Blogging is an easy, low-cost and flexible way of earning pocket money for mothers who are at home with the kids. All you need is a computer connected to the internet and you can set up a blog right away using free platforms like Blogger, MySpace, TypePad or WordPress.
How do I earn from blogging?
Some of the ways to earn money from blogging are:
1. Writing sponsored posts
Get paid for the post that you write. For example, if your blog is about motherhood, you may be eligible for topics that mothers would be interested in e.g. baby products or toiletries. Payment can range from US$5-150 each.
Common requirements include:
- Blogging for at least 3 months;
- Writing a non-paid post in between sponsored posts or maintaining 60% of non-paid posts on your blog;
- Posting a “disclosure policy” on your blog i.e. informing your readers that you write sponsored posts;
- Owning your own domain e.g. http://apregnantpause.net versus a FREE blog with a Blogspot or WordPress web address.
During the blogging heydays of 2005, I joined PayPerPost and earned between US$5-50 per post as my blog had a Google Pagerank of 3/10 then. Although I enjoyed the money, I didn’t like “bidding” for opportunities and completing the post at breakneck speed. As I tend to fall sick after 2-3 sleepless nights, I gave this up.
However, like many bloggers, Google stripped off my Pagerank and I was left with 0/10 for a while. I think many bloggers (including myself) have stayed away although a variety of paid options are available now.
Blogsvertise offers bloggers the choice of either bidding for an opportunity through the “grab bag” feature or emailing bloggers about an opportunity that fits their blog.
The lazy / busy mother that I am, I like Option No. 2.
Sponsored Reviews invites advertisers to buy reviews and allows bloggers to bid on as many opportunities as you like and you receive an email if the advertiser accepts your bid.
You may need to log in frequently as the email function doesn’t work all the time.
Another outlet that emails you when an advertiser offers you a sponsored post and encourges you to sell text link ads is LinkWorth. LinkWorth takes a bit of time to set up because they use the term “websites” instead of “blogs” and you need to be specific about what you’re offering.
(Click on the banner to join)
Lastly, PayU2Blog (and Blogitive, I think) pays the blogger US$5 for ANY post they write as long as the one link provided is included in the post. The rule is that you must accept and complete EACH post.
2. Selling Text Link Ads
I tried out this money-making option by signing up with Text Link Ads (posting a row of links on your homepage) but after hearing that my Google Pagerank will be affected, I took them down immediately.
Other text link ad programmes are Konterra and Linkworth, which provide you a HTML code to enable advertisement-related links to appear automatically in selected keywords of your posts.
Most of these links appear as double lines, which you can customize to look like the links on your blog. I tried these a while but found the way pop-out ads annoying when you mouse over the links.
3. Posting advertisements
Unlike sponsored posts, you can place advertisements as soon as you set up your blog. Google Adsense is THE platform every blogger dreams of earning big bucks in US dollars. The most versatile of advertising programmes, Adsense allows bloggers to post links, text or image ads related to your blog content on almost any corner of their blog.
Other advertising outlets include Advertlets and Nuffnang, which are based in Asia. Although the ads claim to match the content of your blog, these two platforms have not reached the context-specific levels of Google Adsense yet.
Amazon and Shopping Ads allow you to create “online shops” in various sizes to display items on sale which your blog readers may be interested in. Bloggers earn a percentage of referral fees e.g. 3% each time a visitor buys something from the “online shop”. Click here to shop at my Amazon store 
How much have I earned?
Sponsored posts – about US$1,500 (considering that I started writing paid posts from late 2006, this income is spread across 2 years = US$62.50 (about RM218.75) per month.
Text link ads – about US$300 (for the first year I put them in)
Google Adsense – still waiting to get that first paycheck, sigh (Got it! Read “Shoe shopping with Google Adsense US$100“).
As you can see, I don’t earn that much from blogging especially after you factor in the costs of buying my own domain, web hosting, time spent and listening to Hubby’s nagging!
Anyway, I’m still going to try but I won’t make this my full-time pursuit 
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Many bloggers are blogging for money nowadays. Some with high traffic can consider themselves full time bloggers. Anyway, one important rules to remember is to provide quality post to gain traffic. Happy blogging
i lost my momentum to blog for money, emm…really deprived of time to sit in front of pc nowadays!
happy chinese new year to you and your family!
I also hardly since no opp and PR also zero liau…
no more income for me too, these days. back to updating blog for personal purpose oni, hehe…
HyperX – Yup, I’m all for quality posts and high traffic. Until I see more $$$ coming in, blogging is still part-time for me. Happy blogging to you too!
HuiSia – It’s oklah…enjoy your pregnancy. After all, you got your LV bag and DSLR camera right? And here I am trying to get preggy
Chanel – Don’t give up…keep on trying! I got my PR back
Chinnee – That’s what blogging’s all about, right?
there’s a lot of new regulations too… am at crossroads now…
Constance – Really? I don’t join a lot of programs so am unaware of new regulations (if any). I’m sure you’ll come to the best decision.
US$1500 is not bad, I think mine is less than US$150
I’ve almost completely stopped writing paid posts, not that I have many opportunities these days since my PR is 0 and I’m using a free platform, which totally precludes me from lots of opportunities.
I’m glad that I’m off all those networks. Have you heard that PPP is even paying for $1 per post? *sigh* I pity those who have to blog to pay bills.
A Mom’s Diary – I am not a full-time working Mum which means US$1,500 / 24 months = US$62.50 (RM200+) a month. How to live on that?
Immomsdaughter – Yeah, I heard. And yes, it’d be tough on anyone who’s blogging to feed themselves. But I don’t think the professional bloggers are doing too badly though…