Did you know that you don’t have to be a huge blogger to make money blogging? You can learn how to make money with a new blog. You can monetize your blog today… right now!
We want you to know that you can earn a real income blogging. This year alone, I have earned well over what I thought was possible … this is the year is #3 for me and for my blog, Your Modern Family. That income does not include this page or any blog teachings. It comes from having a blog and growing it, just like you are going. From scratch.
If you looked at my blog, you would see that my Facebook page isn’t giant. Neither is Paula’s. We do not have GIANT fan bases. We aren’t huge in our Facebook fans (yet) and yet we are all making a lot of money on our blogs- enough to support our families with our blog income. The size of your fan base and blog aren’t the only things that matter.
What DOES matter is how well you spread your content around and how well you write and how well you promote yourself. What does matter is that you are writing viral-worthy content. What does matter is that you are bringing your readers back, until guests become loyal fans.
The women in BLOGGERS TELL ALL are examples of this. Collectively, they generate millions of dollars in revenue each year, and reach more than 30 million people every single month. They do it organically – with content that brings readers back. They do it with partnerships with trusted brands. (they even teach everyone else to do it)
I heard once that you have to put in your time blogging, that you have to blog for several years to make a good amount of money. That just isn’t true. I was making a lot of money within a year. To give you an idea of growth… Within 6 months, I was making $250 a month. By 18 months, I was earning more blogging than I had made teaching.
It continues to grow yearly.. It has grown more than I ever expected, each year. It is now year 5 and my goal to hit 7 figures a year is looking like a very reasonable goal.
The key is just learning what you need to do very early on (to take advantage of your time). I wasted months with bad posts & terrible (small) pictures before I realized what I needed to do. I studied blogging like I would study for a college course and I learned a LOT my first year and it is paying off, thankfully, because it was a lot of time AT THE BEGINNING.
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That is why we have this blog, so you don’t have to look for places to study- we have it all right here. I want to offer a little encouragement to say that even a small blogger can turn their blog into a financial blessing for your family.
Now onto the good part…
Here are just a few ways to do this when you are starting up:
First off… ConvertKit – sign up for this ASAP. It is what I wish I had done early on in my blogging career. It means that every time that someone visits your blog, they have the option of giving you their e-mail address. You want this!
It will be the only thing that you have control over (and you can sell them things down the road. Do this right after you start your blog.) I suggest convert kit after going through 2 others and finally finding the best one. (Talk to Kirsten if you really want to go for it – she’s an expert at e-mail marketing & newsletters – or start with her free email course!)
GET PAID TO BLOG…
Next- make sure that you are signed up with companies that will pay you to post a blog! Here are a few that I love… You can sign up for these by clicking on the affiliate links below.
- Linqia
- IZEA – this one is a favorite 🙂
- TapInfluence (probably one of my FAVORITES!) They really let you get creative!
- Sverve
- Being an affiliate for other bloggers (read more about that here)
- Moms Affiliate
- DoubleDutyDivas
- Cooperatize
- Social Fabric
- Blogher
- Momitforward
- SitsGirls
- PostJoint (they pay you to guest post on your blog)
- Wendy’s Bloggers
- MomCentral
- AFFILIATES of companies: Shopstyle, Etsy, other bloggers.
- Clever
- Pollinate Media
- The Motherhood
- Blog Meets Brand
Now onto some ideas for you to make money blogging…
- You can barter for free things. Products. Vacations. Clothing. Kitchen Appliances. I seriously can’t begin to tell you how many free things I have gotten since blogging (vacuum cleaners, clothing, toys for the kids, books galore, kitchen appliances, foods, etc…).I actually usually get two of these things- one for me and one for a giveaway. When I first started blogging, I blogged for the product. Now that I have more traffic (I am currently at 3 million PV a month) I will share a tweet in return for a product. If they want a post, I charge a fee.Remember, you can charge whatever you want. Maybe $5 for a social media share and $50 for a post? Maybe the product is worth enough to post alone. Maybe $500 a post. You decide based on your influence. You will soon find out how accurate your rates are, by how many people say yes. You can learn how to pitch brands kit and how to keep them coming back to you.
The question that I get asked a lot: How can I tell if I should charge or share for free?
If I am contacted by a company directly and they offer a product: -If the product is valued at over a certain amount of money (maybe a vacation or a great vacuum that I’ve been wanting), I will post about it for free if I really believe in it. You need to set your own limit for this.If it is something that I’m not really “needing”, I will ask for monetary compensation on top of the product.
