Have you heard?!
Blogging is (apparently) back, babyyy.
And I… am… here for it! 🥳
I’ve literally been obsessed with blogging since like 2005 ish???… precisely when I learned blogging was even a thing… I mean, come on, the idea that regular humans could publish their thoughts on the internet and build real income from it? I was instantly hooked.
Aaand in the last twenty-ish years since then, I even started a blog once or twice…okay, maybe three times. 😅 Each time with even BIGGER dreams, extra fresh ideas, and a slightly unhinged level of optimism for finally breaking into the blogging world and making money writing words online (which never worked out by the way lol).
Buuut then YouTube came onto the scene. Then, Facebook…and Instagram. Now, there’s Threads and TikTok (and whatever else the kids are using these days lol). Hell, even LinkedIn is a player in the social media market now.
Honestly, up until last year, the internet was still screaming “Is blogging DEAD?!” any chance it had.
For good reason, too, because:
- pretty much everyone lives on social media
- attention spans are freaking FRIED these days
- AI can now answer literally any question ever
Aaand if you’re not vlogging or yelling into a microphone, you’re most definitely doing “content” wrong.
And YET.
Long-form content is making a comeback.
So, here I am in 2026… betting on blogging anyway.
Why I’m Choosing Blogging (Even When the Internet Says Blogging is Dead)
If you’ve followed my work for any amount of time, you already know this isn’t the first iteration of my business. I don’t think it’s my second, either. Or my third. But who’s counting? 🤪
(Also, this latest version likely won’t be my last. But that’s honestly just the nature of this entrepreneurial adventure.)
I’ve spent these last three years experimenting in the online business space.
I’ve sold 1:1 copywriting services. I’ve chased launches for myself and my clients. I’ve slaved over creating social media content. I’ve obsessively checked my stats and begged the algorithm to go in my favor. I once ran a group mentorship teaching nurses how to DIY their websites from the ground up (which was genuinely successful, imo, because 5 nurses showed up every single week and built websites they were really proud of 🥹).
So, after all that hustling, here’s the thing I’ve learned after pivoting more times than I can count:
I don’t actually want a business that depends on my constant visibility and daily grind.
When you’re running a business solo (and on a budget), you have to do everything yourself. But honestly, I think the number one thing most solo business owners will tell you is that marketing is the number one thing they don’t want to do on all their own… and it quickly becomes the bane of their existence. Because, unfortunately, we can’t all go viral and become million-dollar “successes” overnight.
Marketing and social media content creation go hand in hand these days.
Last year, I made a rule for myself: I’d allow myself only one hour a week on social media, because I wanted to keep my content top of mind and stay informed in general, but not so entrenched in the bad stuff that I’m fully paralyzed by the tidal wave of outrage, heartache, and grief that comes along with being on social media constantly.
(I don’t know about you, but there’s only so much ur grl can handle. 🥺)
Besides, there’s a whole movement on social media (ironically) about going “analog” and choosing real life over your screen (which I wholeheartedly believe in, by the way).
And that means I want to do more… and not be so concerned with marketing my business online or keeping up with whatever nonsense the algorithm is up to at the moment.
But long-form blogging content is different, trust.
A blog post:
- exists and attracts readers even when you take a week off
- can make money while you’re living life, hiking, baking, or doing literally nothing
- algorithm actually compounds over time, instead of becoming obsolete in 24 hours or less
- gives you the opportunity to experience life and still build a sustainable business
I mean, it’s certainly not an “exciting” business plan by any means. But right now, I care more about building something sustainable than chasing get-rich-quick schemes.
And the thing I’ve always wanted when I started my business — the thing I kept circling back to and wishing I could spend my energy working on for the past three years — was my blog.
Unfortunately, I convinced myself that building a blog couldn’t be a successful business in the social media era we live in. And since all I wanted at the time was to leave my nursing career behind, I really needed a business that could take off and be my primary source of income. So, I didn’t even try to go down that road, tbh.
But when I lost my mom last year, everything kind of shifted for me — I left my job without a plan, took a six-month sabbatical, and then accepted a new job as an oncology infusion nurse, all because of her.
