Hi everyone! Today I wanted to share a new post that I was SO excited to write. I have now been a blogger for a little over three years, and in that time frame, I’ve been able to surpass my full-time income with my side hustle. I’ve learned a ton of things through this journey and that is why I wanted to share 8 Ways to Make Money With Blogging today!
These are blog ideas that make money which I have utilized myself, and some that I have seen other influencers use! If you’ve recently started blogging and aren’t sure where to begin when it comes to monetization, this is where to start! I also will be sharing some resources that I have in regards to blogging, as well as a couple courses I took that have helped me on my journey.
Shop The Post
I also want to talk about this look for a second because I am OBSESSED! I shot these at The Candler Hotel in downtown Atlanta and this is one of my favorite places to shoot. It’s so vintage and the facade reminds me of all the old architecture of NYC! My dress was from the Christopher John Rogers x Target collab and the green is everything dreams are made of.
My bag is the Cult Gaia Millie Rattan Bag and I could not love a bag more. I scored this baby NWT from Uptown Cheapskate for only $29.99! It’s seriously the perfect summer clutch and it holds more than you think! The shoes were some I was gifted from Madewell last summer, and they’ve remained a favorite of mine. I even found a more affordable dupe from Target (here)!
Sponsored Blog Posts
The first way bloggers/influencers can make money is through sponsored blog posts! I will admit, I haven’t done as many sponsored blog posts as I do social media collaborations, but they are a GREAT pitch to brands when you’re working with them. Last year I started the year with roughly 3,000 monthly sessions, but ended the year with around 40,000! I recommend taking this affordable Pinterest course to help you get started!
Because of the sessions/views I get monthly, it’s a great way to pitch yourself to a larger payment from brands! Your blog is YOUR OWN PLATFORM. Even if all social media goes away tomorrow, you have your own space on the internet. It’s also a way for brands to have “evergreen content” which just means that it will last indefinitely and can gain traffic all year.
Don’t have a blog? Click here to see How to Create a Blog for Free and Make Money!
Sponsored blog posts are also a way to show a brand that you’ve been gaining sustainable traffic on your posts about them! If you worked with a brand in January (Q1), and it’s been performing well all year, it’s a GREAT stat to share with them around August (Q3) as they’re gearing up for start holiday partnerships. Social media posts die out after roughly 2 days which is why I love this content option!
Sponsored Social Media Content
Social media content is another GREAT way to make money as a blogger/influencer! It’s also the main way that I feel most content creators make their big bucks. It’s also easier to FIND collaborations of this form. There are a few ways to get social media campaigns. The first is through influencer marketing platforms, the second is through brands reaching out to you, and the third is by pitching brands!
I actually have already written an entire blog post on the Top 10 Places for Influencers to Find Campaign Opportunities, so I won’t take too much time describing this portion! Basically the these platforms are a place for you to input your stats, link your platforms, and then brands can find you! Usually you’ll negotiate pay and contract through this platform directly.
The second way you’re likely to get social media campaigns is by brands reaching out to you directly! This is where you need to advocate for yourself and negotiate your rate! Even if you’re a smaller influencer, promote the crap out of your engagement rate! It’s likely really high because you have less followers. ALWAYS ask if the brand has a budget and, if they do, send over a Media Kit! Not sure how to make one? Check out media kit templates (here).
The last way to gain social media collaborations is by pitching a brand directly! Almost everything I learned about pitching I learned from BossPitch by Erica Gwynn. She has been an influencer for soooo many years and if you’re going to splurge, do it with this course! When I took it I made the money back in less than a month (AND MORE). But just a tip from me, try to find “social media manager at *insert company here” on LinkedIn! Then Google the corporate email format of that company.
Website Ads
Another way to make money as a content creator is by adding ads to your website! A lot of sites like Ezoic, Mediavine, and SheMedia have monthly session thresholds, but if you’re hitting 25-50K sessions a month, be sure to look into these platforms for you own site. I use SheMedia for ads and I specified that I don’t want too many! It’s very cluttering and I don’t want people to leave my site because it looks too spammy.
