So You Think You Can Blog (Pt. II)

For Part II of this "So You Think You Can Blog" post, I had all intentions of writing a detailed spew on how you and I can start making money off our blogs.I had to do research because I don't know the ins and outs of "blog pimping"  turning a blog into a business. When Corve DaCosta, the mastermind behind the Jamaica Blog awards, visited our class, he skimmed the surface but I wanted to give you some more substance. Then, I came across this amazing article from Bob Lotich who runs the blog Christian Personal Finance (Christian PF). The article is LONG but if you really want to know about generating traffic for your blog, getting companies to advertise with you and strategically placing those ads so you can make more than an extra penny... Take a Read =====>>>>>How to Make Money with a Blog (Christian PF)

Just remember...

On another note, in the not so distant past I realized that there was some trouble brewing in the natural hair community on Youtube when one vlogger called out another on the ethics of her business operation. There has been a natural hair revolution so nearly everybody has a YouTube channel where they share their opinions on how to take care of your hair, retain length, trim, stretch, curl... everything. Companies, seeing a great opportunity to reach their audience, often time approach these vloggers and ask them to review their products or even pay them to do so and as a result... sponsor the post. The problem with this is that some of these vloggers forget to mention "hey! this post is sponsored" and of course, this is misleading because they are opinion leaders who influence the masses. The belief is, if you're going to get paid to push a product, let the people know so you don't seem shady! In the video below, Franchesca from Chescalocs talks a bit on the business of beauty blogging. She not only talks about declaring if your post is sponsored but she goes into how you become a Youtube partner, getting paid after they determine your CPM and how you can go about running an ethical and legal operation on the site. Take a look!

The internet is an amazing and lucrative tool and a great way for you to start exercising your entrepreneurial spirit. Whilst you may have to pay for your domain name to ensure that your content actually belongs to you, the fee is quite minimal when you compare it to the markets and opportunities that it opens up. Damian Marley sings about "set up shop" and the internet makes it possible to do so virtually with little start up costs. Look at people like fashion blogger DulceCandy... she works from home and basically gets paid to shop and tell her readers what she thinks of products. Another example is Jess from the Wellness Warrior, her website has allowed her to write and sell her ebooks and wellness programmes (of course they take place virtually) and because she has developed such a reputation, she has even been invited to speak at various seminars. In a few years she may even start being the spokesperson for brand named products or even create a line of her own... who knows?

Don't limit yourself. This is your life and you should snatch these opportunities while they are hot... just remember to keep it ethical!

Have fun blogging and banking
Janelle