How Do Bloggers Really Make Money? (2024 Edition)
So, you’ve started a blog, or maybe you’re thinking about it 🤔, and now you’re wondering: Can I actually make money doing this?
When I first started blogging, I had the same question. The answer? Yes, you can absolutely make money blogging, and there are many different ways to do it.
I’m going to walk you through the exact ways successful bloggers like myself (and many others) earn income from their blogs. From affiliate marketing to selling digital products, there are plenty of options to explore, and I’ll break them down so you can decide what works best for you.
Ready? Let’s dive in!
Affiliate Marketing
When it comes to making money with your blog, affiliate marketing is one of the most popular ways to start. It’s currently my second-highest income stream right now, and while it’s not my main focus just yet, it’s quickly becoming my favorite!
So, what is affiliate marketing? Essentially, it’s when you promote a product or service and receive a commission for any sales made through your unique link. Many companies have affiliate programs that you can sign up for and start promoting their products on your blog. You can also join affiliate networks like ShareASale, Impact, or Amazon Affiliates to have access to even more opportunities.
You can get started by signing up for affiliate networks that are related to your blog niche and promote their products or services. You include affiliate links in your blog posts, and when someone clicks on those links and makes a purchase, you earn a small commission. The great thing about this is that it’s a form of passive income. Once you add those links to your posts, they can keep earning you money as long as people keep visiting and clicking.
Affiliate marketing works best when you genuinely use and love the products you’re promoting. This way, your recommendations feel authentic and trustworthy to your target audience. Plus, if your readers trust you and your opinion, they are more likely to make a purchase through your link.
Note – It’s important and required to disclose affiliate links clearly. This keeps things honest and legal.
While affiliate marketing can take a little time to get rolling, it’s one of the easiest ways to start monetizing your blog. Plus, it’s a great option for beginners because it doesn’t require creating your own products or services.
Display Ads
Another great way to earn money from your blog is through display ads. For many bloggers, including myself, this can be a significant source of income. In fact, it’s currently my biggest revenue stream. The potential earnings here are huge, but they depend heavily on how much traffic your site gets.
Let’s start with the basics. Google AdSense is often the first stop for new bloggers because it has no traffic requirements. However, I don’t personally recommend it. The ads can feel spammy and lead to a poor user experience. I usually click off websites that use Google AdSense because the ads are everywhere, and it’s just not the best look.
If you’re serious about earning with display ads, I highly suggest aiming for the premium ad networks. For example:
If you’re not quite at the level to join a premium ad network yet, there are mid-level ad networks to consider. Keep in mind, though, that the RPMs (how much you can earn per 1,000 impressions) on these networks are typically much lower compared to the premium ones like Mediavine or Raptive. So while they can be a good starting point, they might not provide the same earnings potential as your traffic grows.
Here’s a quick breakdown of ad networks and their traffic requirements:
| Ad Network | Traffic Requirement | Recommended? |
|---|---|---|
| Mediavine | 50,000 sessions | ✅ Yes |
| Raptive | 100,000 page views | ✅ Yes |
| Journey (Mediavine) | ~10,000 sessions | ✅ Promising |
| Raptive Rise | ~50,000 page views | ✅ Promising |
| Ezoic | None | ⚠️ Not recommended long-term |
| Monumetric | 10,000 sessions | ⚠️ Mixed reviews |
| SHE Media | ~20,000 page views | ⚠️ Mixed reviews |
| Google AdSense | None | 🚫 Not recommended |
The key to making the most out of display ads is driving a lot of high-quality traffic to your site. The more visitors you have, the more you can earn from ads. That’s why creating valuable content that attracts readers is essential if you want to increase your ad revenue.
Want to grow your blog traffic? Check out: Is RankIQ Worth It? My Honest Review of This Popular SEO Tool
Sponsored Posts and Brand Collabs
Sponsored posts and brand collaborations are another way bloggers can bring in the bucks. This is when a company pays you to promote their products or services on your blog or social media platforms. It can be a one-time deal or an ongoing partnership, depending on the arrangement.
