I am always on the lookout for extraordinary people doing extraordinary things. I love showing my readers pieces of proof that anything is possible and you can live the life you want.
Today’s interview is with Jodi Carlson. Jodi has a blog in Girl Scouts, which is a very narrow niche, and she does quite well. I know many people may think that having a blog in a very narrow niche will reduce the chances to earn money blogging. However, that’s not true at all and Jodi is proof of that.
Jodi only blogs part-time and earns around $8,000 a month from her blog. That’s amazing!
Jodi was a Girl Scout Leader for 25 years. She works full-time as a web designer. She was able to pair her knowledge of web design with her experience of being a Girl Scout Leader to create a profitable blog in a very narrow niche.
She is now making money through sponsored posts, affiliates, her own line of products, and her email list which is extremely profitable. It’s very clear from the way she talks about her blog that she really loves what she does.
Jodi’s story is incredibly inspiring because she shows you that blogging in a narrow niche is actually a real possibility.
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In this interview we talk about:
- How she earns money from her blog.
- Different strategies she uses to increase her traffic.
- How she writes her content.
- The biggest challenges she’s faced.
- Her top pieces of advice for new bloggers.
Tell me your story. Who are you and what do you blog about?
Hi, my name is Jodi Carlson. I run a blog called Leader Connecting Leaders which is an amazing resource for leaders of a variety of groups such as Girl Scouts, Frontier Girls, Quest Clubs, or any other organization inspiring girls to be leaders of tomorrow. I share ideas to make running a meeting easier offering ideas for badges, crafts, games, organizational tips, international ideas, and more. I have found teachers have started coming to my website as well to find ideas for their classrooms.
What motivated you to start blogging?
The motivation for this blog actually started after spending 12 years as a Girl Scout and 13 years as a leader myself. I started blogging to share ideas with other leaders and moms in my area. As time went on my community grew so I just kept on sharing!
How long have you been blogging?
I started blogging in 2014. I didn’t have any type of strategy or plan till after June 2016. Up to that point, it was more of a place for me to journal my thoughts. I just enjoyed sharing all my ideas with the leaders I knew were reading them.
How much do you make a month through your blog?
I make anywhere between $3,000 to $8,000 a month. The big range is because, during the school year, it’s busier for scout groups while in summer and holidays, it slows down.
How do you manage your time with being a mom and running your blog efficiently?
I manage my time by not over-planning what I can do each week, while still spending a half hour every Sunday to plan the week. Blogging is my hobby even though I make an income from it, it is not my priority. I have a full-time job and 2 small kids. I dedicate about 4 to 6 hours a week to my blog. I use the extra income to save and do a little splurging on things for and with my kids that I would not be able to do otherwise.
In what ways do you earn money through your blog?
I earn money from my blog mostly from printable PDF programs I put together to help leaders run their meetings with ease. I try to make the programs as ready to use as possible, print and go. Check them out here. I also have page ads and affiliate marketing. Both from Amazon and Etsy which is where I share many great shops of other leaders who offer things for leaders as well.
What are your favorite ways to build traffic for your blog?
I have found leaders LOVE Pinterest. I have grown my page with a lot of active followers and engagement. I get a lot of traffic from organic links on Google as well. I have a very active mailing list, as well as returning customers that come from emails often.
How do you keep up with writing great content and keep yourself motivated?
I stay connected to my readers on a lot of Facebook groups and listen to what leaders are struggling with and write resources to solve their problems. I love the topic so writing about stuff that helps leaders comes naturally to me. Like I said earlier I quit being a full-time leader when my first child was born and I miss the organization but this is a way for me to stay connected in a different way.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced with your blog?
My biggest challenge over the years has been copyright challenges with Girl Scouts. When this started I was focused on GS only but as I grew there were issues with how I promoted my site and I had to rebrand quickly. It was a good challenge in the end because it widened my reader base.
What advice do you have for new bloggers?
It is not a get-rich-fast task. Getting your readers engaged and coming back takes time. Be sure to start a mailing list early. Be consistent and don’t give up it will take time and there is no magic formula for when you will get a consistent traffic flow.
What is next for your blog?
I started adding DIY crafts to the blog with How-To videos to go along with posts and pictures of each step. This led me to start a Youtube channel. I don’t know where it will go but I plan to continue to add these types of resources to the blog. Leaders love crafts but I’m also hoping to open up to even more readers such as moms looking for fun crafts to do with their kids and of course more teachers and leaders!
Where can we go to find out more?
Website: https://leaderconnectingleaders.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaderconnectingleaders
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/leaderconnectingleaders/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jhauta94/featured?view_as=subscriber
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jodilynncarlson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodilynncarlson
Well, there you have it. Another great interview with an inspiring blogger! This is proof that you can really make a great income even in a very narrow niche. So what are you waiting for? Let’s start making money blogging!
If you are interested in starting a blog of your own, I created this easy step-by-step tutorial for you if you want to start your own blog. You can start your own blog for only $2.99 per month (this low price is through my link only) for blog hosting. You will also receive a free domain through my SiteGround link if you purchase at least 12 months of blog hosting. This is an amazing deal and is great if you want to start your own blog!
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