Welcome to my Money Making Blogger interview series where I interview bloggers who are making money from their blogs!
Scroll down if you've been here before, or if it's your first time then read this intro first to understand why I'm doing this interview series.
I've been a full time blogger officially since May 2017. For one year before this I made a part time wage from my blog and worked a part time job. I started blogging in April 2013 and never even realised I could make a real living from my blog and thought it was just a hobby. So for the first three years I didn't make any money from my blog.
Before properly monetizing my blog I did have a few opportunities land in my inbox which I politely declined as I wasn't really sure what they were. Then I stumbled upon some blogger income reports and realised there was some real money to be made. I’ve never looked back and I started collaborating with brands and putting a value on my time and worth, instead of accepting unpaid collaborations. I now make a full time living from my blog and I want you to realise you can do this too, if you want to.
I get to write every day and make money by doing what I love. It’s amazing and still amazes me each day, even two years into making money from my website. It’s not without a lot of hard work though, so don’t be fooled into thinking you simply set up a website and voila, income starts rolling in. If only! I work 30-40 hours per week currently and my blog is my life!
In this series I am going to interview other bloggers who also make money from their blogs to hopefully inspire people to start a blog if they wish or to make that leap to monetizing content. I also find it so interesting to learn what other bloggers are up to and even us full time bloggers can learn from each other and inspire one another.
Hello, please introduce yourself and tell us all about your money making blog.
Hi, I'm Hayley, the parent behind Devon Mama. Devon Mama is a UK family lifestyle blog that covers all aspects of modern family life; food, travel, home and parenting of course!
How long have you been blogging for and when did you begin to monetize?
I started blogging in February 2016 as a bit of a hobby whilst preparing for the birth of our first child. Roughly around October 2016 I decided to take things a little bit more seriously, blog on a more regular basis, interact more on social media and go self-hosted. I had my first paid post about a month later and then nothing for a few months after that! It wasn't until about a year after that that I started making a regular income from it.
What's your monthly blog income like? (Pocket money, part time, full time or the figure)
It depends. I try to aim for around £500 a month minimum but the reality can vary wildly from this. I've had months where it's been ridiculously busy and months where it's far quieter than that. It also depends on how much I hustle for it! Right now we've just had our second baby so I've not been hunting down opportunities in quite the same way, and it shows!
How exactly do you make money from your blog and tell us more about your favourite method?
I make money primarily though collaborative content, either hosting pre-written work or by creating content that then links to a brands website or chosen page. 95% of my work is based around that. I work directly with brands or via PR companies and will often work with the same companies over and over on different clients. Some clients will come directly to me having found my site on Google or on my social channels. Others will be via recommendations from friends who've previously worked with them and have passed my details on. Finally, I do sometimes 'cold call' a company and drop their PR team an email. I'd recommend it for reviews but it's rare in my experience that this has worked for paid content. On the odd occasion I'll be paid to promote something on social media, especially Instagram or Facebook. My followings aren't huge on either of those, so it's a bit of a catch 22. I don't put the time into them so they don't make money, but because they don't make money, I can't justify the time spent. What can I say, I've had to prioritise a very limited work day!
Were there any steps you took in the early days to prep your blog for making money?
Just keeping going! I don't believe it works setting out purely to make money. There has to be a passion behind that that drives you as it can take a long time to get to the money stage. I'd also recommend networking with other bloggers in a similar position to you. I've met some great friends like this who not only offer guidance and support but also will happily pass my details over to companies they've worked with; it sometimes really is all about who you know!
Has it been an easy process to make money from your blog? Why?
With my first job I was amazed that people would pay me to write. But as time has gone on, I've realised that although it looks easy, it takes a lot. There's writing, editing, proofing, photographing, image editing, promoting and a whole heap more that goes on behind the scenes to create a simple post. Not only that but you have to keep creating great content even when you're not being paid in order to keep the blog fresh. It's a bit of a gigantic beast at times!
How many hours per week do you work on your blog? Has this changed over time?
On average I'd say I work 15hrs a week on my site, a couple of hours a day. It's less than it used to be now that we've got another child and it can be really frustrating. There's so much to do but so little time!
What are your aims for your blog in the future?
World domination!? I'm joking. I'd like to carry on with things as they are, maybe do a little more on the travel side. I have a job that I love outside of blogging which means I'm in the fortunate position of not wanting blogging to be my job. It definitely takes the pressure off.
If someone is totally new to blogging, what should they concentrate on most to make money?
Creating great content and a strong identity. You need a site that ranks well on search engines and that looks good when people click through to it. You want to make people WANT to work with you... sometimes it's about getting high visitation numbers but I've had some of my best contracts and never discussed views or visitors once!
What are the drawbacks to running a money making blog?
Pressure! There's definitely an added element of pressure when your blog starts to give you a constant income stream. Whilst for us it's an added extra, it's amazing how quickly you come to rely on it.
What inspires you to blog and what is the best thing about blogging?
