How to Support Your Favorite Bloggers
I’ve hesitated to put this post out for months because I wasn’t sure how it would be received. I finally decided I needed to be honest and explain how things work around here. I love sharing my thoughts with you through my blog, but it comes at a cost.
Today I’m sharing the business of blogging and how you can support the bloggers you enjoy reading. I’ll use A Well Styled Life as an example. There are plenty of “hobby” bloggers who don’t fall into this category, but most professional bloggers business works similarly.
I spend between 50-70 hours a week working on this blog which makes it a full-time job. If I’m not writing content, getting pictures taken, changing my clothes in the car for a photoshoot, editing photographs, making graphics for Pinterest, staying active on social media, or planning content, I’m shopping online or in the stores to keep on top of what’s new.
Why I Started Blogging
When the economy crashed several years ago, people began to hold on to their dollars, so my Image Consulting business crashed with it. I decided to start a blog to connect with other women and share style tips I’d learned as an image consultant. I began on the Blogspot platform, which was free and didn’t require me to purchase a domain. My posts were emailed for free, but I soon realized that Google could take my site down at any time. I had no ownership or control over anything I was producing.
I bought a domain to maintain ownership of my name, and things began to multiply from there. As my blogging expenses mounted, it quickly became apparent that the blog needed to cover itself.
What it Costs to Run a Blog
Here are some of the current costs associated with running my blog.
- I host my website on a platform that charges me a monthly fee based on the size of my audience and the amount of data stored. Because my blog is image-heavy, I need lots of storage.
- My posts are emailed by a service provider who charges me a monthly fee based on how many emails go out.
- I pay an annual fee for access to a site where I size and edit my pictures so they won’t slow my site down, and the pages won’t open for you.
- I pay a technical person to help me with the nuts and bolts of my website. I’ve had it go down enough times to learn I should never mess “under the hood” of this thing 🙂
- I pay smaller amounts for plugins, apps, and widgets, which add to the total expenses.
The result is it costs just over $1,100 a month to float this boat and keep my blog on the internet.
And that gets me to how I pay for all of this.
How I support this business
- Sponsored content. Brands hire me to promote their sale, product, or service. I only work with brands I like, or I think will resonate with you. I want to share things that will increase your confidence and make your life better in some way. They’re paying for access to my audience (you), which I value and protect. I turn down multiple offers a week because the product is cheesy, not something I would use or just plain dumb.
- Ads. People hate ads. The truth is they’re a passive way for me to earn income to pay my blogging expenses. Do I like them? In a word, no. They distract from my content. I’m fortunate to have an Ad company that works with me to help them run smoothly and be as unobtrusive as possible.
- Affiliate sales. I’m a member of several affiliate networks and earn money if you purchase through a link on my blog. This doesn’t increase your cost of anything. If you click a link on my blog and put something into your virtual shopping cart, then pop over to another blogger and click a link to the same website, then make your purchase, the other blogger earns the commission because they were the last link you used. It’s just the way they work.
Ways You Can Support Bloggers
Don’t keep them a secret. If you like their content, share it with women you think will also enjoy it. Subscribe to follow their blog. Comment and engage with their content which “tells” Google it’s worth showing to other women on the web. Share their images to your Pinterest boards, so more people find them. Follow them on social media. Whenever possible, purchase through the link of the blogger who inspired you.
I appreciate you all more than I can say. Reading your comments feels like visiting with a favorite girlfriend.
Thank you for being here and taking the time out of your day to read my blog.
Thank you for sharing all this information. Love your blog and all your styling tips. Thanks for your great work. You do a wonderful job and I will faithfully continue to support you.
I really appreciate this explanation; simple, clear and to the point! As an ex-editor on several top magazines, print was always my favorite. When things went viral I was thrilled to find interesting bloggers out there. Thanks for your style, inspiration and hard work!
Thank you for explaining all of this. I truly enjoy everything that you have to say.
Thanks for all the information, love your blog and go on it all the time….but having said that, you gave us an insight of behind the scenes……that I think people just don’t know or even think about:( will continue to support you and all your hard work……I just love it, as soo many do!!:):)
Thank you
I enjoy your blog especially when you mention your travels along the way,
Thanks ?
Thank you for the information. I had no idea it cost that much to have a blog and earn money on it. I will be more mindful about using the links if I am buying something you show on your blog. I only follow about four blogs anymore. Yours is the first one I look for in the morning because I always enjoy it so much. Thank you for all the work you put into it. The only ads I mind are the flashing ones. I get by them as quickly as possible. I find them annoying and won’t buy a product advertised that way.
Thanks for explaining this – it’s very interesting to understand how this all works.
I love your blog & really appreciate your tips & style recommendations.
I enjoyed your transparency about the costs of running a blog but curious to know how much income you generate on a monthly basis as well. I do hope that you are able to recover your costs of operation and have a little extra cash to offset this expense.
I appreciate your honesty and your work. I ran my own home based business for twenty years, and always explained “ the costs” involved, how else can the consumer know the value of the product? I like knowing “ how” things work, so, thanks.
Thank you for a very informative post. I appreciate your advice and that you stay true to yourself. You write in a friendly way and relatable way and I would wear a lot of what you try on. Also enjoy your dressing room diaries and “would you wear this” posts!
Thank you for your transparency! I really enjoy your blog and the community you have created here. The fact that you are open about how this business works makes your blog that much more relatable to your readers. Dressing Room Diaries are my fav!
Thank you!
Always appreciate your content! I had a bit of an idea of what it took to keep a blog running, so having ads, etc. doesn’t bother me. Best wishes always!!
Thanks for the “behind the scenes” look at things. It does help us to know the financial and time commitment that you put in to share with us. Being transparent is scary sometimes so I hope you are feeling good about all these positive comments. We do appreciate you!
I’m blown away by the support. Thank you!
I love your blog too! So I guess I’ll just say “DITTO” to all the above and carry on shopping!
Yes I agree with all the previous comments. I appreciate your varied content, and genuine tips, expertise, and ideas that help and inspire me. Thank you for no annoying ads. Thank you for all your hard work!
Jennifer, thank you, for taking the time to let us know what goes into all of your efforts. I love your blog. I don’t comment often but I do read it daily and appreciate it. Your blog is one of very few I pay attention to and it is the only one I read daily. Having met you, spent wonderful time with you, it always feels like we are visiting in person, when I read your work. I am grateful for you
Thank you Lee!
I appreciate you!
Thanks for sharing this Jennifer. I have followed you for years and your blog inspired me to enter the blogging world. I appreciate your insights into the proper fit of clothes and it is refreshing to see a model close to my age. I look forward to every post and always try to use your links.
As others mentioned, I appreciate the information you shared. So many times I purchase your recommendations and have always been totally satisfied with each purchase. I think I usually click on your links, but I will be more conscious about this now. Yes, I feel like I am with a group of friends here, too. Thank you!