[Video] How To Pay A Blogger (Without Spending A Penny!)

If you have a favorite blogger, but don’t want to buy their stuff, here is how to pay them without spending a penny…

If you’re reading this via e-mail please click here to watch the video.

The dynamic on this blog has changed. Now that I have a product for sale it might seem to you that I only want you here to spend money.

That’s not the case at all.

I want you to know that I want you here and I appreciate you being here even if you never spend a penny with me. This site wasn’t created for me to make money.

I explain more in the video (with a summary down below):

Video summary:

– I want you here even if you never spend a penny with me.

– The best way to pay a blogger is by letting them know you appreciate them: leave a comment.

– Even if you don’t have anything profound to say, leave a comment.

– A comment as simple as “Thank you” is payment enough. We thrive on comments like that.

– If you want to go above and beyond: subscribe to RSS feeds, newsletters, and tell your friends about your favorite blogs. In short, spread the word.

Your Mission:

Today and for the rest of your blog reading life, if you read an article that you really like, whether it’s on this blog or another, leave a comment.

If you’re extra bold leave this comment:

“I don’t have anything to add to this conversation, but Karol Gajda told me if I like a blog post just to say Thank You. So thank you!”

120 thoughts on “[Video] How To Pay A Blogger (Without Spending A Penny!)”

  2. Thanks Karol for all the awesome (free too) content that you provide. You have definitely taught me a lot on my blogging journey.

    Dave
    LifeExcursion& The Minimalist Path

  3. “I don’t have anything to add to this conversation, but Karol Gajda told me if I like a blog post just to say Thank You. So thank you!”

    Really though, thank you. I’ve been reading for a long time, never made a comment. I will now. I love the FF course so far, I’m working my way through How to Live Anywhere, and I just generally look forward to reading your entries. So…thank you Karol!

    1. Hi William,

      Thank you for making your first comment. I’m glad you’re into FF, HTLA, and this blog! :)

      Karol

  4. “I don’t have anything to add to this conversation, but Karol Gajda told me if I like a blog post just to say Thank You. So thank you!”

    Oh wait! That doesn’t work on your blog… Just thought I let you know that I thanked another blogger today. Usually I don’t thank people but I try to be a better visitor.

  5. Thank you Karol for all the info&help that you are providing us (me in particular) in order to make me think, get out of the couch and find my way to have my freedom! I really appreciate it! I was hoping to have mu life changed this year, and your blog was a real find for me! :) So again, thank you!

  6. Hi Karol,

    My first post here, and I’m very excited about the Ebook on how to live anywhere. I’ve been studying/experimenting with moving my family towards a more mobile lifestyle and this came up at the PERFECT time.

    A little professional feedback as a business coach–I was interested in the member area (yes, I know I’m not supposed to talk about it, but I’m a lousy rule follower), but I don’t really get what it is or why I would pay for it–if I’m going to shell out a chunk of change I need to know what value I’m getting, and “members area” is so common, and usually free, so I need a place to put this in my brain if it’s something new and revolutionary.

    Thanks for your great work!

    1. Hi Tina,

      Thanks for commenting and checking out the eBook!

      The member’s area: you get to watch “over my shoulder” as I work on a niche project doing something I call product leasing. Maybe I went a little too far with the anti-sales approach?

      In any case, if you have other questions you can always e-mail me: KarolGajda AT gmail dot com

      Thanks again for commenting!
      Karol

  8. Thanks Karol,

    I like your bold approach and your mission. I think we each have our own extraordinary potentials but it’s easy to get caught up in following the herd. by marking a different path, you are giving a bit of a nudge to try some different paths.

    On my own blog and adventures, I’ve also been trying to find a balance that lets me give much stuff away yet still make something to make the adventurous journeys possible. I have a few Amazon links on my blog and I’m straight up with my readers. If they read that I’m using this water purifier or that tent, I’m not using it just because it’s sold on Amazon, I use it because it is something that serves a real function on the trip. But if a reader does by something via an Amazon link, a small bit of the purchase goes to me.

    Also, as I’m sure you’ve found, telling you stories for free can lead to a lot of great connections with folks. I have certainly lost count of the number of cups of coffee people have bought me over the years and the number of friends I’ve made.

    Thanks again for your blog. Perhaps our trails will cross someday.

    Kent “Mountain Turtle” Peterson
    Issaquah WA USA

    1. You’re dead on Kent. We each have our own extraordinary paths and potential.

      And again, dead on, sharing these stories has led to meeting a bunch of cool people, online and offline.

