I’ve mentioned numerous ways to make money from blogging, but for some reason, bloggers think their Instagram following is their money maker. This couldn’t be more wrong. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat are all ways to build brand awareness, not an income. (I actually feel like I’ve written those exact words before in another blog post… hm…)
Anyway, blogging is ONLY your full-time job once you’re able to 100% financially support yourself from it. Mo’ money = mo’ resources, and mo’ resources = mo’ opportunities.
So instead of sitting around waiting for brands to pay you here and there, the business savvy blogger creates his/her own opportunities. Here are 3 ways to make money that lasts from blogging:
Passive income through affiliate links.
This is the most common way to make money from blogging because it’s so easy. It doesn’t require a whole lot of legwork. You simply add links to your outfit on your blog, and when people click, it’s money in your pocket. If they buy? Even more money.
What if you skip an outfit post one week - does that mean your income stops? Nope, it just means you have to get more creative. In fact, I haven’t had an outfit post in months, and I still make money from stuff I update in my closet, gift guides, and my “favorite finds”.
When you start to pay attention, you’ll notice a lot of bloggers use this tactic. They will post their “summer round up” or “perfect gifts for mom” every so often - maybe even once a week. It only gets annoying when bloggers post things they don’t genuinely have or want to buy… I don’t post things I don’t already own or want.
One thing I will say is unless you have a massive following (we’re talking close to a million) and are fully committed (which will require a lot more legwork and creativity), affiliate link income is not enough to make a living alone.
Create a product line.
When you think of a product line, it’s natural to think of tangible goods - physical objects you can hold in your hand that physical stores sell so that people can physically buy… That thought is extremely overwhelming!
But a product line can be anything from a t-shirt line to blog design templates and eGuides. Eventually, once you are “at scale”, aka you’re selling more than you can keep up with, you can expand to an eCommerce store (like The Blonde Salad just did). For years, Nasty Gal was strictly online and they just recently opened up a real storefront.
Don’t let the “what ifs” or “I don’t know hows” stop you from living out your dreams. It can be done. Like I always say, dreams only work when you do, so you have to be willing to put in the research, the time, and money to have the lifestyle that you want.
Another example of bloggers with a product line is Zanita with Azalle and The Skinny Confidential. Lauryn from TSC has a Bombshell Body Guide, meal plan, The Skinny Confidential book, and a subscription app. But she didn’t jump into all of it at once - she slowly built each one and you can do the same.
You just have to start with one thing that’s at the top of your priority list or one thing you’re most passionate about, and your blogging business will grow from there.
Sell a service.
As a blogger, selling a service as a means to make money gets a bit more complicated, but not by much. First of all, you will most likely need to hire an accountant and/or lawyer to figure it all out (I don’t know much about that piece of it, so you’ll definitely have to do your research).
Once you have the logistics figured out, it’s time to take action and get clients. Usually, it’s better to have a blog or social media presence first before diving into business. You build your credibility through blogging, collaborating, and a decent social media following. People are more likely to hire someone who has what they want versus someone who says they have what they want.
For example, you’re not going to buy a workout program from someone who isn’t fit but claims they know the secret to a six pack. No. You’re going to buy something from someone like our resident fitness expert, Monica, because she’s got a slammin’ body and runs a health + lifestyle blog with thousands of followers. That’s just the way it is.
So, if you’re trying to run any type of business through your blog you better make sure you have the stats, following, and experience to do so.
If you could make money doing anything in the whole world, blogging or otherwise, what would it be? Comment below!
xx Britt
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You Should Also Read:
Snapchat - A Blogger’s Secret Money Maker
7 Ways to Save Money as a Fashion Blogger
How Fashion Bloggers Make Money & You Can Too
