As you know, recently I've been working lots on my business plan. I've discovered so many things that I'm kicking myself over for not having done sooner.
For example, I made a media kit for my Writers and Authors blog this past week. This is something I should have done at the start.
Here's a pic of the media kit:
I think it came out pretty good. You? If you have any suggestions about other things I should have included please let me know. I love getting your feedback.
When I think about it, I can't believe I didn't make this sooner. So much potential money just thrown away. Seriously. I've had more enquires about advertising on the site in the past week than the rest of the year put together!
So why didn't I do it sooner?
Because I started the blog as a hobby. It developed into a business over the years. I wasn't a "Blogger". I was just blogging. When I started out all those years ago I wasn't looking at the big picture. I was just experimenting and having a bit of fun on the internet.
Whilst I'm still experimenting and having fun my goals have changed. What was once just a hobby is now a business. Now I have to fill in the holes I left out.
The same thing applies to my writing and illustrating. It all started as just a hobby. Back in the beginning I didn't know I could make a career out of doing what I love.
It would all be so much easier if I'd started out as a business right from the word go. I wouldn't find myself struggling to fill in the gaps now If I had. I would also probably have reached a higher level of success sooner, and probably made a lot more money along the way too.
If I could go back in time and do it all over again I would approach it with a different mindset. I'd be a business right from the start. I would consider things like business plans, branding, marketing strategies, keywords, SEO, etc... more seriously. I would create business materials at the start.
This applies to all areas. Not just my blogging business.
I think a lot of writers and illustrators fail to see themselves as a business, but we are. We are our brand. That means we need to treat ourselves like any other business would.
What regrets do you have about your career? What would you do differently if you could go back in time and do it over?
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