      Thanks for sharing!

      Karol

  9. Here from Brazil, to thak you, Karol, for the wonderful posts i’ve been reading in the last two months – when i discovered the blog and decide to read everything that was already posted, for, then, decide to keep reading everything you post.
    Keep the good posts coming, man. Thank you! :D

    1. hehe, thanks Glenn…but no tripod here.

      Y’all are just gonna have to deal with the shakes. :) I guess I could put the camera on my small Flip tripod (it’s too small to do the trick in the vid), but still is boring. ;)

      Karol

  11. I think this is a good thing for people to do, far too often people get into watching and analyzing, but no communication or feedback (myself included!). So thanks for this post/blog Karol!

    1. Yeah, I agree. When I read a blog post and don’t have anything to add sometimes I will just say something short. That’s what gave me the idea for this video. :)

      Thanks for commenting Chris!

      Karol

  14. What a nice video. Just brings a smile to my face to hear that leaving a simple comment can have such a positive effect on the author of a blog…did not occur to me … so yes… I really want to say Thanks!

    1. Hi Carole,

      You bring up a great point, and it’s one of the reasons I created the video. We sometimes don’t realize simple things can make a big difference.

      Thank you for commenting!

      Karol

  15. Karol, you are easily the most helpful and open blogger I’ve read. Even though you are selling some products now, you continue to provide lots of awesome free content and it’s fantastic that you never fail to respond to emails with helpful advice. Thanks.

  16. Hey Karol, discovered your blog a few months ago, and in all my many RSS feeds, yours is one that I kept coming back to and not skipping. I’ve also subscribed to your Freedom Fighters newsletter, which I look forward to reading. A couple of times I’ve hesitated in commenting to you, because I didn’t feel I had anything of value/relevance to say, but I just want to compliment you on your writing style, it feels like you’re really in the room speaking directly to me. I also like the fact that you don’t force any of your products down our throats! It feels good not to feel like all the author cares about is your cash! Keep up the good work!

    Re:

    1. Hi Tom,

      That may be the best compliment I have ever received on my writing. Thank you! Interestingly enough, when I’m writing, I try to direct it towards one person. It makes it easier to write and keeps the writing clearer in my head. I’m glad it’s coming across like I had hoped!

      Thank you for commenting!
      Karol

  17. Hi Karol,

    Thanks for all the “sweet shit” (c Karol Gajda via YouTube video) you’ve been putting out. I’ve been learning a lot and really appreciate all your help.

  18. I don’t spend a huge amount of time on the internet and your blog is one of the few I read the most. Thanks for putting your thoughts down – very interesting.

    1. Thank you Mike, for hanging out, asking questions, and joining the conversations…as well as a whole bunch of other things! :)

  21. Hi Karol,

    You remind me of my son.
    He has traveled all over.India,Thailand,Africa,Costa Rica and a lot more places.
    He also wrote a book about traveling overseas.
    He is a copywriter. He is in the Caribbean now.
    I enjoy your stuff very much.A pleasant read for sure.
    Keep up the good work.

    1. Hi Annie,

      That’s so cool! Thank you for commenting. If your son has a travel blog you should link it here or send me an e-mail. :)

      Thanks!
      Karol

  22. Thank you, your mission is accepted. Please accept this comment as payment in full for the invoice attached to reading this post.

    Great advice (Karol can do that to you can’t he!)

  24. Hey Karol,

    another great video/post. It wasn’t until I started blogging that I had realised how important it was just to say “Thanks” then after a few comments it hits you that you are so pleased just to hear that someone connected with you.

    Obviously if it’s a blog set up for financial return then those people are going to be happier when you make them money but that’s not what you are about. I’m sure your style and open approach will continue to attract more great readers.

    You know I’m working on your Freedom Fighters ideas and reading the How To Live Anywhere book, would have loved to be in on the Member’s Area but it would be a stretch just now so I’m following your instructions and not joining up yet and working on some of your other ideas. Hopefully I’ll be in next time.

    1. Hi Chris,

      It’s funny how we sometimes forget that a simple “thanks” can be powerful, huh?