If I can use a recipe or something from the product (ex: book), I will post about it for free, using their idea, because they are really supplying me with a guest post ~ I usually include an affiliate link for it. (See an example of this here: Devotional activity using play dough – I received this book for free, but she gave me permission to share on one of her ideas, from the book, as a post, so it was a win-win) If they contribute a guest post (with a link back to their page) that is relevant to my readers (and helpful!) and does not sound like a commercial, I will post it for free.
More ways to make money blogging:
-
- Become a Virtual Assistant – like a secretary that works online only. You schedule things on Facebook, you pin, you write.
- Become a freelance writer! One of my blogging friends is a ghostwriter. She is paid several hundreds of dollars per week to write content for OTHER bloggers. She just googles freelance companies and signs up to receive their emails with current jobs. You can take an AMAZING course on how to start freelance writing here.
- Apply for a sponsored post like you are applying for a job! My most recent example of this is Sverve. They recently posted a job and I thought that it would be really fun to do, so I applied for it and I was very honest. I told them exactly why my post would be great and why it would benefit them to hire me (in the nicest way!) You really have to sell yourself in the blogging world because you are working for you. Show them your strengths! You are amazing, so let them see that! You are your own voice and if you don’t sell yourself… no one else is going to.
- Do a favor! Remember to help others out, too. My blogging friends and I share things a lot for one another! We will send an e-mail to each other saying “You should apply for this sponsored post!” Or “You should contact this person- they were really helpful!”If you come across another blogger and you like what they have written, share their awesome post! If you find a post similar to yours, tweet about how ‘great minds think alike!‘
Yes, it’s possible to earn an income blogging. Yes, it’s possible to make enough to quit your job and have your spouse quit their jobs. The women in bloggers tell all did it & they are teaching others to do the same. Nothing is off the table… they literally TELL ALL.
For more tips on how to make money blogging – NO MATTER WHAT SIZE YOUR BLOG IS – check out the Profitable Blogging Framework. It includes over 50 videos from some of the top bloggers in the nation. Each video dives deep into a different aspect of what it takes to build a profitable blog. No matter what your blog’s size, this framework will help you create the blogging business of your DREAMS. See more info here.
Love these tips! I love all of you gals’ posts, actually. Ha ha! Last month I contacted a company on my own, presented an idea and what I could do for them, and got a huge thing for my family for free, and it felt *awesome*! I was really scared at first, but I just went for it and it paid off! Need to be brave more often! 😀
What kind of thing was it?
I fully expect this to be the year that I make a little money for my family. Previously, I had used Google Ads…but not effectively…and Amazon. Amazon made me enough to buy a book a couple times a year. Already, with some adjustment of my ads, I am doing much better with them. I am also hoping to do more sponsored posts this year.
I’m so glad Danielle introduced me to your blog here. VERY beneficial and encouraging ladies. Thanks!
Awesome- good luck!!
That is so great!! If you ever want to write up a guest post sharing your story, we’d love to hear it. 🙂 I love how we all encourage each other here!
Thanks, Jillian!
I blog comments all of the time but I wasn’t sure that was what I was doing. But overall I get great response to the things I put out. I would love to know how I could get paid because I have fallen on hard times, the internet and is what keeps me sane and my mind off of my world falling apart financially.
Could someone please contact me and walk me through this process, please!
Me too 🙂
Me too. Been blogging for 16 months, listened and tried suggestions. Not working for me. Think I need serious hand holding
LOL. 🙂 Well, we’re here to hold it. 🙂
What’s your blog?
I came across your blog while surfing the net looking for ways to improve my newly started blog. I found a treasure chest in your blog posting. Thanks so much for taking the time to share all this valuable information
Thank you for the tips………..I appreciate the work you have gone to in compiling them for the rest of us. 🙂 Gentle Joy
I hadn’t thought about going after products that we need. Thanks for the idea! I did recently contact a company after seeing an ad for them and got a review that way, which felt great. 🙂
yay!! Way to go!
As a new blogger I am like a sponge trying to figure out how to build my traffic, get guest bloggers, and make money while sharing my passion. My audience is parents of tweens & teens. It is a whole new level of parenting when it comes to smart phones and social media. 🙂 I want to build a community of moms (and dads!) that can share our ups and downs during this phase of virtual parenting. I will be bookmarking your blog to use as a stepping stone to the next level of blogging!
haha! I can’t imagine when our 4 little ones are teens… oh boy!
Another super helpful post! Thanks so much!!
