How Do You Make Money Online?

I have been debating whether or not to post this piece but someone shared a piece with me today about how quitting your job to be your own boss is BS and I figured this was the day to share this. I’m not linking to the piece because I don’t want to contribute to the pageviews of the author’s negativity.

How Do You Make Money Online?

This is one of the top questions I’m asked and I am happy to answer it as it relates to me. I used to include “the internet and making money from it” on my gratitude lists every week in the Mind Right Monday series I had here, and since then the question has continued to come in to my email quite often.

Please know this is not meant to be a “be all end all” post. Just my personal snapshot of revenue streams as it stands today, and a little bit of an idea on how you can do the same…and IF you should do the same at all…

NOTE: The answer to this question looks different to every one you may ask. Even another “mommy” or “lifestyle” blogger will have different responses. I’m not one who blogs about blogging, nor do I plan on sharing income reports etc..*COUGH*team stay out my pockets*COUGH* but I will tell anyone what I do simply because I love it, it’s not hard, and you can totally do it too if you want to. It just takes a little bit of effort and consistency.

I make my living online. I’m SO grateful to be able to say that. I stopped pursuing a long-time big dream (entertainment) when I was just starting to gain some traction because I wanted to fulfill a bigger dream of being a mother. Well, specifically, I wanted to be a mother who is home with her children daily until they’re grown. There was a lot I had to do to facilitate this dream coming to life and I am over-the-moon happy that over the years I was able to build a business that can sustain us if I needed it to while I’m home with my little ones.

Here’s how I make money online:

• Blogging at OKDani.com / FitNoire.com
• Social Media (stemming from OKDani)
• Freelance writing for other sites
• Wellness coaching independently
• Health/Fitness coaching through Beachbody
• T-shirt/Mug sales via InTEElligence

And now, it’s time for the breakdown: (nevagunnagetitnevagunnagetit)

Blogging

This site has been making me steady money since right after the BlogHer conference in 2012. (Even though I started the daggone site back in 2009 ::heavysigh:: #dontjudgeme #iknewnothingjohnsnow) It started as a hobby and turned into much more. Here are the ways I’m currently earning:

Affiliate sales:

Almost every brand has an affiliate program. What you do is join directly or via an affiliate network (My preference is this one) and link to the brand, or product directly on your site. When someone clicks and buys through your link, you get some pennies. (or hundreds of dollars) Amazon Affiliates is a popular and easy program to use.

Sponsored posts:

This is where you create content for a brand. I find these opportunities directly, via pitching myself to certain companies, as well as indirectly through a middleman called a blogging network/influencer network. I use many and honestly I dig them all but right now my faves are SoFab, Clever Girls, Type A, Influence Central, and of course BlogHer.

Ad revenue:

I use private advertisers, google adsense, yahoo ads, and BlogHer’s ad network. You simply add the ad code to your blog, and collect your money every month.

Full transparency: FitNoire.com is not bringing in income other than some google adsense coinage, but I will return to giving it more effort in the months ahead.

Tips for how you can do it too:

• Start a blog – It’s as easy as buying a domain, getting hosting, loading up a theme, and starting to write.
• Create content people enjoy reading
• Join blogging networks, blogging groups, affiliate networks, adsense/media.net

Not for you if:

• You aren’t up for the task of maintaining a blog (it takes a lot, sometimes)
• You don’t enjoy creating content in various mediums (words, images, videos)
• You don’t like to self promote or promote others

Social Media

How I make money via social media is two fold. One is via sponsored content and the other is participating in or hosting twitter parties. The sponsored content is contracted via the same networks mentioned above, or directly from a brand.

You can do it too:

• Grow your social media accounts through content and engagement
• Use influencer networks or your own digging to find sponsored content opportunities
• Pitch to brands to be a panelist or host for a twitter party

Not for you if:

• No social media presence and not willing to grow
• Not willing to promote and big up other people/brands

Freelance Writing

I have been freelance writing for several years. I did ghostwriting for a client up until very recently when they closed up shop. I recently started a gig regularly contributing to a popular blog and I contribute sporadically (on a freelance basis) to a variety of blogs/websites. I’m pretty much always looking for more places to contribute to for pay. For me this is a no brainer because writing is easy for me. If you enjoy writing this may be the easiest way to start earning money online. (TIP: Create an alias to write under if you want to be published in topics/outlets that don’t mesh well with your current public persona.)

