Raise your hand. Who wants more money?
My hand is up. Is yours?
With over 75% of households in American living paycheck to paycheck, it’s no surprise that everyone NEEDS more.
Would more money solve your problem of living one pay away from financial disaster? Probably not. But that’s an entirely different discussion.
The real question is, how far are you willing to go for more money?
Are you willing to sell, sell, sell till everyone is sick of you and your ads/emails?
Are you ok knowing that other money strapped bloggers are going into more debt to buy your products because they believe you hold some magic secret to success?
Does it matter to you that MOST bloggers that purchase your product/services/affiliate products will never make a dime and quit?
I have been told many times that with my following and pageviews, I should sell more. I should raise my prices. I should stop sharing my information for free and create more products.
And every once in awhile, I think yes, I should do that. I could make a ton of money! Woohoo!
And then I get a pit in the bottom of my stomach. I just can’t do it. I feel slimy.
I do share affiliate links and I do have ads on my sites and I make a good income from that. I’m happy with my $3,000/month on average.
And I figure if a reader does not like my links or ads, they can install an ad blocker on their web browser and they can still enjoy my content free of distractions.
Maybe I’m just clueless about online marketing and don’t have the balls to be a really big, successful blogger and influencer. (Quite possibly, it’s because I’m lazy but that’s our little secret.)
I came across someone today wanting to charge other bloggers a fee of $150/month to join their group board on Pinterest.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Yes, that is against Pinterest TOS and yes, many have now reported this person and hopefully they have been banned from Pinterest.
When this was brought to my attention, I was disgusted and nothing short of tar and feathers would satisfy me.
First of all, group boards on Pinterest are not all that. They used to be. But they are no where close to the traffic generating sources they used to be.
I can’t imagine paying anyone, anything to join a group board on Pinterest.
Like really?
Is this how greedy bloggers have become?
29 comments
Wow, glad you said that. I am very new to blogging, though I’ve been researching for several months and only launched my blog two weeks ago. These are my feelings exactly when I’m doing all my research, that people are just trying to get your money and telling you a lot of nothing just so you can sign up for courses.
Stay strong and your wallet closed. You will learn all you need to know in time.
Just one of the many reasons why I get annoyed with the blogging world at the minute… Is such a shame that people will fall for this sort of nonsense too!
$150? What, that’s crazy! If this person would have gotten away with it, I don’t think would make much money because why would anyone pay $150 for information that you can get for free online. Ridiculous! There’s a lot of greedy people that will scam others because they don’t want to do the work, want it easy and just don’t care…have no morals.
There are all sorts online. Definitely buyer beware!
I’d love to make more money with my blog but when I see other blogs with all the ads or they stop writing about nothing but how to blog, I realize I don’t want to be that way and I’m happy with how things are. It wouldn’t be any fun to have it all be about the money. I hadn’t heard about the abuse of Pinterest but I can see how someone could get sucked down that rabbit hole. I hope they are banned, too!
It is so easy to get sucked in. It takes real courage and stamina to be true to yourself.
Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often.
I’m not on Pinterest, but it does annoy me that some people are trying to make big money out of those that are new and who are looking for information. Like you, I’ve been told I could make money out of the blogging tips I publish on my blog, but I publish those tips as a thank you to everyone who supports me by visiting and leaving me comments. For me, blogging is all about fun and enjoyment and not for making money out of. However, I’ve nothing against anyone who wants to make money out of it – just don’t try selling anything to me!
I’ve even removed ‘WordPress Ads’ from my blog after getting feedback from readers that the ads were distractive. I rather than do that than getting paid the price of a cup of coffee every month.
My blogging tips will always be free. And, if anybody is looking for a course on how to blog, I can highly recommend the free one that WordPress runs. That’s where I started and I’ve never looked back.
It has come to a point where I do not tell people I write a blog. “I have articles on a website.” I do not want to be associated with about 90% of the blogging crowd. Now, the other 10% of you guys are awesome. 🙂
Wow. Great article, Elena! I just finished participating in a product creation class. I gained a lot of valuable knowledge, but when the class got to the marketing part, I started feeling “squinky” about the tactics they were teaching. I’ve been blogging a little over a year and some of it’s been really disillusioning. I can understand wanting to make money off of a blog but there seems to be a lot of people who are compromising their values to do so.
The problem then becomes, to compete, you feel like you must do it too OR it works so why not. Neither one of those excuses sit well with me either.
Also… I understand the “marketing” concept of only offering something for a short sales window to drive sales, but that doesn’t mean I like it or partake in it when bloggers do it. I just find it manipulative. : )
I am really turned off by blogs that are obviously just out to make money (especially the ones that are trying to rinse money from other bloggers!)
I don’t mind adverts and affiliate links BUT I don’t really believe a blogger is telling the whole truth when they are being paid to write an article about a hotel/product.
Mine is too teeny to make money, but I enjoy writing it anyway. I am just sooo chuffed when friends read and interact with it. <3 If blogging isn't a job, then that is all you need from it.
I couldn’t agree more! When I see “this is a collaborative post” or “I received this free but all opinion remain my own” I just think – yeah, right.
I don’t mind people making money with ads, affiliates etc but a lot of blogs have become sponsored post (some disclosed, some not but obvious) after sponsored post. It’s dull and inauthentic.
$150 for a Pinterest Group Board. Insane! Not what blogging is about at all. At least not being part of a community, which is the best part.
That person is out of their damn mind. If someone actually paid to join that group, they aren’t that bright either.
Are you serious? WTH? I’ve been blogging for over 8 years now and I’ve seen it go from being super fun to being super competitive with a bunch of greedy, mean people that will cut your throat if given the chance. It’s really sad. I mean, I understand we all would like to make money, but my morals of being cutthroat don’t exist.
Thanks for sharing gf!
Great post as usual Elena! I know when I research info on starting a blog I get flooded with bloggers trying to sell very expensive courses. I would literally be broke if I bought them all! Then I think …wait a cotton pickin minute… there is some good information out there for free that I am pretty sure can help me achieve what I need.
Slimy is the best word to describe that Pinterest thing…I saw it too. I always follow my gut instinct and if it feels gross, I don’t do it. It always goes back to authenticity for me. Plus, I think people forget that if you want to monetize your blog…it’s a business. And should be treated like a business. And businesses take TIME to build.
That is just insane!
That is f*cking horrendous I’m sorry. I saw that thread too. I think people forgot where they came from, tale as old as time. I am lucky to have met some amazing bloggers who have totally helped and supported me for free.
Me too! And I hoped I have helped others in return.
Maybe desperate instead of greedy. But what do I know. I have been told I am a failure, because I’m not earning the big bucks. Bottom line, I’m satisfied with what I have. I wouldn’t mind some extra coming my way, but I’m just not motivated.
Satisfied=Success
That is ridiculous! I’m glad that person got busted and hope those bloggers get their money back. I just wrote about all the sellouts I’m seeing on Pinterest. (Post duplication.) I can definitely write posts that work for Pinterest but I have to be creative and tell a personal story. Otherwise it doesn’t feel right.
Btw, I made $50 in a photo last year. lol
I’m seeing your pins all the time so you must be doing something right!
Woohoo! Teamwork with Suzie!
Hi, congratulations!