Make money blogging with Bloggers Required

Posted on 12:25pm Wednesday 19th Dec 2018

Today I want to introduce you to what, I believe, is the first platform I started using to get blog opportunities and brand collaborations from! This is before I even monetised my blog and was doing product reviews in exchange for my blog and social content back when my blog was a hobby. I remember I was firstly approached directly by brands when my blog started getting noticed a fair few years ago and I had no idea that blog networks to connect brands and bloggers existed! The first one I remember ever discovering was Bloggers Required who post numerous blogging opportunities on their platform and I started to get a lot of work from them instantly.

What sort of opportunities are at Bloggers Required?

I’d say the majority of the opportunities are product reviews with no payment, but they do also have regular paid assignments. I’ve continuously received brand collaborations since I discovered Bloggers Required. They list several blogging assignments each week, so there are regularly suitable opportunities for all sorts of bloggers. I’m usually applying for at least one of the opportunities each week and sometimes several.

Sometimes they have Instagram only opportunities too. The listing will state exactly what sort of opportunity it is. You can also filter by the sort you want to see, so you could choose to filter by affiliate schemes only, product only, or payment.

Top tip - a £ symbol means there is a payment on offer

How do I find out about their opportunities?

To find out about the opportunities you can visit their website or sign up for the newsletter. I’d highly recommend signing up to the newsletter as they sometimes send out ‘newsletter only’ assignments that aren’t posted on the website at all. Plus if you get the newsletter each week then you can be certain you won’t miss any relevant opportunities, especially as they all have deadlines.

Top tip – be timely with your applications

They do have a large community of bloggers signed up so you are competing with a lot of bloggers for the work. My top tip would be to get your application in as soon as possible! Sometimes I’ve had responses to say sorry, but they’ve filled all spaces even though they would have been interested in my blog. Whilst some brands wait for all responses and then choose the relevant bloggers, other brands choose bloggers as the responses come in and until the spaces are filled. So be timely with your responses!

How do I apply for an opportunity?

You apply on the platform for the blogging work by filling out details such as your name, email, blog URL, an application letter and your stats. This is sent directly to the brand who will contact you if you are a success. Don’t expect to receive a reply if your application is not successful as many of the brands receive hundreds (and even thousands) or responses so they simply don’t have time to respond to everyone. If you are successful then they’ll get in touch with you directly to your email where you can arrange the collaboration directly with the brand via email and not on the Bloggers Required platform. You only use the platform to find the opportunities and apply (and to take part in their community if you sign up with an account).

How do I sign up as a blogger?

Sign up as a blogger here: https://bloggersrequired.com/blogger-registration/

I’ve used Bloggers Required for a few years and can highly recommend it. I’ve had regular opportunities from this platform, so many that I’ve lost count!

How to make money from home:

The 5 ways I made £30000 money from home in 2017/2018
5 tried and tested ways to make money as a UK stay at home mum
Online resources to make money at home

Take part in my money making bloggers interview:

Do you make money from your blog? Take part in my interview to help others learn how to make money blogging.
Click here for the interview questions.
Read the interviews here.

Make money blogging with Press Loft

Posted on 11:45am Wednesday 19th Dec 2018

Today I am going to introduce you to Press Loft as a potential way to monetise your blog content. You may already know about this platform as it has been around for years connecting bloggers and journalists with brands and their images for features. More recently they added their ‘collaboration’ feature which allows bloggers to connect with brands for various blog and social opportunities. Read on to discover more about the Press Loft platform for bloggers.

Getting high-res brand images from Press Loft for features

I used Press Loft a few times a few years ago when I discovered them. At this point they didn’t offer collaborations, but only their image service which is still amazing for both bloggers and journalists. They have so many well-known brands on their platform with their most recent and upcoming stock images (high-res) for you to download. If you are featuring items in wish lists, gift guides, home décor posts and so on, then you may wish to use a stock image from the brand. By requesting use from Press Loft, you have the permission to use the image – simply remember to credit the brand. They ask which publication it will be shared in (i.e. your blog) and when you expect to use it. You can then download the images you require. I sometimes had the brands email me directly a few weeks after to ask if it had been featured so they could see it. This could get a little more exposure to your blog if they share it.

Collaborating with brands via Press Loft

I haven’t yet collaborated with brands via Press Loft, but I have received emails about collaborations and I’ve seen several on the platform. Most of the collaborations are gifted whereby you will receive a product in exchange for your services, but I have seen the odd paid collaboration. The opportunities you see are tailored to your blog, its audience and topics so you may not see all the opportunities they have to offer, but only those they believe are a good fit.

