I’ve decided that in order to start a business it takes five things:

• A great deal of support
• A bit of indignation
• A healthy serving of delusion
• A whole lot of naivety
• An unreasonable amount of confidence for a 23 year old

Thankfully, I have all five of those things!

“How does it work?”

I wanted to take some time to explain what I will be doing in the coming months. I am used to all of the lingo and methods, but I realized that many of you aren’t. What I’m trying to accomplish is still a relatively new concept, but it is the future of how we will purchase items. I’m about to use the dreaded “I” word, but I do think influencers get a bad wrap. Personally, I think influencing is only annoying when you don’t create unique content and are not sincere. That’s where creativity and honesty comes in.

There are many ways to make money on the internet, but my primary focus will be ads, affiliate links, and monetization. Phase one is ads. Yes, they are super annoying, and ugly to look at on a blog, but each time you click on one of the ads on my blog, I will receive payment. You don’t have to buy anything! Just clicking on it gives me a payment. Hopefully, this is a short lived thing, and when I am able to generate more income I can get rid of them altogether.

The next phase is affiliate links. That is my primary goal right now. That means that I will get a flat rate commission on anything purchased through my blogs. The best affiliate program to be apart of is Like To Know, but it is incredibly competitive, and takes multiple rejections before you are accepted. I am currently apart of the Amazon Affiliate program. I make curated lists of unique items I find, but I can also send you a link for anything you might need from Amazon. All you need to do is make sure my affiliate link is the last one added to your shopping cart before purchase. After that I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I know that not everyone has the time to ask me to link something, but if you ever think about it, it would be an enormous help to me!

The final step will eventually be monetization. That will take a long time to gain a following that generates a lot of engagement. Usually brands look for accounts with a minimum of 10,000 followers on platforms like Instagram. I still have a ways to go, but I think a goal of 10,000 followers by the end of 2023 is absolutely within reach.

The Game Plan

For the first three to six months, my content for Manor on Main is going to be heavily focused on affiliates. I’m the one making all of the graphics, linking all of the items, and creating all of the reels. It’s a lot of work, but I know over time it will get better. If I can remain consistent in that, I would love to eventually expand to other areas on Tuesday and Thursdays. I think good design should be accessible to all people, and I would love to start writing about how to achieve it in your own home. Which leads me to the next part of the game plan…

In the mean time, in order to make some extra money while MOM grows, I am opening a small shop on Instagram called Shoppe Refuge (@shopperefuge) where I will sell various antiques that I have found over time. Not only are secondhand finds a great way to find unique pieces that you’ll love for the rest of your life, but in many cases, the quality craftsmanship that you find with vintage/antique items you cannot purchase in stores anymore. I hope that through Shoppe Refuge that I am able to help you save time in finding pieces that you will love for years to come.

Thank you all for your support! I am incredibly excited for what is to come in the new year! As always, don’t forget to mind your Manor.