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How Do Bloggers Make Money

March 10, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to earn money from a blog.

Can I be real honest with you for a sec???  I always feel a little funny handing out blogging advice.  It’s true that this little blog is 4 years old, but I still feel like I don’t know what I’m doing half of the time!!  So, when I get asked “how do bloggers make money?” (which I am asked quite frequently), I try to answer the best as I can….but in reality I’m still trying to figure that out for myself!  

This blog was started four years ago when I was desperately trying to find a way to earn some extra money from home, while still being able to be a stay at home mom to my three kids.

I do earn a small income from blogging each month, which I am so very grateful for!  It’s not anywhere close to a full time income, and I am betting that most of the other blogs you read earn much more than I do.

So, I am definitely NOT a blogging expert, I am still trying to figure it all out myself.

However, I do believe I can answer the question, “How do bloggers make money?”  And, I hope to answer it in this article.

How Do Bloggers Make Money

There are many different ways to earn money from a blog, but in this article I am going to focus on the four main income streams:

  1.  Ad Revenue
  2. Affiliate Marketing
  3. Sponsored Posts
  4. Sell Products

I have personally earned money from each of these different ways, so I can speak from experience that these are real ways that bloggers earn money.  Each of these different income streams will be discussed in more detail below.

1.  Ad Revenue

Ad revenue is my biggest income source from my blog.  You may have noticed that I have a few ads in this article.  There is one over on the side and a few in between the text.

To start earning money from ads you will need to join an ad network.  Some of these require a certain number of pageviews before you can be accepted, such as Monumetric and Mediavine. 

If your blog is new, and traffic low I recommend using Google Adsense for ads.  You won’t bring in a huge income with these ads, but it’s something.

2.  Affiliate Marketing

Another great way that bloggers can earn money is through affiliate marketing.  Affiliate marketing is a partnership between you and an online retailer.  When you recommend one of the retailers products using an affiliate link, and someone makes a purchase from your recommendation, you will be given a small commission.

The commission is usually low, but it is still a great way to make money on your blog because it’s so easy!  Just share products that you love and feel that others would love too!

All you have to do to get these affiliate links is to sign up through a few affiliate programs.  My favorites are:

  • Amazon
  • ShopHer Media
  • CJ Affiliate Program
  • AdBloom
  • Impact Radius
  • Share a Sale

The best way to find affiliate networks is to google a company or product you like with the words, “affiliate program.”  There is an affiliate program out there for almost anything, you just have to do the research to find it!

3.  Sponsored Posts

Sponsored posts are another opportunity available for bloggers to earn money.  A sponsored post is when a brand or company pays a blogger to write an article about their product or company.

If you look closely at bloggers articles you will see some of them disclose at the top of the article that it was a sponsored post written for the company, here is an article I wrote for Turbo Tax.  This disclosure is required when writing sponsored posts and lets us as readers know that the blogger was compensated for the article.

The best way to receive a sponsored post offer is to e-mail brands that you want to work with, asking if they would like to partner with you.  For more information about what this e-mail should look like check out this article.  It was very helpful to me when I was learning!

4.  Sell Products

And lastly, bloggers can earn earn money from a blog by making and selling their own products.  A product can be anything from an eBook, a course or class, an app, etc.  Really there is no limit to products that a blogger can create to make money.  If it’s something that will benefit from your readers, than it is worth creating.

I have created two products that I currently sale.  My eCookbook, Mel’s Home Cooking and a course all about helping others be more frugal, Quick Start Guide To Frugal Living.

Grow Your Audience

Here’s the thing though, none of these methods will make you money unless you have an audience reading your blog. So, while you should be implementing some of these methods to earn money on your blog, you should also be working on growing your audience.  It really goes hand in hand!

So, how do you grow your audience?  Well, that is the question of almost every blogger out there!  With three years of experience, I am STILL trying to find the answer, but I can tell you a few things that I have learned a long the way.

  • Related:  12 Side Hustles for Stay at Home Moms

1.  Be Genuine

Honestly, my biggest piece of advice is to be genuine in your writing.  Write from the heart, share your truth, and share things that will be beneficial to your readers.

