered creating courses or digital products to grow your income? It’s easier than you think, and I’m working on it myself.

Plan Your Revenue Streams Early, Even If You’re Not There Yet

If you’re blogging with the dream of turning it into a profitable business, don’t wait until you have 100,000 page views to start thinking about income.

The best time to plan your revenue streams is yesterday. The second-best time? Right now.

For ages, I focused solely on publishing blog posts, hoping that traffic would magically turn into money. It didn’t. So, I started thinking ahead. What could I offer that would genuinely help my readers and generate income?

Here’s what I’m working on:

• A course for new bloggers to skip the chaos and get profitable faster.
• Digital products, such as templates and content planners.
• Publish books on different aspects of blogging on Amazon KDP.

By planning these things early, I’m giving myself a solid foundation to build passive income streams. Plus, knowing that a blog post could lead to a product or email opt-in keeps me more focused when I write.

You don’t have to launch everything at once. Just having a loose roadmap helps guide your decisions and keeps you from chasing every shiny blogging trend that pops up.

Now, speaking of systems, let’s talk about the one most bloggers (myself included) tend to avoid until it’s almost too late: building your email list.

Start The Email List, Even If You Feel Overwhelmed

The thing every blogger tells you to do from day one is to start an email list, which means most of us avoid it for at least a year. Or two. Or, in my case, longer than I care to admit.

Truth: your email list is one of the few things you own as a blogger. It’s also an income blueprint.

Algorithms change, and traffic can vanish overnight (It does!), but that little list of people who’ve said, “Yes, I want to hear more from you,” is gold.

Starting an email campaign doesn’t have to be complicated. I’ve chosen Systeme.io because your first email campaign is free (up to 2,000 subscribers), it’s free to get started, and it’s easy for beginners.

If the idea of email sequences and automation makes your eyes glaze over, keep it simple:

• Create one valuable freebie that helps your audience solve a problem.
• Set up a welcome email to say hello and explain what you’re all about.
• Don’t launch straight out the gate by selling. Provide your subscribers with helpful information to build trust.
• Send one email a week, or even just twice a month, with blog updates or tips. Tell your readers what to expect.

That’s it. There is no need for a fancy funnel or complicated tagging system. Just start and let momentum take over. Oh, and utilise storytelling in your emails.

Once your list is growing, you’ll have a direct line to your readers, which is invaluable when you’re ready to launch a course, sell a product, or get feedback.

Now, let’s bring your blogging goals together into a rhythm that works for you.

Create a Sustainable Blogging Rhythm That Works

One week, you’re full of motivation, sipping oat milk lattes and planning your content calendar. The next, you’re staring blankly at your laptop while wondering if becoming a goat herder might be a better career move.

The solution is to stop hustling and get into a steady rhythm.

Here’s how I’m doing it this year:

• Writing three blog posts a week by batching outlines and content on different days.
• Using AI to brainstorm, draft outlines, ideas, etc.
• Scheduling weekly planning to review my goals, site traffic, and what’s working.
• Checking Pinterest statistics for top-performing pins and writing more of that content.
• I’m giving myself at least one day off from writing and checking analytics.

It’s not about being lazy. It’s about being strategic. Goal setting for bloggers isn’t just ticking boxes. It’s about creating a workflow you can keep up with, enabling you to stay consistent, inspired, and still excited to blog six months from now.

Let’s finish this off with a few reminders and a gentle nudge forward, yeah?

Final Thoughts and a Nudge in the Right Direction

Here’s the truth.  Goal setting for bloggers isn’t about big vision boards and ambitious to-do lists. It’s about building something you care about, one blog post, one small win, and one caffeine-fuelled brainstorm at a time.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

This year, I’m focusing on clarity over chaos. I’m creating content that serves one audience, finally setting up systems that support growth, and writing blog posts that feel like a conversation, not a chore. And I’m finally going to set up an email campaign! Please hold me to that!

You can do this too.

Start small. Pick one goal and make it ridiculously doable. Then, build from there. Whether it’s publishing one new post a week, finally sending that first email, or cleaning up your slow old site, just start.

And remember, you’ve got this. You’re building something real, one step at a time. In a year, think how far ahead you will be.

All of these finer details will be in my blogging course, which I hope to start as soon as I’ve published another course I’m writing.

