I had the privilege of spending some time with my sweet friend Crystal from Money Saving Mom yesterday, and we had an interesting discussion (well, we had quite a few of them)! It led me to really evaluate how I disclose affiliate and referral links in my posts! I have a Disclosure Policy, but I’m not sure how many of you have read it, so I wanted to share a little bit about how I earn some money from this blog (now, to be honest with you, I don’t earn much at this point. Because my blog is so new, I still consider this more of a ministry than a job)!
How Do I Earn Money from This Blog?
There are several ways bloggers earn money (I’m still learning about all the ways to do this!), but one of the main ways I earn money is through affiliate links. These are links to a specific company that include tracking information, so if you make a purchase through my link, I earn a small percentage of the sale. I don’t have affiliate links for all the stores I share bargains for, but I do for quite a few of them.
I also earn a small amount when you click and print coupons from certain sites (again, not every coupon I post earns money), and I use my referral links for the daily deal sites like Groupon, so when you sign-up I earn a referral credit. I also have some advertising in my sidebar that earns a small amount of money!
Why Am I Telling You This?
Back when I started following deal blogs, I just thought they were doing it out of the goodness of their heart — so when I found out they were “making money” off me, I was a little shocked. I actually felt a little self-righteous….”How dare they profit off of me!” I quickly realized this was a selfish reaction, because these bloggers were pouring in hours of their time to find deals and share them!
When I began The Amazing Mess, I also quickly realized how much time and effort — not to mention money for design and the website itself — was involved. My nine months of blogging last year earned me a total of $200 — and I spent more than that on a new camera!! So, right now, that blog really is just a labor of love!
Motherhood on a Dime is even more time intensive. I average 20 – 25 hours per week. At this point, I’ve calculated I earn about $2-$3 an hour!! I don’t get paid for writing any of the store match-ups, so my affiliate links and sidebar ads are the main source of income!
Now, I’m not telling you this so you think I’m a charity case! I actually do believe God has a reason for me sharing through this blog, and although I often don’t feel quite adequate to be the one writing it…I’m trying to be obedient. I love helping people save money and learn to spend wisely. Frugality is more than just bargains, and so I hope I also share content that encourages you as well!
What Does This Mean For You?
One thing that is very important to me is my integrity! I just want to be really honest with you. At this point, I’m not doing it for the money…although I have high hopes that eventually I’ll make minimum wage (or more)!! I NEVER post anything I don’t believe is a good deal – I only post things I would actually consider buying or doing myself!
I have added a sentence at the bottom of all my posts with my disclosure, because I don’t ever want it to seem like I’m hiding it or being secretive!! You NEVER have to feel like you need to go through my links. If it upsets you, please don’t! But if you want to support my time and effort, I’m very thankful for any of your clicks, prints, and purchases.
Most important to me are my readers! I really want to use this blog to help you and bless you! If you have any questions about this, please let me know!
**Update: Since I wrote this post over a year ago, I have finally begun to make a little bit more…and I’m almost at minimum wage if you consider all the hours I put in! I just wanted to let you know — and make sure I’m being honest and transparent with you. Thanks so much for supporting me!!
Heather@Family Friendly Frugality says
I recently wrote a similar post. I think we’ve all had that moment where we realize that someone else is making money off of “us” and we’re a bit disgusted! Quickly though, we realize that the wealth of information being provided to us doesn’t actually cost us anything…so what if the blogger profits if we click on some ads! I know I want to support my favorite bloggers, and really noone should work as hard as bloggers do and NOT get something for their time and effort.
I also consider my blog a ministry of sorts, but I’ve never made it a secret that I intend to profit off of it. Like you, I do want that to be transparent, so maybe I do need to include the disclosure at the end of each post. I did it for awhile, but noticed not many other bloggers did it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I bet a lot of us feel the same!
Stacie says
Heather! Thank you! I’ve been thinking about it for a while — I don’t want it to be tiresome (to have something on all my affiliate posts), but at the same time, I want people to realize. I’m not sure at this point if it will “cost me” to do so, but I just want to be honest!
I did not realize how time-intensive blogging was until I did it myself! There is so much to learn!
Thanks for commenting and sharing – I really appreciate your thoughts!!
Heather@Family Friendly Frugality says
I recently wrote a similar post. I think we’ve all had that moment where we realize that someone else is making money off of “us” and we’re a bit disgusted! Quickly though, we realize that the wealth of information being provided to us doesn’t actually cost us anything…so what if the blogger profits if we click on some ads! I know I want to support my favorite bloggers, and really noone should work as hard as bloggers do and NOT get something for their time and effort.
I also consider my blog a ministry of sorts, but I’ve never made it a secret that I intend to profit off of it. Like you, I do want that to be transparent, so maybe I do need to include the disclosure at the end of each post. I did it for awhile, but noticed not many other bloggers did it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I bet a lot of us feel the same!
Stacie says
Heather! Thank you! I’ve been thinking about it for a while — I don’t want it to be tiresome (to have something on all my affiliate posts), but at the same time, I want people to realize. I’m not sure at this point if it will “cost me” to do so, but I just want to be honest!
I did not realize how time-intensive blogging was until I did it myself! There is so much to learn!
Thanks for commenting and sharing – I really appreciate your thoughts!!
Joan says
Thank you for all the work you do.
Stacie says
Thanks for the encouragment, Joan!
Joan says
Thank you for all the work you do.
Stacie says
Thanks for the encouragment, Joan!
Stacey says
Thanks so much for posting. I am new to blogging and all of the etiquettes can be quite overwhelming! I follow MSM as well and enjoy both of your blogs. I think most people reading blogs know that you make money from it. Personally, I think the work you and MSM do is quite labor intensive and you should be paid for it. I often feel guilty using your deals and not paying you! I really don’t think you need to post the disclaimer with every post but of course you need to do what works best for you. I know I will stay a follower either way. I greatly appreciated the blogging tips in this post even if that wasn’t the purpose of it. Thanks for all that you do!
Stacie says
Thanks, Stacey! You are right — I think most people figure it out after a while — I just want to make sure I’m being up front about it! If it makes someone uncomfortable, I don’t want them to click through my post, but I definitely am grateful when people do feel like supporting this blog in that way!!
Stacey says
Thanks so much for posting. I am new to blogging and all of the etiquettes can be quite overwhelming! I follow MSM as well and enjoy both of your blogs. I think most people reading blogs know that you make money from it. Personally, I think the work you and MSM do is quite labor intensive and you should be paid for it. I often feel guilty using your deals and not paying you! I really don’t think you need to post the disclaimer with every post but of course you need to do what works best for you. I know I will stay a follower either way. I greatly appreciated the blogging tips in this post even if that wasn’t the purpose of it. Thanks for all that you do!
Stacie says
Thanks, Stacey! You are right — I think most people figure it out after a while — I just want to make sure I’m being up front about it! If it makes someone uncomfortable, I don’t want them to click through my post, but I definitely am grateful when people do feel like supporting this blog in that way!!
Shelli Mader says
I am new to blogging too and appreciate your honesty! You seem so sweet. I just recently realized too, after following your blogs for awhile, some of my friends here in Hays actually know you 😉
Stacie says
Hi, Shelli!
We lived in Hays for about 4 years before moving back towards my mom!
Thanks for reading my blogs!! 🙂
Shelli Mader says
I am new to blogging too and appreciate your honesty! You seem so sweet. I just recently realized too, after following your blogs for awhile, some of my friends here in Hays actually know you 😉
Stacie says
Hi, Shelli!
We lived in Hays for about 4 years before moving back towards my mom!
Thanks for reading my blogs!! 🙂