Ads, Sponsored Posts, and Affiliate Links on Blogs
Learn about how bloggers can make money from ads, sponsored posts, and affiliate links.
This time of year, right before the holidays, you'll start to see many more posts coming from bloggers with tags like #Ad or #Spon, or you'll read statements like "This post contains affiliate links". What does that all mean?
Using a Blog to Make Money
Many bloggers use their blogs to make money. While most like the little bit of extra money we can get on the side, others make blogging akin to a full time job.For instance, my blog is mostly for my fun, but it's nice to earn some extra money on the side that I can use for bills or things for the kids.
There are a few different ways to make money using a blog, such as offering advertisement space on the side bars or using Google Ads. Other ways include sponsored posts and affiliate links.
Ads on Blogs
Some of the time, the ads on the side bars of blogs come from Google Ads, which can be random depending on the cookies your browser collects. They cannot be controlled by the blogger. The blogger has no control over what happens when a blog reader clicks on one of those ads, but generally, they can be safe.Other times, ads on the side bars are from businesses which pay bloggers to post a button ad. These ads are direct links to the businesses' websites, sometimes with tracking codes in them. The tracking codes do nothing to the reader's computer; they are only used to track impressions and/or sales from a particular blog.
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There are also affiliate ads. Affiliate ads are chosen by the blogger from affiliate marketing websites and often match the theme of the blog. For instance, my affiliate ads are generally related to family, parenting, and kids. These ad buttons have tracking codes, which once again only keep track of from where the clicks are coming. Bloggers either receive commissions or flat rates from these ads.
I can assure you, at least for this blog, the affiliate ads are placed with my readers in mind. If an ad doesn't match what I think my readers are interested in, I won't waste my time placing it on the blog. Many of the ads placed have special promo codes or sales, so I feel they can really benefit my readers.
Bloggers: click here to find blogger resources.
Sponsored Posts on Blogs
Often, a company will offer a blogger money for a sponsored post. The post contains information provided by the company along with additional information from the blogger, such as a personal insight or experience with the company. There may be a product or service review involved. When these posts are published, you may see a statement like "This is a post sponsored by So & So. The words and opinions are mine". This kind of statement is required by law by the FTC so that the consumer knows that the blogger was compensated for the post. When the post is shared via social media, you may see tags like #Ad, #Spon, or #sponsored. These too are required by law and only mean that the blogger was compensated for posting and sharing.Here's an example of one of my #Sponsored posts: Goodnites Undercover Underwear Mission
Affiliate Links on Blogs
Another way to make money on a blog is to use affiliate links. These are links most often chosen by the blogger inserted into the text of a post. These links can come from the same source as the affiliate ads and do contain tracking codes. These links, just like sponsored posts, are also identified by the blogger according to law. Often in my affiliate posts, you'll see the statement "This post contains affiliate links, which help to cover the costs of running this blog" either at the top or bottom of the post. It's required by law to let consumers know that the blogger may make some money from a click or transaction.
Example of an affiliate blog post using affiliate links and ads.
I use a variety of affiliate links on this blog, including links to Amazon and sales/deals. (See my Amazon link? It'll just take you to the Amazon home page if you click on it. That's all!).
What Does This Mean for Blog Readers?
As bloggers, many of us hope to provide our readers with helpful posts and ads on our blogs. If our readers like these ads or posts, it would be beneficial to both them and us if they checked them out. That is all! Yes, we bloggers may earn a bit of money, but the readers can gain awesome savings or find quality items. If you're reading this as a blog reader, what do you think? Did you know about ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate links before? Were you scared to click on them? If you're reading this as a blogger, did I cover all of the bases? What would you add that would benefit us all?
**This post contains affiliate links, which help to cover the costs of running this blog. Thanks!**
