Recently, we have been doing articles and live shows on how to make money from your blog. And while our tips may have given some of you the push or the competitive edge that you have been looking for on your blog, or even simply motivation to get that media package ready or to start integrating affiliate links, what we have been careful not to do is have you follow false dreams.
Over on The Mom Buzz today she was quoting an article from Newsweek regarding money making via your blog. Let me stop and say that my jaw virtually hung open to find out that Dooce makes between 500K and 1 million a year. WHAT??????? I’m sorry but its my fiscal responsibility to never visit her site again. Starving Blogs on the Internet and all that.
But one thing I felt compelled to point out is while many blogs do make enough cash money per month to make the writing “worth” it, many more make a profit in opportunities, products, and friendship, rather then direct advertising and affiliate cash flow.
Product Reviews
It’s no secret that most blogs partake in a few product reviews every once in a while. In fact, some sites put out product reviews like they are LUCKY magazine. During a product review, you get the pleasure of testing out a product in your home so you can talk about it. And yes, sometimes those products are not all that great, but in most cases, the businesses getting out there have something unique, interesting, or exciting to offer that you do not own.
MomDot has a full review team and we have more backlogged
review requests then I can possibly count (We are talking in the 100’s). I am the person on the team that probably takes the least reviews. As my team says to me, I am picky. I call it ‘busy’, but its probably also picky. Picky or busy, my personal product reviews probably bring in over $300 worth of new products into my home per month, sometimes closer to $500. I am sure there are bloggers with more time out there that accept thousands of dollars worth of products a month.
If you have a baby due, take only baby products. If you are a cooking blogger, take only cooking reviews. Whatever your specialty and interest may be, you can specialize in those reviews, which will not only mean your reviews will be more targeted, but that it will save you money in purchasing as well. Money saved = Money earned.
Business Opportunities
Second, opportunities. Blogs can bring on huge opportunities. Just by interacting with companies and PR reps, you have brought yourself into their world. I am notorious for hitting myself up on PR reps and pitching ideas. And honestly? Most of them work out. Think about it. If someone emails you, they want something you have. Now ask yourself, what are my goals? Does this person or company match my goals? How can we strike up a mutually beneficial relationship?
According to Newsweek, blog advertising from companies is a minimal amount of their budget because blogs can be unpredictable. While yes, I agree with that statement, what isn’t unpredictable is that companies need people in the ‘know’ online and bloggers are just that. Full of social media information and willingness to spend all day searching and talking, bloggers can bring a company to the forefront of the minds of online consumers. Because of this, you have a door readily opening almost every day of the week. Depending on the type of person you are, this can be a golden opportunity. In the past week, I have talked on the phone with NewBaby, Walmart, and HP. (as well as a few additional companies I don’t want to talk about yet as we are working out some projects)
When you work with a company as an individual, and not just “another” blogger, you are separating yourself from the crowd. My goal with the companies I work with is to be their ‘go to’ blogger and be the first to know when a paying job or fabulous opportunity comes up.
Bloggers are writers and writers are needed all over the net. I have been hired for online coaching, social media interacting, PR, and VLOGs from companies that are impressed with how I work online. While my blog itself may bring in smaller revenue comparably overall, the extended opportunities I have created as a result, can pay the bills.
Unlimited Friendships
Where else in the world can you meet this many people in the world in one fail swoop? We already know that the cliques are prevalent on the net, but there are more people good than not. We have met some of the best people we know online, people that have become life long friends, who have shared with us their kids, their happy times, their bad times, their innermost thoughts and secrets. In some ways, I know more about the people I meet online then I do about my own family.
Sometimes the riches you receive are not tangible…….and I find those the best riches of all.
~Trisha
I just took the time to read this and learned a lot. I enjoyed reading it.
I agree with many of the points here! Being a part of theblogging community and able to meet so many amazing people I would never have met otherwise is priceless!
Blogging, for most, is a hobby – a time consuming one. I do believe that success follows passion. I hope that blogging is a gateway for women to make more and stay at home if they desire!
Dooce, give me a break. I’m happy when I get shampoo and Netflix. …success is defined in your world, not someone else’s. I too have to look at the savings instead of the earnings.
Great post!
Wish you’d been @Blissdom, we would have has sooo much to talk about!
