You may have noticed that I have been putting a disclosure in my posts about affiliate links and such. I’ve always had a disclosure on my sidebar and in the past year, I’ve had the words “affiliate link” in a box when you hover over the links that contain affiliate links, but the FTC has changed their guidelines for bloggers and so I figured now was a great time to explain that change and talk to you about why affiliate links can be a great thing for bloggers.
So, you might be wondering WHY this post is my post for Welcome Home Wednesday. It is because as homemakers, we often look to the Proverbs 31 woman and wonder what our purple cloth, fields, and merchant ships look like in this day and age. For some this comes in the form of selling eggs and milk from their farm animals. For others, it looks like couponing. For me, it is blogging.
Now, as you can probably tell, my blog is not meant to be a big money-making project. There are blogs out there that are for the sole purpose of making money for the blogger (I was actually surprised when I heard about this for the first time a few years ago!). My blog’s primary purpose is to encourage and minister to other women, but I also have the opportunity to use affiliate links of resources I believe in and resources I think could benefit my readers to bring in a bit of supplemental income for our family.
I have to be honest about the new FTC guidelines and say that I really don’t like them, not because I don’t like being upfront and honest about making commissions, but because I really hate how they look in a post. It interrupts the flow of the post and is a terrible eyesore. But, I suppose that is because I’m more of a writer than a blogger. I like how words look and how paragraphs flow, and being required to stick a disclaimer in the middle of it all pains me. But I will follow the rules, and I hope you, as my readers, are able to look past it.
So, perhaps you have a blog and you would like to know how to use it to bring in a bit of income. Affiliate links are a great way to do this! Here’s why…
*You use products every day in your home, homeschool and life!
*Many of those products have affiliate programs!
*You are already passionate about the products you use, why not share with others and make a bit of income from any sales you generate for the company?!
Let me tell you a little bit about some of the affiliate programs I use (and yes, this post contains affiliate links!):
See the Light is an art program I was introduced to a couple of years ago. We had tried several art programs and I just wasn’t impressed by any of them because they weren’t very user friendly or useful. See the Light was different and I wanted to share that difference with my readers. See the Light has an affiliate program and they love having bloggers use that affiliate program because it helps them to advertise and market their products to an audience they could not reach with a brick and mortar storefront.
I want to interject something here…
Homeschool companies need bloggers. They need our help because it is very hard to reach the homeschooling market. I am honored to be able to help these companies!
I also love to help other bloggers by promoting their ebooks. If I hear about an ebook I think would be a good fit for my readers and for our family as well, I look for an affiliate program for that ebook. (like yesterday’s post)
You’ve probably seen my passionate promoting of Sheri Graham’s 12 Week Holiday Planner.
I purchased this ebook after listening in on a webinar with the authors years ago. I have used it ever since and look forward every year to pulling it out and planning the holidays. I love it and love the fact that I can share it with you. I am thankful Sheri has an affiliate platform in place that blesses our family during the holidays.
When it comes to actual affiliate programs, each one is different. After you sign up, familiarize yourself via the FAQ’s and poking around on the site. You can always email the company or blogger and ask for help if you can’t figure it out, but most of the time, it is self-explanatory.
So, I want to encourage you that if you have a blog, take a moment to look into the products you use to see if they have an affiliate program you could use to promote their products.
Tauna says
I’m really looking forward to that new ebook! I’m not at all familiar with affiliate programs. But I do talk a lot about the homeschool and biblical parenting products I love so much, so perhaps I will look into affiliate programs for them, especially if it will be a mutual blessing. Thanks!
Amy says
Often, you will find a link to their affiliate program at the bottom of the home page. You can even email companies and ask if they have something like this. Many of them do, but they aren’t clearly marked on their sites. 🙂
Nancy W says
Great information, I saw the news about the FTC guidelines and I appreciate you explaining it so clearly! thanks for hosting!
Vanessa says
I’m so glad you shared this since I had no idea the FTC had updated their guidelines. My blog is too small to earn income from it, but I think affiliate marketing is a wonderful way for stay-at-home moms to support their family. On most blogs, I’ve seen the disclosure at the bottom and I agree with you that putting it in the post is a little distracting to the overall post.
Gloria says
Thanks for the info on affiliate programs. We are just getting into that and I want to do it right.
Thanks for hosting! Hope you have a super week! Blessings, Gloria @The Resourceful Gals
Sarah @ My Joy-Filled Life says
Your post couldn’t be more timely! I have been looking into this over the past couple days!
kendra zickafoose says
After ten years of prayer, I will finally get to be only a stay at home mama starting in two weeks! Right before number four arrives. I have always done jobs where the children could still be with me, but for the first time ever my family will get to be my main priority! Sometimes I think about trying to make more out of my blog to help my hardworking husband out, but have a hard time getting motivated since I primarily write for myself… and to preserve family memories. But thank you for spelling this all out so clearly! One reason i am always nervous to try for more is that i am afraid of accidentally breaking rules i didnt even know existed :). Definitely food for thought! And I am really excited about the blogging ebook! Thank you for sharing!
Amy says
Kendra,
I am even afraid of breaking rules I don’t know about! Things keep changing because blogging is such a new source of income. There are bloggers out there making 6 figures! EEK! My biggest suggestion when it comes to stepping into this area of blogging is to pray (both you and your spouse, together and separately). Enjoy your at home time! 🙂
hsmominmo says
This for this info, Amy.
The book coming out soon sounds like just what I need. What other one resource would you recommend to someone wanting to take a small personal blog to the next level? I’ve seen several out there, but would like a first-hand recommendation.
Thanks!
Amy says
The links in this post: https://raisingarrows.net/2013/01/thinking-of-starting-a-blog-in-2013/ are my favorites. 🙂
hsmominmo says
Thank you :0)
Gwen says
I really appreciate you focusing on this just now. I have been considering starting my first ever blog, so it has come at the right time 🙂 Thank you.
Ticia says
I’m with you the new FTC regulations seem rather ridiculous. I also think they insult the reader that they can’t figure out we might be making money on something.
Amy says
True. 😉
Dianna @ The Kennedy Adventures says
Thanks for this post, Amy!
I’m totally fine with bloggers making money off their blogs — as we both know, it’s not like it’s easy work. As long as folks have a disclosure, I see no problem.
I’m like you — I certainly can’t make things to sell. Writing is my craft.
Amy says
Yes! Well said!
Lisa @Me & My House says
What are the new guidelines? I just googled and only got links that aren’t new. From what I read at FTC it isn’t as dire as I see some bloggers (were) making it. But I must be missing something. 🙂
Amy says
Here are the updated guidelines: http://www.ftc.gov/os/2013/03/130312dotcomdisclosures.pdf 🙂
Lisa @Me & My House says
Thank you Amy.