Think of these as revenue streams. The most resilient blogs have several of these flowing, not just one.
1. Display Advertising (The “Beginner” Stream)
- How it works: You allow ad networks (like Google AdSense, Mediavine, or AdThrive) to place banners, videos, or text ads on your blog. You earn money when visitors view or click on them.
- Who it’s for: Almost any blog with traffic. It’s passive but requires significant volume to pay well.
- What’s required: Consistent traffic. Most premium networks require 50,000+ monthly pageviews to join.
- Real Numbers Explained: This is where reality checks in. Earnings are measured in RPM (Revenue Per Mille), meaning revenue per 1,000 pageviews.
- A new blog with AdSense might see an RPM of $5-$15.
- A well-established blog in a lucrative niche (like finance or insurance) with a premium network can see RPMs of $25-$60+.
- The Math: If your blog gets 30,000 pageviews a month at an RPM of $20, you’d earn $600/month. It takes time and a lot of content to reach that traffic level.
2. Affiliate Marketing (The “Recommendation” Engine)
- How it works: You recommend products or services you genuinely use and trust. You include special tracking links. If someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.
- Who it’s for: Bloggers in any niche where products are sold (e.g., tech, cooking, gardening, fitness, blogging tools).
- What’s required: Trust. Your audience must believe your recommendations are honest.
- Real Numbers Explained: Commissions vary wildly.
- Amazon Associates: Typically 1-4% commission. You need to drive a lot of sales for meaningful income.
- Digital Products/SaaS (like hosting, software): Commissions can be 30-50% or even a recurring fee. A single sale can be worth $50-$200.
- Example: A detailed review post for a $100 kitchen gadget with a 10% commission earns you $10 per sale. If your helpful post convinces 10 people a month, that’s $100 from one post.
3. Digital Products (The “High-Value” Play)
- How it works: You create and sell your own product. This is where earning potential scales significantly.
- Who it’s for: Bloggers who have built authority and understand their audience’s specific pain points.
- What’s required: Expertise, time to create the product, and an email list to market it to.
- Types & Examples:
- E-books & Guides: A deep-dive PDF on “Starting an Organic Vegetable Garden.” Could sell for $10-$30.
- Online Courses: A video course on “Photography for Beginners.” Could sell for $100-$300.
- Printable Planners/Templates: Budget planners, meal prep sheets, social media calendars. Could sell for $5-$20.
- Real Numbers Explained: You keep almost all the profit. Sell 100 copies of a $27 e-book, and you’ve made $2,700. This is often the first step bloggers take beyond ads and affiliates.
4. Services (The “Skill-Based” Income)
- How it works: You use the expertise demonstrated on your blog to attract clients.
- Who it’s for: Bloggers who are skilled in a tangible service (writing, graphic design, coaching, consulting, web design).
- What’s required: A professional portfolio (your blog itself) and clear contact information.
- Example: A freelance writer who blogs about productivity might land content writing gigs from companies who read their work. A finance blogger might offer personal budget coaching sessions.
5. Sponsored Content & Partnerships
- How it works: A company pays you to write a post, create a video, or feature their product. This must be disclosed as a “sponsorship” or “ad.”
- Who it’s for: Blogs with a strong, engaged audience in a specific niche.
- What’s required: A media kit, clear traffic/stats, and an audience that brands want to reach.
- Real Numbers Explained: Rates vary. A micro-influencer might charge $200-$500 for a sponsored post. A blog with 100,000 monthly readers in a niche like cybersecurity could charge $1,000-$5,000.
What You Can Expect: The Reality Check
- Time Required: This is a long-term game. Don’t expect any significant income for the first 6-12 months. Your first year is for learning, building content, and growing your audience. Consistency over years is what wins.
- Skill Level Needed: You don’t need to be an expert writer or tech genius. But you must be willing to learn:
- Basic SEO (how to get found on Google)
- Clear writing (communicating ideas simply)
- Fundamental marketing (sharing your work)
- Patience and resilience
- Realistic Earning Potential:
- Months 0-6: $0 – $100/month (likely from a few affiliate clicks or small ads).
- Year 1: $100 – $1,000/month. A great first year if you’ve been consistent.
- Year 2-3: $1,000 – $5,000/month. This is achievable with multiple income streams and steady traffic growth.
- Year 3+: $5,000+/month and beyond. This requires treating your blog like a serious business.
Common Mistakes to Avoid (Please, Learn From These)
- Picking a Boring, Broad Niche. “Lifestyle” or “Travel” is too hard to stand out in. Try “Solo Female Travel in Southeast Asia” or “Minimalist Lifestyle for Families.”
- Ignoring Email from Day One. Your blog’s traffic can change; your email list is an audience you own. Offer a simple freebie (a checklist, a PDF guide) to get subscribers.
- Writing for Search Engines Instead of People. Yes, use keywords, but always answer the human being’s question behind the search.
- Giving Up Too Early. Most bloggers quit just before they might have started seeing traction. The “grind” phase is real and where most people drop out.
- Buying Every Course and Tool. Start free. Use WordPress, learn from free YouTube tutorials and reputable blogs. Invest in tools only when you’ve outgrown free options.
Tips to Succeed Faster (Actionable & Mostly Free)
- Solve a Problem: Every post should answer a question or solve a frustration. “How to fix a leaking toilet” is better than “My bathroom renovation.”
- Learn SEO Basics: Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner or AnswerThePublic to find what people are searching for in your niche. Write content around those queries.
- Promote Every Post: Don’t just publish. Share it on relevant Pinterest boards, Facebook groups, Reddit threads (where allowed), and LinkedIn.
- Network with Other Bloggers: Leave genuine comments on blogs you admire. Build relationships, not just links. This community is invaluable.
- Analyze and Adapt: Use the free Google Analytics to see what posts are working. Write more about those topics. See what’s failing, and learn why.
Conclusion
Making money blogging is absolutely possible, but it’s more like building a house than winning the lottery. It requires a solid foundation (your niche and content), consistent work (writing and learning), and patience while you add the rooms (income streams).
You won’t make money tomorrow. But if you start today, focus on helping a specific audience, and stick with it for the long haul, you can build an asset that generates real income. Forget the hype, embrace the process, and start writing. Your first post—the one that helps someone—is the true beginning.
