If you follow the Bargain Briana Facebook page (and you should!), you might have saw a post that I updated my Monetizing Your Blog post with sponsored post information. Soon, I’m going to sit down and include even more items in this post as it is a question I get often.

I didn’t start this blog to make money but I have been blessed in the past couple of years to actually earn money doing what I love on this site – which is sharing the best deals and money saving tips for my wonderful readers! This is information I have never shared on here before….The money I have made has been a huge blessing to my family as when I started, the recession was starting to hit the construction industry hard. This left my husband and I scrambling to make cut backs and uncertain about our futures due to wage and hour reductions. (I will say, things are starting to look up in the construction industry from our end, though it is far from over.)

The income from my blog has supplemented our incomes and has our blessed our family tremendously. Part of the success was the timing of when I started this blog, along with lots of hard work and late nights – and of course, awesome supporting readers and fellow bloggers! Blogging isn’t necessarily easy but it is something I love and can do while in my jammies! :)

So How Can You Make Money on Your Existing Blog?

Many other bloggers wonder how they can monetize their blogs. I would suggest you check out my past post for all the options I have posted about. Some of my success I’ve lucked into. Some of it has been from trying new things. It has also been from things recommended by friends and fellow bloggers.

Today, I’m telling you about Social Spark. I’ve been a member pretty much since they started. Some of you may recognize it from past posts I’ve done on this site. These are all disclosed as sponsored posts and are very transparent as to what they are.

Here’s what I like about Social Spark:

• You set your own sponsored post rate.
• You choose which sponsored posts you want to do.
• It is fully integrated with your blog to make approval, posting, and payments go very smoothly.
• Full disclosure so your readers know that this is sponsored content. Yet, it is always your own words.
• The posts I choose to do have been easy for me to write because they are posts that fit well within my site and my experience. There is usually a minimum of 250 words but I can usually get there without even trying!
• Once your payment is approved, you can cash out within 30 days when you hit a minimum and you will receive your payment instantly via payment.

It’s as easy as that!

Why am I telling you about this?

For one,  it is a way you can monetize your own blog and I like to share those ideas with fellow bloggers. I’ve always shared Social Spark with bloggers I’ve met online and in real life. I can name several bloggers who have thanked me for introducing them to Social Spark.

Second (and a more selfish reason), there is a referral contest going on through Social Spark right now. The blogger who recruits the most qualified blogs will win a trip for two to Hawaii, which is a place we would love to visit. Currently, I’m in the Top 20 and that is just from sharing on my Facebook wall and Twitter. Plus, once you get approved, you can recruit your blogging friends for your own chance for the Hawaii trip!

You don’t have anything to lose by signing up as you get to choose which posts you want to participate in. Please use this link (Social Spark) to sign up so I can say I’m the one who introduced you to this money making opportunity!

Here’s a few of the sponsored posts I’ve done through Social Spark in the past:

• Tabasco Post
• Free Sample Purex 3-in-1
• Free Things to Do In Kissimmee, Florida

Do you use Social Spark? What has your experience been?