How to turn blogging or vlogging into a career – live chat

Jamal Edwards, creator of SBTV, now has over half a million subscribers. Photograph: Karen Robinson

After finishing her A-levels last year Izy Hossack's baking blog, Top With Cinnamon, reached over 200,000 readers. "I started experimenting with recipes and set up a basic, free website. And it just went from there," says Hossack. Oh, and she's had a cookery book published too, following the blog's success.

Similarly, Jamal Edwards, started up a vlog – a video blog, usually using Youtube – aged 16 after receiving a camera for Christmas. At first, he filmed footage on his estate. "I was filming foxes in my garden. When I uploaded that I got 1,000 views and I was like, 'What? Let me just try something else.'"

Now, his channel SBTV – which broadcasts music promos, interviews and performances from the UK rap scene – has over 500,000 subscribers.

Does the idea of blogging or vlogging about your hobby sound like bliss? Well, for some people, like Hossack and Edwards, this is their full-time career.

"Audiences have a high commercial value, so bloggers can make substantial sums of money," says Kate Ross, managing director of digital marketing agency eight&four. Brand partnerships, advertisements and merchandising mean it's never been easier to turn your blog into a lucrative career.

However, don't expect overnight success, warns Anna Gardner, the writer behind Vivianna Does Makeup. "Good things come to those who wait. Blogging should be fun, and an extension of you and the things you love. If it isn't fun, and you aren't enjoying it, maybe it's not your scene."

So, if you're looking to start a blog, or perhaps have gained a following and would like advice on how to monetise your audience – join us on Thursday 2 July from 1–3pm BST for a live chat with the experts. We'll be discussing:

How to start a blog and grow your audience

Ways to monetise your blog

How to use social media to build your online presence

Where to begin when setting up a blog

The Q&A takes place in the comments section below this article. Taking part is easier than ever: create a free Guardian account, or log in using your Twitter or Facebook profiles to comment. Alternatively, you can tweet us @GuardianCareers or email your questions to charlotte.seager@theguardian.com who can post them for you.

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