A few weeks ago I received an email from Tanya over at blogelina. She had an awesome idea about how to get 100 comments on a blog post. I signed up, and the rest is history.
I was a closet blogger for almost two years. It’s true! I wrote somewhat regularly, but told no one. I actually did get one follower and a comment or two during that time. My blog has come a long way.
I wonder if anyone else started that way…blogging in secret.
Then I decided to go public. Yep, I took the leap and connected my blog with my Facebook page. That was a scary, exciting, crazy time. I started learning about all the many types of blogs that are out there, and discovered that many people use their blogs for extra income. Some are even fortunate enough to earn a living doing so.
I tried my hand at a few things; ads, affiliate programs and such, but I just couldn’t get away from writing from my heart; writing inspiring, thought-provoking posts. It’s what I do.
I even tried teaming up with a friend who is a savvy/frugal/couponing/shopper-type person but we could never quite work it out.
I want to continue to write about life’s lessons and the things that matter most to me, but I’m not opposed to making a little extra money in the process.
My question for those who have experience doing this sort of thing (and for those who don’t) how do I go about achieving that goal?
All thoughts, ideas and advice is greatly appreciated.
One more thing…can anyone tell me how to install Linky follow tool? I can’t paste it in html. Lost all my followers AND don’t have a tool to replace GFC!!!!
Thanks to blogelina for hosting this incredible blog post/comment thing.
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Thank you for taking the time to go through the list and comment on my blog. It is a balancing act that’s for sure.
I know what you mean about taking the plunge with your blog- I was pretty shy with mine at first and was hesitant to expose myself. But I’ve now gotten more bold with my posts and added my personality a lot more than I did at first. The funny thing is, the posts that come bursting out of me are the ones that get the most attention.
I, too, am just learning about adding affiliate links and so forth- I want to make money from my blog, yet I don’t want any ads to be a turn-off. I’ve looked around at other blogs trying to figure out how they balance it. Some look good and some are confusing and overwhelming to me. So I’m still figuring it out, I guess!
All the best with your blog.
(I’m visiting from the 100-comment challenge- just a little behind!!)
I am new to blogging so I cannot help you with making money. I do believe in blogging from the heart and advertising only the things you believe in. I’m not fond of blogs that have ads popping up in the middle of posts and too many ads all over the place. It’s just something that turns me off.
I definitely agree with you on blogs that are all ads. I want content. I will continue to blog about things that matter, but it would be nice to make a little $$$. Thanks for your comment.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. There was apparently something wrong with my link so I love and appreciate all the comments I did receive!
Use google adsense and amazon affiliate links to earn a little extra $$$. Why do you need to replace GFC if you are on blogger? From what I understand it’s only non-functioning for WP users. I could be wrong though.
You could also start pitching some companies of your favorite products for reviews/giveaways. Giveaways bring followers which brings more reviews/giveaways and more $$.
Good luck…you’ll do great!
Wendy
Around My Family Table
I am a current closet blogger. I’ve been trying to come out, just not sure how. I don’t want to connect it to my facebook page. So I guess the 100 comment post even from Blogelina is sort of my coming out party. =)
Sorry I can’t help with installing a follow linky. I hope you were able to get help form someone with more knowledge.
LOL…current closet blogger. Which means you won’t always be, right? Thanks for the comment.
I wish i have the courage to tell the whole world that I blog. I`m just too shy what will my friends reaction, will I get harsh comment. Just too anxious.
I’m sure it will happen when you’re ready. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I blog secretly. None of my friends know that I blog. Well I introduce it to my friend recently but she don`t know my URL.
I’m surprised by all the secret bloggers. Maybe we should start a group! Thanks for commenting.
I know how you feel about blogging in secret…I haven’t told anyone yet about my blog! I just wanted to get it looking right and figure out all the different plug-ins, etc. I am finding that I’m pretty technologically challenged, so learning all that and finding time to post is hard. But one day I’ll tell my friends and hopefully they will like it 🙂
I will be great, and I’m sure you’ll be surprised by how much they like your blog. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Good luck on your journey. I make most of my money from Amazon as an affiliate. I still write about what I believe in and not just to make a buck. I think your readers will know if you are just trying to get them to buy a product. (Oh, and by “most money” I mean less than $20 a month, but every little bit counts!)
Every little bit does help! Thanks for your comments.
I’ve learned slowly with blogging. What has helped me the most is joining a network. You can find bloggers that share your passions and help you out a lot.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I was blogging for a few months before anyone knew except my husband and kids. I don’t know how to do the linky friends sorry. But you might try Blogelina’s blog help group at facebook. Someone there may be able to help.
I need to rejoin a blogelina group for sure. Thanks for your comments.