With a sponsored post, you typically write a blog post or create blog content featuring the product, and explain how it fits into your life or benefits your audience. In exchange, you receive payment or sometimes free products.
(I know free products can be exciting, but it’s always better to only partner with companies that align with your blog’s focus, so the promotions feel authentic and relevant to your readers. Only work with brands you genuinely like and trust.)
Brand collaborations often involve working with small businesses or business owners who are looking to reach your target audience. These partnerships can range from featuring their physical products in your content to promoting their services through reviews, social media posts, or even YouTube videos. The key to landing these deals is having an engaged audience and maintaining a strong presence online.
Building a strong social media presence can help secure these deals. Companies often search for bloggers who already have an established audience in the right niche. It’s important to create high-quality content that resonates with your followers, whether on your blog or platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. As your traffic and social media following grow, you’ll be in a better position to approach brands or have them reach out to you for collaboration opportunities.
Creating and Selling Digital Products
Another way to monetize your blog is by creating and selling digital products. I really like this one because of the passive income potential. Digital products can include e-books, online courses, printables, templates, or other downloadable resources that cater to your audience’s needs.
The great thing about digital products is that, once they’re created, they can be sold over and over again with little additional effort. This allows you to generate extra income without continuously trading your time for money.
For example, I have a printables shop on my blog. Whenever I write a blog post where a printable could help my readers, I either create a free product to add to my free resource library, or I develop a more detailed version to sell in my online store. Yes, creating these products can take some time upfront, but once they’re done, they become a source of passive income that can sell over and over again.
Right now, I’m even kicking around the idea of launching an online course, though nothing is set in stone just yet. Courses are a fantastic way to share your knowledge and help your audience dive deeper into a topic, while adding to your blog’s income streams.
When deciding on the type of product to create, consider your niche and what your audience would be interested in purchasing. For example, if you run a food blog, you could sell an e-cookbook featuring your best recipes. If you are a fashion blogger, you could offer styling guides or printable planners for organizing wardrobe items.
In addition to being mostly passive, another main advantage of selling digital products is the complete control you have over pricing and distribution. You get to decide what to sell, how much money to charge, and how to market it to your audience. This flexibility allows you to tailor your products to the specific needs of your readers and your blog niche.
Offering Consulting Services or Freelance Work
If you’ve been blogging for a while and have gained experience, you can leverage your skills by offering consulting services, taking on freelance work, or even working as a virtual assistant. This is a fantastic way to earn extra income while helping others. In the past I’ve helped new bloggers set up their sites or given tips on writing better posts. You might be surprised at just how many bloggers, especially beginners, would love to have a little bit of help taking their blogs to the next level.
The first example that comes to mind is offering services like finishing up blog posts for others—adding photos, handling internal linking, writing alt text, or even doing some light proofreading. Many bloggers get overwhelmed with all the tasks that go into creating high-quality content, so offering your expertise can be a big help. You could even offer virtual assistant services to bloggers or small business owners who need support with administrative tasks, content scheduling, or social media management.
In addition to helping other bloggers, you can also branch out by becoming a freelance writer. You can write blog posts for other businesses, contribute to digital marketing projects, or create content for social media accounts. There’s always a demand for fresh content, and as a blogger, you already have the skills to meet that need.
Getting started with consulting or freelance work doesn’t have to be complicated either. You can promote your services through your own blog or social media accounts, or you can join platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to connect with clients. Depending on your audience, if you have an email list it might also be a good idea to send out an email letting your readers know about the services you offer too.
Offering consulting services, freelance writing, or virtual assistant work is not only a great way to earn extra income, it can also help you gain more credibility and grow your reputation in the blogging world. Plus, if you enjoy helping others, it’s a rewarding way to use your knowledge and skills.
Selling Physical Products Through an Online Store
If you’re looking to expand beyond digital products and diversify your income streams, creating an online store for physical products is another great option. This could include anything from handmade goods and clothing to branded merchandise or unique items that fit your blog niche.
