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How to Make Money With a Coupon Blog

simplesahms_squidoo by simplesahms_squidoo

A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Money Online as a Coupon Blogger

If you are an "extreme couponer" you clearly know how to save money using coupons that you find online and in the Sunday paper. But do you know that you can actually earn an income as a coupon blogger just by sharing your finds with your readers. Here's a step-by-step tutorial that will show you how you can earn a substantial income as a coupon blogger in a few easy steps.

Step One: Research, Research, Research

If you are going to launch a successful coupon blog, you'll want to check out the competition first. What features do you like most about their site? Do you like their layout and design? What can you offer that is different from the "run of the mill" coupon site? These are just a few questions you'll want to answer when you check out related coupon sites. Below are some of the most popular and successful ones.

Coupon Blogs Created by Moms - My Recommendations

Here are a few of my favorite coupon blogs created by moms. Vote for your favorite or add yours!

1

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Hip 2 Save

A coupon and deal savings website, started by Coll more...0 points

2

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Coupon Queen

Find great grocery shopping or printable store cou more...0 points

3

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Deal Seeking Mom

Store discounts, money making ideas, printable cou more...0 points

4

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Common Sense with Money

Free Extreme Couponing 101 Ebook. Learn how to sho more...0 points

5

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Northern Cheapskate

Dedicated to helping you live frugally through cou more...0 points

6

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Bargain Brianna

Finding bargains, deals, freebies, and cheapies ar more...0 points

7

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Penny Pinching Parent

Find baby deals, baby bargains, diaper deals, baby more...0 points

8

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Mommy Savers

Mommysavers: Money Saving Ideas for Frugal Moms0 points

Buy a Great Domain!

This is where you'll have to be quite creative. Naturally many of the "coupon", "sales", "deals" domains are already gone so you'll want to be creative. Try to incorporate effective keywords in your domain, "ie: saving money", "bargains"...etc.

We recommend GoDaddy.com for domain name purchases as they are typically the least expensive and frequently offer domain-name discounts. This is all about saving money, right?


Sale! $7.49.com from GoDaddy.com - 125x125 Poker t

Decide What Blogging Platform You Will Use

hint: I recommend self-hosted Wordpress

Wordpress? Blogger? Typepad? All of these are good options to use when starting your blog, but I recommend self-hosted Wordpress. Let's just say, I've "been there...done that". I've been blogging since 2006 and have used all of the aforementioned platforms. I'd go into further detail about why I am crazy about Wordpress, but I wrote an article about it ages ago. So take a look if you have any questions!

Self Hosted Blogger Vs. Wordpress: A Newbie's Perspective

Choose a Good Hosting Company

I am an avid blogger but I am also a website designer on the side therefore I've worked with a variety of website hosts (that my clients have chosen) and have a good understanding of hosts that you should...and should NOT use. Please do your research on this one. A good hosting company (or bad one for that matter) can make or break your business. Yes, you'll probably find a great deal on hosting from a startup company, but you may also be saddled with slow speeds, poor support and even hacking.

I've done my research on this issue (extensively) and feel confident when recommending the following hosting companies. I've used both of them and appreciate their interface, speeds and most importantly...support!


Bluehost Web Hosting $6.95


Host Unlimited Domains on 1 Account

Handy Tip: Use Social Media to Promote Your Coupon Blog

...and to find great deals!

Big Sky Bargains on FacebookIf you are planning to launch your own coupon blog, it is imperative that you also set up a Twitter account and Facebook page to promote them. Yes, there are plenty of other social networks you should join, but in my humble opinion...these are the big two.

Facebook is a fantastic way to grow your readership. Naturally, you'll start with your own family and friends and ask them to follow your page. Then, post *great* content and they will certainly share it with their family and friends...and so on, and so on, and so on....

Twitter is great for posting quick "bits" of information from your blog. Don't forget to "tag" your posts using hashtags like #deal, #coupon...etc...so folks looking for great deals will find yours!

You'll also want to follow some of your favorite coupon bloggers on these sites. Most coupon bloggers are happy to share special offers that they've found as long as you give them credit for their find by linking to them when you post your article.

Feel free to follow my deal site on Twitter @dailydealdirectory! You can see my Facebook page in action by clicking the Facebook logo.

Find a Great Theme!

Nitrous Theme - High Energy Theme for WordPress

Mind you, I'm assuming you took my advice from earlier and decided to run with a self-hosted Wordpress blog. If not, you are on your own in terms of finding themes for other platforms. ;)

There are numerous options for finding great Wordpress themes from free to paid. Below I will share with you some of my favorite links for finding free themes, and my favorite paid links. Personally, I use both Studiopress and Themeforest for my professional websites.

Top Free Wordpress Theme Resources

Free Wordpress Themes from Wordpress.org
A large compilation of free Wordpress Themes from Wordpress.org.
Free WordPress Themes: 2011 Edition - Smashing WordPress
Smashing Magazine's comprehensive list of free Wordpress themes.
Free Wordpress Themes - FreeWP
FreeWP is the best source for free wordpress themes from the best premium wordpress themes vendors. Get your free premium wordpress theme today!