I don’t know how to add the Linky friends. I am concentrating on adding folks onto facebook, google+ and my rss feeds.
As for making money, I suggest SocialSpark. I make quite a bit of money off of sponsored posts.
suzy
Thanks for the SocialSpart suggestion. I have problems adding gadgets on blogger. Not sure if it’s me, or them. Thanks for your comments.
Good luck in blogging, you will learn so much!
Thanks for you comment.
i do a bit of everything. i do lots of reviews, crafts, recipes, anecdotes, some deals, but honestly, while i love to save money, i’m no good at explaining it to others!! LOL
good luck on your venture! i don’t know linky friends stuff at all. i was very sad to lose gfc i was over 5000 *tears*
OMG on losing 5000. I only had 200 and that took time and energy. Sounds like you’ll be able to get them back with a blog like yours.
One thing you can do is review products. You will not get paid but you do get the product free. I have done quite a few reviews and really enjoy it. Check Blogerdise they have some not so good stuff but also good products and books you can review. Easy2Save
Thanks for the suggestions. I do want to do reviews. I appreciate that you left a comment!
It used to be that it was frowned upon to make money from a personal blog but thanks to pioneers like Pioneer Woman and Blogess, it is no longer that way. It is almost accepted that a blogger can earn some extra cash as long as it is not “up in your face”. LOL.
I started my blog with the intent to earn money online. A year and a half later and $30.56 later in Google Adsense, I am living the dream. Just kidding. I wish I was earning. I can say, it is not hard just VERY TIME CONSUMING.
Every blogger is different in terms of how to earn. I agree with Corinne above, find some others that support each other. I just joined a Mastermind group and we meet once a week to hash out ideas.
I’ll tell you what I plan on doing this year. I am finding products that I believe in, ebooks, courses, etc. Really getting to know them and sell them. I mean, really know the product. The only way I know how to start to sell is get people to my blog, have them trust me and then figure out the best way to “convert” them to buyers. That last part is the hardest.
OK, I’ll get off my soap box, lol. When I start to make money I will be writing about it on my blog (shameless plug) so stop by some time and see.
I wish you luck. If you ever want to hash out ideas send me an email.
Oh, and never stop writing for your passion. It shows to your readers. That is how they begin to relate to you and trust you. I know, it sounds like a scam, it is not. Just go with your heart…always.
~Allie
Thank you Allie. Not sure what happened to my link. It worked for a while. Even when it stopped working I still had over 100 views of that post but only 30 ish comment. Weird. Thanks for taking the time to make comments. I will visit you soon!
Wishing you good luck. I’ve been blogging for four years now and learning slowly too. One suggestion is to get in to a group of bloggers that support each other by building links. Look at joining groups like SITS too – always helps. Good luck.
Thanks! Good suggestion about the group.
I’m totally new to blogging but I think that blogging from the heart is never wrong. Write about what you love, that is my own motto…
Being a newbie blogger, I can’t offer much. Be sure to read all the comments on all the 100 blogs. I have learned alot doing that.
Welcome to bloggy world. Thanks for your comments.
I think it’s awesome you blog from the heart. Blogging is tough to learn, but I too have spent a lot of time on problogger.net Since I’m so new, I only write about things that are fun for me. I figure if I’m enjoying what I’m doing and learning at the same time,the money will eventually come.
Good for you! Keep on blogging. Thanks for your comments.
I have tried to balance making money from my blogging and still keeping it real and honest and find that I”m very picky about what reviews and I ads I put on there, so I doubt I’ll ever make a living from it…so I”m afraid I’m in the same situation and can’t offer much advice.
Thanks for your comment. I so appreciate it.
Persistence is the key. I’ve been blogging over four years now and am finally starting to earn some income. Just stick with it and spend lots of time at problogger.net. Darren Rowse is really smart when it comes to blogging! 🙂
Good for you! I do like Darren Rowse. He knows his stuff.
Very soon after I started my blog, I found the Blogging World and it is BIG. And it has lots of great people in it. I’m so addicted now! Hope you get what you want from your blog for a long time to come.
Thank you for your comment. There was apparently a problem with my link so I appreciate the folks who commented.
Good luck to you too, and I will visit soon!
I am somewhat on the same boat as you, wanting to learn more how to combine writing from the heart to earning a little bit of money/income from it. I blog about my family (husband and daughter) and things related to them and am not opposed to doing reviews or setting up some non-obnoxious and highly recommend products/services ads. Good luck on your journey! Hope you’ll come by to visit: http://www.mommykangaroo.blogspot.com
It’s nice “meeting” you through Blogelina’s comment tour!
Thanks for your comments. I will visit soon, unless I already did on my 136 comment journey. If that’s the case, I revisit soon!
I like that!