It’s not all about blogging either. You can link your social channels and some opportunities are for certain social channels only.

I only haven't applied for any as they are mostly product only in exchange for content, whereas I charge for all my services. If you are happy to receive products for content then you'll find a lot more than me to apply for :)

Make sure you don’t miss any messages from brands

I did once apply for an opportunity and never heard anything. Turned out the brand had replied to me, but I’d not had an email from Press Loft to notify me I had a message. All messages are via Press Loft’s messaging system. Unfortunately it meant I never saw the message until ages later when I signed into Press Loft for something else. I’m not sure if the email didn’t make it to me or that they simply don’t send email notifications about messages on the platform. Make sure you log in and check for messages if you have applied for a campaign.

How to get blog opportunities from Press Loft

Sign up at https://www.pressloft.com/app/influencers/register
Create your profile – theirs is quick and easy and not laborious at all
Start receiving alerts via email which are tailored to your profile (make sure you select to receive email notifications for collaborations by ticking the relevant box in your profile/account information)
Review the details of the collaboration to see if it’s a good fit and apply if so
Wait to hear back from the brand via the internal messaging system at Press Loft (make sure you check your account as I’ve not received an email when a brand has replied to me)
Arrange the details with the brand if they are interested and collaborate!

Happy collaborating!

How to make money from home:

The 5 ways I made £30000 money from home in 2017/2018
5 tried and tested ways to make money as a UK stay at home mum
Online resources to make money at home

Take part in my money making bloggers interview:

Do you make money from your blog? Take part in my interview to help others learn how to make money blogging.
Click here for the interview questions.
Read the interviews here.

Make money blogging with Considerable Influence

Posted on 10:40am Wednesday 19th Dec 2018

There are so many platforms out there to help you monetize your blog content and to work on some amazing brand collaborations. Today I am going to share with you a platform I have used several times. Read on to discover how you can make money blogging with Considerable Influence.

How much success have I had with Considerable Influence?

I’ve been a member of Considerable Influence for two years, since the end of 2016. I can see that I have applied for nine campaigns in total and been accepted on five of those for which I completed work and was paid.

Three of the campaigns I have taken part in have been reviewing restaurants, meals and online booking services for these. This has meant trying a new menu, new restaurant and getting reimbursed and paid for the privilege.

The other two campaigns were collaborative blog posts for which I wrote about a specific brand or a relevant topic.

How often do they post campaigns?

There aren’t too many new campaigns posted regularly on Considerable Influence, but it’s definitely worth signing up for. I’ve always had a great experience working with the platform and super-fast payment each time. Although there aren’t often new campaigns posted, there are always usually some active campaigns.

There have been more campaigns on the platform that I haven’t applied for as they simply aren’t relevant to me, my lifestyle or my location. There have been several with London themes, so if you are in or near to London then you may suit more of the collaborations than I do.

As I type this there are 11 active campaigns that you can apply for if they are suitable for you.

How do I find out about new campaigns?

Considerable Influence always send out an email as soon as there is a new campaign, so you don’t need to worry about constantly checking the platform. Simply pop over and apply as soon as you receive an email.

How do I communicate with the brands?

You correspond directly with the brands through the websites internal messaging service, but again they will email you if you have a message so you don’t have to worry about missing anything or having to constantly log in.

You submit the links to any completed work on the platform to be reviewed by the brand

How do I get paid?

You simply add your PayPal email to your account details and you’ll be paid via the brand straight to your PayPal account once any completed work is approved. This has always been very quick, as in a couple of days, in my experience.

Sounds great, how do I sign up?

You can sign up for Considerable Influence here: https://considerableinfluence.com

The platform is really easy to use and very minimal. Simply set up an account, set up your profile and search the campaigns. It’s straightforward and exactly as it needs to be.

Different ways to make money from home:

The 5 ways I made £30000 money from home in 2017/2018
5 tried and tested ways to make money as a UK stay at home mum
Online resources to make money at home

Take part in my money making bloggers interview:

Do you make money from your blog? Take part in my interview to help others learn how to make money blogging.
Click here for the interview questions.
Read the interviews here.