Now, go write that blog post, set that tiny but mighty goal, and take a step forward. I’ll be cheering you on, likely from behind a laptop, surrounded by half-drunk cups of decaf coffee and 25 open tabs.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. 

Blogger burnout is real. I know because I suffered from it in 2024, and it wasn’t nice, I can tell you.

It started with a to-do list and a cup of coffee (or three). Innocent enough, right? However, four hours later, I’d cleaned the fridge, organised my Google Drive, redesigned my homepage banner, and written exactly zero words for my blog.

I’d also sneaked in a 30-minute nap because I felt so bone-achingly tired.

I had a classic case of blogger burnout.

I was turning myself inside out rather than sitting down to write a blog post.

If you’ve ever found yourself furiously busy but wildly unproductive, avoiding your blog like it owes you money, you’re in good company.

Blogger burnout creeps in quietly, disguised as “I’ll just finish this one thing first.”

Before you know it, the joy is gone, the traffic’s tanking, and you’re wondering if you should just sell candles on Etsy instead.

Let’s talk about why blogger burnout happens, how I fell face-first into it, and precisely what I did to dig myself out, coffee still in hand.

How I Knew I Had Blogger Burnout (Besides Falling Asleep At My Keyboard)

At first, I just felt tired. Not the usual I’ve-been-up-late-finishing-a-post tired, but that bone-deep exhaustion that makes you question your life choices.

Falling asleep watching Clarkson’s Farm in the afternoon is a debatable error of judgment, depending on where you sit with the ex Top Gear star. I have begrudgingly grown to enjoy him and his dry sense of humour in his role as a welly-wearing farmer.

Anyhow, I started procrastinating. I’d open a Word document and immediately decide it was the perfect time to reorganise my sock drawer.

When I did manage to write, everything felt flat and joyless. No sparkle, no sass, just blah. Why the f*ck was I doing this!

And that’s when it hit me: I wasn’t lazy. I wasn’t unmotivated.

I was neck-deep in blogger burnout.

Why Blogger Burnout Happens (Even When You Love Blogging)

Here’s what no one tells you when you start blogging: passion alone doesn’t protect you from burnout.

Here’s what contributed to my personal crash:

• Chronic Multitasking: Trying to blog, manage clients, learn SEO, create pins, edit reels, walk my dogs and occasionally eat.
• The Comparison Trap: Watching other bloggers hit 100K views while I hovered at 3K and pathetically slobbered into a bucket of ice cream.
• Content Hamster Wheel: Feeling like I could never take a break from blogging without losing momentum. This one impulsion sucked the life out of me.
• Zero Boundaries: My blog consumed me. I couldn’t separate an actual life from my blog. I became obsessed.

I was (too) desperate for my blog to work and start making an income. It was too much pressure, and my mental health buckled under the strain.

To avoid blogger burnout, I focused on reducing the importance and started trusting that time and consistency would ultimately reward me.

If you’re experiencing blogging burnout, know that you are not broken. You’re a human running at full capacity without a break. And yes, even seasoned bloggers feel it too.

What Helped Me Recover From Blogger Burnout (Without Chucking My Laptop Out the Window)

Let’s get into the good stuff—the turnaround from blogging exhaustion to bouncy writing for fun.

These are the simple strategies that helped me not just crawl out of blogger burnout but come back stronger (and with fewer snack-related breakdowns) and start loving the process again.

Strategy #1: Let Go of “Should” Blogging

I think the word “should” should be banned from the dictionary, which is a should I shouldn’t have said, LOL.

Anyhow, I (eventually) stopped writing what I thought I “should” write and leaned into what lit me up. That change alone pulled me back from being burned out from blogging.

Writing about blogging is what motivates me, rather than writing what I thought people wanted and doing it to try to make money.

Writing’s gotta be fun, right?

Surprisingly, taking the pressure off yourself often leads to better productivity. It did for me, anyway.

Strategy #2: Used AI to Work With My Wonky Brain

I have ADHD, so focus is sometimes as elusive as a squirrel soaked in coconut oil climbing up a wet pipe. Blogging with ADHD adds a new layer of challenges.

AI tools became my sidekick. I use them daily to brainstorm content ideas, outline posts, and speed up editing. Suddenly, tasks that drained me felt doable again. I no longer feel alone and overwhelmed by the thought of writing three or more blog posts each week.

Strategy #3: Set Boundaries Like a Boss

My blog no longer wakes me up at 2 am with “quick ideas.” I have office hours. Weekends off. Scheduled creative sprints.

