Feeling the Fear: Putting Big Ideas in Motion

By Michelle Edgemont. Photography by Justin Hackworth.

As a creative, my list of big passion projects that I dream to accomplish one day is always growing. I’m sure yours is too. Many of them, more like a huge chunk of them - are terrifying. Simply thinking of the amount of work, to-dos, information, and money it will take to put a big idea in motion can stop it before it even starts.

I’ve learned a few ways to recognize this fear, work through it, and take those first steps towards accomplishing a giant goal. Fear is often seen as a negative, as something to run away from, as our gut telling us not to do it. In terms of business decisions, I don’t agree. With these following tips, I’ve learned to feel fear, to embrace it, and to turn fear into a positive instead of letting it cripple my big ideas.

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How To Become a Valued Contributor

By Victoria Hudgins. Photography by Amanda Mabel.

You landed that fabulous freelance position - great! Now what comes next? 

Do a wonderful job with everything and see your work and pay increase quickly. Here are tips from our Alt panel to move you forward.

Your posts will be submitted for review, either through email or a post draft. Each person/company you work with will be different and have different ideas of success so it's important to know what your goals are for each position. One may be very relaxed with the whole process and give you complete control of posting, while the other may have more steps and edits before your post is ready to be published. Some may have traffic goals, some may not.

Here is a general idea of what editors hope to see from you:

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How to Become a Blog Contributor

By Victoria Hudgins. Photo by Cube Me.

Have you wondered how YOU could get a blogging contributor job? Well, you're in luck! There was a panel at Alt discussing this topic and Chelsey, Capree, Melanie and me are sharing our tips on the topic this week.

How to land a great contributing position.

Be approachable! With the ability for anyone and everyone to see your crafting work, being approachable is a great asset. Here are four tips on how to do that:

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7 Questions to Jumpstart Your Goals

By Sara Urquhart. Photography by Fleaing France.

Although it is the nearly the middle of February, many of us are just now starting on our new year goals. If you were waiting until after Alt, or if you've simply not started planning yet - now is a great time to reevaluate your current blog and make plans to better it in 2013! Here are seven questions to think through as you plan the rest of the year.

1. What were your business and personal highlights of 2012? Can they launch you into greater success in 2013?
2. Of those highlights, do they have key elements in common? Can you learn something more about the things that matter most to you, your personal strengths (or weaknesses), or your values?
3. What would be the absolute best thing that could happen to you in 2013? Even if it’s outrageous, what is the first baby step toward that goal?
4. What’s something you do very well? How can you improve on it?
5. Is there something you’ve felt drawn toward that also makes you a little nervous? Is this the year to face your fear?
6. If you could only make one change this year that would bring significant growth, what would it be?
7. Imagine it’s New Year’s Eve 2013. What do you want to remember about this year?

Resources for Blog Businesses

By Helena Swyter. Photo by Julie Remizova.

As you begin to grow your blog into a business, there are many resources available to help you from the start. Here are a few links to get you moving:

The Small Business Administration is a government organization devoted to the needs of small business owners. They offer help with drafting a business plan, securing financing, and understanding local license requirements.

If you’d like free one-on-one mentoring, use Score to find a business coach in your area. You have many options when it comes to maintaining your books and records. It is worth your time to explore and choose the one that is the best fit for you and your blog. The following are some of the more-popular options:

• QuickBooks
• FreshBooks
• Wave
• Outright
• Xero
• CraftyBase
• Kashoo

Some of the best tips come from other bloggers who have grown their blog into a business. Check out Breanna Rose’s Be Free, Lance series and Jeremy and Kathleen’s Freelance Matters.

If you prefer to get your business advice straight to your inbox, sign up for Jess Lively’s Wish I Knew Wednesday mailing list and Amanda Genther’s newsletter.

Don’t be afraid to look for answers on the IRS website where you can find quick overviews of most tax situations.