Great! I”m glad it was helpful. 🙂
Hi Becky, your posts have been so incredibly helpful. Can I get your permission to print some of your posts FOR MY USE ONLY?
🙂 yes- of course.
Great post, Becky! I have a question about the companies that will pay you to post a blog. Can you register/sign-up with more than one of these companies or is that not permitted? Also, should you be at a certain level of monthly page views or social media followers before you get into that aspect of blogging? What do you recommend?
Oh- yes, definitely (sign up for more than one). I am signed up with all of them.
You can be at any number of page views. I have blogging friends that are at 200 and friends that are above 750000, so wherever your fall, there is an opportunity for you. Most of them will ask for updates every 6 months anyways. 🙂
I LOVE these tips! You have a wonderful website filled with very well written content! Thank you for sharing!
Great tips! Thank you! I’ve been hobby-blogging for several years now but I am a new ‘professional’ blogger and the information out there is just plain overwhelming. It’s hard to figure out exactly what I should focus on. This list really helps. Again, thank you 🙂
Great!!
What a great post! You are very kind to share this invaluable info-thanks!
If you have a minute to spare I’d be thrilled if you could link up your post to my weekly Say G’Day Saturday party. It has just started and this would be a great addition.
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Thank you so much for your encouragement. I’ve been blogging for three years now and slowly but surely building my reach. But i do believe that it is time to start monetizing it I just haven’t known where to start. Thanks to this and other posts I now have a better Idea…and more importantly, feel more confident. Thank you again!
Yay! I’m glad you are going to start monetizing- it can really pay off. 🙂
Thank you so much for this very specific information. I just started blogging a few months ago (after working as a freelance writer for years) and most of the info out there on how to make money blogging is so general or common knowledge. This post was helpful and gives me hope!
Oh how happy I am to have found you 🙂 I am all about paying it forward and I’m dusting off an old blog so I was lurking for color ideas but got sidetracked by another of your posts (as often happens, right?!) and here I am…anyway…YAY. Okay, back to “work” for me. But YAY 🙂
Cheers 🙂
Egads, this comments makes no sense outside of my head. No worries. Later…I promise 😉 THANK YOU!
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This blog post was so informative. I will be going over all your posts to find information. I want to start getting paid for my blog and I just don’t sell myself well. It’s something I really need to improve on. I will be taking this advice and implementing it step by step.
Hi Becky and Paula, Just stumbled upon this post and both of your blogs, which I thoroughly enjoy. Thanks for the great advice. 🙂
Welcome!! 🙂
I find your post really helpful and also given me assurance that I can actually achieve blogging as my part time hobby/job. One thing that concern me is that I’m a terrible writer. I almost failed grade 12 English. Does this stop me from having a website that people will read ?
Not at all!! haha!! I’m sure you are better than you are giving yourself credit for.. your comment was great so thats a start!
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for sharing this list. I do belong to some of these networks and there are new ones for me that I will definitely check out.
Hope you’re having a great week so far.
cori
I totally agree that you don’t have to be a huge blogger to make a full time income. My numbers are not huge and I made over $8000 last month. You just got to find what works for you and engage your audience.
This is great information for anyone who blogs! I already do some of this, but you have some new ideas here that I will be checking out. In the meantime, I’ve shared this post in several places…thanks for sharing!
Awesome tips! I’ve been learning how to blog, it is very fun. I’m glad that I’ve found you through Sverve.com and I endorsed yours 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
Joyce @ livelaughlovepost.com
This is a great series of posts Becky, thanks for sharing. My blog has been live for exactly 28 days now and I am petrified to pitch for a sponsored post or product review. Pinned!
Go for it!
I am just starting out, and honestly not very good at this. So, I paused from my blog to do some market/success research and fell across the blog tonight (found via pinterest blogging pins). I have read 4 articles from this site alone thus far.
Would you mind sharing a bit about how I would report blog income toward taxes at the end of the year? Honestly, this part scares me a bit as I continue to try to create an monetized blog. I realize it varies state to state – but thoughts?
Thanks so much for a wonderful and inspiring post with some really concrete ideas.
I wanted to let you (and other readers) know that SocialSpark is no longer operating. Their customer service let me know when I was trying to sign up that it’s now under IZEA.
Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored to tears at work so I
decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break.
I really like the info you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, very good blog!
