6 Ways to Make Money Blogging: #2 Sponsored Posts
Sunday, September 14, 2014This post contains some affiliate links.
If you're a blogger, you know how much time and effort goes into blogging. It's not just writing, but also photographing, editing, designing, promoting, networking, pitching, organizing events, etc., etc., etc.. It's a full-time job getting your blog high in your reader's lists, and you're likely also losing money with hosting and domain costs.
If you've been wondering how to monetize your blog, I can help. You won't get rich quick, but you'll start by making enough to cover your blogging costs and your time. :) There are many bloggers out there who make a full-time income, and then some, but it takes a lot of time and a lot of hard work. Using these methods, I hope to start earning a full-time income from blogging while also being able to stay at home to care for my family.
I get asked constantly how I make money online, so I thought I would share everything in one place. It became a monster of a post, and was hard to get through, so I broke it up into 6 easy-to-digest pieces continuing with my #2 income stream: Sponsored Posts.
#2 Sponsored Posts
"Sponsored post" can translate to quite a few kinds of posts, but all have been "sponsored", or paid for. It can be anything from a neutral write-up of a company and their service or products and specials, to a recipe post in which a company wants you to use and recommend their products. They can vary widely, but usually pay well in dollars or products or a combination of the two.
The best way that I've found to get sponsored posts (besides pitching directly) is to sign up with platforms that connect bloggers with brands, or to join a company's ambassadorship program. Not all are easy to get approved for; Some have stringent requirements for the blog's age, social media following, content, publishing frequency, readership, or traffic numbers, but this varies, so I would say it's worth a shot, no matter your numbers. If you get turned down, make a note of the requirement and reapply once you've met it.
You will need Google Analytics on your blog to apply for many of these, and you should have it from the start, as most companies require you to disclose pageviews, sessions, and unique monthly users in order to be considered. Don't panic if you don't have it, there is no time like the present to get started. It's really not that complicated; You can find everything you need on the Google Analytics website. Once it's installed and running, you can measure your own metrics, set goals, and find out how people found you. There are a ton of benefits, so get it done!
I've compiled a list of platforms and companies that offer blogger programs. I would like this list to be as comprehensive as possible, so if you know of one I've missed, leave it in the comments and I'll check it out and update the post! Thanks!
- BlogDash
- Bloggers Required
- Bloggy Moms
- BlogHer (sponsored social media sharing)
- Blog Meets Brand
- bookieboo
- Business 2 Blogger (receive products to review and/or give away, sponsored posts)
- BuzzSeeker (sample products)
- BzzAgent (sample products)
- Collectively
- ***NEW*** Cooperatize
- Double Duty Divas
- fitfluential
- Giveaway.ly (host paid giveaways)
- Glam Media
- Glitter Network
- Global Influence Media Network
- Green Moms Meet
- houseparty (host house parties, usually paid in product/gift card)
- Ignite Social Media
- influenster
- IZEA (social shares, sponsored posts, reviews)
- ***NEW*** Linqia (sponsored posts)
- Markerly
- MASSIVEsway (sponsored posts)
- Media Talent Agency
- Mizz Review Lady
- MODERNmom Insider
- Mom Bloggers Club Network
- Mom Buzz Media (sponsored posts, opps)
- Mom Central (sponsored posts - must have high UMVs)
- MomDot Media
- Mom It Forward
- Mommerce
- Mom Powered Media
- Mom's Affiliate (sponsored posts, reviews)
- Mom Select
- Opps For Bloggers
- Parent Tested, Parent Approved
- Pitchrate (sign up under Journalist. Great way to pitch multiple companies for events.)
- Pollen-8
- PostJoint
- Pro Blogger Job Board
- Project Eve (for women)
- shespeaks
- Simply Sassy Media
- Smiley360 (test products)
- Social Fabric
- Social Media Chicks
- SocialMoms Network
- Social Spark
- Sponsored Reviews
- Sverve (sponsored posts, reviews)
- Talented Talkers
- TapInfluence (sponsored posts, reviews)
- Tastemaker Mom
- technorati
- textbroker (write and sell articles)
- The Review Wire Media Team
- Tomoson (receive products to review and sometimes give away)
- triberr
- twtMob for Twitter (paid tweets)
- twtMob for Instagram (paid Instagram posts)
- uphandle
- US Family Guide (receive blogging opportunities via email)
Company-run Blogger Programs and Ambassadorships:
- Best Buy Wolf Blogging Network
- Boon Blogger Program
- Cricut Blogger Network Program
- CVS Advisor
- ***NEW*** Diet To Go Ambassadorship
- Firmoo
- Franklin Foods Consumer Panel
- Frito Lay fans
- General Mills Advisory Panel
- good cook Blogger Outreach
- Hamilton Beach Ambassadors
- John S. Brana Fashion Blogger Partnership Program
- Joovy Blogger Program
- Kraft First Taste
- McCormick Consumer Testing
- Nature's Sleep Blogger Program
- New Balance Wear Test Program
- Nike Testing
- OXO Blogger Outreach Program
- Purex Insiders
- Uncommon Goods Product Review Program
- Tweezerman Ambassador Program
- Veggie Tales Ambassadors
- Wet n' Wild Beauty Ambassador
- Wholly Guacamole
- Wowee Toy Reviews
I hope this post has been helpful, and I'd love to hear about your successes! Please leave me a comment below or you can email me at southernmomloves@gmail.com! Good Luck!
Go back and read the previous post in the series:
6 Ways to Make Money Blogging: #1 Affiliate Marketing
Read the next posts in the series:
6 Ways to Make Money Blogging: #3 Write an eBook
6 Ways to Make Money Blogging: #4 Paid Reviews
6 Ways to Make Money Blogging: #5 Running Giveaways
6 Ways to Make Money Blogging: #6 Organizing Multi-Blog Giveaways
Laptop Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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