Blogging

Making Money From Your Blogging Space

January 14, 2019 jacquelineobyikocha2 Comments

When it comes to blogging there are so many ways to do it. As a daily journal, talking about what you do and who you are. Using it as a space to explore ideas and share your life. Some start a blog with the sole purpose of making big money. You can always combine the two. And it’s not that difficult to turn your online space into a little money maker. Most blogs start because the writer has a niche that they are interested in. It might be parenting, it could be healthy eating, it could be business. Whatever it is, you can use that to generate income.

If you already have a blog, then you are well on your way. If not check out some online guides to starting your own WordPress website. In a matter of minutes, you can have a beautiful site and start writing content.

Photo by raw pixel on Unsplash

Once you have a blog set up, or perhaps just taking a look through the one you already write, you can think about the direction you’d like to take it. You can create content specifically for your audience. Become a valuable resource for people to return to over and over. Hook up product links to an affiliate link network so you can generate an income every time someone purchases something you have recommended.

Reputable affiliate marketing platforms are Amazon, Share-A-Sale, and Clickbank. Take a look and see what products they offer that you can either create content based around or weave into content you had already planned. If you use affiliate links be sure that you are disclosing as such to your readers.

Reach out to brands and mention the pieces that you are working on and see if they would like to be involved and either pay for a link mention or gift you some products to be included.

Your mailing list will be one of your biggest money makers. In each mailout talk about products you are loving so that people can click through, and view the products and perhaps even buy them too.

The more you write in your chosen niche, the more trust you will build with your readers. The more they trust you, the more likely they are to make purchases of the products that you recommend.

Brands, PR firms and SEO companies will likely approach you to ask about having their products or links featured without you needing to chase them first. You can set your own prices and work as you see fit for your own space. Adding in Google Adsense will also give you a running income from visitors who wouldn’t need to buy, but just the impressions will count.

OFten blogs can be used as supporting materials when applying for online part times jobs too. It will give recruiters an idea of your tone and writing ability, as well as how you manage your social media, growth and work ethic.

Your blog can be the portal to all of your online money making, and it will all come from something that you loved to do.

This is a collaborative post.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

I Am Not Fine! Stream of Consciousness Saturday

March 3, 2018 jacquelineobyikocha42 Comments

Fine. What does it really mean to be fine? Can I truly from the depth of my spirit say that I’m fine? Or is it just a superficial response to ‘how are you,’ so that I don’t make anyone feel discomfited by my true response which I suppose would be ‘heck no, I feel all raggedy and angry a lot lately.’

I wouldn’t even know where to start with my venting but here goes ‘ I’m not fine with the fact that my body does not want to age like fine wine.’ I have deep aches and pains from Fibromyalgia that not only causes discomfort but makes me grumpy a lot of times when the pain flares up.

I’m not fine with the fact that at this juncture in life I’m still struggling hard to get my dream of being an accomplished writer and blogger kick-started.

I’m not fine that the basic needs of life are still a huge hustle and that if I don’t work as hard as I do, I would probably be one pay cheque to destitution.

I’m not fine with the fact that I want to go back to school to obtain a degree in Writing & Publishing but that aspiration is still a pipe dream due to lack of finance.

I’m not fine that I’m grumbly and I feel ashamed at the deep-seated feeling of dissatisfaction that has found its way to wedge in my soul in recent times.

I’m not fine with the status quo and not prepared to keep quiet about it. I believe that to find a solution to a situation, you’ve got to be willing to bring it out into the open air and look at it candidly. Phew! I feel better just letting some of these thoughts out.

La di la, in all honesty, life is a struggle and not fine and dandy for many of us but it’s up to us to take a good look at our issues and to make extra efforts to live a fine life.

SoCS prompt – Fine

Travel

Use Travel To Inspire Your Inner Writer

August 11, 2017August 11, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

Travel is the perfect way to experience new cultures and will have an impact on all of your senses; making it the perfect way to inspire the writer in you. Traveling can also provide new environments to enjoy what you’re currently reading; so maybe it’s time to book some flights and get out there to experience new parts of the world. The following are some ideas for those with wanderlust and will help eager writers to understand how travel can improve your work.

Image source

Where To Go

When traveling overseas; think about the destination and how it differs from your current situation. Experiencing anywhere new is a positive thing; however, a contrasting culture and environment to what you’re used to will have a more significant impact on your senses and thoughts, than a similar destination to where you live. Therefore, it’s the perfect time to be adventurous with your travel choices and pick somewhere that you’ve never imagined before.