I ask myself this question when deciding what to write or not, “Would you share this information to your best friend?”  If the answer is “no” then I know that it isn’t an article worth sharing, if the answer is “yes” then I write it.  My readers have become my “best friend” in a sense, I write to them as if they are a dear friend who I want to help and encourage.

2.  Use Social Media

Promote your blog regularly on social media websites.  One of the best way to get eyes on your blog is to share it.  Share your articles regularly on social media sites such as Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, etc.  The more often you share, the more eyes you will get on your articles.  In my experience, Pinterest is the best social media platform for increasing blog traffic.

3.  Focus On SEO

SEO (search engine optimization) is something I ignored for the first two years of my blog because it just felt to confusing to me.  That was a huge mistake!  Once I finally focused on SEO, and began to write my articles in a way that would please google, I finally saw my traffic grow.

One of the best recommendations I can give to help you with SEO is Debbie Gartners eBook, Easy On Page SEO, it truly changed my blog for the best.  She explains SEO in easy to understand terms, which is exactly what I needed!

4.  Grow Your E-Mail List

Another must for bloggers to help them increase their blog traffic is an e-mail list.  Having an e-mail list gives you the ability to send your subscribers new blog articles, affiliate links you enjoy and new products you have created.

The best way to grow your e-mail list is to offer free resources to anyone who subscribes to your e-mail list.  For example, I offer these Free Budgeting Cheat Sheets, when a reader signs up to receive this freebie they will also be subscribing to my newsletter.

When creating your e-mail list, I suggest doing so with Convert Kit.  I have been so happy with them!

In Conclusion

If you have ever asked the question, “How do bloggers make money?” I hope that this article helped you learn a few of the different possibilities out there.  It is not an easy job, but it is one that is doable!  I am so grateful for the extra spending money I make each month from my blog.

Let me know if you have any questions, I am always happy to help!  I love to chat about blogging!

Related Articles:

  • 10 Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started Blogging
  • Legit Ways To Earn Money From Home
  • Best Ways to Get More Instagram Followers

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Answering the question, “how do bloggers make money?”

Legit Ways To Earn Money From Home

April 23, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life7 Comments

How to make extra money from home.

A few years ago I made a promise, to myself and to my family.  I promised that I would figure out a few ways to earn money from home.

You see, I am a stay at home mom…I have been for 15 years.  I love this job.  It is important to me to be available to my kids before school, during school and after school.  I get that this isn’t what’s best for every family, it’s just what’s best for me personally.  Like I always say, there are a thousand different ways to be a FABULOUS parent!

The problem was that, I also wanted to contribute to the family income.  I like money (don’t we all???).  My husband doesn’t earn a huge paycheck, and I really wanted to help our family financially.

So, I promised myself that I would find a way to earn money while still being a stay at home mom.

I tried teaching piano lessons from home.  But, the schedule didn’t work with my kids schedule.

Then, I started cleaning Airbnb rentals, which technically isn’t out of the home…and that was the problem.  I hated leaving the kids alone for hours while I went to clean.  They are old enough to be alone…but it just didn’t work for us.

And, that is why I started this little blog.  Honestly, I do not earn a ton of money from blogging, but I earn a little bit, so I keep working at it.

I get that blogging isn’t a job for everyone, but there are so many ways to earn money from home!  There truly is a job for all personalities and talents.

Who Can Benefit From Working From Home?

There are many, many people who could benefit from an at home job:

  • Stay at Home Moms who want to earn an extra income (like me!)
  • Someone wanting a more flexible work schedule
  • If you are paying off debt, and want an extra income to pay it off quicker
  • Anyone looking to make extra money in addition to your 8-5 job

how to earn money from home

This article contains affiliate links.  I will earn a commission from purchases made using links in this post.

How to Make Extra Money From Home

Sell Your Clutter

We all have clutter sitting around our house (or is it just me…..).  Sell these items online to earn a little cash.  Every 6 weeks or so I like to grab a few unused items around the house and list them for sell.  I don’t make a lot of money doing this, but I do make some spending money.  And you can too!

