#bloggingedumacation: How to Make Money Blogging (part 1)

This post contains Affiliate Links.

Let’s face it. Blogging takes up A LOT of time and is A LOT of work. It makes me laugh to hear someone just brush off someone who says they are a blogger. Obviously, they have no clue what it takes to be a blogger. And how hard you have to work to become a successful blogger. Holy geez, batman! It’s a lot of work! And a lot of time!

So, how can you add a little moo-lah to your pocketbook? There are several different ways to make money blogging. This will be a couple of parts in this particular #bloggingedumacation lesson as I discuss the different ways you can make money. First up, let’s talk about Affiliate programs.

Any time I’m talking about products or fashion and it’s not directly sponsored by that particular brand or the PR company for that brand, I try and include some Affiliate links into my post. I do this because if you click on those links and purchase either that item or something else from that site, I receive a small % of the sale. It doesn’t cost the purchaser anything else other than the cost of their item(s) and shipping (unless it’s free).

The purchases help support my blog. It allows me a little bit of an income.

My top Affiliate program is Amazon Associates. What I like about this program is that Amazon carries a WIDE variety of products. Most people that land on Amazon, typically purchase something. The only down side to Amazon Associates (and this is true for most all programs), you have to make $100 before you receive a payout.

Here is a list of other Affiliate programs:
1. shareAsale
2. LinkShare
3. ClickBank
4. CJ Affiliate
5. Nextag
6. ShopSense

I’m sure there are many more affiliate networks out there. In fact, if you know you are going to be talking about a specific brand, go to google and search such and such brand affiliate program. You will more than likely find that brands affiliate program or find out what platform (like shareAsale) the brand uses for their Affiliate program.

Now on to some tips about using Affiliate links:
You MUST disclose that your post contains Affiliate links. At the top of your post. This is an FTC disclosure guideline.
Work with brands that you love or items that you love as far as using affiliate links. You want to make sure that you are being authentic with your readers. Remember you are building a community. You want your community to trust what you are sharing. Do not link just to try and make some money.
Research the different affiliate programs and figure out which might work best for you. Some programs are paid on clicks and some are paid on purchases.

What Affiliate Programs do you like? Which ones do you not like?

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