Tips for how you can do it too:

• Find a topic you enjoy writing about and start writing about it
• Seek out places that will pay you for submissions – Google is my best friend for this
• Write for others often, even if not paid, to build a resume to show paid gigs how great you are

Not for you if:

• You don’t enjoy writing
• You’ll catch feelings if an editor shreds your work to pieces
• You have no get up ‘n go to seek out opportunities for yourself
• You can’t keep a deadline

Life/Wellness Coaching (Independently)

I am a certified life coach. I went to NYU for my training and cert. Now I work with busy women who are trying to create healthy, happy, lives they love. We have regular conversations and work to strategize, set goals, redesign their lives to prioritize what they feel will make their lives better. This is done 1:1 via google hangouts mostly, some on the phone. I grew my client base mostly through them emailing me via OKDani. Once I get my ish together a bit more I will get my site together for this offering.

Full transparency – I recently completed with my last client and am putting this on temporary hold until I find a way to do it that brings me as much joy/fulfillment as it did when I first got my coaching certification. I’ll be continuing my beachbody group coaching during this time though.

You can do this too by:

• Deciding what you’re good at, and can teach to others
• Get a coaching certification (or not lol – everyone’s a ‘coach’ these days so this step isn’t even mandatory anymore – just read up on how to coach folks so you can actually be of value)
• Start offering free tips/help/guidance
• “Hang your shingle”

Not for you if:

• You lack confidence or a strong voice
• You don’t truly want to help people and just want to “get” clients for money
• You’re not willing to learn the craft of coaching (even if it’s through books/personal study and not an official course)

Beachbody Coaching

I refrain from talking about this here on OKDani but I think I’m going to start bringing it up more because it’s such a huge part of my life and I LOVE it. I coach women online who purchase beachbody products through me. I also just sell the products to people who are interested in getting fit without group coaching. Another part of the beachbody business is building a team of coaches, which I haven’t had interest in doing, but will surely up my income immensely when I do. Any of my clients who want to join as a coach to save 25% on beachbody products, I just have them sign up as a coach under me. I initially did that to save 25% on shakeology myself.

This source of income is the easiest to manipulate. We get paid weekly, so when I need a bump of cash immediately, I will advertise my services, or start a challenge group so I get immediate sales. (Note: With blogging, the chunks of money are much larger, but take weeks-months to hit the paypal.)

You can do this too by:

• Call me!:)
• Signing up as a coach (duh)
• Being a “product of the product” – meaning use beachbody programs, shakeology etc…
• Being vocal about beachbody and your health/fitness journey in general (the ups AND the downs)

Not for you if:

• You don’t truly want to help people
• You’re lazy – The money I make here is completely related to how much effort I am putting into it.

Note: You do not have to be fit/in shape/a guru etc (and it’s even better when you’re not). And you do not have to have any sales quotas met, have any product in your home, etc. It’s all done online and beachbody does all fulfillment for you.

T-Shirt / Mug Sales

I have a tee shirt site called InTEElligence. (cute right?! lol) I just started this revenue stream late last year and haven’t really put effort into this (full disclosure). Because I don’t advertise and have many changes to make to the inventory I only get a few sales each month ::hangs head:: However, don’t let my experience thwart you if this is something you’re interested in. I have several friends making great steady, full-time, DAILY income with their T shirt sales.

You can do this too by:

• Think up some cute shirt/mug ideas
• Open up a shop on spreadshirt or teespring or one of the millions of other sites

Seriously… anyone can do it and if they advertise well can make a great profit from it.

Not for you if:

• You’re gunna be lazy like me and not update your pieces or advertise your shop! ::slaps own wrist::
• You’re going to copycat other people vs thinking up your own unique ideas
• You’re not interested in serving others with great product/customer service

As you can see, there’s a trend in the “not for you if” sections on each of these. If you’re not looking to give/serve and are just looking for a quick buck while you just be lazy…this entrepreneurship thang is NOT for you.

So, that’s my story. Quitting my job to pursue entrepreneurship was the best thing I’ve ever done….besides create two amazing children and marry my best friend. I’m not making millions of dollars (yet) but I am doing well. In the future I’ll be adding more revenue streams and tweaking/removing some I currently have in place as I grow. It’s always a work in progress, like anything else.

Hopefully you’ll work to grow your online business and be able to leave your 9-5 if you choose. It’s not bs. It can be done. It just takes effort and consistency. You can do it. I hope this post was encouraging, even if you don’t intend to make money in the same ways as I am. There are plenty of ways that you can make a living online that will feel good to your soul. And there is limitless opportunity. Good luck to you!

How do you make money online?