How To Use LIKEtoKNOW.It As A Blogger | How to Make Money Blogging
Whenever someone sends me a kind message on Instagram saying they found one of my blogging posts extremely helpful, it motivates me to want to sit down and write more. Even though I focus most of my attention to curating style and beauty posts, I will never stop adding in some blogging advice!
Not only do I find it cathartic to jot down my personal blogging journey on Affordable by Amanda, but I understand how much value I am providing to countless influencers and bloggers like myself.
My blog posts that focus on different aspects of the blogging community are available for free on my blog for all to read. With my free resources, I hope to encourage new bloggers and veteran bloggers alike to stick it out and STAND OUT from the rest.
My Blogging Journey and Why I Applied to LIKEtoKNOW.it
Since starting my own blogging journey back in 2016, a lot has evolved in the blogging community since the early days of flat lays and bubble necklaces. As I steadily grew my platform on Instagram all those years ago, I noticed a majority of “bigger” bloggers utilizing something called LIKEtoKNOW.it to tag everything from outfit pieces to home decor.
After researching for myself I realized how crucial affiliate links could be for an influencer branching into the blogging industry as a job. Once I gained a decent following of my own I applied for LIKEtoKNOW.it and anxiously waited to hear back a few months later. I knew the importance of joining the LTK platform and what it could potentially mean for my life as a full-time blogger.
As soon as I saw my welcome e-mail from the LTK team, I jumped up and down with excitement! My blogging journey would now include a whole new platform to help me monetize my influence.
I’ve been using the LIKEtoKNOW.it platform successfully for a couple of years now and today I am breaking down how to use LIKEtoKNOW.It as a blogger. I’m sharing insider tips, my personal experience finding monetary success on the app, and how you can strategize your own account to see higher profits starting this month.
How To Use LIKEtoKNOW.It As A Blogger
Acceptance to the LIKEtoKNOW.it Platform
In my experience, it took me 2 times until I was finally accepted into the LTK platform. I needed to continue to grow my audience and once I focused on growing my Instagram following I resubmitted my application via e-mail.
Before you apply, it’s recommended that you have around 3-4 months of consistent content.
Want to be considered as an applicant? Of course! Well, I wish it was signup and you’re immediately in kinda ordeal.
Unfortunately, you need to make your social platforms look sellable before you are accepted. The program has an exclusive invitation opportunity that can mean more affiliate sales for you as you grow your business, so take all of these steps into action.
These are a few ways you can prepare your social accounts before you apply to join LIKEtoKNOW.it:
1. Work on Your Instagram Engagement
Let me be the first to tell you that the number of followers you have does NOT factor into acceptance to LTK. As a blogger, you need to prioritize building a loyal following of potential “customers” through your various social platforms.
These potential customers are followers who will purchase things based on your suggestions as an influencer.
Improve your Instagram engagement by replying to comments on your Instagram photos, leaving kind 4-word comments on other bloggers’ Instagram photos, and following accounts in your niche.
By working on your Instagram engagement you will simultaneously develop better relationships with your current followers who will notice you replying to them and feel connected to you.
2. Upload Images To Instagram with Outfits and Tag the Clothes
It’s a good start to post images to Instagram with tags. Once you upload a photo to your feed tag the different brands you’re wearing on the photo. Each time I upload a new image to my Instagram account I make certain to tag as many of the brands I can in the image.
3. Post GREAT Content with High-Quality Imagery
Don’t post blurry, out of focus images to your Instagram or blog. Stick to high-quality images that are bright, light, and airy.
Don’t add too many filters to any of your social images. You want to develop your own photo editing “aesthetic” but don’t overdo it with colorful filters and bad lighting. Only high-quality imagery will be seen as sellable to the rewardStyle/LIKEtoKNOW.it platform.
On another note, you shouldn’t add random photos of your pets, boyfriend, friends, or family onto your profile because then you are creating more of a personal account rather than a professional, money-making account.
4. Post CONSISTENTLY To Your Instagram and Blog
Posting to your blog and Instagram a few times a week will help you improve your application to join LIKEtoKNOW.it. Post 2-3 times per week to your blog and post 4-5 times per week on Instagram. You need to establish credibility as a consistent blogger so to the LIKEtoKNOW.it team acknowledges your online presence.
When I was working on establishing my own online presence I posted to my Instagram account anywhere from 4-5 times a week. On my blog, I posted 3-5 times per week with styled outfit posts, home decor updates, and beauty finds.
How To Use LIKEtoKNOW.It As a Blogger: Tips To Make Sales!