SheMedia is great because you can talk with someone directly about what ads you want on your site. I tried some video content over the holidays and it messed with my theme format. I was able to get them deactivated day of so that it wouldn’t mess with my mobile traffic! Per year I am averaging a couple thousand dollars JUST from one banner ad on the bottom of my screen. It’s a great form of passive income!
Affiliate Networks
Affiliate income is another easy way to generate passive income! You add a link to your post, add a disclaimer to your website, and you’re good to go! I love using the Shop The Post widget with RewardStyle to add carousels to my post. It’s also nice to use the Boutique widget because it shows ALL the products in a post in a larger format. This is just one way to utilize affiliate links!
Want to learn more about How to Use RewardStyle to Make Money? Click here!
Another way you can find and use affiliate links is by finding affiliate sites! I have a few links with JVzoo and ShareASale that are product specific. Usually these sites allow you to embed banner ads, as well as add a hyperlink directly! Using a variety of affiliate options is a great way to gain even more passive income. The more links, the more money! This all said, try not to spam your readers with links. Add them tastefully, link keywords directly to affiliate links, and you’ll be golden!
Creating Digital Products
Creating digital products is another GREAT way to generate passive income. It’s actually on my list this year to create some e-books, RewardStyle templates, and Pinterest pin covers to sell! It’s easy to promote these items on Pinterest and then create a landing page for them on your site. This means you’re getting blog traffic, affiliate/ad traffic, AS WELL AS making money on the products you’re selling.
If you’re thinking, “oh I have no experience making templates.” Well look no further than Canva! They offer anything from logo templates, to presentation templates. I personally love their Pro feature which lets you remove the background of objects/images without affecting quality! I created this Instagram post using that feature. If you’re going to invest in an editing tool, pay $12.99 for CanvaPro and you’ll make it all back AND MORE.
Offering Coaching Sessions
I obviously share a TON of info on my blog for anyone who wants information on blogging/becoming an influencer, but if you want even more detailed help, I also offer coaching sessions! I know a lot of influencers do the same as well. This is a great idea because you’re literally getting PAID for your knowledge! I taught myself almost everything I know regarding this industry, so it’s nice being valued for that.
Want to sign up for one of my Coaching Sessions? Feel free to check them out here!
You also have the option of having students/mentees! This would basically be a longer term coaching package where you have weekly, bi-weekly, and/or monthly touchbases with your mentee(s). This is a great option if you have a newbie who needs more in-depth help with getting started! You could plan out meetings to work with them and focus on different tasks each time.
Speaking on Panels/At Events
This might be a little bit harder to do unless you have a larger following, but there’s a niche for everything! In 2018, I won the Fashion Influencer of the Year through InfluenceHer Collective. I then was flown to LA for HerConference, got to accept an award, and then was allowed to do a short speech! The entire trip was comped and it was so nice getting to meet other influencers from all over.
After last June, I know a lot of Black bloggers were asked to speak on panels internally for companies, as well as externally too! I personally was on a panel for a company where they gathered PR reps, influencers, and other Black women in this industry to discuss payment and the treatment of Black influencers. It wasn’t paid, and I DEF recommend getting paid for panels/events in person, but I was excited for this opportunity nonetheless.
Podcast Ads
Thinking of starting a podcast? Already HAVE a podcast? Then this section is for you! If you love listening to podcasts, then you know some of your favs use this as a revenue stream. The most hilarious thing to me is listening to my Serial Killers podcast and hearing “Have you tried FabFitFun?!” It seems so random, but you 100% remember the ad after the episode is over.
I would recommend that if you’re going to do podcast ads, that you make sure they fit your niche! If you’re a mom blogger who is always on-the-go, maybe work with a food delivery service! An influencer who loves coffee? Partner with a company that sells your favorite kind! This will help you stay true to your brand, as well as guarantee more clicks/purchases.
I hope you guys enjoyed this post! I love sharing helpful tips and tricks to both new bloggers and seasoned vets! These are 8 Ways to Make Money With Blogging that can help you start to monetize your side hustle starting as soon as TODAY!
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Photos by Hannah Lozano
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