Blogging is one of those things you can do as a hobby or as a job. Those for whom it is a hobby blog to connect with those of similar interests or as an outlet for creative expression. Those who do it as a job want to make money. There are even some of us who blog mostly as a hobby but who wouldn't mind making money. That leads to the question: How can bloggers make money?
Advertising
Like the owners of any other medium, bloggers can make money by selling advertising on their site. Some are able to cut deals directly with advertisers for space; others belong to networks like Adsense which place the ads and pay the blog owners.
Sponsored Posts
Sponsored posts are posts an advertiser pays you to write, like this one was intended to be. (I sent a copy of the article to the client for review and payment prior to publishing and never heard back from them) Usually bloggers are asked to write a post that fits with the theme of the blog, and to mention the client a certain number of times, and to use the provided links. Mel wrote a great post that mentioned programs that match bloggers with companies that want sponsored posts.
Affiliate Marketing
A lot of businesses will pay a sales commission or provide things of value to bloggers who refer new business to them. One such business is Amazon. Associates are given codes which are integrated into the URLs of products on Amazon's website. Bloggers write posts that suggest the purchase of the products or advertise the products on their sidebars. If a reader clicks the link and buys from Amazon, the blogger gets a commission. As with many other commission-based sales programs, the more you sell, the higher the commission rate.
At one time becoming an Amazon Affiliate was as easy as filling out an application. Recently Amazon has cracked down on what they consider to be spammy websites. Also, they require that affiliates sell something within the first six months. If you are approved, Amazon offers a variety of products and its links are easy to include in posts.
I had been an Amazon Affiliate until my state's tax laws disagreed with Amazon and Amazon dropped all residents of my state. Amazon has since agreed to collect sales taxes and while Louisiana residents can now become Amazon Affiliates, my most recent application was turned down.
A lot of companies have affiliate programs of one sort or another. Here are some that will pay me if you click the link and do as noted:
Motif: This stockbroker sell baskets of stocks, which it calls "Motifs" for $9.95 per basket. Use this link to get a free 3-month trial of Motif, a smart way to invest for people who care. Motif makes it easy to build an investment portfolio that aligns your financial goals with your personal values. With this free trial, you will get access to their Impact accounts as well as their powerful trading tools.
Stockpile: Stockpile is an online stockbroker which charges a flat $0.99 fee per trade, and which sells fractional shares of stock. If you are looking for a different type of Christmas present this year, Stockpile offers accounts for minors which allow them to buy and sell stock, subject to your approval. If you use this link, you get $5.00 worth of stock to begin your account with them, and I get $5.00 too. I wrote a full review of Stockpile a few months ago.
Robinhood: Robinhood is a commission-free stockbroker which, at this time, can only be used via smartphone (they are in to process of developing a website). If you use this link to open an account with them, you and I will both receive a free share of stock. Here is a link to my review of Robinhood.
Ibotta: Ibotta is a smartphone app that offers you coupons and tracks your purchases. I just downloaded it so I can't tell you a lot about it except that if you use my link, you get $10 and I get a reward as well.
Personal Capital: Personal Capital is a robo-advisor that offers free financial tracking through its website. You can read my full review here. If you use my link to sign up--no purchase necessary, just link your accounts so you can use (or not) the tracking features--we both get $20.00
I had been an Amazon Affiliate until my state's tax laws disagreed with Amazon and Amazon dropped all residents of my state. Amazon has since agreed to collect sales taxes and while Louisiana residents can now become Amazon Affiliates, my most recent application was turned down.
A lot of companies have affiliate programs of one sort or another. Here are some that will pay me if you click the link and do as noted:
Motif: This stockbroker sell baskets of stocks, which it calls "Motifs" for $9.95 per basket. Use this link to get a free 3-month trial of Motif, a smart way to invest for people who care. Motif makes it easy to build an investment portfolio that aligns your financial goals with your personal values. With this free trial, you will get access to their Impact accounts as well as their powerful trading tools.
Stockpile: Stockpile is an online stockbroker which charges a flat $0.99 fee per trade, and which sells fractional shares of stock. If you are looking for a different type of Christmas present this year, Stockpile offers accounts for minors which allow them to buy and sell stock, subject to your approval. If you use this link, you get $5.00 worth of stock to begin your account with them, and I get $5.00 too. I wrote a full review of Stockpile a few months ago.
Robinhood: Robinhood is a commission-free stockbroker which, at this time, can only be used via smartphone (they are in to process of developing a website). If you use this link to open an account with them, you and I will both receive a free share of stock. Here is a link to my review of Robinhood.
Ibotta: Ibotta is a smartphone app that offers you coupons and tracks your purchases. I just downloaded it so I can't tell you a lot about it except that if you use my link, you get $10 and I get a reward as well.
Personal Capital: Personal Capital is a robo-advisor that offers free financial tracking through its website. You can read my full review here. If you use my link to sign up--no purchase necessary, just link your accounts so you can use (or not) the tracking features--we both get $20.00
Selling Your Own Products
Some bloggers make money by developing and selling a product such as an e-book, or in the case of some really big names (think Pioneer Woman) actual physical products. Other bloggers use their blogs as a way to publicize an ongoing business. From what I can see, most of the bloggers who are making big money from their blog are doing it by selling products.
Review Products
Some companies will offer complimentary products to bloggers who agree to review them. This is especially prevalent in the worlds of book blogging and mommy blogging. While some products are given with the understanding that they will not be sold (like review copies of books), and some will be consumed in order to review them, still others can be sold by bloggers or given as gifts.
Blogs with large readerships generally qualify for more and better review products. Some can be obtained through tour groups and sometimes company publicists will respond favorably to a request for a review product or even a giveaway product --and giveaways can be a great way to increase readership if you are willing to promote them.
Blogs with large readerships generally qualify for more and better review products. Some can be obtained through tour groups and sometimes company publicists will respond favorably to a request for a review product or even a giveaway product --and giveaways can be a great way to increase readership if you are willing to promote them.
Have you found any ways to make money blogging that I have failed to mention?
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