Setting up an online store might seem like a lot of work at first, but it’s more manageable than you might think. Platforms like WordPress with e-commerce plugins (like WooCommerce) or dedicated platforms like Shopify make it relatively easy to get started. These platforms allow you to create a fully functional store where you can list your products, manage orders, and even handle payments.
The first step is deciding what kind of products you want to sell. Ideally, these should be items that complement your blog’s focus. For example, if you run a travel blog, you could sell travel accessories, custom maps, or even travel-themed clothing. If you’re in a profitable niche like home décor, you might sell custom prints or unique home goods. In the lifestyle niche? Think blog-branded merch like t-shirts and printed bags. The possibilities are endless, so get creative!
An online store not only diversifies your income streams, it also enhances your brand presence. As customers purchase products, they become ambassadors for your brand, spreading awareness and driving traffic back to your blog.
Overall, having an online store for physical products can be a fulfilling and lucrative venture that really complements your blog. It can be hard work but it’s it’s a great way to turn your blog into a full-fledged business/brand and even earn a full-time income over time.
Using an Email List for Sales and Promotions
An email list is a powerful tool for bloggers to make money. When you build a list of engaged subscribers, you create a direct line to people who are interested in your content—and, most importantly, in the products and services you recommend. This is why many bloggers use their email lists to drive their affiliate income and product sales, two key sources of blogging revenue.
Bloggers use their email lists in several key ways to generate income:
- Promoting affiliate products: Your email list is a one of the best ways to share products or services you’re an affiliate for. Since your subscribers already trust you, they’re more likely to make purchases through the affiliate links you place in your emails.
- Selling digital and physical products: Your email list gives you a direct channel to promote your products. You can send exclusive discounts, share new product launches, or encourage repeat purchases.
- Offering exclusive content: Some bloggers offer paid or premium content only to their email subscribers to create an additional revenue stream. This might include special guides, early access to products, or members-only content.
Creating a YouTube Channel
A YouTube channel complements a blog by providing an additional platform to showcase expertise and engage with followers. It’s also a great way to generate more income! I started a channel for my blog, and while I don’t have a ton of content on it yet, I’ve already seen how valuable it can be. YouTube gives you the chance to connect with your audience in a more personal way, and it opens up a world of new opportunities for earning money. Plus, creating video content can be fun. 😁
With YouTube, there are several ways bloggers can make money:
Offering Exclusive Content Through a Membership Site
Another way bloggers create recurring revenue is by offering exclusive content through a membership site. This approach can be especially effective when offering low-cost memberships. Since they’re more affordable, readers are more likely to stick around and continue their subscriptions, giving you a steady stream of recurring income that grows over time.
A low-cost membership can be a great option because it doesn’t require you to go overboard with content. Subscribers aren’t expecting the moon and stars for a modest fee—they’re just looking for extra value and insights that aren’t available on your main blog. That said, providing meaningful content is still important to keep your members engaged and happy.
Here are a few ideas for what to include in a membership:
A low-cost membership is an excellent way to provide continuous value without adding too much to your workload and keeping things manageable for you as the creator. It builds a loyal community around your content, and you have a recurring income source without needing to develop high-ticket products or courses. It’s a win-win: readers feel supported, and you gain a consistent revenue stream that can grow steadily over time.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, blogging offers so many ways to start earning money. One of the most important things to remember, though, is the value of diversifying your income streams. Relying on just one source can be risky, especially since things like search engine algorithms or ad network changes are often out of our control. Aim to build multiple streams of blogging income (ex. affiliate marketing + ads + digital products) so that you’ll have a more stable foundation for long-term success.
It’s important to note that building a profitable blog isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s going to take some time and effort, but if you stick with it, blogging can grow into an incredibly rewarding and reliable source of income. The key is to create great content that speaks to your readers and builds trust.
If you’re ready to take the next step and want to learn more about starting your own blog, be sure to subscribe to my blog for insights, tips, and step-by-step guides. I share practical advice to help you get set up with the basics, like choosing a domain name and finding the right web host, so you’ll be in the best position to succeed from the start. Check out some of the posts below to get started!
Until next time,
xoxo
