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So You Wanna Make Money Blogging?

Everyone seems to think blogging is the newest get-rich-quick scheme.

You start a blog, you throw up a few ads, and in a few months brands will start knocking down your door. Next thing you know, you’re living the high life, raking in the bucks while you sit on your ever-widening tush noshing on organic chocolate.

Right???

Yeah, not quite.

Most of us who consider our blogs a business have been building them for years, and we spend countless hours keeping up with all the writing, research, networking and upkeep that goes along with it. But it’s been quite an evolution.

When I started blogging, back when dinosaurs were roaming the earth, there was no “blogging as a business” or “passive income” or any kind of strategy at all. Most of us old school mom bloggers were just sharing our lives with who ever would happen by. We wrote when we felt like it and didn’t when we didn’t. There was no Twitter or Pinterest for networking and driving traffic to our blogs, and brands didn’t even know we existed.

Heck, for most of us, our next door neighbors didn’t even know we existed on the Internet!

I remember how weird it was when I would come clean and admit to someone I had a blog. Most usually their responses were along the lines of, “What’s a blog?”

My how times have changed!!

Nowadays I receive anywhere from 20-50 emails a day from brands wanting a piece of my audience.

I get to travel to press events at brand headquarters and attend blogging conferences and meet cool celebs like Giada DeLaurentis and Jillian Michaels.

JL and Giada

And gone are the days when I just typed up a post and walked away. Now I spend approximately 25% of my time online writing and the other 75% fielding emails and making graphics and taking photos and promoting my work across 4 different social networks.

Yes, my blog has definitely become a significant (if not yet full-time) job, but I’m not exactly getting rich off it, and there is nothing quick or easy about it. I’ve been growing my online presence for almost 8 years, and most of us who do make money blogging don’t exactly make the kind of money that pays the mortgage. It’s more like the kind of money that buys an extra dinner out a few times a month. It’s a nice little side income, and it allows me to justify staying home in my pajamas all day.

Not that I DO stay in my pajamas all day, mind you . . . not most days, anyway. But I could if I wanted to, and that is a pretty cool gig, if you ask me.

However, there ARE people out there who make a living with their mom blogs. Laurie Turk is one of them.

Laurie is an icon in the mom blogosphere. She’s been blogging about as long as I have, but she is one of the few who have made blogging into a truly lucrative career. Laurie transformed what started out as a blog on Blogger into over 7 million page views a month and $12,000 MONTHLY in Adsense alone.

Hello! I’m happy when I break $100. Clearly she knows what she’s doing.

Because of her success, Laurie is one of the most sought after speakers in the blog conference circuit. After speaking at 8 social media conferences, she decided that her time and energy would be better spent putting together an online workshop where she could share all of her systems, strategies, and secrets to making money with her blog.

Mom Blog to Money Blog Workshop

This is the fruit of her labors: Mom Blog to Money Blog: Bringing home the bacon in 31 days or less!

Mom_Blog_Money_Blog_TipJunkie

The Mom Blog to Money Blog online workshop is geared to bloggers who have been serious for at least 3 months, but it’s not just for beginners. It also has advanced lessons like Google DFP to manage ad networks, how to manage blog contributors, as well as her super-secret SEO Anatomy of a Post. Basically EVERYTHING Laurie has learned in the past 5 years earning money online, she is sharing in this course.

This is how she describes it:

It’s everything I know about blogging, and I wrote it because I’m no longer speaking but I’m not done helping women succeed. What sets this program apart is that it’s in sequential order. At conferences we get a lot of relevant information but it’s usually Step 5 or Step 2 or Step 15 and we’re lost as to what those successful business women did in between which propelled them. Well now you’ll know the steps I took. AND I walk you through it with clearly-defined checklists and videos ~ so you can do it too.

As someone who has attended many blogging conferences, that makes SO MUCH SENSE to me.

In This Workshop, You Receive:

  • 30 days of teaching. The ebook component breaks down this overwhelming task with easy-to-understand explanations, step-by-step instructions on how to complete each task, as well as a daily assignment.
  • 16 Checklists and Printables to keep the processes simple, help organize the process, and make sure you don’t skip a step. {wink}
  • 17 How-To Videos to show you how.  No more guessing if you did it right! Each video has “screen share” technology so you feel like you are sitting down with Laurie at your computer {via the video} as she walks you through each process.

I can’t wait to take this course because I still have a lot to learn. And guess what!?

Win It!

Laurie is giving one lucky Musings of a Housewife reader a FREE ALL ACCESS PASS to her Mom Blog to Money Blog online workshop! The pass will give you the flexibility of learning at your own pace, without traveling, anytime you want!

