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{Smaller Bloggers} Blogging Is Not About the Money

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Contrary to popular belief, bloggers don’t blog to get rich. At least, the ones I know don’t.

Bloggers blog because they like blogging. The money? It’s a perk. If it were about the money, there wouldn’t be any money.

Let me explain.

Blogging is not a mindless, no-skills-required activity. It requires quite a bit of technique and know-how. Those who are blogging just to make money, aren’t making any money. Why? Because they don’t really like to blog. They just want to make money. As a result, they are not doing what it takes to learn about blogging, better their writing skills, and spend time connecting with people on social media.

Money comes as a result of loving what you do. Since blogging is very much an entrepreneurial job, it requires a kick start to get going; and no one can do that for you. It’s something you must do yourself.

I’ve heard many “big bloggers” share their story of how they got where they are now, and most will tell you, it happened unexpectedly. It happened as a result of just doing what they already loved to do. This isn’t the story of every big blogger, but it is for many.

The bottom line is, you have to love blogging before you can make money from it. The two go hand in hand.

If you’re waiting for opportunity to come knocking, you’ll likely be waiting a while. You need to go out and grab it. You need to be proactive in all aspects of blogging. Start with what you have. If companies aren’t ready to advertise with you yet because you don’t have the traffic, go out and get it. Sign up for affiliate programs; they don’t require specific traffic amounts.

Since you are your own “boss”, you have to be disciplined to do things. There’s no one there to tell you to do it.

When I represent a company on my blog, it’s because I already love that company. I believe in what they’re doing and I want other people to know about them. I will not promote a company I do not agree with.

One thing we need to understand as bloggers and readers of blogs: blogging and money {together} are not dirty words. Unless you’re selling your ideals for a few bucks, there is no reason why a blogger shouldn’t receive money for advertising for a company. Money is simply a tool. We make it and spend it to live on and/or help others simply live. I hesitate calling blogging a “job”, though it is for many people. Again, most people who blog and make an income with it, love it from the start.

Blogging certainly requires work, but it’s much more then merely a job.

What about giveaways?

I know many bloggers worry about doing giveaways because they’re afraid people will think they are doing it only to drive traffic to their blog.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know whenever I see a giveaway, I have never thought that way at all. Seriously. Even when I first started blogging, the only thing I would think is, “Oh cool! I’m entering that!” I never thought to myself, “Wow. The only reason they are doing a giveaway is so they can get more people to their blog. That is so shallow.” Not once did I think anything like that.

Now, being the one offering the giveaways, I don’t do them because I think they will bring more traffic. I do them because I think, “Oh, I get to bless a fellow mom!”

My advice? Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks of what your motives might be for doing something. Do what God has called you to do.

On a side note, if you are looking for a company to sponsor you for Allume but you don’t know how to approach sponsorship or pitching to a company, come on over to Joyful Living Media as I share a series that will answer your questions surrounding sponsorships.

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Comments

  2. I love this- “My advice? Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks of what your motives might be for doing something. Do what God has called you to do.” Why oh why do we fall into this trap so often? If God has called me to it, nothing else matters. Really!

  3. This is advice I’ve been needing.  I need to scrap my blog altogether, except for the book reviews and do something different.  I have a heart for promoting marriage and for helping youth.  Yet, I don’t know if I could write enough about either one to start a blog just for those two topics.  Any suggestions?

    •  I think you could. There are plenty of issues surrounding both those topics. And you might find that those topics could lead to other things you might touch on as well. You could have a focused niche and yet still touch on other topics. My blog focuses on mothering, touches on marriage, homeschooling, and blogging. They are all intertwined. 🙂

  4. I LOVE this! I have been feeling a bit guilty lately about NOT caring about making money. I can breathe a sigh of relief now!

    I do love blogging. I desire to grow organically. I do work hard. I want to be a good steward of what God has put in my hands, and I do not ever want to lose sight of the true purpose of writing for me — to point the way to the cross, declare the good news of the Gospel of Grace, and bring hope and encouragement to others along the way — all for His glory… I’ll trust God’s leading for the rest 🙂

