This is a mini challenge for the Biannual Blogathon Bash, a twice annual blogging marathon; The summer blogathon runs from June 22 to June 25. Anyone is welcome to read and use the information. However, if you are signed up for the blogathon, completing this mini challenge improves your chances of winning a prize. If you are participating in the blogathon, please do not complete this challenge until the blogathon has started.

“The longer you’re not taking action the more money you’re losing.}”- Carrie Wilkerson

Let me start off with this – It’s ok to want your blog to earn you an income. It’s also ok if you blog only for creative reasons, and have no interest whatsoever of monetizing your site. It’s your blog, your brand, your choice. But, this post is written for those of you who consider your blog your business, and want to run it in a way that can help you support your family. There are as many ways to earn an income from your blog as there are different types of blogs; I’m going to cover some of the more basic income generators, with suggestions on how to get started with them. And I’ll also give you some tips on how to start branching out – think outside the box, and find creative ways to use the unique voice and influence that you’ve built to bring in more of an income from the work you do. Ready? Ok, let’s go! {And don’t forget – if you’re doing this as part of the Blogathon Challenge, learn how to win prizes below.}

Blogging Income Tip 1: Ad Networks

Ad networks are one of the easiest ways to monetize your blog… You add some code to selected portions of your blogs real estate, the network automatically displays the best ads there, and with no additional work from you, you start earning an income. Sounds simple right? Well, it’s not exactly that easy. This works best once you’ve been blogging long enough to build up a higher level of traffic. And, it can take awhile to figure out the best placement for your ads, or which network is the best fit for you and your content style. But – don’t wait too long: I didn’t put ads on my site until I’d been blogging for almost a year, and I kick myself sometimes thinking of the money I missed out on. Here are a few networks to check out that I’ve either used myself, or have had recommended to me by other bloggers that I trust:

• Glam Media: This is the ad network I use right now, and I love it. I’ve heard of quite a few people who had to apply several times before they were accepted in – so don’t let a “no” answer discourage you! My favorite part of working with Glam is the author program, which brings sponsored posts, and super cool opportunities like our invitation to the Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit. So amazing.
• Google Adsense: Ok, I’m not a big fan of Adsense – but it does totally rock for SO many people. My issue with it is that Google can decide at any time, for pretty much any reason, that you’ve done something wrong, and will not pay you for your earnings. I know a ton of really great ladies who have had this happen. But, I also know people who have earned hundreds of dollars per month with them for years, no problems. {I do still use them, as my back-up ad network, and in my feedburner emails.} Learn more and sign up for Google Adsense, find some step-by-step help on getting started with Adsense, and tips on how to maximize your Adsense earnings.
• Burst Media: I’ve heard great things about Burst, and they have a sponsored post program similar to Glam. I applied a couple months ago and was denied, so I can’t give any personal feedback on it. But I know many bloggers who love it, so I feel confident in recommending it to you guys. Learn more, and sign up for Burst Media, {link is at the bottom}.

Blogging Income Tip 2: Affiliate Networks

I mentioned that ad networks are a more passive income – throw ‘em up there, and after you determine the best placement, they work on their own to bring you an income. With affiliate networks you’ll have to put in some work regularly to see results. If you’re good with SEO, and use affiliate links in your posts, over time those older posts will still get found in search results and can bring in a steady stream of income. {Need some SEO tips? Check out my fave book on the topic: SEO Made Simple.} I have hear a million bloggers tell me that affiliate marketing doesn’t work for them – but honestly, I think it’s usually because they haven’t found the right angle to use on their site. Some people can do great sharing coupons, freebies, and similar offers. If you’re a craft blogger, it would make more sense for you to share your fave craft books from Amazon, or sign up as an affiliate for companies with supplies you mention often in your tutorials. Here are some great networks that I use myself – all are very different, and there should be at least one that’s a good fit for you.

• MySavings: If your readers love coupons, free samples, and other sweet discount offers – then this is a great option for you! MySavings is simple to sign up with, and very easy to use. A few other similar sites that I use are Escalate Media, Logical Media, and Infostable.
• Referred Media: This is a more varied network… It has offers that you can cut and paste, similar to the way the previous networks work, but it has a much wider variety of things that you can promote – examples are to visit the Ella Wrap Facebook page to enter to win their super pretty bridal package, or sharing the free Food on the Table app. Sign up for Referred Media, and if you like it, you might also like Integrate too.
• Commission Junction: This is a HUGE affiliate site. I mean, almost anyone should be able to find something here that their readers will be interested in, seriously. Check it out, and sign up today.
• Paper Coterie: This is one of my current favorite affiliates, since I’m so in love with their perfectly pretty paper products. It’s incredibly simple to use too, and their offers are wonderful. You can sign up here: Paper Coterie Affiliates. And, as you visit sites that you are a big fan of, take a peek down at the very bottom of their site – you’ll often find a “Become an Affiliate” link there. That’s a great way to get rewarded from sharing sites you already love and share anyway.
• Share a Sale: This is quickly becoming my go-to new affiliate network. It’s so easy to use, there is a huge variety of brands to promote so you’re sure to find some good fits for your site, and the payouts are really great. A lot of their affiliate companies will send you goodies each month too – like a code for a free photo product, a giveaway opportunity to host, etc. Love them.

Blogging Income Tip 3: Sponsored Posts and Campaigns

This is how I earn the bulk of my blogging income, and it’s one of the more enjoyable parts of what I do. I mean, the whole reason that I became a blogger is because I love to write, and share things that I love with other busy moms like myself. So when I can be compensated for partnering with great brands, that’s just like the cherry on top. Here are a few resources that can help you get started with sponsored posts and campaigns, and they are all networks that I use myself.

