What Are Affiliate Links?
Have you ever clicked a link on a blog, then noticed that same product following you around the internet for days? That’s the world of affiliate links… part recommendation, part internet magic. Bloggers use them to share things they genuinely love, and when someone makes a purchase through one of those links, the blogger earns a small commission, kind of like a digital finder’s fee. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it can help keep blogs (and sometimes Little Libraries) running.
Most blogs plaster their pages with ads and links in hopes that you’ll click something and buy.
Were you just looking at new tennis shoes online and now see only tennis shoes on every blog you visit? That’s because the blogger is hoping you’ll buy those shoes through their site, so they receive a small commission.
This marketing strategy, of course, led to what we now call influencers. But where once people had to write and publish articles that hopefully added meaning to society in some way, today the affiliate link is up for grabs to any ten-year-old doing unboxing videos.
I digress…
Anyway, many bloggers rarely earn much from those links… if they do, it’s usually pennies for thousands of clicks. But big bloggers get lots of traffic, and that can turn into a real income stream for them. Good for them. I’m not judging. Blogs have given people, especially women, a voice and a way to earn extra income, often allowing them to stay home with their children.
However, like most people, I can’t stand blogs plastered with ads, so I won’t do it. I include Amazon links to products I enjoy and use, or links to my Etsy store, but I keep it to a minimum. And I only link to things I personally use or genuinely like.
Also, not all links on my blog are affiliate links. Some are simply there to share information or connect you to other useful websites.
My Current Affiliate & Ad Partners
A BlueEyedMama’s Shop (Etsy) – My personal Etsy shop where I sell printables and downloads, mostly holiday and educational worksheets for homeschooling parents and classroom teachers. This isn’t technically an affiliate link, but I include it here for transparency.
Amazon – This is a love/hate relationship. Some things are simply easier to get from Amazon, especially for busy parents who don’t want to make a special trip. They also carry a huge selection of books that aren’t always easy to find elsewhere. I do shop carefully — some overseas sellers list knockoffs or inflated prices, and I try to find American-made items when possible. I also have an Amazon Storefront where I only share what I truly love.
Craftsy — An amazing site for anyone who loves to create. There’s a huge archive of resources and classes for a low monthly or yearly fee. I’ve used it to teach my kids (yes, even my boys) to crochet. Classes include painting, drawing, knitting, baking, woodworking, and so much more!
Hoffman Academy – A must for parents wanting their children to learn piano! We love this site and Mr. Hoffman and have used it for years — even my husband and I have joined in. It makes learning piano easy and flexible.
Italki .com — A global language community that connects students and teachers for one-on-one online lessons. My kids found their ASL, Spanish, and Russian teachers here. Highly recommend!
Outschool — An online platform that offers live classes and small groups for ages 3-18 at a wide range of prices. I teach on Outschool, and my kids have taken classes there too. If you use my referral link, we both usually get $20 to use toward classes (depending on current promotions). Referrals are credited as Outschool credit that I use for my own kids’ lessons.
Teacher Mrs. Bettina – In addition to this family blog, I also run an educational business… that also helps fund our Little Library. I create educational printables and lessons for parents, homeschoolers, and teachers.
You’ll sometimes see links to my Teachers Pay Teachers shop or my website, especially when I share printables or activities that can be used at home or in a classroom. Those links aren’t random ads, they’re part of my own small business.
I design and write every product myself, and each one supports creative, thoughtful learning for kids. The shop includes things like science units, geography packs, character education lessons, and themed activities.
Just like with my affiliate links, I believe in transparency. If I mention one of my own printables, it’s because I think it’s genuinely useful, not just because it’s mine.
Where My Affiliate Link Cash Goes…
My blog is actually older than our family’s Little Library, but once we built it, I decided that anything earned from this blog or my Etsy shop would go toward stocking it with books.
In five years, I’ve made about $100 from affiliate links (sad, I know), but I don’t blog for that reason. Still, if you do click a link, whatever tiny commission it generates eventually buys books for our family’s Little Corner Library.
If you’re not familiar with a Little Library, it’s a neighborhood book box, take one, leave one, or just borrow and return. These small boxes are often a lifeline for children who can’t easily get to a public library. Our goal is to keep ours stocked year-round and help spark a love of reading in the kids nearby.
I can almost hear someone ask, “What will you do with the money if you actually start making more?”
Well, thank you for putting that bit of hope into the universe! But honestly, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
- Maybe I’d expand our Little Library to a few more neighborhoods, paying to have them built (by my husband, probably) and stocked seasonally.
- Maybe I’d finally open a sanctuary for senior animals who can’t be adopted, a big dream that would take land and a lot of love.
- Maybe I’d just buy a pack of socks and underwear once in a while without the mom guilt.
Sharing Is Caring
Thank you for checking out my blog! If you do click links… thank you. But you can help even more by sharing pages you enjoy or pinning posts that made you smile.
Every share helps us keep our Little Library stocked with new books, and that means more stories reaching more kids.
Don’t forget to comment on posts or head over to Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook and give me a follow. You can always try some of the recipes and crafts from the blog, post, and then mention or tag me @bemandfam, and I will be notified! It would be fun to see your versions of the ideas!
Happy reading!
BEM and Fam 🙂