How to Make Money from Your Blog

Melissa Johnson
Abeer Rizvi
Catherine Enfield, Moderator

Transcript

2. MEET THE MODERATOR – CATHERINE ENFIELD • Blogging for 10 years at Munchie Musings • Reviews restaurants, food trucks, events and the farm- to-fork scene in Sacramento • Creater of SactoMoFo foodtrucks and catering • Creator of the Sacramento Food Film Festival • Contributor to eater.com, Edible Sacramento & Sacramento Magazine
3. MEET THE MONETIZERS – MELISSA JOHNSON • Blogging for 7 years at Best Friends for Frosting • Online community of 240,000 followers • 90,000 shares using #SOBestFriendsForFrosting • Blogging full-time since 2011 • Husband joined full-time in 2013 • Now a 12-person team based in Sacramento • Contributor to Better Homes & Gardens • Featured in numerous national media outlets
4. MEET THE MONETIZERS – ABEER RIZVI • Blogging for 5 years & monetizing for 3 years at CakeWhiz • Blogging full-time since 2015 • Online community of over 318,000 followers • Scientist turned food blogger • Featured in numerous magazines, sites and collaborated with various brands
5. PROFESSIONAL BLOGGING VS. HOBBY BLOGGING First Things First… • Why am I blogging? • What do I want to gain from it? • Who am I writing for? • Who is my target audience? • What is my niche? • What are my monetization goals – supplemental income, fund money or career salary?
6. GOING PROFESSIONAL The Big Picture 1. Set long and short term goals. 2. Recognize this takes time. 3. It also takes dedication and organization. 4. Establish high quality & consistent content. Transitioning from hobby blogging to professional blogging:
7. GOING PROFESSIONAL 1. Organized website 2. Social media -It’s a megaphone- use it! 3. Create media kit 4. Make business cards 5. Draft a pitch letter 6. Prepare a contract (optional)
8. THE MEDIA KIT A media kit is a powerful tool when approaching brands. The Content • Be authentic – use a tone and voice consistent with your brand • Include a purpose – who you are, how you can help, what you can do • Provide website stats and social media following • Highlight projects you’ve worked on • Feature client testimonials • List brands you’ve worked with Be honest, powerful and true to yourself!
9. THE MEDIA KIT A media kit is a powerful tool when approaching brands. The Design • Keep it clean and simple – 1 to 2 pages • Include sample photos • Use professional headshot • Feature your logo & tagline • Showcase well-known logos that you have partnered with Pictures are worth a thousand words!
10. Working with Talent Agencies Direct Partnerships Affiliate Marketing Selling Products & Services Advertising Networks Speaking Gigs Book Deals MONETIZATION Now let’s monetize those professionalized blogs!
11. ADVERTISING NETWORKS Ad Networks will serve as brokers to find sponsored content for your blog/website in the form of sidebar Ads • AdThrive • Mediavine • Google AdSense • Gourmet Ads When working with Ad Networks: • Income is based primarily on page views • Before committing, ask questions and get answers
12. THIRD PARTY SPONSOR NETWORKS These include: • Collectively • IZEA • Social Fabric • Linqia • Clever Girls • Rates will vary. • Negotiate! • Go through the contract thoroughly • Tap Influence • Pop Sugar • Bloglovin/Activate • Massive Sway • Acorn
13. DIRECT PARTNERSHIPS Direct partnerships occur when you pitch and work directly with a brand. Types of Partnerships: • Sponsored posts • Social shares • Ambassadorships • Long-term Projects Benefits: • Work directly with the brand or PR agency • More creativity • Better pay
14. DIRECT PARTNERSHIPS When making direct pitches: • Know your worth • Negotiate and don’t be afraid to say no How to make the pitch: • Use LinkedIn, Twitter, Google, Instagram to source email addresses • Reach out to your contacts that may have a connection for you • Address your contact by their first name • Keep your email (pitch letter) short – 4 to 6 sentences that get to the point • Share your genuine interest in the brand – but don’t be corny • Use specifics – news, hashtags, etc. – related to the brand so they know you’re serious and have done your research • End with a question – “Would you like to receive my media kit?”
15. AFFILIATE MARKETING In affiliate programs, advertisers use affiliate links to record traffic/sales that is sent to the advertiser’s website. Who to approach: • Rewardstyle • Shop Style • Amazon Associates • Sharestyle • Shareasale
16. SELLING PRODUCTS & SERVICES Do you have your own products or services to sell? Creating a shop or offering services and products via your blog/website will help to generate income. Possible products: Possible Services: Cookbooks Freelance Photography E-Books Freelance Videography Printables Editing T-Shirts One-on-one coaching/training Catering/Cooking Lessons
17. WORKING WITH TALENT AGENCIES Talent agencies represent bloggers and negotiate deals while taking a percentage of the income generated. Most ask 15% to 20% of the total income your blog generates. Pros of working with talent agencies: • Saves you time • Provides opportunities you may not have known about Cons of working with talent agencies: • Agencies are often spread thin and represent hundreds of bloggers • They may share your contacts with other bloggers they represent • They often ask that you forward them all inbound inquiries you receive
18. WORKING WITH TALENT AGENCIES Talent Agencies: • Digital Brand Architects (DBA) • Abrams Artistry • Jabber Haus • Socialite Alternatives to Talent Agencies: • Be your own talent agent • Hire a business developer
19. BOOK DEALS Securing a book deal for your niche provides additional income and promotion of your blog/website. How to begin: • Develop an outline and tangible plan • Create a proposal for publishing houses • Use a literary agent • Self-publish
20. SPEAKING GIGS You are the primary and best representation of your blog and speaking engagements are a great way to promote your brand and your expertise – and they can earn you speaker fees! Possible opportunities: • Cooking Demos • Teach Classes • Conferences • Community Events
21. KEY REMINDERS FOR PROFESSIONAL BLOGGING • Professional blogging takes time, dedication and organization. • Set long and short term goals. • Publish high quality content – when in doubt, leave it out. • Be authentic to yourself and put your best foot forward– your blog reflects YOU! • Some ways to make money blogging include: Advertising Networks, Direct Partnerships, Working with Talent Agencies, Affiliate Marketing, Selling Products & Services, Speaking Gigs, Book Deals • Choose the monetization methods that work best for your goals. • Use social media to connect with brands. • Create professional materials– especially a media kit and pitch letter. • Keep at it and be persistent!
22. THANK YOU! Melissa Johnson Melissa@bestfriendsforfrosting.com www.bestfriendsforfrosting.com @BestFriendsForFrosting Abeer Rizvi Abeer@cakewhiz.com www.cakewhiz.com @cakewhiz