So now, when I think about my business and what I want to accomplish through it, I can’t help but think of my mom and the experiences I had caring for her in her final days.
I’ve also been a nurse for a DECADE — crazy! — but maybe the craziest part is the fact that I no longer want to escape nursing. I have fallen back in love with my career. And now all I want to do is share that journey with you all.
I want to write about life, death, and the human experience through my unique nursing lens while building a sustainable blogging business at the same time.
And I HAVE to believe (even delusionally so) that being a nurse blogger is possible.
What a Money-Making Blog Actually Looks Like
Let’s get specific, because “monetizing a blog” can mean a few different things.
I’ll be focusing on two income streams through my blog:
- Affiliate links
- Sponsorships
Lane One: Affiliate Links
Okay, so a few weeks ago, I bought a whole new skincare line, and my best friend just happened to call me while I was opening my recently delivered package. Of course, I told her all about it. Of course, we talked about what my skin was like before. Of course, I updated her with progress pics later. Of freaking course, I texted her a “Refer a Friend” link when she said she HAD to have it, too.
Affiliate marketing is just that.
Basically, I recommend something I genuinely love, you click my link and buy it, and I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
And before you roll your eyes — because the internet is fulllll of people linking random junk just to make a quick buck — just know, that’s not my goal.
The blog posts I care most about writing are the diary-style ones… the lived-in, reflective pieces that can’t be replicated by AI or answered with a quick Google search… the ones rooted in real experience, and not regurgitated advice or listicles (okay, maybe listicles aren’t compleeetely off the table 😜).
The only way we can be internet friends is if I use my blog to dish out all the Tea about whatever I’ve experienced, so you can invest in (or avoid) the same experiences.
Sooo, my rule is simple: if I wouldn’t text it to you IRL, it doesn’t go on my blog.
That means everything I recommend here is something I actually use, something I’d stand behind even if there were zero dollars involved, and something that genuinely makes life, work, or creativity a little easier or a little better.
I’ve also learned the hard way that writing becomes a heck of a lot easier when I write about things I’m actually passionate about (no duh!). So, I’m building content categories around activities that already exist in my real life, not ones I have to fake interest in or ones that I feel I’m “obligated” to write about for some arbitrary reason.
Tbh, that self-imposed, arbitrary reason has really messed with my head in the past. And I backed myself into a corner. Creating content became unfun. Essentially, what I mean is that while I am a nurse blogger and this blog is for nurses, I won’t be writing all about nursing specifically.
I’ll be writing about:
- Business & marketing tools & platforms I actually use
- Routines & cozy staples that fit an analog lifestyle
- Travel essentials & itinerary to make travel less overwhelming
- Books, hobbies, and experiences that support community, self-growth, and self-healing
- Practical resources for nurses navigating patient care or career pivots
If it feels forced, I’m out. Period.
Lane Two: Sponsorships
In the long term, I’m also dreaming of sponsorships and partnering with aligned small business owners. I really want my blog to be a place where we lift each other up. And if we can both benefit from a partnership, I’d be happy to create content highlighting those products and services.
The partnerships I’m open to will be for content that I’d write regardless of any monetary incentive I might have. I’ll weave these into things like:
- long-form blog features
- honest product reviews
- newsletter sponsorships
- amplified content on Pinterest
- short-form content on LinkedIn
But I’m still going to be picky about who I will partner with.
I’ll only say yes if:
- the brand aligns with my values
- I actually use or would use the product
- the content fits naturally into my blog
- I can keep my voice and storytelling style intact
The trust I’m building with my readers (you) is worth waaay more than any sponsorship check. And I’d rather have fewer, more meaningful partnerships than a feed full of content I’m not proud of.
Becoming “Brand Ready”
Behind the scenes, getting ready for sponsorships and potential partnerships means building the infrastructure that makes the right brands actually want to work with me.
This looks like:
- a clean media kit that still feels human
- clear audience positioning
- realistic starting rates
- a bomb-dot-com website that stands out
Look, I’m not trying to impress and work with everyone under the sun. I’m trying to attract the right collaborations with the right people and the right businesses. And that’s going to take time…while being fully committed to the mission.
