How I Turned Social Media Into A Side Hustle at 65: (And Why I Love It)

OK, Nobody, and I do mean NOBODY, told me that at 65 I would be sitting here …. talking to my phone, filming videos and writing blogs, trying my damndest to build a lucrative social media side hustle. And yet, here we are. And the funny part about it, I kind of love it.

Hi! In my blogging life I am mrshovlandblogs.com. In my YouTube life I am Kyla-Apparently 65 Going On 28 and this was not my life plan. But after losing my job at 64, very rude, by the way, I had a choice. I could sit still in the corner and wither away or, I could stir up a wee bit of trouble and hit the internet! In typical Kyla style, I chose a wee bit of trouble. So I opened up my laptop, picked up my phone, wrote furiously in an old spiral notebook writing down all sorts of thoughts. Thoughts I have turned into blogs or YouTube videos and also a few thoughts that we shall not speak of. 😂 Maybe someday I will have the guts to do something really unhinged…tee hee.

The Learning Curve From Hell!

When I jumped feet first into the deep end of this mess, I literally knew next to nothing about social media (not so fast on that one, I could scroll and investigate with the best of them😉) , the internet, using different types of publication apps, how to build a website or how to launch a blog or a YouTube channel. I had the help of friends and my favorite son-in-law but if I am being honest, I did most of the heavy lifting myself. There were innumerable Google searches, there was more than a little bit of bad language thrown around and more crying and sleepless nights than I care to admit to. It was a seemingly insurmountable task. But, I am way too stubborn to give up! Little by little, things started to make some sense, I was able to begin to put things together that I could publish, and maybe more importantly, things that were worth publishing! Currently, I feel fairly proficient with quite a few things I need to use to do what I want to do. It’s a definite win! And, like I say fairly often, we as women do not give ourselves enough credit for our accomplishments….So, YAY ME!!!

What I Actually Do! AKA The Side Hustle Shuffle!

So, what am I even doing over here? Well, for starters I keep a notebook. I jot down any and all ideas I might have for content. You never know what could be gold for your blog or your channel. I film silly snippets of video all the time, who knows, I could maybe turn it into something! I keep lists of topics, products that could be promoted within those topics, ideas for full length YouTube videos or shorts. I make videos about real life at 65 with the spirit of a 28 year old. That could mean:

• 💛 Trying on clothes and giving my honest opinions.
• 💛 Reorganizing my life one drawer or closet at a time.
• 💛 Talking about things nobody warned me about. (There are a lot.)
• 💛 Vocalizing unpopular opinions that I have earned.
• 💛 Trying to make sense of having my 28 year old spirit stuck in this 65 year old body.
• 💛 Taking advantage of teaching moments, I have learned so many tough lessons in my 65 years, and trying to make a difference in somebody’s life.

But mostly, I just show up as myself and hope somebody resonates with me and what I have to say!

I write blogs on topics that I think will interest people. My blog is generally a lifestyle blog which means that I don’t need to tie into a particular niche. I have lots of freedom to choose what I wish to write about. My topics have really run the gambit over the past year or so and so far, I am comfortable with that! I try to find appropriate products to link in my blogs as part of the Amazon Affiliate piece. It’s all part of the game! 😊 Some of my blog topics have included:

• 💙 Online Dating. I am forever grateful to it for bringing me my sweet husband!
• 💙 Self care features.
• 💙 Travel features.
• 💙 Cooking and baking blogs.
• 💙 Holiday ideas and lists of gift suggestions.
• 💙 Mental health features and advice on ways you can love someone who struggles in this area.

I also have a fairly decent sized, successful Poshmark closet operating and do Amazon Affiliate marketing on Pinterest. This my friends, is the SIDE HUSTLE SHUFFLE and it is a full on 3 ring circus!

If you have ever dived into the Social Media Abyss, you know:

• ✅ You film a video!
• ✅ You write a blog!
• ✅ You forget what you are doing half way through!
• ✅ You film it again, and again and it still isn’t perfect.
• ✅ You take and download countless photos. (How fat do I look in this one? How many chins came out to play? Oh God, my hair looks awful……you know the drill. 😂
• ✅ It’s a great topic….people will love this!
• ✅ Worst idea EVER!
• ✅ You edit again and again and again, sometimes badly and don’t get me started on proofreading blogs.
• ✅ You’re a genius!!!
• ✅ You’re an idiot!!!
• ✅ This one will go viral for sure!!!!! 😊

... And then you decide that you are either brilliant or you should never speak again! Sometimes within the same day , hour or project. You pull up your projects and look at your analytics 42 times in an hour. How many views? Comments? And how many of the frustratingly elusive follows or subscribes. This game is not for the faint of heart. Good thing I may be one of the most stubbornly determined people I know!

Does this actually make money?

The answer for lots and lots of people is a resounding yes!!! The short answer for me is….Eventually. With the exception of my Poshmark closet which drums up a nice little bundle once in awhile. Eventually, I will make an income worth my time and effort. It is about consistency, learning as you go, not be tempted to quit when only 12 people watch your video (and 4 of them are family). You have to have a good attitude. This can and does turn into YouTube income, brand deals, affiliate links and traffic to your blog. I am building all of that in real time even if it isn’t perfect, even if it is messy and even if I feel a little ridiculous once in awhile

If you have been thinking about starting something….Anything – This is your sign!

Start messy, start unsure, start while you learn. You don’t need to be perfect, you just need to do it! I didn’t expect to love it as much as I do! I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I definitely feel pressure to keep the momentum on the blog and the YouTube channel both moving forward. But, honestly, what is life without a little something to chase???

• 🟥 I love creating.
• 🟥 I love keeping my mind sharp by always learning something new.
• 🟥 I love proving to myself and everybody else for that matter, that I am not done yet.

Because, here is the truth….I’m 65 but I am not finished becoming who I will be. I am not done yet, I am still becoming!

If you want to watch me figure this out in real time, follow my blog www.mrshovlandblogs.com and subscribe to my YouTube channel, Kyla, Apparently-65 Going On 28 because, clearly, I am doing this now!

Cheers!