Now that you’ve signed up to join the coveted LIKEtoKNOW.it platform, you are ready to start making sales as soon as your acceptance invite arrives in your inbox.
The whole point of having a rewardStyle/LIKEtoKNOW.it account?
- Making sales. Converting followers into customers. Makin’ money, honey! LIKEtoKNOW.it exists as a way for influencers to capitalize and monetize their influence on various social platforms.
LIKEtoKNOW.it is now a billion-dollar company and has helped launch dozens of brands in collaboration with popular LIKEtoKNOW.it users. Designers such as Rachel Parcell, Julia Berolzheimer, and Sincerely Jules have grown their own businesses as fashion bloggers by using platforms such as LIKEtoKNOW.it.
Tips To Make Sales as a Blogger With LIKEtoKNOW.it
Tips to Increase Affiliate Sales On Your Blog
- Add affiliate links to ALL of your blog posts
- Create a separate “shop” tab on your blog and add a LTK widget of your profile
- Add “shop” widgets to your theme (I use the Hayes WordPress theme from Empress)
- Make sure your blog includes the best SEO (search engine optimization) practices
- Choose a blog template that can utilize rewardStyle widgets (I love my Empress theme for this reason!)
- Cross-promote your new blog posts on other social platforms such as Pinterest and Facebook
Tips to Increase Affiliate Sales on Your LTK Profile
- Create collage images using Canva, Photoshop, or the Over app.
- Add relevant hashtags to all of your pictures and your handle
- Provide sizing information in your caption
- Repost your most successful images a few times to your LTK profile
- Include sizing information in your LTK profile
- Upload at least 4-5 new images to your LTK profile each day
- Encourage your Instagram followers to “swipe up” to follow you in the app
- Create your own LTK “branding” by using the same fonts and colors in your collages
How To Make Money Using LIKEtoKNOW.it
Focus on Creating a Beautiful and SEO-Friendly Website
I am going to be honest and let you know right now that before this year I was making next to nothing with my affiliate links. While other bloggers achieve thousands of dollars each month with their affiliate links courtesy of LTK, I was literally making pennies.
It felt frustrating to not understand why my content wasn’t making me sales. My strategies needed to change and I started making a lot of adjustments to how I interacted with the LIKEtoKNOW.it platform in 2020.
One of the major things I (finally) did this year?
- Change my blog hosting over from Blogger to WordPress. I went ahead and switched my entire website over to WordPress and I am so grateful that I did. Having my blog on the Blogger platform held me back in so many ways financially. I didn’t realize how important SEO and a mobile-friendly theme were to growing my online business.
These days, I easily make a few hundred dollars A WEEK with my brand new website design. I’ve already made my money back that I spent revamping my site from scratch and hiring help to transfer my content from Blogger over to WordPress.
How To Make Money Using LIKEtoKNOW.it
Stay Up To Date on Sales
Around the holiday season marks an important time of the year for massive sales. Sales and discounts are going on this time of year because people are shopping for their friends, co-workers, children, and family members for the holidays.
- Be sure to stay up to date on the best sales to highlight on your blog and LTK profile a few times a day. The mere times you mention a sale, the more commission you are likely going to receive in the end.
Retailers from Nordstrom to Sephora typically hold annual sales throughout the year, too. Whenever these sales come up I try to invest time in creating content around the sale. I will list out my favorite pieces or products from the sale to post to my blog and to my LTK app.
Share Your Unique LIKEtoKNOW.it Images on Your Social Platforms
As soon as I post a brand new image into my LTK app I make sure to share it across my social platforms. From Instagram to Facebook, my posts will go up on as many platforms as possible.
- Share your brand new LTK enabled image into a carousel-style Instagram post. Carousel posts perform really well on Instagram and its an easy way to post multiple images at one time.
- Upload your LTK images to your Instagram Stories for even more coverage and sale making opportunities!
Create Product Collages Using Canva
One of the best ways to increase sales on the LTK app? Creating and uploading product collages. Ever since I figured out how to master creating product collages for my own benefit I’ve seen a large increase in monthly commission sales.
You can add up to 16 products at a time to a collage. I’ll typically add a mix of the exact products and similar products to max out at 16 total products. I recommend downloading the program Canva to help craft beautiful product collages in a few easy steps. Personally I pay for the upgraded version that’s around $12.95 per month, but since I use it on such a daily basis, I find it worth the extra cost.
How To Make LIKEtoKNOW.it Collages: Step By Step
Looking for more tips on how to master the LIKEtoKNOW.it app as a way to make money as an influencer? Check out these other important blog posts found on Affordable by Amanda tackling more blogging tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years.