What I’m Not Doing
I’m intentionally not focusing on ads, because tbh, I cannot stand websites that bombard you with ads when you’re just trying to look up a recipe for chicken parm — y’know?
Since I’m actively trying not to add to the noise, ads wouldn’t feel aligned with that.
Two other very popular ways to monetize a blog (or any content platform, really) are to create either a membership community or courses. And while I may look into those routes later down the road. It’s not something I want to create or focus on right now.
How My Content Will Actually Get Seen
A blog without a distribution strategy and traffic might as well be just a very pretty digital diary.
Since my vision is so much more than that, here’s how I’ll move traffic toward my blog without burning myself out in the process:
- SEO
Each platform has a job within this system. But none of them gets to run my life in the process. It’s so easy to drown in content creation, especially across so many platforms at once. I have no interest in doing that to myself. If at some point one or all of them become too much, I’ll take some rest days to recharge.
SEO
Since I used to offer a copywriting service to small businesses, I’ve talked a lot about SEO on this blog already. Because, at this point, you have to understand that any time you get on the internet you can expect that the algorithm gods are working their magic behind the scenes to get your content in front of the people that want it.
SEO is pretty much the only reason blogging isn’t dead yet, imo. 😅
I’ll be getting serious about my SEO strategy because I know SEO will be a gift that keeps on giving. I’ll start by researching ALL my keywords on Ubersuggest (my favorite SEO tool) and then using those keywords throughout my website. If done well, SEO will continue to serve my website for years to come.
Pinterest’s whole job is to bring new readers to blog posts and content that already exist. It also has its own strategy that I’m sure I will eventually research, but for now, it’s not that serious.
I simply plan to:
- create 3–5 pins per blog post
- use reusable templates
- focus on keywords and clarity
- batch content so it doesn’t eat my time
I’ve been creating content for LinkedIn sporadically since 2024, and for the last few months, I’ve been making it a priority while I reimagine my business as a whole.
LinkedIn is where I plan to:
- share short stories pulled from longer posts
- write honestly about building a business in real time
- write honestly about experiences within my nursing career
- engage with people into the deeper conversation
- invite my audience to join my email list
I’ve been straight-up ignoring my email list for like 6 months now (oops!). I think it’s finally time to get back on the wagon and share with my subscribers what I’ve been up to. I love getting honest in my emails, so you best believe I’ll be telling all.
Each email will:
- open with a story or thought
- offer something genuinely helpful
- link back to a blog post or LinkedIn content
- occasionally include an affiliate link or sponsorship when it fits
It’s relationship-first… always.
Doing My Best Not to Spiral Along the Way
Listen, I’m not expecting blogging to replace my entire income overnight (that would be a level of delusion that my brain genuinely cannot fathom 🤣).
BUT.
That does not mean ur grl cannot dream BIG, okay?!
The real goal is to prove blogging isn’t dead (because it’s not) and someday supplement my nursing salary so that I’m “work optional.”
We all know nursing is hard in ways that are hard to explain unless you’ve lived it. So I’m not even going to try. But at this stage in my nursing career, I want to continue doing patient care (crazy, I know!). And, long story short, supplementing my nursing salary will keep nursing sustainable for me for a long, long time.
Buuut there will be absolutely NO spiraling allowed while building this lil blog, got it?!
And I say that as someone who can turn one underperforming post into a full-blown forty-minute “what am I even doing with my life” crying session faster than you can say “maybe blogging really is dead.”
We’re not doing that, though. We’re not even going there. We’re celebrating small wins and moving on with our lives asap.
First affiliate click? We’re popping champagne.
First small commission? That’s proof of concept, babyyy.
First brand that says yes? I’m freaking framing it and putting it on my wall.
All I know is that I want to build a business that fits my life… one that leaves room for rest, supports my creativity and joy, and doesn’t completely fall apart if I step away for a week to travel or just… breathe.
And I think blogging will allow me to do just that.
I don’t have it all figured out (not even close). But I have a pretty good plan, and I have a why that I feel in my bones, and right now?
That feels like enough.
