Have you always wanted to start a blog but didn’t know if the time and effort could actually be worth it in the long run? Do you have a blog already and are looking for ideas about how to monetize it? This post is a basic overview of the different ways bloggers can make money online. I don’t go into super detail about some things, but I really just wanted to give you guys an idea about how much potential you have to make a few extra bucks (or even a living) off of blogging!
1. CREATE A BLOG
I won’t spend too much time talking about that in this post (I am working on writing a post about how to create a blog and will post the link here when ready), but obviously the first step in making money online through blogging is having a website in the first place.
2. GROW YOUR BLOG & GAIN FOLLOWERS
This can be achieved through proper SEO, creating exciting and valuable content, and collaborating and interacting with others in the industry. Again, I won’t go into great detail here because this post is more concentrated on the exact ways to make money, but a good place to start is Moz’s FREE Beginner’s Guide to SEO.
3. JOIN AFFILIATE NETWORKS
Now that you’ve got your blog up and running, and presumably have at least some traffic, it’s time to monetize what you have! One of the best ways to do this is through affiliate links. When your viewers click through these links and buy something, you get commission on their purchase.
Here is a list of the best affiliate networks:
[brands include Showpo, Mura Boutique, Sephora, etc.]
2. ShareASale
[brands include Lulus, Adidas, LookBookStore, etc.]
[brands include Etsy, Fiverr, etc.]
[brands include Gilt Groupe, Tobi, Revolve, etc.]
[brands include Nasty Gal, Bloomingdales, Steve Madden, TopShop, etc.]
6. EBAY Enterprise (formerly PepperJam)
[brands include HauteLook, Nordstrom Rack, Luella, etc..]
Hint: I’ve found that using affiliate links in my HotBox Top Ten “roundup”/list posts is most effective, especially because roundup posts are the most likely to be shared and ultimately go viral.
4. COLLABORATE WITH BRANDS
Once you start gaining traction on social media and writing some engaging posts, you will probably start to be approached by some brands to publish sponsored blog posts (make sure you have an email for them to contact you on up on your site!).
Be patient–you’re not going to get offered payment right off the bat. It may start with discount codes, free products and/or sponsored giveaways. Don’t be a snob–take advantage of EVERY opportunity you can so that you can build up your media kit. You’ll eventually want to reach out to brands yourself, and having a media kit that details your past work with brands, as well as having posts to link them to with examples of your work is essential.
4. JOIN INFLUENCER NETWORKS
If you’re feeling unsure about reaching out directly to brands to promote their products, or haven’t received many responses when you do, you might find it helpful to join one of the many influencer/collaboration networks for bloggers. Each network works a little differently, but all of them aim to establish partnerships between brands and bloggers that have signed up on the site. Brands can often search through the profiles of bloggers on these networks and reach out with a proposal (free product, commission and/or payment) to market their brand or product. Similarly, bloggers can reach out directly to brands they feel would be a good fit for their blogs as well.
Here’s a list of the best influencer networks:
Refluence (use my referral code: PIZA4C)
5. JOIN AD NETWORKS
This is for websites that have tens of thousands to millions of views a month. Ad networks often operate on a CPM (cost per thousand) basis in which companies will pay you a certain amount per one thousand impressions. So, if the CPM is $2, that means that for every 1,000 impressions this ad has on your site, you will make $2. Of course, that’s $2 your didn’t already have, but you can see how unless you have consistent amounts of high traffic, you won’t make much money through ads. If you are one of the lucky ones who has enough traffic to benefit from joining an network, then check out this post on the best ad networks.
6. SELL SOMETHING
Once you develop a brand and a following through your site, don’t be shy to take advantage of it! Are you known for your amazing jewelry collection? Maybe your stellar graphic tees? Start selling them yourself. Set up a store on Shopify using their basic plan (pretty cheap–I’ve done this myself) and start marketing your own products to your followers.
You can also look into writing an E-Book. E-Books are super popular right now–people like getting information in an efficient way. Try writing a short E-Book on something you’re known for or a lot of your followers are curious about. For example, if you’re a fitness guru, make an E-Book about your personal fitness routine and meal plan. You can sell these on Amazon!
So, I know this post didn’t go into detail about some things, but I just wanted to give a basic overview of some of the ways you can make money as a fashion blogger–or any blogger for that matter. If you guys like this post, or have any other specific questions or topics you would like me to cover or go into further detail about, please let me know! I hope you found this useful!
xx
One Response
Great post, this is super helpful so thankyou!
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