      Thank you for not stretching to buy into the member’s area. And thank you for your nice comments. :)

      Karol

  25. Thanks for sharing your insights. I really liked your video, I smiled the whole time. I took your advice and commented on another blog.
    I don’t have much else to contribute at this moment since I am a little behind on my FF homework ;-)

    1. Thanks for commenting on another blog Lisa! And thanks for commenting on this one too.

      Don’t worry, there are a few catch up days coming up in FF. I know I covered a TON in the first few days. My bad. ;)

      Karol

  26. That’s a good point, It’s always good to know somebody (or a lot of somebody’s) appreciate what you do.
    Recently I sent short thank you email to some of my close family and friend, quite amazing, the kind of responses you get to things like that. After that, I’m trying to say thank you more often, for whatever reason I did not transfer that intention to blogs. Until now that is ;)

    1. Thanks for commenting Roderick. “…for whatever reason I did not transfer that intention to blogs.” I don’t think any of us do. Many of us still treat our online and offline lives separately, when they’re really more the same than ever.

      Wonderful idea sending thank you e-mails to your family and friends.

      Thanks again!
      Karol

  28. THANKS KAROL…. after typing in your website name today I came up with this phrase : SUPERAWESOME!
    you have been superawesome and inspirational to me!
    Few things I would like to point out.
    Some of your writings are not monotonous or lengthy but precise and point based, which I can read and brainstorm and fill in loads of pointers of my own… I loved it.
    Just seeing someone I would like to be pretty soon, gave me a strong role model to follow and overcome lots of internal conflicts.
    Hope you keep strong and pull us ridiculously high and make us
    UltRA extraordinary ;)

    1. Thanks for your compliments Faisal!

      I’m glad you enjoy my writing and what you stated is exactly why I stopped writing really long posts (usually that is).

      Unfortunately, I can’t pull you up anywhere. That’s your job. :) That’s what this whole site is about. Getting you to hopefully see things a little differently and take action.

      Karol

  30. Hi Karol,

    I’m one of those people that have been reading you for quite some time (since the Power of Less guy’s guest post you did). I read and enjoy this more than most of the blogs I’ve started frequenting. Keep up the good work!

    Jason

  31. Karol,

    I could not agree more with you, that pay off for bloggers is beyond money.
    I know the feeling when seeing new comment alert in my inbox. That kind of a stomach tickling;-)

    So, thank you for being authentic and living your life with heart.
    cheers from Slovakia
    i.

    1. Hi Ivana,

      Exactly. I mean, obviously a full time blogger wants to make money, but hopefully they also want to connect with their audience. And nothing says connection like that audience commenting or spreading the word.

      Thank you!
      Karol

  32. thank you karol, for your blog and all the posts. i will not be the one couchsurfing. rather, my couch will be the one surfed upon. :)

    1. Thanks for being a couchsurfing host Mara! That is so great to know. And eventually it’ll probably make you want to surf yourself. :)

      Karol

  33. You’re right, we don’t leave comments when we have nothing to add. Some might use the “like” feature in Google reader. But after watching this beautifully genuine video, I had to come in and say: Thank you. beautiful message.

    1. Thanks Mohamed! Spreading the word with “likes” and stumbles and tweets is always appreciated too, of course. I’m realizing now the message I’m trying to convey is: if you like a blogger, showing appreciation for their work somehow is no less important than buying their stuff if it interests you.

      Thanks for commenting!
      Karol

  35. Pingback: Gratitude #001 (Or Sweet Things From Kick Ass People)

  38. Thanks Karol! I rarely make comments on blogs because I oftentimes don’t feel I can contribute meaningfully to the topic at hand. It seems like I hear about people having problems with comment spam, and that it is difficult to deal with.

    When their are lots of comments, I feel like mine would just get lost in the shuffle, so to speak, and not be very meaningful by comparison. Thanks for encouraging me to make a comment! Thanks too, for your blog and style of articles you do. I makes me think more.

    Willow

    1. Hi Willow,

      Thank you for making a contribution here. :)

      Your comment may sometimes get lost in the shuffle. I know mine do when I comment on a lot of blogs. But that’s OK. Even if nobody reads it I still feel good about leaving the comment.

      Thank you again!
      Karol

  39. Hi Karol,

    I only recently started expanding the list of blogs I read. I also don’t remember how I came across yours but after reading a couple random articles I decided to favourite it and have been slowly working my way through the archives. You have a great outlook and some really cool ideas/advice (including this post).

    So, Thank You!

    Danny

  42. Great post,
    I love getting comments on my articles, but I’m always hesitant to leave comments on other blogs if they’re not adding value / extra information / new perspective. I like your idea about saying “thank you”, so thanks!

  43. Pingback: How to Go from High School Student to Master of the Universe | Thrilling Heroics

  44. Totally ‘digging’ this post, as well as the rest of the blog and your honest, sort of blunt writing style! Thank you for the awesomeness ;).