Inexpensive hard floor ideas that look authentic

Posted on 6:10pm Monday 17th Dec 2018

When it comes to floors in the home and being budget friendly, hard floors are always the winner for me. In our home we only have carpet on the stairs and landing; the rest of our home has hard flooring throughout. Personally I find it so much easier to clean, especially with two young children. It doesn’t stain, it doesn’t soak up spills and it doesn’t get dirty – unlike carpets. Now, I would love a carpet one day, don’t get me wrong. I love the soft feel of carpet underfoot. But that will be in my very own private no-shoe adult room one day in the future!

Unfortunately with kids and pets, my experience of carpets has only been one of frustration as they get dirty so quickly, are a pain to have to clean with a carpet cleaner and kids food constantly stains or mushes into the piles! So hard floors it is –to both save my sanity and because in the long run I believe it is a cost effective and longer lasting option.

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Many people think that hard flooring is an expensive option, but I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be. Whilst we all might want a real wooden oak floor or solid marble tiles, the reality is that our purse strings might not stretch quite this far. So instead, much to our dismay, we have no choice but to opt for cheaper floor options. Once upon a time that might have meant settling for something that was so obviously cheap, but nowadays there are plenty of affordable flooring solutions which actually look just like the real deal.

So chin up! Let’s explore in this blog post some inexpensive flooring ideas that look totally authentic:

Engineered wood flooring

If you want a floor that truly resembles a real hardwood floor, then you’ll want to consider engineered wood flooring from Lifestyle Flooring UK. This flooring option is a wood floor that is made from several glued together layers of plywood. It is very strong and stable, in fact possibly even more so than real wood as it doesn’t warp or shrink with changes in temperature.

It’s also easier to install than real wood as each piece doesn’t need to be nailed down, but has click together joints meaning those who are quite savvy in DIY can install this by themselves. My husband and I were able to lay our entire house with click together wooden effect flooring.

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Luxury vinyl flooring

When I first think of vinyl flooring, I simply imagine the sheet vinyl flooring we always put in our bathroom. It looks pretty terrible and it wears through quickly too. However, there is so much more to vinyl flooring and in particular there are ranges of ‘luxury’ vinyl floor tiles that can look as real as stone, marble, slate, concrete and more. Some brands not only look like the real thing, but even have the texture too.

Not only is luxury vinyl flooring much cheaper than choosing the real thing, but they are highly durable and long lasting with some brands offering a 20 year guarantee. And, if that’s not enough to convince you to reconsider vinyl flooring as an option, you can even get get vinyl flooring that looks just like an authentic wooden floor.

Luckily, nowadays, there are lots more options when it comes to affordable flooring for the home that looks like raw materials, but is actually a copy. Opting for a replicated floor doesn’t mean you are opting for less quality either. As I mentioned with the engineered wood flooring, it can even have several benefits over a real wood floor so should definitely be considered when you are looking into floor options for your home.

Budget friendly kids party planning

Posted on 1:30pm Monday 17th Dec 2018

Many parents tend to go overboard when planning parties for their kids, but there are great ways to have a memorable party that does not include spending too much money. Often it’s the parents who are perhaps trying to make a great impression to other parents, but in reality the kids will have a great time at any party so long as the usual suspects of party food and friends are there. Oh, and of course the presents! Below are some great tips and examples for budget-friendly kids party planning.

Photo by Adi Goldstein

Budget

When planning any party, it is essential to set a budget and stick to it. While you may need a little wiggle room for unexpected costs, it is vital to stick to your guns and stay within your budget. The main point of the party is to have fun and celebrate, and no one is going to notice if you opted for plain coloured napkins instead of ones with a saying on them, they will wipe their hands with them either way so why not save some money and stick within your budget. Of course it’s always nice to buy whatever you want to and be extravagant, but if your bank balance won’t allow this then you are going to have to stick to what you can afford. Your kids will have a great time regardless of the colours of napkins and such things.

Invitations

Keep invitations inexpensive and straightforward. We live in a digital world so why not save yourself some time and money and send digital invitations. By sending digital invitations, you can save on the purchase of the invitations and the postage and will most likely get a quicker response via email or text, so you know how many will be attending. If you want to forgo the digital and have more personalised invitations make them yourself and hand them out instead of mailing them. When it comes to invitations, you can be creative and still keep the cost to a minimum. There are numerous templates online ready for you to fill in and be able to print your own invites instead of paying high prices for a professional to create them for you.