Revolutionary.

When you have a flood of energy, take advantage by creating a blog content strategy or batching draft blog posts.

Strategy #4: Made Blogging Fun Again

I rebranded and played with new formats. I studied storytelling (that was fun) and introduced more humour into my blog posts. My friends tell me I am funny. Well, I see the humour in most things – except my blog, hahaha.

I use Grammarly for editing. I love it and would never be without it, but it’s grammatically bossy. It pushes you into writing more formally, and I’d got into that habit. It doesn’t like the words “just” or “actually” when, in fact, we use “actually” rather frequently in conversation. So, actually, I will use actually if I actually damn well please.

So, let go of rigid structures. When blogging feels like play, you don’t need to drag yourself to do it.

Strategy #5: Tracked Energy, Not Time

I stopped trying to force myself to write when I felt tired. Instead, I tracked when I had natural energy and scheduled blog tasks for those times. Game. Changer.

Yesterday, I woke up feeling compelled to write an article. Within two hours, I’d written, edited and published “Blogging With ADHD” and loved every minute of the process.

Later in the day, I drafted two more blogs, including this one. Next week, I’ll edit and publish.

Today, I have edited three blog posts and put them in draft. Next week, I may hit an energy slump, so it’s good to have some content in the bag.

Jump on the energy wave when it’s rising and coming into the shore because you never know how long that wave will last.

How I Overcame Blogging Burnout

After getting approved for ad revenue with Journey by Mediavine, I decided to ramp up my content from 4-6/month to 1-3/week. Ha! What was I thinking? That’s a f*ck load of work on top of everything else I have to cram in.

I started working with ChatGPT but the only way I could get halfway decent drafts was to work section by section. Yes, it saved some time on manually creating a first draft, but it was fiddly and irritating.

Then, almost by accident, I discovered KoalaWriter. I honestly didn’t expect much. Was this just another AI writer that promised the world? Honestly, I’d tried so many of them and been bitterly disappointed with the drivel they produced. Even SEOWriting AI wasn’t as good as I’d first hoped.

Still, after writing and publishing my first two 2,000-word blog posts with Koala AI Writer, I was hooked. For one thing, after adding my website, KoalaWriter inserted internal and external links to my articles, saving me from the hassle of manually adding links after uploading to WordPress.

It wasn’t just faster. The truth is it was significantly cleaner. It felt like this tool actually understood what I was trying to create.

The writing style felt more like me. It took minimal editing. There was zero – I mean ZERO – plagiarism, and it gave me back something I hadn’t felt in months: momentum.

Now, I’m quickly and easily creating blog content in less than an hour. I get KoalaWriter to write the first draft, which takes minutes. I then spend around an hour editing. My goal is to build up to 3-4 articles weekly. I have the Professional plan, which gives me 100,000 words/month, which is super generous compared to many other AI writers.

Read my review on KoalaWriter

Tips to Avoid Blog Burnout Before It Happens

Even if you’re not in full-blown blogger burnout, these tips can help keep things flowing:

• Batch content when you’re in the zone
• Create a “just ideas” doc to ease the pressure
• Subscribe to KoalaWriter & save hours each week
• Delegate things you hate (Accounting, I’m looking at you)
• Connect with other bloggers because isolation is a creativity killer
• Have one blog-free day a week, minimum. Celebrate tiny wins, not just massive milestones.

Final Thoughts on Blogger Burnout

If you’re there right now, stuck, exhausted, and considering selling your blog for a pickle sandwich, you’re not alone.

Blogger burnout happens to the best of us. The trick isn’t to avoid it forever; it’s to notice it early, reset with kindness, and come back with better systems in place.

Decide to work smarter, not harder. I use several AI tools to make my life easier.

The days of writing a blog from scratch are over for me. Using AI Tools, I can produce and publish a blog post in a few hours instead of a day or more. That means I can publish more content.

AI has helped me move from struggling to publish one post each week to generating three or more without needing an espresso drip.

Let Go of perfection, too. Good enough is better than perfect if it means you can write more with less energy drain.

Remember: your blog is a business, not a boot camp. You can grow it and still enjoy your life.

As they say, build it, and they will come. “They’ being sales, ad revenue or whatever your goal is. But don’t sacrifice your mental health trying to “get there” sooner.

Now, get up and make a cuppa. Your blog can wait.