Can you make money from blogging, and if so, how? And is it really ok to make money from your blog, or does that make you a more "dishonest" blogger? We will try to clarify how you can get paid for your blog. At the same time, we'll discuss the pros and cons and share our own views.
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1. adverts
One of the most obvious ways to get paid on a blog is to have adverts. The adverts can be in the header, footer or side column and the advertiser pays for a certain period of time. The best way to get paid is to get the assignment directly from the advertiser, but then you need to have a company so that you can invoice and pay taxes.
There are also affiliate networks, such as Tradedoubler. These allow you to place adverts and get paid per click or as a percentage of sales. Google Adsense is another type of ad network, where you automatically get customised Google ads on your site.
The advantage of adverts is that it is a fairly straightforward and honest way of advertising. The disadvantage is that relatively few companies are interested in classic adverts, and that affiliate networks often pay quite poorly.
2. sponsored posts
Sponsored posts are a jungle, but in short, it means writing a post (or receiving a pre-written post) that contains links to a customer. It can also involve writing about a destination or a product. This type of marketing is the most commonly requested, in our experience. This can be perfectly ok if you are clear that the post is sponsored and are honest with your opinions, but can be sensitive if you "pretend" to like a product, which you have really only been paid to like.
The best way to get paid is to deal directly with a company, but you need to have your own business so that you can pay tax on your income. There are also intermediaries such as Blogvertiser. These often pay out already taxed money, but on the other hand, you don't get paid as much.
3. Blog portals that pay
Some blog portals pay bloggers to blog there. We think that Nouw and Myshowroom are examples, but we don't really know much about them. The disadvantage can be that you don't have your own domain, and therefore can't control your own site.
4. Own online shop
Many of the bloggers who earn large sums from their blogs also have a web shop. You can sell clothes, jewellery, books or whatever you want to sell... But we're not just talking about leisure activities here. An online shop also takes time to run!
5. lecturing
Some niche bloggers can sometimes be seen as 'experts' in their field, whether it's flowers, baking or search engine optimisation. It is also possible to be asked to give lectures, and this can become an additional income.
How do we behave?
We blog primarily for fun and the income we make from the blog is quite insignificant. However, right now, as we are taking leave and travelling, we have to admit that even small incomes feel important!
We have a small number of adverts in the right-hand column and sometimes write sponsored posts. However, we are always clearly state that the post is sponsored, or written in collaboration with a company, and write only things that we stand for and that are our own opinions.
Do you have your own blog?
Please tell us how you approach monetising your blog and share your experiences. The more open we bloggers are to each other, the more we can learn and the better we can navigate this jungle!
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Deciree says:
I blog mostly for the memories, like a diary. And to communicate with my blog friends. I don't intend to make money from the blog 🙂.
08 October 2014 - 8:03
Ditte says:
I think that you have been clear in stating at the beginning of a post that it is sponsored. Quite ok!
I think making money from a blog is perfectly fine. and I think you have succeeded well with the small adverts that you have. They do not disturb, at least not me and you decide what you want to include.
I haven't given much thought to making money because I thought it seemed like a hassle with Tradedoubler and others. I didn't get it right, and the income isn't great.
But now that you're travelling and on leave, it's worth seeing how your income can be increased. You can combine benefit with pleasure if the "money" does not control the blog.
Good luck!
I think this is an interesting discussion.
08 October 2014 - 8:44
Yvonné says:
I don't want adverts popping up and flashing on my blog, it's fine as it is. I can get a bit annoyed with adverts around the text I want to read. The best thing is: you get to decide entirely yourself what your blog should look like or how hihihi?
Hugs to you
08 October 2014 - 9:59
BP says:
Thank you for explaining this "advertising jungle".
Personally, I have an "ad-free" blog and enjoy it. My blog is also not niche in the same way as yours.
I blog because I enjoy reading other blogs that are interesting/fun/have content that appeals to me.
08 October 2014 - 12:15
Matts Torebring says:
I couldn't imagine having adverts on my blog. That is my personal position. Of course, I don't dislike blogs that have adverts, but I turn a blind eye to the adverts.
08 October 2014 - 19:50
Joanna says:
Totally agree with you, I think it's okay but I also know, like you, that adverts are quite uninteresting for many companies and that affiliates generate quite a lot of money (unless you have a LOT of readers of course, in both cases).
sometimes writes posts with sponsored links but is also always very clear. I have also product tested and always only accept product tests or to write posts if it is relevant. Although I blog for my own sake, it is quite a lot of time spent, nice if it covers the domain name cost, some restaurant visit for a computer-free evening (which you can blog about later 😉 ) or so. But I agree with those who think it is a bit flashy and annoying with ads, but on the other hand they are everywhere so I rarely think about them.