  45. I -completely- agree with you. It gives me the warm-fuzzies to know someone is reading, interested, and cares.
    Cheers!
    -miss rose
    rosebark.blogspot.com

  46. Thanks, Karol, I really enjoy your blog as I work my way towards minimalism. You really got me on April Fools Day. I was sad I wouldn’t be reading your thoughts anymore. Smart ass.

  47. Damn!!
    When I read that email I was so disappointed in you.
    I couldn’t believe it and wrote to my son in Costa Rica.
    He thought that maybe Thailand was a little hard to adjust to for you.
    Now I have to tell him it was a joke.
    I hope you are enjoying yourself.

    1. Hi Annie,

      Thanks, I think. :)

      I just arrived in Chiang Mai and I love it! It’s much more my style of city than Bangkok although I liked Bangkok a lot as well.

      Cheers!
      Karol

  48. Just revisiting to say thank you.
    I first read this post back in early March, and thought you might like to know that reading it has had a big impact on my internet reading etiquette.
    I just started checking out some blogs and really exploring what goes on in the internet world a few months ago–so it’s ALL quite new to me. And I kinda thought I really had nothing to add to the conversation; that I should just watch and learn.
    I now consider that leaving no comment at all is a bit like passing a friend or acquaintance on the street and not so much as nodding.
    There may be places where that’s the norm, but they’re not the places I want to live in.
    So — a big wave and an ear to ear smile to you–I’m glad to have met you.
    Be seeing you on your next post.

  49. I don’t have anything to add to this conversation, but Karol Gajda told me if I like a blog post just to say Thank You. So thank you!

    I came here for your minimalist packing tips. Haven’t traveled yet since, but I am practicing at home to reduce my baggage.

    Your 84th problem story is my fave so far.

    Again, thank you for sharing your wisdom.

  52. I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your frequent use of the word ‘shit’ — it’s a perfectly good word and I fucking hate censorship…

    Oh — I really like your other web site content too.

    :o)

    1. haha, I actually don’t think I use it too often…just once every Saturday. ;)

      And I’m glad you’re into the other content as well! Thanks Glenn!

  53. Just discovered your blog recently. I’m only 17 years old and I’m so excited to learn anything about ridiculouslyextraordinary. You’re an inspiration. thank you.

    1. Hi Nisch,

      That’s so awesome. You’re at a perfect age to start rocking it. :)

      Thanks for finding me.

      Karol

  54. Hi Karol
    Reading your blog makes me realise just how careful you have to be not to affend others living in a different culture.
    The word shit for instance jars with me rather than offends, but I can see it would put off others.
    The other day I was watching television here in the UK where an American was being interviewed. He used the ‘F’ word and was immediately told that word is regarded as a blasphemy here and not to use it. This clearly shocked him.
    If you are writing for an international audience it is best to be very sensitive to the views of others reading it in other countries. This isn’t censorship it’s self control and being sensitive to your audience.

    1. Hey Terry,

      Thanks for your thoughts. My Right People will get my message. Everybody else doesn’t matter. Meaning, I’m not trying to reach the most people but my Right People.

      Shit and fuck will show up on this blog and in videos/audios.

      Cheers,
      Karol

  55. Karol, you are in inspiration! Thank you for not being afraid to be you.

    In support of minimalism in a material rabid society, I find comfort in this Chinese proverb.

    “From all your herds, a cup or two of milk,
    From all your granaries, a loaf of bread,
    In all your palace, only half a bed:
    Can a man use more? And do you own the rest?”

    Many thanks,

    Kyle

  56. Just started getting your emails. Great stuff. Thank you.
    I’ll have questions soon.

  58. I don’t have anything to add to this conversation, but Karol Gajda told me if I like a blog post just to say Thank You. So thank you!

  59. I’m my self a blogger but never thought about it that way. So here it is: Thank you! Not just for this post but for most of your posts.
    It’s inspiring and may help me and others.

    Keep it up!

  60. Hi Karol!

    In between college school work!!! I have been catching up on all of your blog posts since the beginning of Ridiculously Extraordinary. Obviously, I am now into March 2010 and just read/saw the article/video about leaving a comment to favorite bloggers. It is interesting to read this from the beginning and see the subtle changes (all good) in how RE has evolved. Thanks for all you do to help the rest of us. I appreciate it immensely. Happy Halloween!

    Gayle Thompson
    Los Angeles, CA

Comments are closed.