Why Blogging Can Be An Unpredictable Business

If you’re one of those lucky enough to be earning a living from blogging, congratulations. It’s not as easy as some people think to become successful in this area.
However, even successful bloggers can find themselves struggling from time to time. The work can dry up, a client can refuse to pay, or you could find yourself working to the bone for a client whose constant edits are taking up all of your time.
How do you survive when your blogging business takes a hint? Putting a plan in place can be a good way to start. It’s helpful to know what you could be up against so that if the worst should happen, you’re ready for it.

Clients can change their minds

Your clients have a right to change their minds. If you haven’t provided work that meets the brief, is poorly written or wasn’t what the client was expecting, they’re going to tell you about it.
Of course, there needs to be a valid reason for a client to demand changes or rewrites. Otherwise, you could find yourself working for far too long for one demanding client at the expense of quality for your other clients. Learn to deal with demanding clients and make your terms on changes and edits clear from the beginning.

Clients aren’t always trustworthy

We all want to believe that our clients will pay their invoices on time, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Clients may have genuine reasons for not paying their invoices, but that doesn’t help you and your finances.
When agreeing on work terms, make sure you set out the payment terms in advance and get a signature to show that they understand your terms. Do not begin any work until you have this. If it’s a big or ongoing job, you might want to consider asking for a retainer – especially for new clients. This may seem drastic, but you’ll be glad you did if they prove themselves to be unreliable later down the line.

We live in an unpredictable climate

The economy is still recovering, and that means businesses still struggle from time to time.
When a business is struggling, you can bet that payments to bloggers will be one of the first things to go. Never rely on working for a client long term, as you never know when they might decide to end your relationship.
If you’re finding yourself facing a quiet month or two, you need to think about how you’ll manage the situation. Having a savings pot is a great idea, but if this isn’t something that’s available to you, you might need to explore other avenues. You could look into quick cash loans, provided you have a plan for repaying them once work improves. Alternatively, you might need to consider finding other work to keep you afloat for the time being.
Unpredictable finances are one of the harsh realities of running your own blog, but that’s something you sign up for at the beginning. If you’re not sure you can handle it, it may not be the best career for you. Despite these downsides, blogging can still be a great career choice – you just need to know what you’re signing up for before you dive in.