October 2013

When you guys speak, I listen.

A few weeks ago I shared my biggest lesson learned from BBC Charlotte. That led to a lot of the same questions asked in the comments…how do you make money blogging?

Making money blogging was not something that I intended for in the beginning. After the first year of blogging that changed dramatically,  I started making a little change from the blog. At first I used to think that only experienced, well known bloggers make money, I am here to tell you that is a myth. Brands are looking for all sized blogs and they are paying them too. I am proof.

So how does all this happen? Glad you asked.

1) Join Networks and APPLY

There are so many networks that pay bloggers for sponsored posts. This includes Social Fabric, Sverve, SITS Girls, Clever Girls Collective and more. Most of these require you apply with your social media stats and wait to see if you are chosen. I’ll be honest, the competition is tough. I don’t get picked that often, but I watch the opportunities closely and if something directly aligns with my blog, I apply. The worst you can get is a no! It is also a good thing to show you are eager to work with the network. If you are really concerned about why you didn’t get a certain campaign email them and find out. (In a nice way of course!)

2) Get out and meet people

My first real sponsored post came from a wonderful friend I met at BlogHer12 just a few months prior. The brand asked her if she knew any other NYC bloggers that would fit the criteria and she passed on my info. I was so extremely grateful so I always try to pay it forward.

If I hadn’t met her and connected with her at a blogging conference,  I wouldn’t have had such a great opportunity. Now I know blogging conferences are expensive, so in addition to that attend those brand events if you can. This is especially true if you live in metropolitan areas like NYC and ATL. A lot of the times brand send PR agencies, not actual employees. PR agencies represent a lot of different companies. Make nice with them.

That is just the beginning. Most of my partnerships including being a Brand Ambassador for the GotMilk Protein Fight Club was from attending an event. I took 1/2 a day off from work to attend, but it turned out to be one of the smartest investments that I have ever made. Meeting brands is like speed dating. You get to know them, they get to know you, and if it works you follow up and see how you can work together in the future.

Go to blogger meetup groups. Get to know the people around you that are blogging. These are your co-workers. You can work together to make some money.

3) Exploit Your Social Media

Got an insane amount of twitter followers?  Your Pinterest following is enough to fill a small stadium? Even if your numbers aren’t astronomical here is how you can use those numbers to your advantage:

BlogHer currently has a social media influencers program where they will pay you to pin, tweet and/or fb. No blog post required. Easy money! They even pay influencers to go to events and tweet. So you are saying that you are going to feed me, give me great swag and you simply want me to tweet? I do that anyway everywhere I go!

4) Write for other brands

I don’t do this personally but I know so many of my bloggy friends that do. Believe t or not this blogging life is considered to be new media. Old media needs people who already know how to manage blogging, comments and etc. That would be you! You already have a blog so there is your portfolio. You would just be writing about that brand.

Media brands want to align themselves with real authentic grounded bloggers. This is also an excellent way to build your resume for a traditional writing position.

5) Payment In Product/Access

This one is nontraditional but you might want to consider receiving product as payment. Those free tickets that you were comped? Probably would have cost you a lot of money otherwise.  The product that was sent to you for review, that you use daily? That is just a different form of compensation. Sometimes it’s not about the physical money, the gifts and access has monetary value as well.

I hope you got something out of this!

I have another post coming about making money without over saturating your readers, stay tuned!

More posts on blogging:

Understanding Twitter Analytics

How to Create An Easy Google Plus Cover Photo using PicMonkey

5 Important Things You Need to Know About Periscope

Did you learn anything new? Did anything surprise you? Anything else you want me to write about? I’m listening!