Making money as an influencer

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So I’ve been blogging for almost 10 years — and what started as a fun hobby and creative outlet has also turned into a pretty legit side hustle for me! I didn’t start my blog or Instagram with even the slightest idea that I could make money from it. It wasn’t until I had been blogging for about a year that brands started to reach out about working together. At that time, I was starting to use affiliate networks and sidebar ads, but what I make most of my money from now is… collaborations + sponsored posts! I get a lot of those opportunities from working with with networks like Find Your Influence. They are all about influencer marketing, connecting you with bigger brands to get paid to do what you love!

This post is sponsored by Find Your Influence. All opinions are mine!

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If you’re wondering about how to get started monetizing your blog or social media, here are the two most popular ways I know of:

Sponsorships: This is how I make the majority of my blog income these days. This is essentially a brand partnership where you’re compensated to include a product, link, or a specific message in your content. I always disclose when I’m paid to work with brands in my blog posts and social media by using a sentence or two to explain (like above), and using #ad or #sponsorship in my social media posts. I get a lot of these types of opportunities through Find Your Influence. I’ve gotten the chance to work with big brands like Zappos and Roscato through their network!

Ads/affiliate links: This is how I used to make the most money, but not so much anymore. But I use Google AdSense ads on my sidebar, and I also use networks like RewardStyle, ShareASale, and Commission Junction to use affiliate links in my blog posts and sidebar ads on my blog. I’d start with AdSense, and look for affiliate networks that work with your favorite brands that you naturally talk about all the time. For me — Madewell, I can use RewardStyle to link their products. Some bigger brands even have their own affiliate networks — think Amazon and Target — or ones they recommend.

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If you’re just starting out and aren’t getting the opportunities in your inbox that you’d like (or none at all!), try signing up for a network, and start with Find Your Influence! (A little inside scoop, last year I made the bulk of my blog income through them!) I really love this network — for a bunch of different reasons. Their website is easy to use, and it houses all of the campaign information, links, communications with brands, payments, etc. I can submit all of my blog and social links through the platform, accept/counter or decline collaborations, and basically have a project manager helping me navigate some of these bigger brands! They help with due dates, deadlines, content, etc. so you can focus on what you love — the creative side of it! Their dedicated influencer team is always there to help and answer questions, no matter the campaign.

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I’ve been super appreciative to be an influencer working with Find Your Influence for the past few years. I’ve gotten some really great blog collabs through them that I might not have gotten on my own! Even though I started blogging without any intention of making any income at it, it really does help me continue to blog. There is just so much time and effort that goes into running a blog and social media that it’s nice to be rewarded for your effort! It’s helped me to get out of debt, save for an emergency fund, and take a few extra trips! Be sure to check out Find Your Influence to join their platform! They’re looking for amazing influencers (like you!) with hopes of educating and collaborating with bloggers, influencers and content creators alike. Good luck + let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

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Outfit details:

Levi’s Wedgie Straight Jeans
Madewell The Jean Jacket in Pinter Wash
H&M Striped Top (similar)
Madewell Shapes Statement Earrings
Madewell Indio Sunglasses
Crossbody Bag c/o Pitaya (similar)
Fudge from the Fair Flats c/o ModCloth (similar)