June 11, 2023

Beyond the Blogging Hobby

I'm always re-evaluating the direction I'd like my blog to take. What started out as a sporadic hobby has migrated into a happy (and sometimes obsessive) daily ritual--checking emails, thinking of something to post, organizing giveaways, etc.

You may have noticed that I've started to have blog sponsors, which has been something I've shied away from in the past. Nothing against paid advertisements (or selling out, as many people scoff), I just didn't want the responsibility of keeping up with business-type stuff and worrying about hits and page rank, since this blog began as a personal account of motherhood for me and didn't plan on being much more.

But since it does cost a bit of money to keep up with the business-type stuff that has creeped into the blog (how the heck did I land so many giveaways this week!), I'm taking on a few sponsors. They'll also help me with some BlogHer fees, as well as pay for those blog staples like an upgrade at Mr. Linky so I can get my linkies back on my Weekend Contest posts. I tried for a while to keep a mental policy about not spending any money on this hobby, save for a few shipping costs for giveaways, but since I'm always trying to grow my blog, I'm going to shell out a bit of money for online backup space and little things like that.

So have you spent much cash on your blog? If so, what do you spend it on? Advertising? Mr. Linky?

10 comments:

  1. Outside of shipping costs for giveaways, like you, I haven't spent money on it yet. I have been contemplating a few things, though. I, too, recently picked up sponsors for the first time. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do that, but I waited for it to sort of happen naturally and since it did, I am going with it for now. I have one up and another one in the works. I won't have tons, though. My next focus is on a redesign. I'm just photoshop impaired, though, so that is a bit daunting to be honest.

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  2. Other than shipping for my recent giveaway, I haven't spent anything, and I don't really intend to, unless someone offers me something great to give to my readers!

    How did you find your sponsors? Did they find you?

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  3. i've spent on some buttons...that's about it! i think i might do some sponsors, but am not sure if I am POPULAR enough yet! im sick of blogger politics...don't do this, dont do that, you'd better do it this way or that way! IM GONNA DO WHATI WANT! everyone else can suck it! hahahhaha lol

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  4. The only thing I spend money on is shipping for giveaways when necessary, and my domain name.

    There's no shame in getting sponsors. You work hard on your blog, and it does cost time and money to maintain it!

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  5. I have spent absolutely no money on my blog. It is no surprise, besides the gorgeous banner and button, there is not much to see. ;)

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  6. I've spent a little on shipping giveaway items {not much mind you}, on a few iStock photos for the banner on my food blog, ummm I will be spending 20ish on my makeover veddy soon. That's about it! Oh and domains lol duh.

    It's worth it for something I enjoy doing. I figure it's cheaper than going to a spa or getting a mani/pedi every few weeks, right?

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  7. Shipping for prizes, which I might actually have to stop doing since it's gotten ridiculously expensive. But other than the amazing amount of time I spend on the blog, not much money is involved.

    Well, aside from the BlogHer expenses. Yikes.

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  8. I haven't spent any money on my blog but I have spent money on things around it. My chocolate busniess is enhanced by my blog and Iron Cupcake found me through my blog. So, in a round about way, my blog is costing me money but it is all very fun. It's like a hobby that pays for itself:-)

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  9. Just a bit for shipping giveaways. I don't think you are selling out. Times ae tough and if you can get a little bit of extra money to help grow your blog, more power to you!

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  10. I spend most of my money on the giveaways that I host. Mr. Linky is pretty nominal.......it's the conferences that sound so great that are going to end up costing me the most money.

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