Recently I was contacted by another blogger who was offering an affiliate opportunity. While pitch emails are quite common, this one was unusual. Her claim was that she had developed a “fail-proof” course and anyone who bought it was “guaranteed” to make a full-time income from blogging. That alone is a stretch, but when she promised it could be done in 4 months or less, I nearly fell off my chair!
Folks, let’s be clear: Nobody is making a lot of money in the first 4 months of blogging and I mean nobody! Personally, I didn’t make even a nickel in the first 6 months and months 7-12 were very, very slow. It takes a while for a blog to find an audience and anyone who says otherwise is either misinformed or outright lying.
While there is nothing wrong with being an affiliate, I do think it’s wrong to endorse products you don’t personally like, use, believe in, etc. I also know that readers can tell when someone is using them for a quick buck and they will leave that sort of blog forever.
When I started blogging a few years ago, it was with the intent of writing about things that were on my heart, addressing some of the topics I’m focused on, and creating a forum for Jewish women from all backgrounds and observance levels.
Within a couple months, I started to have readers and comments. Some of these were negative, but even that type of bad feedback helped me to grow as a blogger—something I am forever grateful for. I started to become more polished and confident. Opportunities to review products, host giveaways, and do sponsored posts followed, allowing me to actually turn my hobby into a micro business that keeps growing.
Blogging has become my passion. No, I don’t make a big income, but maybe I will one day, and even if I don’t, I would keep doing it for free because I truly love it! I’ve met so many wonderful people and had a lot of interesting things present themselves through blogging. I get the chance to write about anything and everything I have ever wanted to. I get the chance to help and inspire others.
That is why blogging matters to me. You, my reader, is what matters. An affiliate fee, no matter how large, does not matter if it compromises my credibility or alienates readers. I don’t claim to be perfect; like everyone else I deal with problems every single day and struggle to balance my work and home responsibilities. I don’t have life all figured out, but I’m willing to talk about it regularly and openly.
Can everyone become a successful blogger? No. But anyone who wants to try it definitely should, with an emphasis on authenticity. Let’s focus on community instead of quick cash. Let’s make our blogs a force for good, for healing, for hope. I know many bloggers are so broke that the idea of turning down even a $5.00 bonus is unthinkable. If that’s you, please don’t think I’m judging. If you have the ability to pick and choose, be selective. In the long run, you’ll be able to make a living without sacrificing your integrity.
Excellent post..thanks for ur honesty! I also wish Bloggers will honor their prize distribution! some don’t want to ship at all..and these are established bloggers!!
I’ve had trouble with companies who mail the prize directly being slow, but eventually they do it. I actually prefer to mail prizes myself because I’m paranoid something will go wrong. You can always contact the blogger if the prize doesn’t arrive after a few months.
Tracy I have run into a couple of those also (mostly the ones for the bigger prizes), but also have missed a win and then contact and they are sent out fast. So most are good.
I appreciate your integrity and disclosure. I just wish all bloggers felt the same way!
I can’t speak for every blogger out there, but I try to do my best to operate in an ethical way. I refuse to lie to readers for money, period.
I’ve been entering sweepstakes as a hobby for about a year, it’s fun and occasionally pays off. I rarely enter blog sweeps because of the awful way many bloggers set up to get “Likes” and “Follows”. Early on I entered a fashion blogger’s sweep for boots and it was a terrible ordeal. Apparently she & 37 other bloggers each pitched in $3.00 for the cost of the prize & to enter I was expected to ‘Like” and “Follow” each one on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. I was fairly disgusted with them all. I wondered at the time who would want likes & follows from people who don’t read their blogs. I figure the sponsors consider the number of followers of utmost importance so some bloggers want the numbers and don’t care if people read their blogs or not. Don’t get me wrong, a sweep is a great way to introduce readers to your blog (it’s how I found you) but these robocopter entry forms asking for likes & follows for bloggers I have no interest in bother me. There is a basic dishonesty involved for both the blogger & me so I just won’t do it. I’m glad you are so selective in your affiliations.
I have been part of a giveaway hop where multiple bloggers each run a giveaway of their own and add it to a group list, but I have never been part of a mass giveaway where everyone buys a joint prize. While it’s true bloggers want to get the most exposure possible, getting tons of fakes likes or followers doesn’t help in the long run if people don’t actually engage.
Want to add that I didn’t win your sweepstakes prize & don’t even remember what it was. The real prize was finding a blog I very much enjoy. Thank you!
That is such a compliment, thank you! I strive to put out the best content I possibly can for my readers.
Integrity is so highly undervalued. Great post!