You might currently reside in the suburbs, or a busy part of a town or city, and these places can be great sources of inspiration for writers; however, they can also busy your mind and cloud it a little making it a challenge for fresh thoughts to come through. Therefore, you might want to consider a natural environment, with breathtaking views to clear your mind and allow a new train of thought to inspire your next (or current) piece. Writer’s block can often be cured by a change of scene and access to new sights, smells, and sounds. You don’t have to get on a plane to get out there and experience the great outdoors either; the US has some awe-inspiring national parks, you can take a look here: http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-national-parks-in-the-usa/ for some inspiration on where to head.

Consider traveling north or south of your climate; you could be craving a warm glow on your skin, or perhaps you need some cool, crisp air to refresh you and give you the ideas you need. California and its many coastal areas can provide a space that’s as busy or as peaceful as you need; consider hiring a car there and driving along a coastal route, as you never know who or what you may see along the way. Heading up towards Canada could provide you will the impressive Niagara Falls; the perfect setting for your next thriller, mystery, or romance novel. Or perhaps a lodge in a mountainous region and some forest trees is the kind of peace and quiet you need to get you best ideas.

If you do decide to travel overseas; there are a wealth of places around the world that will enlighten and inspire your next writing project. Asia is a vibrant continent; jam-packed with different cultures, history, terrains, and characters. Think about exploring the overwhelmingly busy areas of India, before contrasting the expedition with a trek in its environments of natural beauty. Southeast areas of Asia with provide you with historical temples, alongside modern architecture and the latest in technology. Do your research, and you’ll be able to find some deals on accommodation and travel expenses; be cautious when it comes to finding cash quickly for travel, and plan your finances accordingly, so you’ll have peace of mind throughout your trip. Ensure that you have enough contingency in your account back home; you never know, you mind end up staying longer than expected if the writing process is a success.

Image credit

What To Do

Once you’ve landed in your inspirational new destination; it’s time to explore with your notebook, pen, and camera. Try and get off the beaten track; find places to sit and soak in your surroundings and note down what you feel, hear, and see. Think about your genre of writing and how a story, or factual piece, would flow in your current environment and begin to fill out characters and plots.

Talking to the local residents is the perfect chance to get a rounded insight into life there; ask questions about the history and their way of life. Record everything you learn and always be ready to write something down or capture something that you find exciting, or unusual. If you’re captivated by a story or situation; the chances are that someone else would be too, so ensure you take all the information you gather back home with you.

Enjoy any local cuisine and eat where the locals would; you’ll get a better sense of the place if you steer clear of every tourist hotspot and you’ll only enhance your experience. Most of all; travel with your eyes and mind open, don’t put too much pressure or focus on what you produce regarding your writing, and the ideas will start to flow when you least expect it.

Image via here

money

PUBLISH POSTS ON NIUME. START EARNING IMMEDIATELY.

February 7, 2017February 7, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

Publish and Start Earning Immediately

Earning from their creativity is the biggest challenge that most bloggers/creators face.

One of the goals of this platform blog is to seek tested ways that bloggers/writers, creative people can maximize and get the best out of their creativity and a huge part of that is earning some revenue.

It is my belief that asides from personal gratification, an artist/creator should earn from their endeavours and I can’t say this enough. We also have bills to pay like every other person.

In my quest to keep sourcing for ways of building income streams from my passion, I came across Niume.com.

I started using it to test and see. Based on my experience so far, I can say that Niume is a site that shares its’ revenue with its’ users.

Therefore, I would like to share with my readers’. You can promote your blog, publish your articles as well as earn from there.

The beauty of getting on Niume is that you don’t have to start creating new articles to publish if you already have articles that originally belong to you on your blog. You could repurpose them and publish them right away.

It offers an opportunity for more exposure and as well as an opportunity to earn.

Here’s how it works: Read More…

It’s only fair to share.

Short Stories

The Ranch..

August 8, 2016August 8, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

Captain Blacky sniffed around the two cars in a peculiar manner; his heightened sense of smell on the alert to pick up any unfriendly aura of its passengers.

“Were these ones’ pleasant folks or would they be like that old mealy-mouthed last prospective buyer who spoke in such an annoying manner so much so that he had wanted to plant a hoof in his backside?”

He hated to see people try to cheat his owners and he felt truly sorry to see his loving owners put up their ranch for sale due to financial hardship. They had struggled for so long to keep things together, but things were just rough and he had heard his master say that the banks’ terms would simply dig them into more hardship.