  5. This so hit home for me today. I have been so stressed over some things related to this and you know the bottom line is, no one but God knows our motives. I don’t ask for anything when I do giveaways. Okay, I lied. I ask a question to get some feedback but I don’t ask for things like follows, subscribers, likes, or any of that. I give things away to promote friends and to bless my readers. Good grief. Of all people, you (Christin) know what I am saying is true. I don’t want to burden my readers with a bunch of advertising but I don’t want to let my friends down who ask to share my platform. You know how often emails come in asking for a giveaway, or review or whatever and though I wish I could give each and every one of them dedicated time and posts the truth is I can’t. I would spend every spare moment I have blogging to promote other people and never share my own voice. I’ve had giveaways all week long and still have a weeks worth of giveaways left to post. I found more in my inbox! I have a stack of books here that I have to giveaway. That part is hardest part. I love to write. I love to blog. That is what I want to do. The money making aspect gets in the way quite often whether it is me making money by advertising or me giving mentions or doing giveaways for someone else who is trying to make money. I would do it for no reward but I know that this helps our family and me promoting others helps their families.  It’s a tough one to deal with sometimes.

    A post you all should consider here at Allume would be what kind of difference does a blog review really make. I would love to hear readers weigh in on that. I happen to think guest posting and mentioning the product, social media mentions, and natural references within a post are most effective but marketing wise we’ve been so trained by the publishing world that we think only full dedicated post reviews turn into sales. I track my sales and I have found the complete opposite to be true. I’ve sold a lot of books and almost all of them are because of Twitter and Facebook. We’ll see how the guest posting works out next month during my backwards blog tour but whenever I have someone guest post and mention their book on my blog it always generates sales (according to my affiliate account). Full reviews don’t. I also find that series like the ones you have done for 31 Days to Clean and Pursuit of Proverbs 31 generate sales too. Those aren’t reviews. They are real life, in the moment references to the mindset you adopted while reading the book. That is what sells them.

    Anyway, I’d love to see a post about that. 🙂

    I love and adore you, girl! You are the best!

    By the way, if anyone needs a great blog coach check out Christin. She is a brilliant strategist and she really has a way of digging deep to help you figure out your goals and strengths. I highly recommend her!
    http://joyfullivingmedia.net/

    •  Girl, I wish I could just hug you right now.

      I’m the same way; I don’t require people to “like” or “follow” or “subscribe” to my blog in order to enter a giveaway. I simply ask a question for one entry. Easy peasy.

      And I agree with the whole review thing and would be glad to write a post on it. And thank you for the mention and endorsement. You are fabulous, you know that!!!

    • I see both sides of this, I think. I think the element here that should be mentioned is what do your readers expect, need, want? If we’re blogging for the love of blogging, it’s probably two-fold – love of writing and a love of helping others. For me, I believe God has entrusted to me the readers who come my way. When I do a review/giveaway, I think about them. Would this be a product they are interested in? Do they want a full review? Do they want more opportunities for extra entries? I think there are many different ways to do this, and I think it varies from product to product, blog to blog, writer to writer. Would it be possible that the full reviews only plant the seed, so when they see the mention again later, they say, “Oh yea, I was thinking about buying that…” And then it converts? I’m totally thinking out loud because giveaways have been a big hang up for me. This post was spot on. Then, reading your comment, Amy, it made me think more. In the blogging world, you make friends, no doubt. Unfortunately, we have to learn that two letter dirty word, “N-O.” Sometimes, we just can’t share our platform because it won’t fit. It’s a HARD balance. I don’t have the answer for it yet, but we’re only capable of so much. In the end, it’s all about expectations. What do your readers want? What do those asking to share your platform want? Do the answers to those questions fit your overall mission? If not, we have to just learn to say no. Bummer. 😛

      • I agree with Leigh Ann…when I offer a giveaway, my readers want the opportunity to enter more than once. Using Rafflecopter and giving them multiple choices is a great way to do it – and I get fabulous feedback from my readers. In fact, before I started using Rafflecopter, I didn’t ever get many entries…but now that I use it, my contests are always highly entered. For me, it’s ease of use for readers. 
        Do I offer giveaways to increase traffic? No. That has never entered my mind. However, readers do love giveaways and I love blessing others – so when I offer one, I always acquire new readers – which is a GOOD thing. 
        Smaller bloggers might not be in it for the money – but I don’t know if I’ve ever spoken with a blogger who didn’t want to grow. And if a smaller blogger offers a giveaway and a new reader comes along to enter the contest, it’s highly likely that they’re going to stick around. 
        Our goal in LIFE should never be to stay the same as we are – and only offer giveaways to our current readers. It should always be to reach as many people as we can and grow as much as possible. Stagnant water stinks. 
        Great article Chrisin…I love you advice of “stop worrying.” 🙂 So very true. 

