Woohoo! Owning the Stars has been live for a year! This anniversary doesn’t feel like a huge deal because I know that I wasn’t posting very frequently at all in the beginning, but I am proud of what I’ve started here, and I love having this creative outlet.
With this milestone, I’ve started thinking about where I want this blog to go. I’ve mentioned my Etsy shop before, and I’d like to build this blog into something that might provide a modest side hustle income. That being said, it is so so important to me to stay true to the blog’s purpose and mission. It’s also important that I stay true to myself as well.
Monetizing
I know that this blog is still small, but I’m so proud of it, and excited about its future. I want to make sure that those of you who do read regularly still connect with the content, and that future readers feel that I maintain an authentic voice.
All that being said, I’ve decided to start adding affiliate links to some of my posts. I’m not putting these in places where they don’t make sense, and I will only ever recommend products or services that I believe strongly in. I’ll update this post with specifics as I flesh out those details, but for now, I’ll be adding in Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The blog will remain ad-free because unlike recommended products, I’m not convinced that ads posted throughout provide added value to my readers.
Caveats
- Don’t buy anything you can’t afford!!! None of the products I’ll recommend are going to be absolute necessities. They’re just things that have made my life easier/more enjoyable/more efficient. If you think you’d get value from them, by all means hit the link and purchase. Or, if you’re feeling generous, use one of my links before buying something else you’ve already budgeted for on Amazon (it doesn’t cost you anything, but does give me a small commission). Don’t buy things you don’t need/want or have money for!
- Most of these links are books. My absolute first recommendation (and preference) is that you check out these books from your local library. Support a community staple! It’s also environmentally friendly—less books printed if multiple people are sharing one copy. In fact, I do this with most books I read. If it was something that I absolutely loved and want my own copy of, I’ll buy it after reading it through the library. If you’d like to go this route, you could use my affiliate link after reading it the first time for free.
Thoughts? Concerns? Questions?
Do you have feedback on any of this? Thoughts on affiliate links and authenticity in blogs? Recommendations? Concerns about links or products that you don’t think add value? Please let me know. I’m so grateful that you’ve taken the time to read my (often rambling) thoughts, and I want to make sure that this attempt to offset some of the blogging costs and build up side income doesn’t alienate anyone.
All my best,
Elizabeth, Owning the Stars