Happy Tuesday, friends! One of the questions I get asked most often (other than where I got my living room rug) is how this whole blogging thing works and how I make money doing it or how my blog became my business. 

Over my 3 years of blogging, I’ve shared a couple of posts about how I make money blogging and what I’ve learned in my first couple of years in this weird, unconventional business. 

You guys. I get it. This is a strange gig. It’s new(ish) and not a lot of people even know it’s a paying job. My favorite thing I’ve heard from a friend regarding my blog when talking about making money from mirror selfies was: “What? For real?? I thought you were just vain.”

Bahahahaha. 

OK, don’t get it twisted. There has to be a certain vain part of anyone who takes photos of herself for a living. That’s not groundbreaking news. But, guess what? Those mirror selfies and flat lays and blog posts you see and like and read every day? They’re not just pretty. They bring in the bucks. 

I have always tried to keep it real around here. So, why stop now? Today I’m breaking it down and letting you know how my blog became my business and how I’m now making more money than when I was a retail executive. 

First things first: I didn’t start this blog intending to make money. Sure, I thought it could be a possibility down the road, but that was never the goal of my blog. 

I started my blog because I was drowning in new motherhood and need a creative outlet. I had postpartum anxiety and needed to get out of my head. I spent my days at home with my baby and needed to connect with other moms. 

And I did just that. I shared my struggles and daily #momlife foibles and some cute #ootd posts along the way. After about a year blogging at least 3 times a week, my traffic started to grow.

Thanks to all of you, it has continued to grow every single month and now I’m pretty sure I’ve crossed from a stay at home mom to a work at home mom. (Which, BTW, aren’t we ALL work at home moms?).

So, how do I make money?

SPONSORED POSTS.

This is the #1 way I make money from the blog. I know it’s easy to focus on Instagram followers and try to grow that. But, my number one advice for new bloggers is to FOCUS ON YOUR BLOG. Because Instagram is just one social media platform, and everything will always come down to how many people are visiting your blog each month. That’s what will allow you to charge more for your sponsored posts. I only take on sponsored posts that I truly believe in and love. Staying authentic has been important to me from day one and that’s not going to change.

AFFILIATED LINKS.

Here’s the commission portion of the business. Almost every time I share a product, I’ll use an affiliated link. What does that mean? It means if you purchase something after clicking that link (no, it doesn’t have to be the exact product, but it does have to be on the same device at the same retailer), I will make commission. The exact percentages vary from retailer to retailer, generally anywhere from 10% – 20%. 

ADS.

I’ve been reached out to countless times to have ads placed on my site. And while it’s tempting, I haven’t done it yet. I can’t promise I won’t, but I can totally promise that this will NEVER be a place that drowns in ads and you can’t tell where one starts and one ends. 

COURSES.

You guys. I am SO excited. This is something I’m working on now. Stay tuned….

As always, PLEASE feel free to reach out to me if you’re just started out in blogging and trying to get your footing. It can take awhile and I will tell you this: STAY WITH IT. If it’s something you really want to do and you need to do something creative, get to it. Start creating. Focus on your strengths. The rest will come. 

XO

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Onto the jumpsuit. My black jumpsuit comes in 4 colors and is only $19. It works with my long torso and is just short enough that I can get away with flats. YAY.

LOVED THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER! XO

Just in time for this Summer’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale,
I’ve teamed up with a group of bloggers to give you a chance to win a $850 Nordstrom Gift Card!

To enter: complete the steps in the rafflecopter below.
The more steps you complete, the more entries you receive, and the better your chance at winning!
This giveaway runs until end-of-day 7/19 at 11:59PM EST.

Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!
*this giveaway is in no way sponsored by Nordstrom.

a Rafflecopter giveaway