        • I often hear readers prefer a simple giveaway because their time is precious, so yes, we must be attentive to our reader’s needs–pending they line up with the mission/vision of our blog. 😉

          And I will agree that it does draw new readers in: A giveaway on Sarah Mae’s blog (waaay back on blogger) was how I met Sarah Mae. And I won it. The rest is history. 😉

          • I’m so new to this it isn’t even funny, but it seems to me that readers who spend a lot of time reading & writing blogs, tweeting, posting on FB are much more likely to engage in a more elaborate entry system.  Where a reader like Leigh Ann mentioned, only reading 1-5, will be more interested in denser review content and may only want one entry because the multiple entries wouldn’t apply to them anyway.  There are so many facets to this, it would be interesting to see good stats on marketing success based individual reader type.  Does that make sense?

        • I absolutely agree that we should never stop growing. I find that I have grown more since I stopped using the typical methods of growing readership. I’ve branched out and tried new things and have seen a great turn around on it. I have asked my readers before what they preferred for giveaways and the overwhelming majority said they preferred not to have to sign up or follow or any of those things. They simply wanted to leave a comment. One lady who obviously was taking her anger toward every blogger who every held a contest out on me ripped me to shreds with her comment and finally ended her fury with the words, “I don’t want to jump through hoops to enter a giveaway. I follow you if I like you. I don’t like you if you try to manipulate me into following you.” That is why I have used the “I won’t make you jump through hoops” phrase on all my giveaways since then. The post had nearly 200 comments and only about 30 of them said they didn’t care or preferred multiple entries. That’s why I don’t do it because I now know my readers prefer that I don’t.

          My goal is to grow relationships and make a difference. If the numbers follow that is fine. If they don’t that is fine too. I don’t see that as not growing. New traffic comes daily because others share my blog via social media and because I write usable, relevant content. They stay if they like it. If the content draws them then the content will keep them. If a giveaway draws them then what makes them stay?

          I guess after all of this time and working behind the scenes, reading the emails, seeing the stats and tracking the results, I have finally come to the conclusion that my goal is not and was never to be a blogger who did this as a business. That makes the relationships hard. That takes the heart out of it – for me. There are some who do this with ease and are successful at it. That won’t work for me. When business is involved it complicates things.

          Of course, this is just my own personal opinion based on my experience. My goal is to help and serve and I can do that and grow whether I have one reader or one-thousand readers. To me that is growth. For my goals, numbers don’t equal influence. Even companies recognize that now. They want to know how many people you influence. Who are you conversing with on your blog and on social media sites? who is promoting you and your posts? They have seen the tricks of the trade and know that numbers are inflated because of them. They want to see the real influence. God does too.

          With that said things are different for everyone. We each have to figure out our own goals and figure out what our readers want.  Every platform is different.

      • I adore you, Leign Ann! You are right. It could very well plant a seed for someone and turn into a converted sale later.  I didn’t think about it that way. I was basing my view on stats from sales via my blog and I have asked the “review” question before on Facebook. While some said they read the reviews and take them into consideration most said they don’t even read blog reviews. One even said she won’t click over when she reads the word “reviews” in a title in her feed reader and she got almost 30 likes for that comment. Those who said they do take reviews into consideration said they get the reviews from Amazon and not blogs. Idk. It’s just a tough one. I’d really like to see what people would say here on a post about it.

        I write books too and I want to spend my time marketing effectively. I want to help others do the same. I recognize that if someone wants my book then it is cheaper for them to spend the $5 to get it than to take the time to read it, review it, post it, host a giveaway, etc. Being on that side now I see it. BUT… I still want to promote others. And it is hard to say no when your heart is to help. But you’re right, we can’t accept all of them (or even half of them) because then you can’t give it the attention it deserves.

        It is a lot to consider. Where is the time best spent? Reviews? Social Media? Amazon reviews? Giveaways? KDP Select? Readers will definitely have to weigh in.

        • Here’s what I love about what you said, “I have asked the “review” question before on Facebook…” You asked your readers/those following you what they wanted. You should definitely go with what they say. Me? I asked my readers, and they said, “I wish you would do more full reviews of products, services, and books.” Haha! I honestly think it depends a lot on your audience. The majority of my readers only read 1-5 blogs. I was surprised by that. But to me, this tells me they aren’t exposed to the mass amount of products, reviews, etc. that we (those who probably follower WAY too many) are. So … the full review is necessary and good.