• Mom Central: This is one of my faves, even though they don’t pay in cash. Most posts with Mom Central will compensate you with a gift of an Amazon gift card after the campaign, and since I do most of my shopping at Amazon, that’s as good as cash to me! {Those posts paid for my new laptop last month!}
• Social Fabric/Collective Bias: Ok, it’s not totally fair to share this right now, since they’re not currently taking new members. But, since they’re another of my favorites, I want to make sure you guys know about it, so you can check it out as soon as they’re open to new signs up again. You can learn more about their program here – Social Fabric. And keep an eye out for an update soon when they reopen their membership – it’s SO worth it. {They pay you to do shopping trips, give feedback, and write fun product posts like this one: Pirate Pizza Party.}
• Social Spark: This is a super simple network to work with – Brands offer you “leads,” you check out the info to decide if it’s a good fit for your readers, and accept or decline. Then when you get the offer, everything you need to write the post is right there – links, graphics, and info. And they pay out directly into your PayPal account when you reach at least $50 bucks. Social Spark Sign Up.

Blogging Income Tip 4: Write an eBook

I think that this can be a really great fit for bloggers, since we’re already writers. It’s just another way to share your best tips, your interesting stories, or amazingly helpful tutorials. Offering a free ebook can be a great way to encourage people to visit your site, or sign up for email subscriptions – and since an ebook often doesn’t take a ton of work to create, you can sell it at a very affordable price and still make a nice income from it. Here are some links to tips on publishing and selling your own ebook – and watch for a few of them from me before the end of the year. {Super excited about that!}

• Great Guide: The Ultimate Guide on How To Write And Sell an Ebook in 7 Weeks. This is a really comprehensive, super easy to follow, and really fun to read set of tutorials to get you rockin’ with your own first ebook. It’s one of my favorite resources. Another post that has a shorter bit of info to give you a quick overview of what it will take to put together your first ebook is here – How to Write an ebook and Get Paid While You Sleep.
• Great Book: Once you write your book, you need a way to get it promoted so you can earn some cash off of it, right? Here’s a great book with some awesome tips: 500 Ways to Promote Your eBook Online: Internet eBook Marketing Tips to Sales Success for Kindle, Kobo, and More!
• Great tips: Offer your ebook for free to a group of your favorite bloggers, and ask them to write a review on their own sites for you to build some buzz. Make a page on your own site to promote your ebook, and share excerpts or links to those reviews – so people can buy your ebook with confidence. Start an affiliate program yourself, for your own ebook – you’ll lose a little bit of earnings on each book, but you’ll balance that by having more people promoting that book for you across the web! I’m sure you’ll come up with tons of new creative ideas too.

Blogging Income Tip 5: Think Outside the Box

Once you’ve built a successful blog, that truly can be a launching pad for even bigger things… You have influence, and a loyal following of readers who trust your opinions and value your thoughts. You’ve built some awesome social networks and amazing connections with other bloggers and business owners. You’re web savvy, know how to communicate well, and have a ton of really great things going for you. So use those skills to branch off into other things outside of your blog that can help you earn more money too! These will totally vary depending on your skills, interests, and motivation, but I’ve included a few ideas here to get you started thinking big:

• Public Speaking: If you’re as comfortable speaking to a crowd as you are writing to one, why not share your smart ideas with others at conferences? You could approach some event planners locally and offer to speak for free, just for the experience – or go right to some of your favorite conference organizers, and propose a topic. An in demand speaker can earn some big speaking fees.
• Teach Classes: You could teach your savvy shopping and coupon tips, your cake decorating skills or crafty tutorials, or approach your local Chamber of Commerce about doing classes like “Social Media for Small Businesses.” There are tons of options you could get into.
• Sell Services: If you’re amazing with party ideas, why not offer those services to other local moms who are too busy to plan their kids birthday celebrations? Do you post awesome hair and make-up tutorials? Use those as a way to sell your services locally during prom season, or for wedding parties. Again, so many options!
• Etsy Shop: Are you a crafty lady? Why not start an Etsy shop to sell those great designs that everyone loves… One of the biggest challenges for Etsy shop owners can be getting traffic to their shop – since you already have an active blog and social media community, you’ll have a great way to drive traffic to your Etsy shop.
• Direct Sales: Again, with your expansive networks, and readers who trust your opinions on products to purchase, you have a really great way to sell your favorite products online. If you need some ideas or information on companies to work with, check out my Direct Sales Directory.

“Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people wont so you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.” – A student in Warren G. Tracy’s class

Starting a blog, and building your online brand, is a pretty darn amazing accomplishment in itself – so give yourself a high five for the success you’ve reached so far! I know that most of you put in the crazy-long hours that I do, so I hope that some of these monetization tips help you be compensated for that in a way that helps you to support your family, and have more fun too. Ready for the challenge?? Here we go…

Mini Challenge: Make a Monetization Plan! Get all pre-conceived notions out of your head – if you’ve thought affiliate marketing won’t work, now is the time to give it a second look. If you’ve avoided ad networks because you thought you wouldn’t get approved – apply today. If you’re already covering the basics – today is the day to THINK BIG! Leave me a comment below, telling me 3 things that you are doing TODAY, RIGHT NOW, to boost your income potential on your site, and why you’re excited about them!

If you’re doing this mini-challenge as part of the Blogathon Event – make sure that you’re linked up and eligible for prizes. Then enter to win on the Rafflecopter form. And make sure to check out the Blogathon site for more cool stuff going on all weekend, and follow the hashtag on Twitter at  #blogathon2. Let’s have some fun!

Remember – nothing changes until you do. So if you want to earn more, you’ve got to try some new things! Good Luck, and I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

{Disclaimer: This post contains a ton of links to additional information, and some of those links are affiliate links for networks that I use and trust. Photo Credit: Wilson Afonso.}