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I’ve been blogging for a long time (10+ years), but not making money on my blog until a few years ago. There are so many companies out there for ads and affiliate work as well as companies that offer opportunities to work with large brands. I think the key to being successful is finding the groups that work well for you. The following is a sampling of sites that are helpful when you’re looking to make money on your blog (or on your social media platforms!)
How To Get Started Making Money Blogging
1. Google AdSense – This is an easy one. While it can be slow-going if you don’t have a ton of traffic, it does earn money running their ads in your sidebar. (Their ads also don’t slow down my site, which is a huge plus for me.)
2. Affiliates. I’ve had great luck with finding brands I love and use often through Shareasale and CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction). I’ve even done a few sponsored posts through CJ.
3. Sponsored posts through blogging networks. There are a ton of groups out there that could be mentioned. You apply for various campaigns and they pay well, if you’re accepted.
4. Look at the stores you shop online or write about most frequently. Do they have an affiliate program? I shop a lot on Amazon and only in the past year have I been an affiliate for them.
There are more ways to make money, but the most important thing is to stay true to yourself and what your audience wants. And have fun!
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Excellent points, Jamie! I am happy to see that you placed an emphasis on the affiliate channel. I had been involved with affiliate marketing before I became a blogger, so I have a bit of a different perspective than the typical blogger. I’m surprised when I talk to other bloggers, I find many of them are apprehensive about getting into affiliate marketing. I’m interested in learning why that is.
Affiliate Marketing is a flexible monetization channel and adds a residual component that sponsored posts do not. Heck, you can even double up and incorporate affiliate links into your sponsored content.
Great tips! I only recently started making money on my blog (started almost four years ago) and it has been through sponsored posts. Which is a win win because you get to try new products and review them while getting paid. I find Google Adsense to be verrrry slow going.