Hi. I never knew blogging could be so profitable! I have been a housewife for 5 1/2 years and we have been wanting (for all that time) to start our family. I know I want to be a SAHM and homeschool, but money is tight now and we have been trying to figure out ways to make more money so I can stay home and still pay off debt, but big things we really are in need of, and begin to save. I’ve tried a craft business for the past 3 1/2 years, but have barely made more than I put in for raw materials,and definitely not more than a tiny pittance for all f that time. Reading your blog post here has opened my eyes to a new possibility to accomplish this goal. I enjoy writing (and someday hope to finish my novel) very much. I was an English major in college, and grammar, reading, and writing have always been passions of mine. But all of the various link and ideas are a bit overwhelming at the moment; so much information (which is great, but I tend to get overwhelmed by so many different places to go for information. I’m that person who wants to learn something and then goes and buys 20 books on it and wants to read them all at once then gets overwhelmed.) So where is the best place to start? Perhaps a book?
A book is a great place to start, but even easier are just affiliates. (we just did a series on it if you search Affiliate on our blog)
I’m not sure what led me to your sight but it has been a blessing. Thanks for sharing ways to monetize our blog sites. I’ve been blogging for 3 years and have just recently learned how to set up my blog to get more visitors. My writing experience is self-taught and it has become a passion of mine. Most recently I’ve been looking for ways to work at home due to health reasons. I look forward to getting started. Again,thanks for your wonderful posts.
I can’t wait to read the next one, thanks so much for sharing some of your secret
What a blessing your post is for me! Thank you for your guidance, which came at just the right time for my blog. I’ve been absorbing as much information as I can since beginning my blog. (There seems to be an endless supply of information out there) Your post organizes and pinpoints what I need to know right now, beautifully. I look forward to more.
Lisa
@WorthyWomanStudio
Thank you so much for this post. Such great ideas. You have given us hope!
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this is a great post! i had to reshare it. i love the content.
Loving your useful site. I am looking to make extra money and leave my job.
Becky, thanks for sharing all this useful information!
This is amazing these guys make thousands in no time
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You may want to edit that Kirsten’s free email course is now $397. I’ll have to save up–I’m very interested in it.
My free course is still free! Totally free! The link to it is http://www.freeemailcourse.com . I also have a paid course, Own Your List. But totally take the free one and then if you want to go crazy with email, you can jump into the paid course. 🙂
Hello and thanks! I have clicked on a few of the links….they are all asking for permission to post as me. What does that look like? Should I give full permission? Do you get to approve or decline posts before they go out? You talk about being able to barter or ask for pay….how does that work if they have permission to bypass me and just send out posts under my account? I’m a little leery of the whole thing hijacking my personal accounts and diluting them. Please reassure that this won’t happen :-/
I do – do you mean to join? You will get approved or declined before they go out.
This was an interesting read. I am in the very beginning stages of forming my first blog. I am truly excited to see where this path takes my wife and I. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Wow! So many ways! And I thought I had to have a much bigger blog! Will look into these today!
Thank you for this great post. It can be a bit overwhelming starting out not sure where to go. This post helps a lot to knownin which direction to go.
I’m new to blogging and trying to find my way. I love your post. So much information that it’s kind of overwhelming. On of the comments on here said something about needing hand holding. I hate to say it but, I think I’d need that as well. It’s so much that I seem to get lost very easily.
I am in the exact same boat as you! Would love some help!
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Very interesting post! It is full of encouragement for beginners like me that are not so young, but still want do try new interesting avenues for a happy retirement and earn some money on the side!
I love this. All of it. I started a blog months ago but it just kind of fell to the way side. But my husband has been begging me to get started on it again, so I’ve been getting some research in. We’re in the process of adoption a little boy with hydrocephalus from Eastern Europe. But we’re hoping that we’ll actually be able to bring home three little ones by Christmas. So that’ll quickly make me go from a mom of one to a mom of four. Plus, there are two more littles that have grabbed our heart and are quickly regressing, so my husband is working extra days so we’ll be able to bring them home next year. I’m hoping this blog will help with, not only the $30,000 we need to come up with by December, but eventually make it to the point that my husband no longer has to work and we can start our farm.
I realize that was super long, but once I start sharing I have a hard time stopping. Anyway, the whole point of this was to say thank you for sharing. I’m looking forward to watching my site take off.
How exciting!!!! Good luck!
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You just saved me hours of research with your list of companies. Thank you!
YAY!
Your blog title “You don’t have to be a huge blogger to make money blogging” is so inspiring.I am a new blogger and when I came across this post,I felt so motivated after reading the entire post.
Thanks a lot to help new bloggers with great ideas.
This is an incredible arrangement of posts Becky, a debt of gratitude is in order for sharing. My online journal has been live for precisely 28 days now and I am petrified to pitch for a supported post or item survey. Stuck!