I’m all for writing from the heart. “What comes from the heart, reaches the heart.”
I started blogging more as a journal for me and my kids. It grew quickly when a company out of the blue contacted me. I don’t really make money from my blog, although I have earned a little. If you want to get into reviews and such, I suggest Business 2 Blogger. Good luck!
So cool that a company contacted you. I have looked into Business 2 Blogger. Thanks for your comment.
If you like to blog about topic from you heart, DO THAT. That is where your passion will show and your readers will notice that. As for making money I don’t know yet as I’m a newbie blogger too. Try joining blogging groups.
Thank you for your comment. I will continue to write from my heart and see what happens. I have been a part of a group and may go back to that as time permits.
When I started blogging I had no idea of the possibilities out there for bloggers, I have use affiliate programs and enjoy doing products reviews, but my advice is to stay true to yourself, your passion and the reason why you started blogging…find programs and products that are related to your interests and passions.
Good advice…thanks. And thank you for taking the time to make a comment. There was a problem with my link so I appreciate the effort those who commented made!
Loving the comments!
I don’t make money from my blogs either. I have RAISED money to give to causes I care about on one of them (http://cheshireloveskarma.wordpress.com). I would like to get more entrepreneurial with usefulpleasantlives.net, but I’m mostly thinking about creating products or services rather than looking for advertising revenue.
I remember when I started blogging, and the first time I made it public on my facebook account, I was nervous! It’s like revealing a secret part of yourself to the world! Thanks for sharing :).
It is like that. You are so right. Thanks for your comment and keep blogging!
I haven’t made too much money either- my only tiny source is through Living Social affiliates.
But I blog because I love to!
That’s what it’s all about. Thank you for your comment. There was a problem with my link at some point, so I do appreciate all the comments I received.
Sounds like you’ve done a little bit of everything, Julie. Thanks Hopkins family! That’s the plan. 🙂
I’ve been blogging for a long time, but never made any money from it – in fact, with my self-hosting expenses, I actually LOSE money! But I’d never give it up for anything – I love blogging, and love connecting with people online. My approach is similar to yours – I just like writing from my heart about things that mean something to me… and unfortunately, that stuff isn’t usually what draws sponsors!
Oh I’m with you. I have no clue about half of the fun tools for bloggers to use. Keep blogging from your heart!
Thanks for your comment. Apparently there was a problem with my link so I am grateful for ALL the comments I received.
Awe, I can relate completely. I started blogging as an extra service to those who bought my etsy products, then I ran out of time to make the products and then I blogged for fun, then did reviews, budget tips, posts about my life… It’s a working progress. Blogelina is awesome, I haven’t seen this idea before, just the linky things- that I still don’t know how to do, sorry! Good luck!
This was a great idea. Unfortunately my link stopped workeing and I didn’t get as many comments as I made, but I enjoyed the comments I received. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Thanks Katy, and good luck to you!
I started blogging to remember the funny things my kids were doing and to share those things with friends and family who weren’t close. I also blog because I LOVE to write–that is my hobby. I tried pursuing some freelance work in magazines, but there is a lot of work up front in that preparing queries and trying to sell your idea to someone BEFORE you even write it. With blogging, I get to write what I want and when I want. Now, the money thing has been elusive to me. I have made nothing, but only seriously started trying in September when I become an affiliate for a product I love and believe in. Blogelina’s class has taught me a lot, and while I’m hopeful it may lead to a little income, I think I have to be realistic. But it’s like exercising for the good of it, rather than exercising to become an Olympic athlete. Kind of, sort of! Good luck.
Thank you both for your comments. I do enjoy blogging and the comments I get. It’s interesting to know there are others out there who started in the closet. 😉
I think I’m still kind of a closet blogger. On occasion, I will tell someone I blogged. I’ve emailed links to blogs I wrote that I thought a friend might appreciate. While I Twitter and Facebook, I don’t “advertise” that I blog. Both of those accounts have my blog address in the info section. I have no idea if anyone has even clicked on those links. But…I do feel like I’ve made a few online friends who know I blog. Some come and go, as some folks lose interest or momentum in blogging. I enjoy blogging simply for my own mental health and if I get a follower and a friend out of the deal, that’s just gravy. I enjoyed your post….wish I could tell you more about the affiliate programs. I haven’t done any.
I’ve been blogging for a year and a half and only earned a tiny bit of money through affiliate links. Although I may not have the best advise, I say, find products that you love and promote them. Also be patient, at least for me, it’s taken a LONG time to see ANY money. Although, in my mind, making money is great and all, but I’m more about providing resources and helping others in parenting, that’s my passion.
Thank you for your comment. Apparently there was a problem with my link so thanks for going the extra mile! And thanks for the tips!