Financial disclosures - how do I get paid?
I started out this site is to provide folks with content that they can use to learn things they might otherwise be afraid to tackle, folks who were, like me, not raised to be particularly handy with tools and home improvement projects, but who wanted to learn, in a way that is both educational and entertaining. All that said, running a website can be an expensive hobby, so I want to be open with y’all about what ways I’m funding it. Here’s a few of the things that I do.
Affiliate Links
Okay, before you run for the exits screaming, know that I hate selling things. I spent five years in retail, and I loathe upsells. I was always more interested in the people then trying to sell them another item on top of what they’d actually came in for.
In my posts, I’ll usually have affiliate links to tools or materials which may direct you to homedepot.com or amazon.com. What this means is, the company that I’m directing you to will know that I referred you to them with these links, and if you buy anything from their website within 24 hours of clicking the link, I’ll get a commission. It won’t cost you any extra, and it helps us keep the lights on–as much as I loathe business jargon, it’s really a win-win.
Know that I’m not going to refer you to products that I wouldn’t otherwise use myself–if I link it, it’s because I use it.
Ad Networks
First, let me start by saying I hate clickbait as much as you do. Those stupid articles that are a list of 20 random things you didn’t know about the 1983 USA Hockey team that are really just a front to get you to click through garbage to get their click count up and drive advertising dollars their way. I never want to be “that” guy. But renting out advertising space on the site is another way that we can keep things going without it costing you any extra.
Merchandise
Occasionally, you’ll see me promoting Hesitant Handyman merchandise (i.e. the Hiti’s First Law t-shirts). The money from such merchandise opportunities will be turned around and put back into the site.
Free Product
Occasionally, a brand will provide me with free products. It could be something I raided from their booth at a conference, it could be something they shipped to me to try out. It’s awesome because anything I don’t have to pay for is more dollars I can put into content. I don’t have any agreements where I use their products exclusively, and for me to use it I have to like their products. If I don’t like something they send me, I’m going to provide them feedback and provide you my honest opinion on it.
Sponsored Posts
Occasionally, a brand is willing to pay for materials labor, and such in exchange for having their brand associated with a project I’m working on. They’ll sometimes want to feature a certain project in the post, but rest assured my views and opinions remain my own. (Do you remember the episode of Home Improvement where Binford put out an inferior saw? That’s always in the back of my mind.)
Brand Ambassador
Finally, a brand may want to pay a monthly fee to me in exchange for continued use of their products. This isn’t something I take lightly, and I assure you I’m not going to throw myself out to just any brand (Spoiler alert: I’ve actually turned down a request to be a brand ambassador before). I don’t take that kind of decision lightly, and such a relationship means that I really like the brand, their people, and feel like they have something to offer to you, the reader.