I love creating content. My role outside of blogging is Content Marketing Director so it's something I care a lot about. Unfortunately whilst it allows me overall creative control, it's rare that I get to do the doing these days! So blogging allows me to get back into the content creation side from the ground up. It's taught me a lot of skills which I believe help me be better at my 'real' job!
Would you still blog even if you couldn’t make money doing it and why?
I would because I enjoy it but I'd probably do it far less. I'd be that person that does 3 updates in a week then nothing for months. I love being able to look back though, it's made me document our lives and my children's childhoods... who wouldn't want that?
Do you think blogging is here to stay and why?
Yes and no. I think it's a really interesting time for blogging as a marketing channel but it's also an area which is rapidly becoming saturated. Will there be a time when there are just too many blogs and everything implodes? I doubt it just yet!
Thank you so much for taking part in my Money Making Blogger interview series and best of luck with your blog!
Welcome to my Money Making Blogger interview series where I interview bloggers who are making money from their blogs!
Scroll down if you've been here before, or if it's your first time then read this intro first to understand why I'm doing this interview series.
I've been a full time blogger officially since May 2017. For one year before this I made a part time wage from my blog and worked a part time job. I started blogging in April 2013 and never even realised I could make a real living from my blog and thought it was just a hobby. So for the first three years I didn't make any money from my blog.
Before properly monetizing my blog I did have a few opportunities land in my inbox which I politely declined as I wasn't really sure what they were. Then I stumbled upon some blogger income reports and realised there was some real money to be made. I’ve never looked back and I started collaborating with brands and putting a value on my time and worth, instead of accepting unpaid collaborations. I now make a full time living from my blog and I want you to realise you can do this too, if you want to.
I get to write every day and make money by doing what I love. It’s amazing and still amazes me each day, even two years into making money from my website. It’s not without a lot of hard work though, so don’t be fooled into thinking you simply set up a website and voila, income starts rolling in. If only! I work 30-40 hours per week currently and my blog is my life!
In this series I am going to interview other bloggers who also make money from their blogs to hopefully inspire people to start a blog if they wish or to make that leap to monetizing content. I also find it so interesting to learn what other bloggers are up to and even us full time bloggers can learn from each other and inspire one another.
Hello, please introduce yourself and tell us all about your money making blog.
Hi, I'm Andy and I enjoy making and mending in a shed at the bottom of the garden. I started blogging at www.workshopshed.com just to keep notes on my projects and after a while the blog took on a life of its own. I now include interviews, other people's projects and even news for makers, tinkers and inventors.
How long have you been blogging for and when did you begin to monetize?
Workshopshed blog is 10 years old this year. I've always had some kind of advert running on the site to help pay for costs but this has always been a trickle. It was not till 2012 that I had my first sponsored post.
What's your monthly blog income like? (Pocket money, part time, full time or the figure)
The blog income pays for the hosting and domains. There's some left over for new tools and things like photos and fonts for the blogs and projects. It's still in the pocket money range but it means that I can take on some more exciting projects without having to worry about paying the bills for the blog.
How exactly do you make money from your blog and tell us more about your favourite method?
The main money comes from writing for magazines about projects made in the Workshopshed. This is a parallel activity to the blogging but often has some useful spinoffs for blog posts. The next is sponsored guest posts. Most of these are written by the guest but I have been known to ghost write for those who are not so experienced. Some sponsors also go for an interview approach which I think is a good way to get the public seeing the people behind the business. I've also had one sponsor who allowed me to go totally free range on their topic of future transport. I had great fun with that one. I also do affiliate links to relevant books as well as my own book. This does not bring in much money but it is a steady trickle. I have tried various advertising tools but never had much luck with those.
Were there any steps you took in the early days to prep your blog for making money?
My main thing was getting a site review done by a more experience blogger. They gave advise on layout, content and navigation. This was to give a better overall experience for the readers which I think is the key thing for attracting sponsors and advertisers.
Has it been an easy process to make money from your blog? Why?
Blogging is not an easy way to make money. But it can be quite flexible, for example I'll often answer emails and review content on my daily commute across London on the underground. I typically don't have to chase sponsors, they come to me but I have signed up to a few sites that look for bloggers to match their sponsors.
How many hours per week do you work on your blog? Has this changed over time?
Just blogging is around 3 hours a week, the projects require a lot more time. I do have times when it is busier, for example coming up to the holidays I like to schedule several posts ahead. The effort has stayed fairly constant with the exception of a few years back when I ported from Blogger to WordPress and did a big redesign/rebuild myself.
What are your aims for your blog in the future?
I did some mini-series on other Makers the other year and would like repeat that. I have done the research, I just need to do the writing. I'd also like to expand into video but there is a bit of preparation such as tidying the workshop and getting a suitable camera. I've also another book in the works.
If someone is totally new to blogging, what should they concentrate on most to make money?
I think quality content is the best approach for any new blogger. And one way to get better at blogging is to blog often.
