Live life ambitiously
Alexa Davis went out on a whim and started her personal development blog Ambitiously Alexa in December 2020. She knew there was something greater out there for her. Allowing someone else (like a boss) to dictate her life during adulthood didn’t seem like a long term option. So on she went to pursue her own business endeavor!
Prior to starting her blog, Alexa received her B.A degree in psychology. She was also working a 9-5 job as a marketing assistant. Certainly not a bad place to start, as marketing is a large part of keeping her blog up and running!
Alexa’s transition out of her 9-5 is still in progress. But she is more determined than ever to make the switch out of 9-5 life and into a passionate and profitable business/blog, all while helping people grow their personal development. “I’ve faced and overcome my own struggles with mental health, productivity, and living a fulfilling life. All of which I discuss in my blog and teach others how to do it too! This is my “why,” to show people that no matter what personal issues they are facing, it can be overcome”.
Her steps toward turning her blog into a business include the use of affiliate marketing. She is also growing her traffic to qualify for premium ad networks such as Mediavine. Her favorite part though, is creating her own products such as the Printable Mental Health Journal and the Printable Goal Planner. ” I love providing my readers with step-by-step tools for improving themselves”.
Starting a business during Covid
Alexa was fortunate that Covid 19 did not have an impact on her business, as it is completely online. The personal development industry, if anything, has grown in the last couple years! Some people experienced an increase in free time and therefore had more time to dedicate to working on themselves. “There is also the mental health side of my blog, and Covid has brought mental health strain to many. Many people are seeking out information and resources about taking care of their mental health. So that’s also where I come in”.
Getting Inspired to escape the 9 to 5
Most of Alexa’s inspiration to escape the 9 to 5 and start a blog is from learning from other bloggers! One of her favorite bloggers, BySophiaLee, has several YouTube videos about how she started a blog (during college!) that now earns her six figures. “It is inspiring to especially see other young people make the switch in their lives, because it shows me that it can be done at any age”.
While Alexa still tends to work a 9-5 job, it is remote. She has a LOT of flexibility in working on her blog throughout the day. Even just getting a taste of this flexibility is what motivates her to escape the 9-5 completely. “I cannot wait for the days I can take a vacation on my own terms, without having to get “permission” to do so!”
Just Jump In
Alexa tells other potential entrepreneurs that best thing you can do is just take the plunge. The transition out of 9-5 won’t always be quick. It can take a few years to fully transition, but you’ve got to start somewhere. “Just starting and knowing that you are working toward something that will provide immense value and a better, more flexible lifestyle is a step in the right direction”.
All you can do is your best. If you’re only able to carve out time on weekends and evenings to work on your business, that is a fine place to start. Slow progress is better than no progress!
Always More to Learn
Alexa’s biggest mistake with her blog was not understanding SEO (search engine optimization) from the get-go. “I had a rough idea of keyword research, but I didn’t understand that I was competing against huuuuge authority websites! No wonder half my articles were not ranking on the first page of Google”. To anyone looking to gain visibility for their website in Google, make sure your posts are targeting keywords that other, lower-level bloggers are also targeting. Not WebMD, Psychology Today, or Forbes. Pay closer attention to your REAL competition (businesses on a similar playing field to you) and see what they do.
With a better understanding of SEO under her belt, Alexa Davis is off to a good start with more printable products. So far they have been drawing a lot of attention and contributing to her overall success online.
Keep up with everything Alexa Davis is doing at: https://ambitiouslyalexa.com