He really hoped that the new buyers will be good humans, otherwise he would simply incite his fellow animals on the ranch to riot.

InLinkz

Thank you, Phylor for the photo and dear Priceless Joy for hosting this charming platform where we unleash our stories

I hear the reverberations of the magic that’s hidden within.

Support Me.

Finance · Guest Posts · money

My Breakup Letter To Debt.. First Guest Post.

April 17, 2016September 26, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha43 Comments

Yay! My very first guest post is from Pamela of ‘My money counts – money, modest living and enjoying life.’

I met Pamela in the blogosphere several months ago and I have totally enjoyed our interactions. Her posts are insightful, fact-filled and very hands on approach.

Her witty letter to Debt is a personal relationship with being indebted and how she got out of it. I enjoyed reading it and I am sure that you will 🙂

Dear Debt,

It’s been a roller coaster ride with you, but it’s time we part ways. I don’t know how much more uncertainty I can take from you. You said you would always be there for me. I thought you had my back, but you lied to me.

There were so many secrets and lies you kept from me. How can a relationship grow that is built on lies? Like the time you said you had my back and convinced me to buy my living room furniture on credit. You told me we could afford it. You said we would be ok, so I listened. Or when you told me that you would take care of me once I was done school and encouraged me to spend the little I had and more without giving a second thought. But I am done school now and your words were just empty promises. Where is the help? Where were you when I needed you, debt?

Why am I even surprised? You were never satisfied with what I could give you. You always wanted more and more from me. The more I got for you the more you wanted. I felt like I could never do enough for you. Like the time I got us the big screen T.V and game system, but that wasn’t enough for you. You wanted the new laptop and cell phone too.

Was it ever enough for you? Did I ever make you happy? You used to make me happy. I used to get so excited to see you. We had some of the greatest times together you and I. Like the time we went on the road trip together or bought all those cool things together. You used to whisper sweet nothings in my ear. You had me wrapped around your finger. Then the trips, gifts and promises stopped coming. Then you stopped coming around. Now when I look at you, I can’t trust you anymore. You deceived me…so I am moving on.

I will just come right out and say it, I met someone else. His name is cash and he is so good to me. He never lies to me or deceives me. He always has my back and is satisfied with what I can give him. We are building new memories and going on our own adventures together cash and I.

I want to say, thank you, though because if it wasn’t for you, I would never know how great a healthy relationship could be. Cash is the love of my life and I have you to thank for it.

So long and have a good life. Please change your ways so you don’t mess up the next girl’s life. Oh and don’t forget to lose my number.

Your Ex,

Pamela

Image credit: Pixabay.com

An excerpt about Pamela in her words. She can be contacted through this link: MY MONEY COUNTS.

Hi I’m Pamela. I am 30 years old African Canadian personal finance blogger that likes to help other millennials eliminate their debts. My professional and educational background is in accounting / finance, but I was not always good with my own money. After some life lessons learned, my husband and I embarked in a journey to pay off $120k of debt in 2.5 years. We now live debt free and our building our wealth. This letter is a comical relief on my experience with debt.

If you are interested in guest posts, you can contact me through my contact page on my blog or through this email address: JacquelineObyIkocha@gmail.com

Blogging · Life · Lifestyle · Self Help · The Daily Post · Writing

Money, Money, Money….

February 15, 2016February 15, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha30 Comments

I think I have mentioned it before in this space that my dear friend WordPress is quite telepathic enough to know my thoughts and need, thus providing prompts that echoes my thoughts, even if he is stingy in meeting those needs.

I spent a good number of my years before now, racing along the corporate corridor in search of the big corner office.

It was without doubt a worthwhile growth experience. I enjoyed my corporate ladder years with all it’s attendant stress and perks, but my life is turning several new and beautiful bends and there are some nuts in the fire of my writing life, which hopefully should yield ample dividends.

I love to keep a positive outlook and frame of mind because it is always better.

I got into blogging for several reasons asides the obvious reason that I am passionate about writing.

One of the reasons that I would like to explore henceforth, is how to turn my passion into my pay master, that way it’s a beautiful win-win situation.

I know that writers write because they love to write, but they equally have to live and what better way than to earn from the sweat of your passion.

The Daily Post Money For Nothing.

If you’re like most of us, you need to earn money by working for a living. Describe your ultimate job. If you’re in your dream job, tell us all about it — what is it that you love? What fulfills you? If you’re not in your dream job, describe for us what your ultimate job would be.