During my mom’s recent visit, she opened my website on her phone and then promptly started complaining about the various pop-ups and ads.
I get it. I agree with you. They’re annoying.
But the reality is, without those, I couldn’t keep this blog up and running. And blogging is my actual job! It’s what I do to help support my family while raising my kids.
So here’s a bit of info for you on why you see those ads and the business of blogging.
“Why do you have your Christmas Tree up in September?”
I get this question every year. My kids’ friends ask when they come to the house and even neighbors walking by will ask when they see our tree aglow in September!
In a nutshell, I’m a blogger. Sometimes I say I run a website because that’s the reality of blogging these days. It’s no longer just me at my computer sharing my thoughts on decorating.
These days, to be successful, a blogger needs to understand a bit of everything: SEO (Search Engine Optimization), website design, usability, photography, social media, coding, and more.
So, when my kids’ friends come over and ask why there’s a fully decorated Christmas tree in the living room in September, well, it’s for work.
The Cost of Blogging
Running a blog isn’t free. In fact, it’s quite expensive. The larger the site, the more expensive it is to run and maintain. Each blogger will have different costs and use different services, but here’s a general breakdown.
1. URL
This is the website address you type in to read articles (www.tidbitsandtwine.com). I have to pay for that web address on a yearly basis.
2. Web Hosting
Think of web hosting like this: I’m hosting everyone for a dinner party but my dining room is too small for the number of guests that are coming (ie the readers that visit the site). So I rent a giant ballroom to host everyone! And that ballroom also comes with security at the doors to ensure no unwanted guests (ie hackers) enter our dinner. That fee for renting the ballroom and security, that’s web hosting for a blog and it’s a yearly fee. The larger the ballroom, the larger the fee.
3. Technical Support
Sometimes things go wrong and I need help! I can fix some issues on my own, but others I have to hire people to fix for me.
4. Plugins
Think of these like website add-ons, like being able to save an image to Pinterest or favoriting an article you enjoyed. Most are free, but there are some that I need/want that cost money on an annual basis.
5. Creative
Computer programs like Photoshop or Lightroom are needed to process photos, and they are subscription based. And if bloggers need cute icons or graphics, we have to pay for the use of those as well. Plus, sometimes people can’t do the creative things themselves and hire designers.
6. SEO
Figuring out what Google likes is almost a full-time job in itself! Bloggers have to pay for services that help us figure out what keywords to use, new ideas for topics, or even more about who our readers are! Each blog needs to create an SEO strategy to help maintain its presence on Google and thus, attract readers.
7. Email Campaigns
You know those emails that I send to you whenever there’s a new post? I have to pay for those. I write the emails but I don’t maintain the database of all of your email addresses. Instead, there are email marketing companies that keep all of your data secure for me so that you don’t have to worry about your email address getting out and receiving spam as a result.
8. Assistants
I don’t have any VA’s (virtual assistants) but many bloggers do! Some manage social media, some write articles, and others help with photography. The larger the blog, the more likely it is that the blogger will need some help. And there are other services that act like VA’s to help schedule content and make the most use of our time, and these too cost money.
9. Products
I’m including this because of my blogging niche, home decorating. You see my decorating my home seasonally, or even redecorating a space I’ve previously done. Why? Because I need content to write articles! And I don’t get those products for free, I buy them just like everyone else. So one of my costs of doing business, is purchasing products that I can then share in articles that I write for you!
There are other expenses, but those are often the biggest.
How Do Bloggers Make Money
To offset all of those costs, bloggers have to earn an income! There are 6 main ways but I primarily only make money from #1 and #2.
1. Ad Networks
These are companies that find advertisers for the website and manage all of the ads that appear. Bloggers make money for each time an ad is shown. Yes, I know they’re ugly but this is my biggest source of revenue and why I need you to be patient with me when you see ads.
I do my very best to balance the number of ads versus the revenue they generate to try and find a happy medium. I have less ads on my site than either Google or my ad network recommends because frankly, I think that would be too many! And I regularly view my site as a reader and try to only include ads in natural breaks in my content.
And that popup at the footer? You can close it. Just click the little X in the corner!
2. Affiliate Income
Affiliate income is a small percentage that bloggers make from each product that they recommend. Basically, it’s a commission that a retailer will pay to content creators for helping to sell their products. So if I tell you about a lamp that I love and you click the link and buy it, I’ll make maybe 3% (each retailer varies on how much they pay but the average range is 3%-7%).
I’m pretty particular about affiliate income in that I never recommend something that I don’t actually like. My goal isn’t to get you to buy anything and everything, but instead to share with you things I really love.
So if I share a product link with you and you like the product, please purchase through the link I’ve shared. It’s my second largest source of income and how I keep the lights on here.
You can find lists of things I love in my Amazon Storefront, my LTK, or here on my site.
3. Private Advertising
Some bloggers will work with a company directly to sell advertising space on their website. There’s more work involved with this route because you have to size the ads correctly and add them directly, but on the flip side, the blogger keeps all of the money from the sale of the ads.
I’ve run a few private ads in the past, but it’s been years since I’ve done any so this isn’t how I make money these days.
4. Sponsorships
Sometimes, bloggers get approached by companies to write an article or share on social media about a particular product. These companies will either pay for the sponsorship outright, or will provide product free of charge in exchange (for which bloggers still have to declare and pay taxes on).
These days, those with the larger social media following are the most likely to obtain sponsorship or brand partnership deals. I have a very small social media following so I have very few sponsors, although I do have one coming up!
If you want to help me obtain sponsors in the future, please feel free to follow me on Instagram here.
5. Selling Products or Services
Some bloggers have realized that they need to be in better control on the income they generate and have started selling products or services! For example, you’ll notice that many sell e-books or provide virtual consultations. Some sell video courses while othes sell tips to help other bloggers!
A blogger first has to have the authority to charge for their expertise and then has to take the time to set up whatever course or create whatever product they plan to sell, so there’s a lot of time and energy invested. But, they do get to keep all of the profit generate from the sales!
6. Other
Bloggers or content creators can also earn money by being a brand ambassador, earning bonus incentives via social media outlets, selling subscription services, or even taking donations.
The Bottom Line
The ads might be annoying, but without them, I literally would have to shut this website down because it’s just too expensive to run.
And if you’d like to support me and help me stay in business, all you need to do is keep doing what you’re already doing! Just coming and reading is all I need you to do. And in return, I’ll continue to try and write articles I think you’ll enjoy and tell you about new decorating finds I think you’ll like.
But if you do want to help me gain more sponsorships in the future, a follow over on Instagram wouldn’t hurt. Lol!
I hope this has been helpful in understanding the costs associated with this site and why you keep seeing those ads…
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Hi, Kim,
You have nothing to apologize for. The ads don’t bother me at all, and sometimes they actually steer me to web sites I’m interested in. Keep up the good work. Rooting for you.