Ask Me Anything

It’s been a long time since my last Ask Me Anything here on Making Sense of Cents. Ask Me Anything is literally that – you can ask me anything. If you’re struggling to figure out what to ask, here are a few of the topics you may want to know more about: Personal finance Blogging…

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Last Updated: June 5, 2023

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

It’s been a long time since my last Ask Me Anything here on Making Sense of Cents.

Ask Me Anything is literally that – you can ask me anything. If you’re struggling to figure out what to ask, here are a few of the topics you may want to know more about:

  • Personal finance
  • Blogging
  • My life
  • Travel
  • RVing
  • Sailing
  • Being location independent
  • Business
  • Making extra money
  • Questions about my dogs

And so on, and so on.

Seriously, ask me anything in the comments below, and I will take the time to answer every single one. Of course, please nothing inappropriate or creepy. I’ll let you be the judge of what is creepy, I guess, haha!

All right, go for it, ask away!

 

P.S. If you’re looking to see all of the comments and questions, make sure to hit “Older Comments” or “Newer Comments” below. The comments break apart in pages once there are over 50 comments.


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Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Author: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Hey! I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and I am the founder of Making Sense of Cents. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and online businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider. Learn more here.

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  1. Teodora

    Hi, Michelle.
    Thank you very much for this opportunity.
    I have a question for you or an advice. It is about my job. I do my work as well as I can but I don’t feel apreciate. There are always bad vibes, people are angry for no important reason and I feel very stressed and tired. How can I manage those feelings and what can I do until I find my dream job? Thank you, have a nice day. 🙂

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Hey Teodora!

      This is a tough question and I am so sorry that you are experiencing this. Perhaps making something like a vision board where you dream about your future and why you need your current job would help you to stay refreshed and motivated?

      And, in the mean time, look for something better that makes you happy.

  2. Lydiah Lawrence

    I have been blogging for a year but started using Pinterest for traffic since February this year. After how long did you start getting good traffic from Pinterest? (I get like 100 page views per day.)

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      I didn’t have any sort of analytics in the beginning, so I am not sure. I think it was relatively quick, though.

  3. Efrain Alonso

    Hi Michelle I hope your staying safe and your doing great during these crazy times. My question to you is what you recommend for business themes and any planner schedule websites to use to be on point. I am ready to start my Website blog. But I noticed every time I have a set schedule, and things organized I get more things done. I want to be consistent with the Blog. I haven’t added any theme yet or content. Also another question let’s say I found some information from a different source would I contact them and let them know I added some content but still giving credit to them or how does that work?

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Hello,

      I use Genesis for my theme. I don’t use any type of planner schedule website, so I’m not sure what exists. I simply use a to do list on my phone or on a piece of paper.

      I’m not sure if I understand your last question. Are you using their content?

  4. Karen

    What are your best tips for creating courses? I’ve previously written a course that wasn’t super successful & I’ve already learned a lot that I’m implementing this next go round, but I’m wondering if you have any suggestions for things you think are especially important to consider.
    Thanks so much for opening this up today! I am excited to read all the responses!

  5. Miranda

    Hi Michelle, thank you for taking our questions. I’m starting a few businesses online – selling digital products and a personal/business blog. How do you focus and manage your time daily to complete your goals and keep your business moving forward?
    Thanks again!
    Miranda

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      I’m not a super analytical person, so I simply just have a to do list and go through it day by day until everything is knocked off it. I do try and put them in order of importance, and that helps too.

      1. Miranda

        Thanks Michelle! I’m a to do list person too but it takes me forever to get everything crossed out. I’m sure I need to focus more and learn to be less overwhelmed 🙂

  6. Miriam

    Hi Michelle!
    I hope you’re doing super! I have one very pertinent question. I led a company to Number 1 in the USA in sales, marketing, customer service and administration for the first time in their 10 year history and the company had never been on the list at all prior to my joining their company. I’ve started my own company and the most important question is where do I get or purchase the best quality and the MOST traffic for the cheapest price so that I can advertise for affiliates doing affiliate marketing or for my own company? Thank you SO MUCH for your answer in advance! You’d be an ANGEL if you can help me! 🙂

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Perhaps Facebook ads? Is that what you’re asking?

      You may benefit from reading this – https://fund-rise.live/2019/01/how-one-blogger-grew-his-blog-to-over-2-million-visitors-in-a-year.html%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

  7. Tanya Mimi @ Slasher Career

    What and how do you outsource? What platforms do you use?