I appreciate your posts it is important to know what companies pay bloggers the best. Thanks I hope these will be great companies to work with.
Long and confusing at times but I need to go back and go through it with a fine tooth calm and I am sure it will make better sense. I am sure this took a long time to put together and I want to thank you. I so want to be a stay at home mom and as the sole support of my family that was a pipe dream. Now, hope. I am also currently going through cancer treatments. The type of cancer I have, multiple myloma, is chronic which means there is no cure but there is treatment. I will certainly have my career cut short and I want a back up. I am just not a sponge of the system kind of girl. Oh well…thank you again. I am sure this will make better since once I get going!
Kristine
I shared this post with my group of blogging newbies that are looking for more of the traditional methods of making money while blogging. Are you still using many of these methods today?
Thanks for this article very informative. If you sign up for the companies mentioned to blog do you have to make a blog for them or you can send them your blog that you have written on your website. thanks
Rachel
Amazing post! Thank your for the great tips!
I’ve been blogging for 6 months, and I didn’t even think of making money from my hobby in the beginning. Later I found out that I could make something from that, but still I haven’t much luck. Maybe because of not the expected traffic, maybe because many of my posts are psychology-advises based and not product oriented. I think for some is very easy, for some is very difficult. The important part is to not lose your passion and stay motivated. We don’t blog only for money anyways.
We do it because we like it !
Great blogging tips, I really enjoy your site!
Too many of these money making options sound like work. That wasn’t the deal I signed up for when I started blogging>
This post was so helpful! I’m definitely going to apply to some of the companies on the list and see if I have any luck! I’m really excited to start making money with my blog! I want to focus on passive income but I really want to be a Pinterest manager too so hopefully I’m able to do both within the next 6 months.
Wow!!! I’ve rarely been so excited after reading a post. I’m committing to investigate all the links and great ideas shared here. Thank you ladies….I literally just started and I appreciate the enthusiasm!
wow! the article is amazing. thank you
Thanks a ton for the tips! If anyone wants to get with me and share or guest, or collab.. let me know!!
Becky,
Thank you for this article! I just started a blog about a month ago and I am new to everything, learning everything from scratch, trying to teach myself as much as I can. This is one of the first posts that I’ve come across with really great content and resources that I can research -thank you!!!
Hi, I see this post was written long ago and is still trending. This is an example of making money online. If we are to be sincere. Writing for the web for a long term uses can be a good source of online money making opportunity.
Notwithstanding, I love Affiliate programs because they are the surest ways to make money anytime and any day without being questioned or banned!
This is such a fabulous post. I’ve been wanting to start a blog for years and I’m finally doing it. Creating new content for a month solid before I push it. I’m learning so much each and every day but your post is the first I’ve found in a long time that shares new information and not just a rehash of the same stuff. Thank you thank you! Ellie
Nice post thanks for the sharing this beautiful post with us.. it’s very great information for us… thanks
Hello Becky, I have been recently struggling to find my identity and to figure out what my next move is going to be. Things have been tight and I want to continue to be able to be a sahm and be able to earn while working on hours that are on my terms. I am in the process of building my brand and business but until then I need a way to fund it and pay some extra bills. Recently I have been called to blogging, the idea has come up several times over this past year and I am finally trying to tackle it. But let’s face it I have not a clue where to begin and what or how to do it. (Silly I know, not sure if it’s fear of no one wanting to listen to what I have to say, or if I genuinely don’t know what to do or where to begin or both ahaha) my email is candascookiejar@gmail.com if you would like to email me any advice or words of encouragement ) thanks for this post it put a lot of things in perspective for me! God bless
Thank you for the tips
Tons of beautiful tips in this post!
I used to make money with less than 200 views a day. That was just about strategizing on conversion. More traffic only comes in to grow the income but I strongly believe everyone blogging with a good monetizing plan can make money anytime.
Thanks for sharing and have a beautiful weekend
Just finished your book and reading through this blog! My husband and I plan to head out for a year of travel in a couple of years and I’d like to blog. In the meantime, I have a sort of friends and family blog about camping in Colorado. It isn’t hosted and I use free wordpress. I’d like to transform it into something lots more professional and public. So, my question is–should I just scratch it and start over? Sounds like it is hard to move content and change a name? Because I’m giving tips on where to camp I think I may need to re-visit some of the older locations anyway. Will it actually disappear so that people will only find the new one? Finally, about how long did it take before your blog began earning an income? What exactly did you do–seek out advertisers? Or did they find you? Thanks!