Top Paid Wordpress Theme Websites

Paid Themes from Studio Press
A beautiful collection of themes from Studiopress. Highly customizable with great customer support! My personal favorite!
Paid Themes from Themeforest
A huge collection of paid themes from Themeforest. Lots of design options, color schemes and most under $40!
Paid Themes from WooThemes
A stunning collection of highly customizable themes from WooThemes.
Paid Themes from Elegant Themes
Get access to all of Elegant Themes...themes for $39!

Learn How to Blog Using Wordpress

If you aren't familiar with blogging with installing your new Wordpress site and theme here are a few video tutorials to help you get started.
Beginner WordPress Tutorial Video
by NuuVidea | video info

131 ratings | 117,068 views
curated content from YouTube

Making Money by Sharing Deals...A Few of Our Favorite Affiliate Programs

You've bought your domain, you've found hosting, you've installed Wordpress and you are ready to blog. Now what?....the FUN PART!

How exactly do couponers make money? There are a variety of ways like referral programs (which we will discuss later) and affiliate programs. Affiliate programs allow bloggers to share special offers, sidebar advertisements, etc.. on their sites and earn an income when someone follows their links and purchases a product.

Keep in mind that many of these affiliate networks will "deny" an application of a blog that does not have content so if you are just starting out, you'll want to add a considerable amount of content to your site so that you will be accepted into an affilate network. Have patience and just keep blogging. Once you have an established and professional blog, earning money via affiliate networks will become easier and easier.

Below is a list of the most popular affiliate networks that you'll want to join when you launch your coupon blog.

Popular Affiliate Networks to Join When You Launch Your Coupon Blog

Vote for Your Favorite (or Add one) Right Here!

Handy Tip: Create a Printable Coupon Directory Right on Your Site

Coupons.comCoupons.com allows you to embed local grocery store and online coupons right on your site. Even better, you'll get paid every time someone prints your coupons! Simply join the affiliate network and use their handy "embed" tool. Add it to a "Printable Coupons" page (using your new Wordpress skills) and wa-la...printable coupons right from your site!

Earn Referral Credits on Daily Deal & Sample Sale Sites

Daily Deal Directory So far I've taught you how to earn cold-hard-cash with affiliate programs, but did you know that you can also earn referral credits simply by sharing offers at daily deal & sample sale sites? I recently created a directory of the most popular sites (many of which offer $5-$25 in credit just for referring your friends. As a blogger, you can also share these offers with your readers and earn a substantial amount of credit.

I've already created the directory for you. Now, you'll just need to visit the sites and check the offers. It's an easy way to get content for your site (especially if you haven't been approved by the major affiliate networks yet and an even easier way to earn money toward products and services! I can't even begin to tell you how many "freebies" I've earned just by sharing my referral links on my blogs and websites! Click here to visit the directory and start sharing all of the great deals!

Go Behind the Scenes of a Local Coupon Blog

SFM Simply ThriftyI didn't add my personal coupon blog to the list of the most popular ones, because it simply isn't one of them and I never intended it to be. When I launched my coupon blog (SFM Simply Thrifty) I wanted to shoot for a smaller market. I blog about LOCAL coupons and offers and enjoy networking with local businesses, family, friends and fans. Mind you, I still earn a great income with my blog. In fact, I am more successful with my local coupon blog than I was when I launched a larger one. Perhaps it's the local "expertise" that my readers enjoy.

At the end of this tutorial I'm adding a guestbook. Please feel free to ask me any questions that I haven't covered here already. Needless to say, I am pretty passionate about my "work-at-home" gig and I'd love to help other "wannabes" get started with their own.

Guestbook Comments

  • freewordpresspremium May 23, 2012 @ 10:46 pm | delete
    Nice lens!
  • WebGenova May 16, 2012 @ 7:38 pm | delete
    Coupons are hot right now, thank you for such an informative lens!
  • blackmambasw Apr 26, 2012 @ 3:56 pm | delete
    What a great and helpful post about coupon blogging! My blog www.fattenmypiggybank.com was created using a LOT of this advice that I found in multiple places around the web. It's great that you have them all in one area!
  • blackmambasw Apr 26, 2012 @ 3:56 pm | delete
    What a great and helpful post about coupon blogging! My blog www.fattenmypiggybank.com was created using a LOT of this advice that I found in multiple places around the web. It's great that you have them all in one area!
  • susieqpons Mar 15, 2012 @ 11:56 am | delete
    Very nice tips! I just started my blog and it's HARD work! Nothing happens overnight and you have to enjoy what you are doing. Well worth it!
  • orange3 Oct 8, 2011 @ 12:49 am | delete
    Good information.
  • JodiFromFlorida Oct 4, 2011 @ 10:03 pm | delete
    Nice lens!
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simplesahms_squidoo

I'm Traci-a Tiva wearing, mini-van driving, pony-tail sporting, Irish Twin chasing soccer mom from Montana. When I am not kissing boo-boos and wiping noses... more »

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