          I guess this has me in the camp of … Christin, why don’t you write a post so others can weigh in? 🙂

          • It is ultimately what our readers prefer and what is in line with our goals. But, I know from the perspective of marketing and promotion, a general consensus would be great so that we could make an informed decision on where to spend our time and effort. It is good to get a general opinion. If your goal is to bring readers in who aren’t currently readers then having the general consensus would benefit them. They aren’t your current readers so they haven’t voiced an opinion. Maybe the majority doesn’t like reviews or multiple entries or answering questions. We don’t know until we asked an unbiased group.

        • Don’t do KDP select!!!! My 2-cents. 🙂 Completely limits you and gives your readers less options. Way less options. In fact, it only gives them one. Boo.

    •  Whoops! I posted before finishing. I recently decided to keep an old blog going that I had decided to abandon. I had done a lot of giveaways, so it gets decent traffic considering I haven’t consistently blogged on it for months. I found I did not enjoy blogging massively on a particular theme or topic, and had begun afresh, blogging just what was on my heart, just for fun on my formerly “personal blog.” I also started an etsy shop for raising money for wells in Africa, and one day prayed for the Lord to show me a way I could make money for sewing materials even though my husband has been more than willing to invest in it. That night I got an email offering advertising on the formerly mentioned blog that I was “abandoning.” As I thought about it, I realized it had great potential as a “community blog” and quickly a couple of friends agreed to be contributors. I really truly am excited about learning from others and the quality content that will be flowing on there without me having to do it all, and I’m excited about finding sponsors, but there was a twinge of worry about what people might think about the fact that I was planning to monetize it.

      So you have further confirmed the direction I’m going and encouraged me today! Thank you!

  7. I love that the more I read, the more I understand it is important to just stay true to my calling/vision.  It’s not about comparing yourself to another, trying to be someone you aren’t, or pigeon-holing myself into a small niche.  I am more than one interest or dimension.  Thanks so much for this series!

  9. You mean there’s money in this?!?! Geesh….never would have considered that and tbh, I really don’t care about that. Thanks for the encouragements here. I’m just thankful to finally have a place to pour and splash what God has been pouring into me and it’s been great to get splashed by others who seem to be seeing the same things.

  10. Jumping on the giveaway band wagon – I do wonder if people think it’s just a “marketing ploy” or not. I have never made a penny off of my blog. The only things I review/giveaway are things that I truly believe can help others.

    Would I love to make money off my blog? Absolutely. But it’s not something that I can force….I just have to let it come if it will. The one thing I usually don’t like about “money making” is that it seems so easy for it all to clutter up a blog, with all of the links and widgets. I keep debating it on my own blog, and whether I should do an entirely separate page for all of those things if at all.

    •  I totally agree. Even I go back and forth with cluttering my blog up with buttons. I don’t like it because it’s too “noisy” and distracts from the real purpose. I think that if people trust you and your opinion, they’ll be willing to take your word for it on certain things. Linking within blog posts in a casual way is an authentic way to share your favorite things and make money through affiliates.

      Writing a sponsored post could be good, too, as long as you use your terms and not over do the advertising so to speak. It really is a fine balance. Marketing these days isn’t what it used to be. Marketing banks off building connections. If you have readers who are influenced by your writing, they will trust your recommendations. Does that make sense? 🙂

  11. My browser wouldn’t let me comment on this when I first read it, but I just wanted to say LOVE IT!!! I’ve been meditating on it ever since and am SO grateful for the balanced, God-honoring  perspective you gave us here, lady!

    Especially like your explanation that money is simply a tool. Nothing wrong with using a tool.

    And I, for one, like the glimpses you give into your own mind and how you perceive stuff. Helps me realize that there is not as much judgement and condemnation out there as I fear.

  12. Thank you for this! I have been battling this. I blog because I love it, but the pressure to make money is also there. I would like to make a few bucks, anyway, but I also don’t want to sell myself to it, and if that is what it takes to make a lot of money I”m not willing. Balance is key, I guess….now if I can only learn the basics so I could make a couple of dollars, though. 🙂

    •  Don’t misunderstand–you can still make good money blogging without “selling yourself”. But it does take time and hard, consistent work. 🙂

  13. I ♥ what I do!  I recently stopped working as a virtual assistant for a popular blog, so I could concentrate on my blog, Blessed Beyond a Doubt.   No, it’s not instant money, but I get to share what I love. 

    My 2¢ is NEVER ever compromise your convictions on your blog for anyone!  Just remember why you write!  If it’s not to glorify Him,t hen it’s not worth writing, imop.

    Thanks for sharing your ♥ on blogging!

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