Recently, I’ve had several people ask me how I earn money through my blog, and that’s a great question.

First, let me say, if you want to get rich quick, don’t blog.  If you want to be a shining star, don’t blog.  If you think you’re awesome-sauce, don’t blog.  Chances are you won’t get what you want.

I blogged 3-5 times a week (sometimes more) for four years before I ever made a dime through my blog.

Sure there are bloggers who immediately soar to the top of everyone’s favorite blog list, but the truth is, not many bloggers become famous or rich.

Blog because you love to blog.

So, how do I make money blogging?

• Sponsored Posts
• Affiliate Programs
• Advertising
• Direct Sales

Sponsored Posts

You’ve read my sponsored posts, like the one I wrote for Lean Cuisine, or the snow globes my daughter and I made for Kleenex.  You read about how I save my mornings and my sanity.  And, most recently, you read how to buy a bra that fits.

That post gave some people on Facebook a good chuckle.

I try to write sponsored posts regularly because it’s how I make most of my money.

Hopefully, you don’t hate reading them.

I try not to write commercials.  My hope is that there is a regular post, the kind you all read here everyday, within the sponsored material.  My job is to take a product and make it something we can all relate to.  I usually do that through stories, because I tell stories and make memories around here.

I don’t get paid if you purchase the product I feature.  I get paid whether you buy breakfast sausage or not.  I am hired to write the article, not to sell the product.

I actually like writing these articles.  They stretch me a bit.  They make me think outside the box, and hopefully add a little variety to my blog.

I often have to pitch my ideas and I’m competing with lots of other bloggers – lots.  I feel honored when I am chosen for a project I pitched.

I never want to write sponsored content exclusively.  I try to spread out my sponsored posts, but occasionally I will have to publish them two days in row.  There’s no way around that, because I am always working on a deadline.  I hope you will understand when that happens.

I don’t take every assignment I’m offered.  I say no.

I try to only takes jobs I think you may be interested in.  Do I screw up sometimes.  Most definitely, but blogging is relatively new.  We have no instruction manual.  In fact, we’re the ones writing the manuals.  Blogging changes constantly.  It’s very different from five years ago.  I know people hate change, but if we aren’t dynamic bloggers, we will die.

Not really, but I like drama.

All I ask is that you stick with me.  You guys have already been awesome to show me grace when I mess up.

 

Affiliate Programs

There are a ton of affiliate programs out there.  I’ve tried a few, but at this moment, I am exclusively an Amazon affiliate.

That means, I place Amazon adds in my sidebar or sometimes within my posts, and I occasionally link to Amazon products I use and love.

I make money when you purchase something (anything) on Amazon using a link on my blog.

For instance, say you always buy books on Amazon.  If you hop on over to The Domestic Fringe, click on an Amazon ad (the ad could be for anything, doesn’t matter), and buy your books, I will get a small (very small) percentage of what you spend.

Amazon sends me a gift card once a month and then I shop for whatever my family needs.  This month it was art supplies for son and a baby gift.

Some months I make a hundred dollars and other months I make nothing.

 

Advertising

I don’t have much advertising on my blog.  Some blogs sell lots of ad space, but advertising hasn’t taken off for me.  I hope to change that someday.

I do offer ad space in my sidebar or occasionally within a post.

Currently, my only advertising is through Media.net and it’s click-through advertising, meaning if you click through, I earn money.

If you own a small business, Etsy shop, or write a blog, you can advertise on The Domestic Fringe.  Please check out the details on my Ad Page.

 

Direct Sales

My Mother’s Day Gift Book is an example of direct sales.  I wrote an eBook.  If you want to read it or give it to another mom as a gift, you can buy it.

This is a new area of potential income for me.  I would like to explore other ways to make this work.

 

The Future

I have no idea what the future holds for The Domestic Fringe.

I’ve poured myself into this space for several years.  It’s more than a hobby.  I believe it’s a valuable resource and I do believe my words hold monetary value.  If I were writing for a magazine, newspaper, or any other publication, I would earn a salary.  So, although it’s difficult for me to say and hard to own (yes, I have issues too), I do believe this place is valuable.

Each reader gets something different out of this blog.  You all have different reasons for reading or following along on social media platforms.

I am thankful for you, so very thankful.  Your encouragement, comments, shares, and likes have given me the courage to blog on.

You make blogging a two-way street, a conversation, and that’s what makes it fun.  I’ve developed great and very real friendships through blogging and that’s the biggest and best surprise of all.

I hope I’ve answered some of your questions.  Always feel free to ask questions.

Thanks a bunch for reading.  Without you reading, I’d be talking to myself, and that gets boring really fast.

If you want to help me be successful, share my blog.  That’s the best way and it’s totally free.

 

How do you feel about bloggers making money off their blog?