Often we read about people trading their fulltime job for a different kind of job. After doing some research I decided to move from fulltime web designer to fulltime blogger. This is not a process that’s done overnight.

1. Start your blog
I think it’s very important to first start with your blog. This way, you can start building up a reputation in the blogosphere, while working on the other steps.

2. Look for new maintenance orders and cherish existing ones.
Maintenance of websites will guarantee a steady flow of income, so you won’t be left without income if things turn out differently than expected.

3. Finish your current work
It’s very important to finish your current work. Even though you’re planning to leave the web design scene when it comes to fulltime work, you don’t want to ruin your reputation in the local web design community. You might need them to fall back upon in case something goes wrong. Don’t make the mistake to spend more time on your blog, trying to monetize and promote it, then you spend on your existing orders. It might take you some time to get all the work finished, but when that is finished, you will have a lot more time to spend on your blog.

4. Keep posting regularly
While finishing your work, make sure you post in your blog on a regular basis. Regularly does not necessarily means daily. It could me every other day, or once a week, but make sure you are consistent, so your readers wcan get used to your posting schedule. If you don’t you might scare them away.

5. Finish your current work
Oh, I mentioned this one already? Maybe it deserves extra emphases. Your reputation is at stake.

6. Monetize your blog
While you’re finishing up, start monetizing your blog. See this as another one of your orders. Schedule a set number of hours you want to spend on adding and maintaining ads and other income generating aspects to your blog. You won’t get it right the first time, so you will need to play around with it a little. Maybe you can even ask your current readers what they think of the placement of your ads.

7. Research and blog
When you are finished with your orders, read the many resources available, online and in print, about how to successfully blog for money. Try to find out which of those techniques fit your niche, your style of writing, your design and yourself.

Then just enjoy working in the blogosphere!

I made the mistake to pay little attention to step 3 (and 5). At the moment there are a lot of customers on whose nerves I got. They can’t imagine what takes so long, even though I promised to have the work done months ago. I had to make new schedules and offer discounts to help get them back in better moods. So now I have decided to follow my own 7 steps. I will spend less time on my blogs and more time on my customers.

I will still try to make a meaningful post every day. But other work on my blogs will have to wait until I’m finished with my customers.