Perfectly Imperfect Mom

*This post contains a referral link When I began blogging I never imagined I would make money off of my blog. I simply wanted to write about our fertility struggle. I found it therapeutic. As time went on my son was born and it was a great way to document his milestones.  I didn't really think about making money off my blog till I followed some really amazing Bloggers who talked about their income coming strictly from blogging. I investigated more and saw the potential of first working with brands. Who doesn't want free products for their family and all I had to do was write an honest review of the product. It was win win!  I then was able to host giveaways and place ads on my sidebar. These were all great ways to make a little money from my blog but for me they weren't the best way to make a large amount of money. Some Bloggers are able to make a large income from that but it just didn't work for my blog.  I then discovered sponsored posts. At first it was slow and I used a website but it just wasn't really a constantly flow. I would get emailed from people or companies asking to do sponsored posts but the content just didn't work.  I then found Linqia through a Blogging group. I was a little confused and leery at first but I quickly became hooked.  This was where I was finally able to make a consistent income from the blog. Sure, it wasn't enough to live off of but it was definitely a great supplement.  So how does it all work? Linqia pays you per click and you have a goal to reach within those clicks. Confusing? Lets get specific. You get a link through them and they say if this link, worth $1 is clicked 300 times you get $300. If it is clicked more than that, you still only get $300. If it is clicked less, lets say 150 times than you get $150. Why do you not get more money for more clicks? Because you reached your limit for that posts clicks. I have done this but you are encouraged to still get the post and links out there because on your next post you can then have your amount raised.  I went from making $44 per post to over $250 per post and I only started doing this since the middle of June. From my most recent posts I will make over $500. From just two posts! Yes, these do take time and work but the best part of these products you are writing about is they fit into your lifestyle.  I generally like the food item or baby item products because I can write an honest review or make a fun and easy recipe post about them. You also get a budget to spend on the product and other items if you are making a recipe.  Want to get started with Linqia? Here's how.   1. First you must sign up HERE using my referral link. Once you sign up you now wait for them to accept you.  2. You got accepted? Yay! Now you will get emails about products to review and blog about.  3. Aceept or decline the products. Only accept products that fit your blog and audience. I have declined a few products because I knew there was no way I'd be able to make it work for myself or my readers.  4. Write your post and get the links out there! Post your blog link as well as the link given by Linqia on your social media sites. Twitter is a great place to post the specific link. Generally the links lead the reader to coupons so a simple post about the savings it has to offers will entice someone interested in the product.  That is the basics of it all. If you have anymore questions please feel free to email me at PerfectlyImperfectMomBlog@gmail.com  Have you entered my most recent giveaway?! You could win a $50 Visa Gift Card! Go Enter NOW! ENTER HERE facebook ♥ instagram ♥ twitter ♥ pinterest ♥ bloglovin

1. Keep it "simple"
Having a blog can mean having a place to spill your inner most thoughts and secrets but other times it is a place where you are having a conversation with your readers as well as sharing what is going on in your life. If you are the type of blogger who is building a following and wants to really have a conversation with your readers keep it simple and to the point.

Try to remember your readers may be following other blogs as well and their time is precious. They may only have a few minutes to catch up on their favorite blogs and if they see a really long blog post they may just skip it for lack of time. Make sure to ask a question after your post as well. This is a great way to get your readers to engage your readers.

2. A picture is worth a thousand words
This can not be more true when it comes to blogging. I love seeing bloggers photos and all the fun times they are having or the awesome projects they have done (Pinterest, anyone?). It makes the post more appealing to the eye. You can even have a post of just photos and people will love it!

3. Connect with others
The best thing you can do to gain readers is to connect with fellow bloggers.  They obviously have a similar passion as you and if you can team up to guest post and link to one another even better! Using social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest has been my favorite way to connect with other bloggers and it makes it easier to follow up with them.

4. Link up!
Finding Link Up parties can inspire you to step outside your comfort zone. I love finding new ones and trying them out. Some stick, some don't but they are always fun and you can usually find new bloggers to connect with.

5. Back to Y-O-U
This should seem obvious but sometimes in the blogging world we can get a little lost. If you are a blogger who has blogged for compensation (sponsored posts, products, ect.) then you may have lost your way and that is all you seem to be doing. I have been there. I was bombarded with reviews and giveaways and since I was going through a difficult time I just stuck with that for a bit and I noticed a huge drop in my views. It happens and the best way to fix it is going back to basics and what is going on with your life, helping your readers reconnect with the person they first started reading about.

If you could make your own blogging tips, what would some of them be?

1. Subscribe! Every month Citrus Lane offers a discount code. The most popular is TAKEHALF. This code lets you get a box for half off and even if the box isn't that spectacular the price really is worth it and you will probably have a few items you really like, if not you can always give the items to a friend, donate or offer them as a giveaway if you are a blogger.

2. Tell your friends. If you have a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram make sure to take a picture of your box or little one playing with the items from the box and link to the site with your referral link. I have had friends say "I am totally going to order that" and I say awesome please use my link so we can both get a discount. Everyone benefits!

3. Share Savings. Every month Citrus Lane has a coupon code for their boxes and I usually get emails or see these savings on their Facebook page. Every time I see them I try to share these savings codes because I know I wasn't ready to take such a big leap on something I wasn't too sure about unless I was getting a discount. This may be the way to get your friends and family members to order their first box!

4. Blog about it! The blogging world has been pretty awesome to me. I have been able to get many items for free just from telling people what I like. Citrus Lane has been one of my most favorite things to talk about when it comes to fun gifts for my son. Each month it is something different and it's fun to get a "present" in the mail. Even if you don't like something tell people about it, they may see an item that you don't like but they may love it or the idea of the monthly surprise box and want to get it. Just make sure to be honest.

I am so stoked! I just signed up for The 2013 Bloggy Conference in Ohio. I could not pass up the price on this conference since I have seen other ones for so much more. It is under $75 so you can't beat that! My Aunt also lives there so I will be getting to visit with her as well, two birds, one stone my friends! This conference had my name written all over it.

Has anyone ever been to a Blogging conference before? If so I need some major advice and tips. I have never been to one and can not wait to go out and meet some other Moms who have a passion for blogging as well.

I also think it will be a great opportunity for me to really improve my blogging "skills" so to speak. I have lost a lot of my inspiration the past couple of months since my Mom got sick and my parents passed away. I just haven't been able to put my full heart into it. I still love blogging and connecting with my readers but I do a lot more questioning on what I should and shouldn't put out there. I never did much of that before. I just wrote what I wanted and had fun with it. Now I just feel like there is a bit of a wall up. Who knows, I also question what is and isn't important to even write about. Somethings just seem so unimportant after their loss as well. Do I want to sit around blogging or get out and do things. I  just don't know what it is. I also have been putting a lot of time into my shop Au Natural Baby, which I am so in love with. I want so badly for my shop to do well and recently things have really picked up and people have been just so incredible. I am extremely grateful for all the support and encouragement.

Now that I went completely off course lets get back to what I originally was posting about, The 2013 Bloggy Conference. Did anyone go to the 2012 one? What other conferences are out there that I should look into?
If anyone else is going please comment or email me. I would so love to get to know you and have some friendly faces there to connect with when I am there.