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      I have an editor, a virtual assistant, someone who manages the tech side of Making Sense of Cents, a Pinterest assistant, and I also outsource other things such as freebie optin designs.

  8. Maya

    Hi,
    Please explain how to get started with affiliate income on my blog and make profit out of it, currently only on amazon. Thank you

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Hey Maya!

      This would be a lot to teach in a comment. My top tip would be to find more affiliate programs, as there are plenty of programs that are better than Amazon.

      I go in detail about affiliate marketing for bloggers here – makingsenseofaffiliatemarketing.com

  9. Bo

    If you were starting from scratch today, would you still start a blog and why?

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Yes, because I enjoy what I do and it allows me to earn a living, have a flexible schedule, help readers, and more.

  10. Angela

    Good Day Michelle,

    Thank you for this opportunity.
    When you launched your website, how did you acquire the ads and are those a major source of your income? If you had $100 to spend on your website how would you spend it and why? Also what would be your first purchase and second purchase? How did you gain followers? What about insurance benefits for yourself, after leaving a 9 to 5? What do you say to someone who is really just scared of taking that leap into cyber world?

    Thank you again!

      1. Angela

        Thank you so much for sharing and having a giving heart to help. I appreciate your time and will take what you have answered and apply it.
        Thank you again and may God bless you and your family.

  11. Rhonda

    Hi Michelle
    I’m starting a blog and I’m trying to figure out how to create traffic and monetize. Also how often should I add content? Honestly the only person I “know” in this industry is you. So I don’t have the ability to just ask.
    Thanks for the opportunity.

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Hey Rhonda!

      Traffic is a question that I’ve gone over a lot, so I hope you don’t mind that this will be the same as what I’ve said to others (as it doesn’t really vary much anyways).

      There are so many ways to grow traffic such as:
      1) SEO
      2) Pinterest
      3) Facebook
      4) Guest posting
      5) Instagram
      6) Starting a Youtube channel or podcast and so much more!

      I recommend reading this for more info: https://fund-rise.live/2019/04/how-to-earn-money-blogging.html%3C/p%3E

      I recommend publishing content at least once a week.

  12. Sandi

    Hi Michelle,

    What are some of the legal aspects a person needs to be aware of in regards to a blog?

    Thanks!
    Sandi

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Hey Sandi! I’m not a lawyer, but I did have a lawyer write something on this topic for my audience.

      You can find it here – https://fund-rise.live/2019/07/3-super-common-legal-mistakes-bloggers-make-and-how-to-fix-them.html%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

      1. Sandi

        Thanks! This is by far the most helpful article I’ve seen!

  13. Ashlee

    Hey Michelle, thanks for always sharing the best information with us. We – too – live in a van and love to follow along on your travels 🙂 I’m asking about business today because COVID really wrecked one of our marketing businesses. We create marketing content for wellness and do good brands (www.shootscreative.com). Since this happened, all brands have told us their marketing budget is on hold and we have lost almost 100% of our contracts.

    Anything would help! Like should we move forward, continue to reach out or try something else?

    Thanks,
    Ashlee

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Hey Ashlee!

      I think you may be referring to sponsorships/partnerships. Perhaps reach out to companies that you think are thriving in this environment and seeing if they are looking for sponsorships? While some businesses are down, there are plenty that are doing quite well still. Or, perhaps this is a great time to shift how you earn money as an influencer? Perhaps create a product, get into affiliate marketing, display ads, etc.

      Or, if you are referring to marketing that does not involve sponsorships, I’m not sure if I’m the best person to ask as I’m not an advertiser/marketer.

  14. Linda Bennett-Wood

    Hi Michelle,
    thank you for ‘ask me anything’.
    How do I turn social media page likes into subscribers?

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Hey Linda!

      You can share your email list with them or create freebie optins to entice them to sign up.

  15. Joe

    Hi Michelle,

    I have two questions if you don’t mind. I have been reading your blog for about 3 years now and I have learned a good bit of information. First, do you think an introvert can find a good side hustle without having to be around a lot of people? I don’t think I would be a good blogger so I didn’t look into that. Second, do you have any tips on what the best way to get into real estate would be? Nothing big right away but starting sort of small to medium.

    Thank you for your time and your advice. I appreciate all the information you share, you are a blessing to many. Have a blessed day.

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Hey Joe!

      1) For sure! I think that most bloggers are pretty introverted, and most start as a side hustle. There are plenty of other side hustles where you work from home as well.

      2) I don’t invest in real estate, and I have only ever purchased one house in the past (that I no longer own). So, I’m not sure if I’m the best person to ask this question to.