Double up

Are you throwing a birthday party and your child shares the birthday with someone else? Then double up! You can keep costs low by planning parties with others who share the same birthday or for an event that coincides with someone else’s. By doubling up, you can make sure you keep the party costs down, and two imaginations are better than one so you may end up with a better party in the end. You’ll get to split costs and won’t have to do all the hard work yourself.

Photo by Adi Goldstein

Make your own cake

Don't fall into the store bought cake trap. You can make your own cake or cakes at home for much cheaper, and everyone loves them just the same. With boxed mixes and frosting with readymade cake decorations you are sure to create a stunning cake that will make everyone happy and for a fraction of the cost. In fact, you can make two types of cake to make sure that everyone has something they like and still have less cost than with a store made cake. If you really can’t make a cake then an alternative idea is to buy a plain sponge and simply decorate yourself. That’s still a much cheaper idea than buying a readymade party cake – they’re sometimes a tenth of the price, or less!

Lunch boxes

Often at kids parties we make way too much food. We worry we don’t have enough, but there’s always a huge pile of excess at the end. Kids have small tummies and with the excitement of the party they don’t always eat as much as normal as they’re too excited to play. To save making way too much food and wasting money by having excess, instead make a lunch box for each child. That way you know exactly how much each child has and how much food you need to buy. One sandwich each, one yoghurt, one piece or fruit or box of raisins, one pudding and a drink each. Easy! That was there should be nothing wasted and anything that isn’t eaten can be taken home in their lunch box. It’s possible to buy cheap flat packed cardboard lunchboxes for parties online or to buy striped candy style bags that be used as a lunch bag for each child.

Shop online

A great way to minimize your expenses is to shop online. Going to party stores can be overwhelming, and you may end up walking out buying more than you wanted to. Shopping online ensures that you can find the lowest cost for the items you wish to purchase and you may find that there is a greater selection of items to choose from. There are many great online party stores you can choose from, and they offer great prices and low shipping costs that are sure to fit any budget.

Examples

Below are two examples of themed birthday parties that are budget-friendly:

Photo by Mariana Yarritu

1. Princess

What little girl doesn't want to be a princess? Throwing a princess themed party does not mean having to spend a lot of money. You can find many items you need online for a relatively low cost. From table clothes to party favours you are sure to find everything you need. If you can’t afford printed party ware then plain pink works great for a princess theme and sprinkle glitter over a pink table cloth. A plain sponge cake can be decorated with pink icing, ‘Princess’ and the name of your child, then a plastic silver tiara which the birthday girl can keep afterwards. Send out pink invites saying to come as your favourite princess.

2. Construction

Boys of all ages love building and creating a construction themed party can be simple and budget friendly. From plates and napkins to bubbles and decorations you are sure to find everything you need to make your party a success, whether you choose for printed items or not. If you need to opt for plain items then choose yellow! Yellow plates, napkins and balloons to really give the party a JCB digger feel! Make sure there’s lots of LEGO and construction toys left out to play with and ask everyone to come dressed as a builder – white t-shirts, jeans and a yellow plastic dress-up hard hat will do.

No matter what type of party you are throwing, there are ways to keep your costs low. It is essential to set a budget and stick with it. Being creative is more important than how much money you spend. From making your own invitations and cake to searching online for the best prices, it only takes a little time and creativity to throw a great kids party on even the smallest of budgets.

Read my UK lifestyle and money blog

Category: Money

What sort of opportunities are at Bloggers Required?

Top tip - a £ symbol means there is a payment on offer

How do I find out about their opportunities?

Top tip – be timely with your applications

How do I apply for an opportunity?

How do I sign up as a blogger?

More helpful articles if you want to monetise your blog:

How to make money from home:

Take part in my money making bloggers interview:

Getting high-res brand images from Press Loft for features

Collaborating with brands via Press Loft

Make sure you don’t miss any messages from brands

How to get blog opportunities from Press Loft

More helpful articles if you want to monetise your blog:

How to make money from home:

Take part in my money making bloggers interview:

How much success have I had with Considerable Influence?

How often do they post campaigns?

How do I find out about new campaigns?

How do I communicate with the brands?

How do I get paid?

Sounds great, how do I sign up?

More helpful articles if you want to monetise your blog:

Different ways to make money from home:

Take part in my money making bloggers interview:

Engineered wood flooring

Luxury vinyl flooring

Budget

Invitations

Double up

Make your own cake

Lunch boxes

Shop online

Examples

1. Princess

2. Construction