Use the widget below to enter to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t want to wait?

You can get $20 off the Mom Blog to Money Blog online workshop RIGHT NOW with the code JOLY20.

Not in the budget? This would make a GREAT Christmas gift so if you’re a blogger, put it on your list!

mom-blog-money-blog-christmas

In fact, this post will be the FIRST to go in my 2013 Holiday Gift Guide! You can see all my 2013 Holiday Gift Guide Posts by clicking on the button below. Of course, as of right now, this post is the only one but I will be adding more soon!

This year I will be writing separate posts for each product, and there may be some product round-up posts by category as well. All gift guide posts will be accessible by clicking on this button, either in one of the posts or over there on the sidebar.

This post contains affiliate links.

Join The Conversation

73 Responses

  1. I’ve been eyeing this workshop for quite a while. I would like to learn more about monetizing through ads. I use Amazon affiliates with some success, but have been slow to get into other types of ads.

  2. I’m coming up on the 3 year mark for my current version of my main blog. I feel like I’m building momentum this fall, and I want to keep learning and growing.

  3. WOW! I would so love to do this and need it bad. I have been blogging for some time now and the how to make serious money part continues to elude me big time. I need the most help in understanding where to focus my time to earn more $$ from blogging. Hope I’m the lucky winner!

  4. Oh boy, could I use this class! I’m newer to blogging, and if it helped me fulfill my goal of covering my costs, I would be the happiest blogger alive!

  5. Does anyone know how long we would have access to the content after signing up? I won’t be able to do this for at least a few weeks. But it looks very interesting. 🙂

  6. I would love to learn the balance of blogging sponsored content without losing your audience. I try and keep my sponsored posts organic and relevant, but all my surveys indicated readers hate them and I can’t deny losing subscribers when I do them. Sigh.

    1. I hear ya. I have to pay for this site. It’s costly to run, and the time I put into it is substantial. So I have to do a certain amount of sponsored posts, as well as the ads that I don’t love, but they provide necessary funds to keep this site running and to justify the time I put into it. If I lose some readers, I do. I figure the people who really love me will stick around and overlook anything they don’t like. I cover so many topics, I know not every post applies to every one, so I think my “regulars” get used to skimming over the stuff they don’t relate to.

      One thing I do is try to do sponsored posts in ADDITION to my regular ones, so it’s not instead of, meaning I post 2x some days, but people aren’t missing out on organic content. I don’t know if that helps or not. And of course I do my best to make the sponsored posts relevant. They are 100% me, even if the writing prompt was given to me. I also try to make it clear up front that it’s sponsored so no one feels duped. Beyond that . . . there’s not much I can do to make them more palatable. 🙂

  7. I’ve been blogging 7+ years and never run ads or tried to monetize but my brother started a blog a few years ago and just paid cash for a house off of his. My dad and husband keep telling me I should do this, too, but I’m so lost on how to even get started. Having info all in one place and organized as well as step by step? Almost sounds too good to be true. (not denying at all, more of a ‘holy cow’ statement)

  8. My blog is like the Little Engine That Couldn’t…. 🙁 It seems no matter what I do it doesn’t grow so I’ve almost given up. I think maybe something like this could give me the boost I need.

  9. I would love to learn any and everything! My blog is strictly old school, family info and low key, but I am thinking and dreaming of one aimed at Moms of preschoolers. Thanks Jo=Lynne for the giveaway & your friendship.

  10. I’d love to win this – the social media world is constantly changing and I too have a ton of learning ahead of me. This would be perfect.

  11. Blogging has fast become a great passion of mine, and I am having so much fun learning! For me, a skill I would love to learn is how to discover what my readership would love to see next, how to seek that engagement and feedback, and how to anticipate and prepare post topics for the next week, month, season etc.

  12. Can I flatter myself by thinking that our emails inspired this post? LOL.

    I would love to take this course because I want to take my blogging to a higher level. Or at least high enough that I can support my obsession on my own.

  13. I would love to win this so I can learn more. I’m not out to earn $12,000 a month but goodness! Wouldn’t that be GREAT?? I just want to learn to be more tech and blog savvy for right now, and who knows where that might lead, or what doors it might open. Some things you can learn by trial and error and some things you do need some help with it. And there is nothing wrong with that.

  14. I’ve been blogging for over 10 years, and during that time I’ve earned nothing and I’ve earned full-time money, and everything inbetween. Right now though my blog’s income has taken a nosedive, and what I want to know is this: am I shooting myself in the foot by not doing Pinterest and Facebook? With 4 blogs, 7 kids, homeschooling etc – I don’t have time for everything, but are those two uber-important for success these days?