What are the drawbacks to running a money making blog?
The main drawback is having to deal with dodgy sponsorship enquiries. "I'd like the moon on a stick in return for a packet of sweets and a plastic toy"
What inspires you to blog and what is the best thing about blogging?
My inspiration comes from many places but mostly the projects I've created. Often I'll see a piece of sculpture in a building or on the road and that will inspire me to look up the artist or technique and write about it. The best thing is when people "get it". I'd written a post about how to deal with failure and my own sister passed that on to one of her junior colleagues who was having a hard time. It's a great feeling that your blog post might have helped someone else.
Would you still blog even if you couldn’t make money doing it and why?
Definitely. For me the money is just a means to an end. It allows me to do more interesting and exiting projects. I do like dealing with some of the sponsors as often they have the same interests as myself such as metal working or DIY.
Do you think blogging is here to stay and why?
As mentioned, I do hope to expand out to video but that's not a replacement for the blog but an addition. I think that many people find written text a better way to digest information compared to audio, pictures or video. For example you could read a blog on the bus and not have to worry about a shaky connection or noise from your fellow passengers. Also reading can be done at your pace, not the pace determined by the presenter. So you can take as long or short over reading a blog as you want which gives it a massive advantage over other media types.
Thank you so much for taking part in my Money Making Blogger interview series and best of luck with your blog!
Welcome to my Money Making Blogger interview series where I interview bloggers who are making money from their blogs!
Scroll down if you've been here before, or if it's your first time then read this intro first to understand why I'm doing this interview series.
I've been a full time blogger officially since May 2017. For one year before this I made a part time wage from my blog and worked a part time job. I started blogging in April 2013 and never even realised I could make a real living from my blog and thought it was just a hobby. So for the first three years I didn't make any money from my blog.
Before properly monetizing my blog I did have a few opportunities land in my inbox which I politely declined as I wasn't really sure what they were. Then I stumbled upon some blogger income reports and realised there was some real money to be made. I’ve never looked back and I started collaborating with brands and putting a value on my time and worth, instead of accepting unpaid collaborations. I now make a full time living from my blog and I want you to realise you can do this too, if you want to.
I get to write every day and make money by doing what I love. It’s amazing and still amazes me each day, even two years into making money from my website. It’s not without a lot of hard work though, so don’t be fooled into thinking you simply set up a website and voila, income starts rolling in. If only! I work 30-40 hours per week currently and my blog is my life!
In this series I am going to interview other bloggers who also make money from their blogs to hopefully inspire people to start a blog if they wish or to make that leap to monetizing content. I also find it so interesting to learn what other bloggers are up to and even us full time bloggers can learn from each other and inspire one another.
Hello, please introduce yourself and tell us all about your money making blog.
Hello, I am Luisa, a professional fashion stylist and blogger at https://onlinepersonalstylist.com. I began monetising my blog in 2015. It is my full-time career and I enjoy diversifying my income in different ways. Online Personal Stylist is a fashion and style destination where inspirational stories are told through fashion and where conscious fashion is mainstream.
How long have you been blogging for and when did you begin to monetize?
I have been blogging since 2009 but I started monetising in 2015.
What's your monthly blog income like? (Pocket money, part time, full time or the figure)
Full-time
How exactly do you make money from your blog and tell us more about your favourite method?
Blogger/brand collaborations. I have also sold products and services through my blog. I also earn a big percentage from affiliate sales.
Were there any steps you took in the early days to prep your blog for making money?
I had a think about what was missing from the market and tried to think how I could monetise that.
Has it been an easy process to make money from your blog? Why?
When you get clear on your blogging vision yes. But if you don't, it is incredibly difficult!
How many hours per week do you work on your blog? Has this changed over time?
About 30. It has varied depending on what I blog about and how long it takes to put a blog together.
What are your aims for your blog in the future?
I want to make it scalable. I want it to continue to grow and I want to create an inspirational community through my audience.
If someone is totally new to blogging, what should they concentrate on most to make money?
Whatever it is they feel comfortable with and that they enjoy selling!
What are the drawbacks to running a money making blog?
It isn't really a problem as such but I feel that it can be difficult to get yourself into the mind-set of "treating your blog like a business". That can actually be far more difficult that you imagine.
What inspires you to blog and what is the best thing about blogging?
I love the idea of connecting with people and building an audience through blogging. Blogging is about being real, it doesn't have to be perfect and that is something that I really enjoy. If you have an honest message that you want to share, blogging allows you to do just that.
Would you still blog even if you couldn’t make money doing it and why?
Yes. It was my favourite hobby before I turned it into a business.
Do you think blogging is here to stay and why?
Yes, it is a modern form of media. If blogs were gone tomorrow I don't think that would force people to go back to traditional forms of media, i.e. expensive glossy magazines, newspapers, etc. Blogs appeal to the modern generation and people who want honest information.
Thank you so much for taking part in my Money Making Blogger interview series and best of luck with your blog!
