HOW BLOGGERS MAKE MONEY

I feel like money is such a sensitive topic that bloggers (and people in general) normally avoid talking about. But I still wanted to write a brief post about it because I know many people are curious to know how bloggers make money, and truth be told, I’m still figuring it out as well!

I honestly didn’t even know you can be charging for posts on Instagram until I reached about 30K followers. I know bloggers with 10K and they have been making money off their posts. The only good thing I see from this is reinforcement that I”m obviously not in this industry to make money. I am genuinely interested in fashion and lifestyle and was quite shocked how much money you can actually be making off of social media and blogging. But as I’ve mentioned before, you shouldn’t start blogging if that’s your motive because that’s not the right mindset to have. And it’s not easy by any means. I want to pursue blogging full time but I wouldn’t be bringing as much money as I would from my full time job. With that being said, I am going to work as hard as I can to further my blogging passion and one day, I do see myself doing it as my full time job.

 

 

 

 

 

*Outfit details: Top (Zaful), Bottoms: (Sheinside), Bag (Sammy Dress), Shoes (similar item, affiliate link)

I’ve listed 3 ways that bloggers make money and hopefully you can monetize your social media platforms and blogs with these insights:

• Sponsored Posts: I think this is where a lot of bloggers make the most of their money because brands are aware that social media is the new age of advertising and marketing. It definitely depends on your audience reach but I know bloggers can literally make up to $10,000 for one Instagram post, which is insane if you ask me. I would recommend looking at your followers and statistics and take into account the time and effort that goes into curating the post. Come up with a good price that makes you happy and comfortable. There are also equations online that basically says your rate should be your followers divided by 1,000 and you can multiple that by 3, 5 7, or 10 depending on your engagement. I don’t think there’s a right way or only way of calculating your rate. At the end of the day, make sure you are content with the price and don’t doubt or devalue yourself as a brand! I’ve definitely done this in the past and that’s one thing I regret.
• Affiliate Links/ Commission Based Programs: A lot of bloggers are signed up with programs like RewardStyle, ShopStyle or ShareaSale, which are affiliate programs that allow them to make commission based on their followers’ purchases whether it’s through clicking their link or using their promo codes. Personally, I haven’t been successful in this area because I know my followers’ shopping habits and they don’t interact well with affiliate links or promo codes unless they are genuinely interested in a specific product that I am promoting. However, I also know some bloggers make the most of their income from these programs so it really depends on your audience. There’s no harm in signing up with these programs and seeing if they work for you.
• Advertising Services: Instead of waiting for brands to reach out to you and offer sponsored  posts, you can also reach out to brands and present your advertising services. If you love a certain brand or know there’s an upcoming launch and you have an idea, feel free to email them and pitch yourself. I would also recommend having a media kit, which is basically your resume for your social media platforms. I know some bloggers also make money off of displaying ads on their website (which also relate to affiliate programs) and also advertising through other channels besides the blog itself.

Overall, I wouldn’t say it’s easy to make money off of blogging, but it is possible. You need to first have a good foundation and following before you can proceed with trying to monetize it. Let me know if this was helpful and if you guys have other questions or advice on how you make money!