Do you want to start a blog that makes money? This blog post is for you! It’s actually easier than you may think, but is not a “get rich quick” scheme! Blogging to make money takes time and a lot of learning. This blog post will discuss the basics of starting a blog and how to make money from it: a perfect guide for beginners and side hustlers!
This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. There are only products included that I truly love. I APPRECIATE your support!
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How Do Bloggers Make Money
Before I started this blog, I read thousands of blogs to help with planning various trips. I never realized how much money they were truly making. Then I found an income report and my mind was blown. I went down the rabbit hole of “How to Start a blog” and 4 years later…here we are!
I now make money each and every month from this very blog. Here are the main ways bloggers can make money!
- Affiliates
- Ads
- Digital Products
- Sponsored Posts
- Brand Partnerships
- Services
(all the details below!)
IMPORTANT! If you want to monetize your site someday (which I’m guessing you do if you landed on this blog post. Be sure your blog is SELF-HOSTED. In short, this means own your website while hosting it on a server of your choice.
For the past four years (the entire time I’ve had my blog). I’ve used Bluehost as my host. It’s SUPER affordable and they are always so helpful when a problem arises (even if it’s completely user-error…oops).
!!! Bluehost is currently running an amazing promotion where you can lock in your first year of hosting for just 1.99 per month!
6 Ways Bloggers Can Make Money
The average millionaire has 7 streams of income. Now I’m not a blogging millionaire (I have a long way to go… LOL), but it’s fun to have so many opportunities to make extra income each month. Let’s dive into the top ways bloggers make money.
1. Affiliates
Affiliate marketing allows bloggers to earn commissions by promoting OTHER PEOPLE’S products or services through special links. Yep, you do not even have to create your own products to make money!!
When readers click on these links and make a purchase, the blogger receives a percentage of the sale. These percentages can range from 4-40 percent depending on the product.
Many bloggers join affiliate networks such as Amazon Associates or ShareASale, where they can find products that fit their niche. It’s essential to disclose affiliate links to maintain transparency and trust with readers.
My favorite affiliate programs that I use on this travel blog include:
- Travel Payouts (which houses GetYourGuide, Viator, and TripAdvisor).
- Stay 22 (for hotel stays on Booking, Hotels.com, Expedia, and VRBO).
- DiscoverCars (for rental cars)
All three of the above platforms are extremely easy to use and have great conversion rates! You can check out some of my top affiliate posts here for some ideas/examples!
2. Ads
Display ads are a common (yet slightly controversial) revenue stream for bloggers, where ads are placed on their website, often through networks like SheMedia or Mediavine.
Bloggers earn money when visitors either view or click on the ads. Although ads might not generate as much per click as other methods, they can become a steady source of passive income, especially for blogs with high traffic.
For reference, my blog receives anywhere between 20K-50K visitors per month and makes between 400 and 1500 dollars a month in ads.
I would recommend waiting until you are able to get accepted into a premium ad network like SheMedia or Mediavine before putting ads on your site as the smaller ad networks can really slow down your site and distract visitors while paying you pennies.
Current (Recommended) Ad Network Requirements: (As of October 2024)
| SheMedia | 20K monthly pageviews |
| Mediavine JOURNEY | 10K monthly pageviews |
| Mediavine | 50K monthly pageviews |
| Ad Thrive | 100K monthly pageviews |
| Monumentric | 10K monthly pageviews |
3. Digital Products
Selling digital products is another effective way bloggers can make money. These can range from eBooks and online courses to printables, guides, or even stock photos.
Creating digital products allows bloggers to monetize their expertise and skills while keeping control of the product’s pricing and distribution. Once created, digital products can be sold repeatedly without additional production costs.
You can sell these products right on your website, to your email list, social media, or even on third-party platforms like Etsy!
My main digital products are my itineraries inside my Itinerary Library and my How to Start a Blog Video Course!
4. Sponsored Posts
Sponsored posts are when companies pay bloggers to write about or feature their products or services on their blogs. In this arrangement, the brand pays a fee for exposure to the blogger’s audience.
Bloggers often work with companies in their niche to create authentic content that benefits both their readers and the brand. Clear disclosure is required to ensure that readers know the post is sponsored.
Although sometimes these opportunities will come directly to your inbox, you would have better luck creating a Media Kit and reaching out to brands yourself!
5. Brand Partnerships
For those of you who love social media, brand partnerships can be a lucrative income opportunity. You can offer packages that include social media AND a blog post. Having a blog can help you stand out from the other social media influencers. Blogs are evergreen and can live online MUCH longer than an Instagram post can.
Longer-term brand partnerships take sponsored posts to the next level, often involving ongoing collaborations between bloggers and brands. These partnerships may include multiple blog posts, social media shout-outs, or even co-hosting events.
Bloggers with a loyal and engaged following are more likely to attract brand partnerships, and this type of collaboration can provide consistent revenue over time.
6. Services
Many bloggers offer services based on their expertise to generate income. These services can include coaching, consulting, freelance writing, web design, or social media management.
Since bloggers often develop authority within their niche, they can leverage their skills to provide valuable services to clients, which can be a great way to diversify income streams.
Since I currently have (and love) my full-time teaching job, this is not a big income stream of mine. However, I have had amazing freelance opportunities and hosting blogging VIP/coaching days that all came from the skills I learned from my own blog.
How Do Bloggers Make Money
There ya have it. 6 different ways you can make money from a silly little blog. If you are ready to take blogging seriously and start monetizing, you can check out my FREE SEO Guide for beginners, or enroll in my video course for just $97. The course will walk you through purchasing hosting to monetizing your new blogging side hustle!
As always, I’m happy to answer ANY AND ALL questions over on Instagram!
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