How do I make money blogging?
Today, I’ve decided to spill my guts! I’ve been blogging for the last 7 years, and boy has it been a wild ride! I can’t believe it’s been 7 years, it feels like 1 or 2. I guess time flies when you’re….bloggin’.:)
I recently wrote some tips about how to start a blog and take over the world. Because taking over the world is our one true goal, right fellow bloggers? Right?
Blogging is totes my fav.
Yes, there are some cons. I get my fair share of rude comments or emails and sometimes the work is tedious, but for the most part, I love interacting with so many people all across the world! Ya’ll are my peeps.
Being successful in the blogging world doesn’t have anything to do with luck. It’s all about hard work & perseverance. (And goats. Lots of goats.) Like I said before, I’ve been blogging for 7 years, and only started to make an income about ONE year ago. For the first 5 years of my blog, I just wrote about our lives and the health struggles we were dealing with. About 2 years ago I started to get serious and write articles on backyard farming techniques, health tips, & real food recipes. That’s when it started to take off!
Learning how to monetize your blog can be a bit tricky at first. Take it from me that in order to really monetize your blog, you need to connect with other successful bloggers. I’ve spent the last 2 years networking with other bloggers, asking questions, and listening to their advice. Today, I’ve been able to surpass my husband’s income and turn this blogging thing into a real life job.
Our goal is to pay off the house, and have him retire early & run the blog with me. Here’s to hoping it happens!
How I make money blogging:
Amazon Affiliates |
Every time I have a product in mind I want to share with you all, I link to Amazon with a special tracking code attached. I get paid a percentage (about 6-8%) on ANY purchases made in the next 24 hours after somebody clicks on my link. This is great because Amazon has EVERYTHING, and I can search for exact brands I like.
My eBook & Online Class |
My book, Have Your Cake & Lose Weight Too! sells really well! I’m really glad I took the time to write the book. It took me about 6 months to write, but from what I hear, most eBooks should only take a couple months to write. I really wanted my book to be thorough, so I took my time with it. GOOD NEWS: My book is now available on Paperback!
My kid’s online class, Urban Farming for Kids, sells decent, though not as much as my book. We take all the income from it and put it in a savings for them for the future. We did give the kids some bonuses up front from the first few months of sales:) I’m thinking of reducing the price or trying to promote the class on homeschooling sites to boost sales.
Advertisements |
You’ve probably noticed the ads on my sidebar and at the top of the blog. Many people are shocked to hear that this ISN’T the biggest source of income for bloggers. Ads do “okay”, but not great unless you’re willing to place ads right in the content (blog post). I go back and forth over this. I’d like to make a bit more money with it, but I don’t want to annoy my readers. It’s a hard line to walk on:) There is another way to increase your ad revenue by signing on with an ad management company who specializes in DFP implementation. I have just started with this and am starting to see the numbers go up! I hired the company Rare Media.
Sponsors |
Sponsors are companies who are willing to pay you for a blog post, giveaway, or review. If you have high enough traffic, then companies are willing to pay to reach your readers. You can work out a deal or arrangement, but it does take some time. If you are a health/wellness blogger, you’ll have to be more picky about who you choose to support. I really enjoy working with sponsors, but it isn’t a steady source of income for me currently.
Other Affiliate Programs |
There are a lot of other ways to become an affiliate. You can become an affiliate of other author’s eBooks, or an affiliate of online summits & conferences. You can also become an affiliate for some companies like Vitacost or Wellness Meats. The income isn’t substantial (except for when there is a conference that your readers really like or a big sale), but it’s still a good thing to add to your options.
YouTube Channel |
Now, this isn’t a place that I’m making the bucks (yet), but I thought I should give it a good shoutout, since some of my blogging friends do well on this platform. You can monetize with YouTube and earn money through them, but it does take time to build up your subscribers. Hey, now that you mention it, why don’t you subscribe to MY channel? (wink, wink)
doTERRA Essential Oils |
I have been using doTERRA’s brand of essential oils for about 2 years now and I’ve always been happy with them. I just recently was given the opportunity to become a Wellness Advocate (seller) of doTERRA and I have to tell you, this is quickly becoming my best revenue source! I’ve been able to use my blog to help people all over the world. I have to say, I have just LOVED being with doTERRA so much! I have been able to use my nursing background, my bloggy tech skills, my love for essential oils, and my interpersonal skills to help others make money, and THAT is just amazing.
GOOD NEWS: I am currently looking to expand my doTERRA team, and I would love to work some of my readers! If you are interested in working with me and are interested in learning how to work from home, contact me here! It doesn’t matter where you live (even internationally), you can be part of my team:)
Is it ethical to make money through blogging?
I spend about 40-50 hours a week working on the blog. Much of it is done in the early morning hours and late evenings so I can spend the days farming & homeschooling. I don’t take weekends off. Ever. I live & breathe this blog, and I love every minute of it. Over the last 7 years I’ve sent my heart and soul out to the internet and have tried to provide helpful, free information to my readers. Today it’s awesome and amazing that I can finally make money doing what I love! So yes, I do believe it’s ethical. I make sure to promote only products that I would personally use myself, and support companies that I believe are trustworthy.
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