People are surprised when I tell them I make money blogging.
"I didn't know you could make money on a blog."
"How did you learn to blog?"
"How do you make money with your blog?"
Yes, you can make money blogging, and there are so many ways to learn!
*This post contains affiliate links.
How I Started to Monetize My Blog
Early on my blog was simply a hobby, and after a year of blogging I discovered I could actually get PAID for doing what I enjoyed. Now, blogging is my business. When people ask what I do for a living, I proudly tell them I am a blogger, curriculum developer, and social media consultant.
{Remember, I used to run my own piano studio from my home and quickly discovered blogging afforded me more flexibility and greater income. I gave up my studio one year ago to pursue my online blogging and SQUILT curriculum development.}
Right now, it generates a part time income, but many days I feel like I put in more than part time hours. The past three years have been like attending BLOGGING COLLEGE - doing the necessary leg work and study to learn about this new career path.
With an excellent community of support in the iHomeschool Network I learned bit by bit about the finer points of blogging. I attended two blogging conferences. I had the wise counsel of my friend, Jimmie Lanley.
First and foremost I see my blog as a ministry to the homeschool community, but I also view it as a business so that I can make it the BEST IT CAN BE.
Four Ingredients for a Successful Blog
Opinions may vary here, but for ME, these are the three things that stand out in making my brand/products successful. I can have the greatest design and most beautiful looking blog, but if these ingredients are missing it's useless.
Consistency - Posting regularly and writing content that is relevant to my readers is key. I try to update the blog at least two or three times each week. I look at every post and ask myself: "Would my ideal reader find this post informative and useful?" and "What is one thing a reader could GAIN from this post?"
Community - The community here at Homegrown Learners is dear to me. I have known many of you for YEARS. Our children are growing up together and we have gone through happy and sad times together. You aren't just readers, you are FRIENDS. I try to interact with you as such - respond to comments, chat on social media, etc...
Courage - I want to write about things that are HARD. Whether it is my view of kids and social media, spoiling our children, or service to others - I strive to have courage in this online space. In a world of tolerance and acceptance we need to not be afraid of TRUTH.
Commitment - I try to be committed to this community, through posts that are educationally sound and by supporting and working with companies that are reputable. Your online time is valuable, and my commitment to you is that I won't waste your time with low quality content.
Sources of Blogging/Online Income
Let's get specific.
Below are the five primary ways I generate income through my blog and other online activities.
I will give just a little detail on each area of the chart.
Affiliates = Amazon is my primary affiliate. I also participate in other affiliate programs that fit the homeschool/parenting niche well.
eBooks = Creating your own product (for me it is my SQUILT curriculum) gives me a source of income I can control. Once the books are written that income becomes passive. I'm so glad I decided to create something of my OWN.
Consulting = I work for one small company 2-3 hours a week doing Facebook and Pinterest management and other small social media projects. I probably could have more of these types of jobs, but right now one is enough.
Advertising = This includes sidebar advertising and Google Adsense revenue. I don't participate in any other ad networks.
Reviews = When I first started blogging I would simply accept a free product in exchange for a review. I learned, however, that my time is VALUABLE, so I now charge for reviews. Unless the product is huge and wonderful (like my partnership with LEGO® Education) I won't review for free. FYI - if you are a blogger, please don't undersell yourself in this area.
Resources for Learning about Blogging
The most comprehensive, affordable resources for learning about blogging I know of are iBlog and iBlog Pro. Questions answered in these 2 ebooks include (but are not limited to):
- How do I take better photos for my blog?
- What is the secret to balancing motherhood and marriage with blogging?
- What is the best way to write a product review?
- What is an elevator pitch and why do I need one?
- How can I make the most of SEO (search engine optimization)?
- How can I get traffic to my blog and get visitors to subscribe?
- Are link-ups really worth the effort? And where do I find them?
- What is a media kit and how do I create one?
- Is guest posting important?
- How do you hold a Facebook party or Facebook hop?
- What are the insider secrets to using Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook?
- How can I sell my own products or give away freebies on my blog?
- Can I really earn money from affiliate programs?
The table of contents is quite impressive.
Right now these book are bundled together for just $11.99!
There you have it.
That's how I blog and make money doing it.
I'm always happy to answer more specific questions! If you have any, please leave me a comment and I will do my best to answer them.