    1. I think it depends largely on your audience and the topics you cover. For me, food and style do really well on Pinterest. I get WAY more traffic from Pinterest than I do Facebook, Twitter and Stumbleupon combined. If you’re big on community and the topics are personal, I think Facebook is a great tool. Unfortunately they make it difficult for everyone who “LIKES” your page to see your posts, so that is frustrating. Google+ is another biggie – you have to consider the SEO implications, even if you don’t participate in the community. Just posting your links with keyworded calls to action is very important for your posts ranking on Google. So if you write a very informative blog, that is key.

      I guess what I’m saying is, you have to weigh the value against what you’re writing about and what you’re trying to accomplish. Short answer, yes. If you want to grow the blog to provide income, you have to participate in social media networks. But choosing where to focus your time and energy depends on the topics and goals you have.

  15. I just told my husband this past week that I was considering taking the next step with our family blog. I was trying to gather information and determine next steps when I saw this. Good timing!

  16. I am a disabled mother of three little boys. Two of them are also disabled, and I homeschool them all. We are currently living off of all of our disability income, and I would love to learn how to earn something myself from home. I hate not being able to provide the little extras that my children deserve. I just started my own blog, but I am really lost as to how to make it work. I am a true beginner, and this would be so very helpful. Thank you so much for this opportunity!

  17. Hi Jo-Lynne! This sounds like it would be great! There is a fine balance to keep an audience between posting recipes and doing affiliate programs. The last one I did, I lost some people. Does everyone think we can do this for nothing. It costs money to keep it going.
    Thanks for letting me vent… 🙂

    1. I really don’t think people get it. It costs me about $200/mo just to run this thing. Then I spend 20-25 hours a week on it. At least. So… yeah. It’s not just a little diary for my family. It’s a business, even though it’s about me — which I get it, is kind of awkward, but it’s the new media! People will get used to it, I guess, but it takes time. 🙂

  18. I’ve been blogging for 8+ years and I’m still learning. My question about blogging/social media would have to be what do I need to do to take it to the next level – or do I have what it takes to make blogging my full-time gig? (and how does one make that decision??)

  19. I have been blogging for a few years, but mostly as a chronicle of our lives in another country so that my family and friends in the States could keep up with us. Now that we’re back in the States, I’ve become more aware of making money with my blog (out of desperation, mostly), so I am very interested in this workshop. I definitely need some hand-holding in the process. I have so much to learn.

  20. I’d love to learn balance, planning, and I’d love to see the SEO Anatomy. I admire bloggers who have families, a career, other obligations, yet still find time to create good content and post every day.

  21. There’s so much I still want to learn – taxes as self employed, balance between living at my job and unplugging, more social media stuff like G+ but honestly when I read Katlyn’s (#35) comment I almost didn’t comment because I want her to win this amazing opportunity but then realized if I win and give it to her… I’m actually doubling her chances. Here’s to blogging careers changing people’s live forever and making possible what feels impossible!

  22. I was just talking about this very thing to my sister this weekend. I don’t blog but thought it would be fun to start one! Apparently, by reading the comments, I don’t have enough free time to do it! But participating in this workshop would be a great way to figure it all out before I start!!!

  23. I would love to learn more about making money blogging. I am a stay at home mom about to have 3 under 3, and would love to be able to make some extra money. I have been blogging several years but want to grow my blog!

  24. I had my little blog for years – about 2 years ago I gave up – I had less than 20 followers and it wasn’t going anywhere. I was part of blog her but I made less than $20 a year doing that. I have ideas for more of a food blog but that won’t be enough so it might be more food and exercise than anything if I were to re-start a new blog. I would love to take this class and start blogging again – I do miss it..

  25. I have dabbled with blogs for a while now and followed Laurie forever. I would love an inside look into how she has made her blog a success!

  26. I’ve been blogging for only 3 months now and although I’m doing well, I know there’s so much more I could be doing better. This workshop would be perfect for me. Thanks for the opportunity.

  27. I would love to win this! I am brand new to blogging and I am certainly not looking to get rich. I just want to have a great looking blog and hopefully teach people a thing or two. If I can make a few dollars to fund my next little craft project, that would be fine by me:) Thanks for sharing this giveaway!

  28. I have this saved so when I decide to start blogging regularly, I will have the guidance I need by purchasing this course. I would love to win!

  29. I’ve been blogging for quite awhile but just feel stuck in the same place. I would love to learn more about how to take my blogging to the next level and make more money from it. All of the “technical” aspects of blogging are what intimidates me most…I know nothing about coding and such.

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