You can sell items in your home on websites like:

  • Ebay
  • Facebook Marketplace
  • Poshmark
  • Thred Up
  • Mercari

Sell Baked Goods

Do you love to bake?  Make a business out of it!  You could bake specialty cakes, cupcakes, cookies or other desserts and sell them for special occasions.

This has been a successful side hustle for many bakers.  Start spreading the word among family, friends and Facebook offering your services for special occasions.  I love to support in home bake shops!

Do Online Transcription Work

A transcriptionist listens to recorded audio files and converts them to text.  This is usually done for medical or legal companies, but other companies hire transcription work as well.

Transcription work can be easy to learn and has many possibilities available, all from home.  The only skills required are the ability to listen and type what you hear, not bad!

If you want to learn more check out this article from The Penny Hoarder.  She gives great details about where to find transcription jobs.

Become an Online Tutor

Another one of the great ways to earn money from home is to become an online tutor.  This is a great opportunity for anyone who enjoys teaching kids.  Look into companies like Tutors.com for teaching opportunities.  This could be such a rewarding job!

Start a Blog

I fell in love with blogging a couple of years ago and haven’t looked back.  It truly is the perfect fit for me.  Blogging stretches my talents and interests while providing a little bit of spending money to me and my family.  Some day I hope to earn a bigger income, but for now I enjoy learning and growing.

If you are interested in starting a blog, be sure to sign up for Crystal Paines Free Blogging Webinar to teach you exactly how to start a money making blog.  And, feel free to ask me any questions, I love to talk blogging!

  • Related:  How Do Bloggers Make Money

blogger on computer

Use Cashback Websites

You can earn a little extra cash just by shopping normally.  Every time I shop online I use the Rakuten website to earn cashback.  It’s super easy to start earning!

All you have to do is:

  1.  Log into the Rakuten website or app
  2. Select the store you want to shop at (they have almost every online store, seriously).
  3. You will then be redirected to that store website
  4. Shop as normal and complete your purchase.
  5. You will then receive a percentage of cashback from your purchase!  It’s as easy as that!  Rakuten sends checks out every three months, it’s such a fun mail day when it arrives!

My rule is to NEVER do any online shopping without going to the Rakuten website first!  New signups can even get a $10 bonus after spending $25 using Rakuten!  It’s a great way to try it out, while earning money at the same time.

  • Related:  5 Ways to Earn CASHBACK on Purchases

Sell Your Photography

If you enjoy taking pictures consider selling them online.  You don’t even need a fancy camera, just use your phone!  There are many websites out there who are willing to buy your images for their stock photography.  A few websites to check out first are:  SmugMug, Getty Images, and 500px.

Rent Out a Room on Airbnb

Another great way to earn money from home is by renting out a room on Airbnb.  Is there possibly a room or area in your home that goes unused?  This might be a basement, Mother-In-Law Apartment or Guest House.  These would all be perfect spots to rent out.  If it’s not being used, you might as well make some money from it, right?!?!

Create Online Courses

I love online courses!  I’m always taking one, for reals!  It’s just SO convenient to take a course online rather than having to take the time and hassle to learn all of the information myself.

Think of something that you are an expert on, and create a course out of it!  I know people who have created courses about:  painting, web design, photography, sewing, math, fashion, makeup and MORE!  Really anything!  Pick a passion, and develop a profitable course from it.  Signing up with a platform like Thinkific makes course creation even easier!

Become a Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is a great work from home job, with hundreds of different possibilities, depending on your skills.

Virtual assistants are hired by many bloggers or influencers to manage social media, research trends, make travel arrangements, send emails, proofread and much more.

You can market yourself out as a Virtual Assistant on places such as Facebook, or join a virtual assistant website to get yourself in front of more eyes.

Freelance Work

Hiring yourself out to offer freelance digital services is easy to do using Fiverr.  On Fiverr freelancers are connected with businesses needing digital work done.  I have hired many people off of Fiverr and have been impressed by everyone I have worked with.  If this sounds like something you would be interested in, I highly suggest trying it!

