The Paid Post Patrol

Lots of moms consider blogging a great way to earn some income. Blogging allows to you to take care of your children ánd make some money.

You can earn money blogging by writing:

• Advertorials 
• Sponsored posts + follow link
• Paid product reviews
• As an affiliate

The Paid Post Patrol!

But, there are 3 important players to consider if you want to make money blogging. I like to call them the

Paid Post Patrol

Who is the Paid Post Patrol?

Who is the Paid Post Patrol you may be wondering! I'll tell you:

1. Your visitors
2. Google
3. The FTC: Federal Trade Commission

Your visitors

1. Your visitors

Most visitors won't mind the occasional sponsored post or advertorial. But there are some who act like you've sold your soul to the devil. 

Always make sure there's a good balance between 'real' posts and sponsored posts. I have to admit: blogs that offer 90% sponsored posts are big turn off for me. I personally strive for 90% real posts, and no more than 10% sponsored posts.

Google is watching you

2. Google

It's the mighty Google! You can't get around Google. Because it's got the power. Google can actually make or break your blog. It has put companies out of business just by deciding not to list them in the Google search results anymore.

Use no-follow links

To stay on Google good site make sure you use no-follow links in advertorials and affiliate links. A no-follow link is like telling Google: 'Oh mighty Google! I bow before thee. This link means nothing to me! Don't follow it.'

A nofollow link tells Google you're not recommending that site or company.

Oh dear, the company paying wants a follow link

But what if a company pays you for a sponsored post only if you use a follow link? Because they want to improve their pagerank? Let me explain.

A follow link = like a recommendation. You're saying: this is a good company/website. And that's why I'm linking to it.

If your blog has a pagerank of 4. And you link to a company's website, that's a great recommendation for that website. And it will help that website score higher in Google's Search Results.

For example: who would you rather have vouch for you? President Obama or your next door neighbour? Consider President Obama a blog with a pagerank of 10 in this equation. And your next door neighbour a blog with a pagerank of 0.

But Google doesn't want you to post links for payment. They say that's cheating and trying to influence the search results. Which it kind of is. Google has even forbidden it in the Google Webmaster Guidelines.

Unnatural links

If you get caught by Google posting paid links, you can expect a message from your Google Webmaster Tools.The message might be that they've spotted 'unnatural links' on your blog. And they've taken manual action. This is bad!

Because it can mean your blog won't show up anymore in Google search results.

So be aware of the risks if you decide to post follow links.

The FTC

3. FTC: Federal Trade Commission

The FTC requires that bloggers disclose paid posts. You have to put in a line like 'Sponsored post' or 'I got paid a hundred bucks to say this stuff.'

Summing up

It's fine to make money blogging. But don't forget the Paid Post Patrol!

How does the Paid Post Patrol influence you as a blogger?

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