Amazon Affiliation

So we know blogging is a great idea, and something every self employed person should have. The thing is you can also make money directly from blogging, this can be done a number of ways, but the easiest when you're first getting started is by placing advertising on your blog.

One of my favorite online ad platforms to use is the Amazon affiliate program. It takes a little while to go through the forms online, and you must remember to complete you tax information,  but everything is done instantly online and once you're set-up it's incredibly easy to use.

First, simply visit Amazon, scroll to the bottom of the main page and click on "Associates Program"

Fill in all of the information and forms. Once you have completed set-up, you will notice you suddenly have a "SiteStripe" across the top of the page. This is why I like running Amazon ads... it's so easy. You can share an affiliate link to any page on the site direct to social media by simply clicking the facebook or twitter icons. As for placing ads on your blog, it's a simple case of copy and pasting a piece of html code into either your posts, or into a widget in your side bar.

Amazon affiliates work particularly well with review blogs, I use it a lot for my "Lily Reads Books Lots" blog.

If you have any queries or need help leave me a message in the comments.

Look at my blog!

I have a blog. A lovely blog. Ok I've got like half a dozen of them, but this is a new one. A special one.

The reason I have so many blogs is because I learnt pretty early on how important they are for building a business. Yes, websites are important, websites are your "shop front", they set out what you do, your contact details, your online store. Blogs aren't here to take over the job of your website, blogs are the online equivalent of a friendly chat over the shop counter. 

When I first started Hedge-Witchery Books an established writer told me "people will buy a heck of a lot more from someone they feel they know." This has proved to be one of the best pieces of advice I have ever been given. Blogs are there to tell people about you, rather than just your work. They are there as a place to interact, be social, give news and get feedback. They are invaluable.

So, if you've never blogged before, where do you start? Well first you need to create a blog. I've always been a fan of Blogger, but lots of people prefer Wordpress, use which ever works for you. If you're a complete newbie to blogging or working online, head to youtube, there are literally thousands of "how to" videos that will take you through using either of these platforms step-by-step. Then you just need to find something to blog about, if you can't think of anything, you're over-thinking it; 

What have you done this week? 

What new projects are you working on? 

Have you gotten any nice/special feedback?

What are the future plans for your business? 

What targets/goal have you set for yourself? 

What problems have you overcome this week? 

How is your business life and your family life getting on together? 

How do your friends and family help you with your business?

Go for it. Don't forget once you get your blog posts going, to share them. Paste links on facebook, twitter, everywhere you can.

Ok let me see them, post links to your blogs in the comments!