A few freelance services being offered on Fiverr include:

  • Write blog articles
  • Edit blog articles
  • Write resumes
  • Design logos
  • Edit images
  • Draw pictures
  • Create PDF files
  • Write jingles
  • And more!

Check out their website to get some inspiration of how you can use it to earn money from home.

Home Salon

Did you go to beauty school by chance?  How about cutting hair out of your home?  I love to support in home hair salons.  The price is usually a little cheaper and I love the casual atmosphere.

You don’t even need anything fancy!  Just do it in your kitchen!

Hairdressing tools on wooden background with copy space at top

Sell Your Craft

If you enjoy creating or crafting, turn it into a business.  Etsy is the perfect place to sell your handmade goods.

A few of the items selling well on Etsy are:

  • Jewelry
  • Digital Artwork, such as invitations, birthday cards, etc.
  • Handmade clothing
  • Art

Start an In Home Daycare

Offer to watch kids within your own home.  You could watch just one or two kids, or look into becoming a licensed in home day care.  This is something I have considered doing multiple times.  I love kids!

Spread the word through Facebook Marketplace that you want to start doing this.  There is always someone looking for a babysitter!

Work for Amazon

Check out the virtual job opportunities Amazon has listed.  They are often adding jobs for Customer Service, but these go quick.  Check their website regularly so you can land the job as soon as it’s listed.

Start a YouTube Channel

Everyone has a story to tell, why not share it on YouTube while also making money.  Your YouTube channel should be focused around a topic you are passionate about, such as sports, music, travel, food, fashion, etc.

If you love what you are talking about, others will respond and want to learn more.  Growing a YouTube channel takes time, so be patient, but keep trying…I’m still working on getting mine going!

  • Related:  12 Side Hustles for Stay at Home Moms

Teach Music

Do you play an instrument or enjoy singing?  Another one of the best ways to earn money from home is to teach music lessons out of your house.  The great thing about this job is you are able to be your own boss, set your own hours and decide your pay.  It’s also so rewarding to watch your students learn and grow with their instrument.

Pet Sitter

If you love animals you might enjoy hiring yourself out as a pet sitter.  Many people are looking for someone to watch their pets while they are out of town or at work.  This is such a fun way to earn some extra cash and get to play with animals.

The best way to spread the word is on Facebook Marketplace or through friends.

Complete Tasks on Amazon Mechanical Turk

A quick and easy way to earn a few extra bucks is by working on Amazons Mechanical Turk.  Amazon Mechanical Turk will you pay you for completing small simple tasks.  These tasks range from data entry, identifying items in a photo, transcribing, research and more.

The payout is small (like 5 cents small), but the tasks are very quick to complete.  I use to do these tasks quite a bit while watching TV in the evenings.  It is legit, but you won’t earn a lot of money (consider yourself warned).

Start a Podcast

Have something to say?  Like to talk?  Well, start a podcast!

Podcasting is quickly becoming more and more popular to listeners and will likely continue to grow.  Make sure to do some research to learn all about how to get started.  If it sounds like the right fit for you, jump in!  Let me know if you do, I listen to podcasts every day and love them all!  I just might listen to yours!

Re Purpose Your Old Furniture

Fix up some old furniture or decorations in your home to sell.  All it takes is some sanding, painting and a little elbow grease to make furniture or decorations new again.

I love the look of repurposed furniture, but don’t like putting in the work.  So, I am always buying repurposed furniture for my home.  There is a big market out there for this service.

You can sell your finished pieces on Facebook Marketplace!  That’s where I buy!

Rent Out Your Car

Rent your car out for people to use when you don’t need it.  Turo is a peer to peer car rental website connecting drivers to cars.  Basically, you just list your car on the website, you choose how much you want to rent it for and when it is available.  You will be contacted when someone wants to rent your vehicle.  Such an easy way to earn money, especially if you have a car sitting around and not in use.  Check out Turos website to learn more about the details!

In Conclusion

I hope reading through this list helped you get some ideas for how to make extra money from home.  It is possible and I truly believe there is something for everyone!

 

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I hope this article gave you some of the best ways to earn money from home.

Hello! I’m Melanie!

Follow me on social!

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