share

How do Bloggers Make Money?

Abby H.

A couple of weeks ago, a friend asked me how bloggers make money. He never met anyone who was a blogger; he knew plenty of Twitch streamers, bloggers, and TikTokers, but nobody who was an old-school blogger.

While this is not a comprehensive list of ways bloggers make money, here are just a few ways that I either make money now or have made money in the past.

Brand deals: Brand deals are a big one. Brands send bloggers products or provide services to facilitate reviews or for advertising on blogs and related social media. I have done brand deals before, and they are usually a lot of work, but it is always fun to try out a new product or service that you might otherwise not be able to afford. 

Affiliate marketing: Bloggers sometimes opt to work with advertising networks. Affiliate marketing links consumers to products and services. Bloggers receive a small commission when links are clicked and when purchases are made after clicking through a link.

I use a few affiliate marketing networks such as Shopher (formerly MySavings) and Share A Sale. I am an Amazon affiliate as well. A lot of affiliate marketing networks have a small pay-per-click fee of a few cents per click. So, visiting links in bloggers’ posts, either on their blogs or their affiliated social media, can help bloggers a little bit.

Selling products or services: Some bloggers sell products. Printables are very popular. Sometimes through Etsy, but also sometimes directly through their own websites.

Some blog or cell services like exclusive content (Patreon), consulting services, or classes specializing in their blog niche. Many years ago, I used to teach couponing/frugal living classes in my local area. While the classes themselves were free, I sold newspaper subscriptions, and that’s how I made money. This is back in the days when most coupons came in the Sunday paper, and rebate apps like I bought it or not common.

Referral credits: When bloggers share apps or services, oftentimes the app service offers a referral incentive. Examples include Ibotta, Fetch Rewards, and Venmo. They frequently have incentives of a few dollars (or the point value equivalent), usually up to about $10. 

Of course, the more a blogger posts, and the more eyes are on the content, the greater the opportunity to earn money.

Supporting your local blogger by visiting a blog for even five minutes or scrolling through a post is a great way to support a blogger. Read a few posts and share on social media if you find something that resonates. Leave a comment on their social media. These small steps can really help increase a blogger’s reach, which opens them up to being offered more lucrative opportunities.

Let’s Start Fresh in 2022!

Abby H.

Starting fresh means different things to different friends. For some, it’s New Years Resolutions to Eat Better, Lose Weight, Get Organized, Spend more time on Self-Care. Whatever Starting Fresh means to you, I’m here to help.

For me, Starting Fresh means grabbing new calendars for the kitchen, kid’s rooms, and my room (I have a bulletin board next to my vanity with a wall calendar so I can review each day while I brush my teeth in the morning). I update the calendars each month with appointments, days off school, birthdays, etc. I usually get free calendars in the mail towards the end of the year and use those. For the kitchen, I get a Holiday a Day calendar and use that- It’s a great way to include silly “national” days into the meal plan or weekend plans. Like National Pizza Day (it’s in February) or National Bake Cookies Day (that was yesterday- we’re celebrating today).

Other Ways I Start Fresh Each Year (and keep it going through the year):

  • Inventory my Fridge, Freezer, and Pantry (and donate/share any unwanted still-in-date food). You can buy my inventory sheets here on Etsy.
  • Deep Clean/ Organize one area of the house each week. Start small. I start with the front coat closet.
  • Clean my car out. If you are a parent, you know. I take a laundry basket and a trash bag down to the car, and once the trash is out, and the stuff that needs to go into the house is in the basket (and back upstairs), I take my car to the carwash and pay $20 to have someone else wash and vacuum the car (and clean the windows inside and out).
  • Get rid of stuff that no longer serves you. I like to start in my closet. It’s a great chance to weed out clothes that no longer fit or serve me, and I can donate or share them.  I tend to do one area a month. I work on it for 10-20 minutes a few times a week, so it is not a mental burden.
  • In the same vein, do a toiletry/beauty/makeup purge. Travel-sized/sample-sized toiletries can be donated to homeless or domestic abuse shelters or local rehab/inpatient centers. Makeup and personal care items do expire (check out this article from Insider for more deets). If it smells weird or has a strange texture- toss it!
  • Space out Appointments or other “Adulting” tasks. As someone who had two mental/behavioral health appointments, an IEP Meeting, and a doctor’s appointment last week, I can assure you I was mentally and physically exhausted. As it was the end of the year, provider time was limited, so I didn’t have much of a choice, but going forward, I’m limiting myself to 1-2 “Adulting”/appointments per week. Otherwise, it is overwhelming and everything else, like tasks of daily living, gets pushed aside (shower, what’s that?).
  • Spend time Doing Stuff I Like. Yeah, seems weird? Spend a little time doing something that makes you happy. Play a game on your phone for 10 minutes, read, do a craft, work on a project, play Legos with your kids, go for a walk.

A content creator I really like, Rayna Cohen put it simply, ” Allow yourself to enjoy the new energy of the new year.”

My kid’s school sent out a Kindness Calendar for January. I plan on incorporating some of these RAOK throughout January and beyond.

Talk Back: I’d love to hear about how you are Starting Fresh for 2022!

Free Sample Offer for Midwestern and East Coast Readers!

Abby H.

I found this awesome offer this morning and had to share!

With social distancing this may not be a good fit for everyone, but if your kids are in school, or doing outdoor sports, this might be a good fit.

Helping your kids stay hydrated just got a whole lot easier in The Creative Roots Campaign! Try Creative Roots and share your feedback in an authentic review as an Insider, click the button to subscribe.

If selected to participate, you’ll receive your shipment of Creative Roots at home, to enjoy and to share! Enjoy Creative Roots right away you’re your kids and share your experience in photos on social media and on the campaign page. Begin passing out your 30 sample bottles of Creative Roots to other parents and clue them in on the secret to delicious hydration for their kids.

* Applying doesn’t guarantee selection for free product.

For more information and to apply, click here.