HOLY COW… I had no idea Dooce made that. That’s just plain crazy.
I do like all your ideas. I know my daughter just came home from school yesterday and said mommy why do you have to work, the kids in my class said their mom’s don’t work. I want you to not work. Oh how I wish I could just blog for a living.. maybe one day right? You keep believing what you want to do and it will/can come true is my momentum
.
Mom bloggers RULE and they do have a huge voice if all companies would recognize that. Hey more people read blogs than watch TV I bet!
VictoriaArya wrote:
Opps. Apparently I am not the Strike Out master I thought I was.
I like blogging…I like writing…I like testing out gear…and well I like everything about blogging…including the people. I don’t expect to turn this into a job (at least not yet
) what I do expect is to have fun, meet great people, blab about anything and everything I want to a captive
entralled audiance and more. And if sooner or later I manage to make some money…cool…I’ll buy some stock in Coke Zero…I’m going broke paying for my habit
@ Upstatemomof3:
http://www.momdot.com/how-to-get-into-review-blogging/
Okay, I think I am totally slow but I have a question. Do you just write to a company and ask them to advertise or let you review or something like that? I mean, for instance, did you just write to dyson and ask them to give you vacuums for people to try (and then another one to keep – by the way I so want in on that
? Or am I missing a step?
I love to blog. I find it very enriching and is a great source of release for me. That is my main reason for blogging. Time is so precious that I wouldn’t spend all this time doing it if I didn’t love it.
If I started making good money from blogging, it would just be a bonus and not my reason for doing it.
I cannot believe that Dooce makes that much money from blogging. I’m curious what the variance is from Dooce and the next mom blogger in line.
@ Trisha-admin:
Positivity breeds positivity! And activity breeds activity!
Yes Trisha, and that is why I LOVE to be part of momdot and your crew!
Thanks for the link love.
I personally think the Lyon’s dude was talking out his rear. He wanted to blog and quit his day job. But for many of us, it’s a hobby. An obsessive hobby.
And burnt-out can happen simply by taking on too much – or as Ohana Mama told me last month – losing the reason behind the blog! So be as picky as you want, Trisha! I know I had to re-evaluate and rethink how much a mom of 2 toddlers can review.
Thanks for all the tips you constantly provide!
Happy Buzzing!
Erin
http://www.themombuzz.com
blogging hasn’t made me any money but the connections with readers and other companies is what is making the money. The opportunities that come from blogging are awesome! I am being quoted at a conference this month for a blog post I wrote about Branding. There is no way that would have happened if it wasn’t for blogging.
I would say I feel successful if I’ve covered my wehosting fee for the month. Otherwise, everything else is just something I enjoy doing. I have a job and don’t want to turn doing something (blogging) I enjoy as a hobby into a career.
@ Sarah @ Ohana Mama:
yep, im a big fan of the secret, cant you tell?
I also wrote this at Erin’s site…
Here’s what I believe – do what you truly love and you will have success. Success is measured differently for everyone. However I do think that riches in money come to those that don’t focus on the money but focus on being happy – the money part will follow. They say do what you would love to do even if you never got a paycheck – at least you are happy all that time. BUT, it’s funny, usually if you are happy doing it it will bring monetary value to you.
Surround yourself with successful people (i.e. happy and content but always striving to achieve) and you too will be successful – it’s contagious.
I LOVE to blog and all that comes with it – mostly the relationships – and think that because I love it so much it will bring good things. But the reason behind blogging isn’t to get rich…but I won’t turn that down if it happens
The wonderful thing about having your own blog is that YOU control the pressure.
Have you read The Secret? If you focus too much on the money or stats it will never come. Act as if you already have that money and have a large readership, beleive it, and it will happen.
It’s much like dressing for the job you WANT to have at work. Hmmm, I see a post coming out of this
Thanks for the discussion!
I’ve definitely made some truly amazing friends through blogging and I love being a voice in the many mommy bloggers out there. I did not know until today exactly how much Dooce made.. that’s just so crazy!
I was floored by the Dooce figures as well!
You make great points all around, blogging has given back to me in so many ways beyond the little bit of $$ i have been able to bring in. And the intangibles, the things that are truly life changing ARE the best.