08 October 2014 - 20:19
admin says:
Deciree, can really agree that the blog is good for memory! Sooo many times we go back and check what a place was called... or whatever!
Ditte, thank you! It's great to hear that you think we're doing a good job. Yes, we have thought about this with ads more now, as we may need some small extra income when we are travelling....
Yvonne, it's good that you can decide for yourself. And I can certainly agree, flashing adverts are the worst!
BP, I like your blog very much. It may not be niche... but still special!
🙂
Matts, it's ok to close your eyes! And I hope you don't think it's too much advertising for our blog. The big reason why we want to blog has really NOTHING to do with adverts or money.
🙂
Johanna, it sounds like you think much like us! If you can get a little extra in a nice way, it's nice, but that's not why you blog in the first place. Something that flashes is boring ...
😉
08 October 2014 - 20:36
Renate's travels says:
I have written some sponsored posts in the past, but have consistently only chosen topics/products that are relevant to my blog. I have also travelled on a few sponsored trips (Morocco, Netherlands, Germany and Slovenia), but I don't let this change what I write about the places and I think it is very important to be honest. If you are dishonest on your blog, I think readers will discover it pretty quickly and that is not very good. It can be a bit tricky too, for example with Slovenia - I fell in love with it straight away and it's really become one of my favourite countries. In fact, I brag so much about the country that I'm afraid it might seem a bit "bought and paid for", but it's not. Of course it isn't.
Not easy!
08 October 2014 - 23:58
FANTASYDINING-A blog about themed restaurants and travel says:
I have written sponsored posts but mostly about hotels and travel companies. I have also lived and travelled with these before without knowing that I would later advertise them so it feels completely ok because I chose them myself.
09 October 2014 - 19:34
admin says:
Renates Reiser, thank you for sharing your experiences! Sooo interesting to hear what other travel bloggers think! Believe that most people are honest and if you are not, then it is probably noticeable with time ...
😉
FantasyDining, quite ok as long as you are honest and write what feels right, I think. Thank you for telling us! It means so much that we travel bloggers talk to each other, I think!
09 October 2014 - 20:05
scottish moments says:
What an interesting post and discussion! Very thought provoking! I've just discovered affiliate adverts, so to speak, and it seems to be a bit of a hassle. But when I find something suitable (like recently when I found one for my favourite stores in the UK) I think it can be ok. It can lie there for a while anyway, it does not hurt even if I do not think it will generate any money.
Agree with what one of the comments here said that it would be nice if the blog could pay for itself. It actually costs a bit to blog. Some small costs like that.
I don't get annoyed by adverts and sponsorship in blogs. I know a little bit now after a year of blogging how much work is behind so if the blogger can earn a little money, I think it might motivate the blogger to continue doing a good job. And I think the vast majority are very careful that it does not become an advertising pillar for everything and nothing. You quickly realise if someone is just looking for money.
13 October 2014 - 12:08
Mary of Rövarhamn says:
Interesting post. I almost exclusively turn down sponsored posts, usually for the reason that they rarely fit into our blog. People are there because they want to read about us and what we have done. Not about a lot of other things or places.
However, we have had quite a few sponsors that we have often mentioned on the blog in relevant contexts. Sponsorship rarely provides any income, but it can be a good way to save money. We have received many good things thanks to the blog, things that we needed and would otherwise have had to pay for or do without. However, we have never committed to speak well of any product we don't like.
However, I haven't taken to the idea of adverts. They seem to make very little money, are often ugly and take attention away from what the visitor actually came there to see or read. Yes, even your adverts are ugly and I never read your sponsored posts. But I come back anyway, because I want to know what you're up to. And because I like you so much. And then I simply have to put up with some advertising. It's worth it : )
Hugs. Linda
15 October 2014 - 1:05
admin says:
Scottish moments, I tried affiliate ads a few years ago, but it didn't work so I removed them. But it can be different, so why not try it for a while? I don't get annoyed by adverts either, only if there are a lot of them or if they are flashing...
😉
Mary af Rövarhamn, interesting to hear your thoughts on advertising and income on a blog! I know nothing about sponsorship... how does it work? How have you done to get sponsors? I agree that adverts are a bit boring, and I AM worried that advertising will damage the blog. At the same time, we have put ourselves in a situation where we are going on a long trip with a bad budget. (We had saved a lot, but the renovation was more expensive than planned... The option to postpone the trip to save more does not feel relevant because it has been a cumbersome process to get leave of absence. I've had to drop out of various projects and train replacements. Feels very difficult to back up and postpone the process... ;)) Therefore, it has felt relevant to test and see what the blog can provide, and even if the income is relatively small, one or two extra thousand dollars a month feels very important to get the travel budget together... 😉
15 October 2014 - 7:33