For many people making money from their blog is a personal goal. If you have been blogging for a while and you are seeing fellow bloggers earning from their blogs, you may want some of the action. You may even long to give up your job and blog for a living. However, monetising your blog can seem a little confusing at the start. There are so many options out there that it can be overwhelming and definitely not like the 9-5!
Today, I am going to share with you the main ways that you could earn from your blog. This may not be an exhaustive list; the great thing about our online space is that it is constantly evolving with new sorts of opportunities regularly coming to market. This makes is a very exciting area to work in.
It is worth bearing in mind that you will not earn enough to give up the day job by doing only one of these methods; you will have to combine a few income streams to build a sustainable income and it takes time.
Sponsored posts
Most bloggers will earn a proportion of their income from sponsored posts. These are advertising in the form of a blog post. As you are being paid to promote the product/business you should disclose this to your readers. I have previously written a post explaining the fees and how to work our what a post on your site is worth (although with so many variables for each blog it is hard to be exact).
Guest posts
Similar to a sponsored post, in that it is ‘paid for’ content; however this will be written by someone else and you will simply host it on your blog for a fee (usually less than if you write the content yourself).
Writing on another blog
Through the exposure that your blog gives you, you might pick up freelance work writing on another blog.
Freelance work
Freelance work could be secured in social media management or similar in the online niche.
Display Advertising
You can position display adverts in many places across your blog. These could be in your sidebar, footer or be a banner ad at the top of your site of even within the text. You can secure advertising with a business directly and will usually be paid a fee per month or you can use a network such as Google Adsense.
Google Adsense
After setting up an Adsense account you can use display adverts at various places on your blog. Google will then feed adverts to these spaces and you will be paid a small amount for them to appear. This will be more lucrative for blogs with a fair amount of traffic, but your traffic will only grow so even newer bloggers might as well start now.
Affiliate Programmes
There are many affiliate programmes which you could be a part of; Skimlinks, Affiliate Window, Afilinet are some of the popular company which have a host of retailers on their books. However, lots of businesses have an affiliate scheme which you could be part of and sell their products through your blog, receiving a percentage of the each sale. The thing to bear in mind is what fits with your blog and what people come to your blog for, then tailor the adverts you have showing to this audience. Then you stand more chance of conversion.
A popular affiliate programme is Amazon. Amazon have such a broad product range, so it is easy to include their links in posts. Also if someone clicks through a link on your blog and doesn’t but the product you are recommending but goes in to buy something else, you will get commission on the other product.
Reviews
Some bloggers charge for reviewing products. It is worth bearing in mind that some people may question your objectivity if you are being paid to write the review.
Hosting Twitter parties
Various brands will pay you to host or take part in a twitter party.
Sponsored Instagram images
Posting images to fit a brand campaign on your Instagram feed.
Brand Ambassador
A lovely way to bring in an income is being paid to be a brand ambassador, which gives you a long term relationship. You might be paid a fee to represent the brand for a year and have a number of pre-agreed tasks to carry out.
Sponsorship of features
Why not get sponsorship for any regular well supported features or even linkys. Brands may be willing to pay for promotion in this way.
Sponsorship for events
Being paid to attend events or having your expenses reimbursed to attend a conference/event.
Sponsored social media
You may be paid to recommend a brand/promote their product on social media. Being paid per package of tweets or updates, or simply as a one off.
Digital products
Devise your own e-products and sell them from your blog.
Consultancy
Do you feel you are experienced enough to offer consultancy to brands.
Membership only section of your blog
If you have a thriving community, you could create a members only section to your blog which people pay a fee to gain access to, in return they gain exclusive access to more content.
Adverts within Podcasts and Vlogs
Advertisers could pay you to promote their brand within your blogs or podcasts.
Speaking at events
If you have a certain amount of knowledge and standing, you maybe able to secure paid speaking work.
Ghost writing
Being paid to write elsewhere not in your own name.
Crowdfunding
If you have a vision, goal, or mission that inspires people to take action, if so this course of action may work for you.
Tips Jar
A website such as Tiptheweb allows your readers to contribute to your income if they enjoy your work.
Sell your blog!
Obviously this isn’t for everyone, but if you have built a successful blog then it could be possible to sell it. I know one blogger who has sold her blog and is now paid to write it.
Has this given you some ideas of how you could monetise your blog? Do you bring money in by another means? If so leave a comment and share.
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Comments 54
Iv done a few sponsored posts but I’d really like to do some more guest posts I just don’t know where to look
These are brilliant tips. I’ve always wondered about going full time with my blog but it’s not the right time for me and I love my job. These are great for me to think about though!
Yet another great blog post. With some really useful tips and advice.
I’ve come across your blog a few times now and always enjoy reading your posts.
Author
Ah thanks, glad you enjoy them x
These are fantastic tips. Really informative and helpful. All I’ve done so far is a few sponsored posts. Hopefully more will come in the future x
I’ve had a few sponsored and collaborated posts on my blog. I have a question though, do you accept guest posts? I don’t. I prefer to write my own content. Although I’m wondering now if I’m missing out by not accepting? Especially since money-wise, the payment they offer is actually good. What do you think? I value your opinion 🙂 x
Author
Hi I do accept a certain number of paid for guest posts. I write most of my content and I would never just post a guest post and nothing else on that day, but as I post 2-4 times per day, it works well for me to accept a few. x
Thank so much for your reply! Now I’m beginning to re-think my take on accepting guest posts too. But like you, will most probably also post another one written by me. Again, thanks for the input. x
I really love your blog club series and regularly come and seek advice from your bank of posts. I found this one a little overwhelming. I’d dearly love to make money from my blog but have no idea how to enact your ideas. I’m worried that I don’t have a big enough following (mine, funnily enough, has lots of local followers!). I guess I’m going with the philosophy – if you build it they will come! Haha.
Author
It isn’t meant to be overwhelming, but I feel it is useful to highlight ways which you could possibly earn from your blog, then pick the ones which interest you and would work for your blog to investigate further and implement. x
Oh I definitely found it useful too! It’s just hard to know where to start. I guess I should go back and decide which ones leap out most and then create a plan from there 🙂
Thank you for all the wonderful tips. I am nowhere near the stage where I would even consider this yet, but may save the page for years in the future!
Great tips here Aby! I’ve recently had my hours cut at work and am hoping to make a bit more money from my blog and freelance work. Despite writing this blog for over 2 years, and having previous blogs before that, making the move in to more professional work is pretty daunting!
I didn’t know people in the UK sold their blogs, I did see it in an American movie once though!
It’s amazing when you think how many methods there are. It’s just a case of finding what works for you
So many ideas on here. I’ve done a fair few of them now and am just starting to branch out into social media management. It’s my dream to be a freelance writer one day xx
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I didn’t realise there were so many ways! Always love reading your posts x
I’m slowly building my blog and entertaining the idea of monetising it so this is a really useful list. I think it’s about being open and honest with your readers. I’m hoping I get much faster and slicker at creating posts so if I do earn from it it will be more than 1p an hour!!
Thanks for sharing these, so many different ways, I have bookmarked it for the future, who knows where my little blog will go 🙂 #thelist x
Really insightful and in a great order – thank you Going to check out if you have any tips on Linkys, as I am just getting my head around this world. Charlie
Great tips, thanks Aby! I’ve done a few sponsored posts. I did sign up to Amazon affiliate programme but I found lt really confusing!xx #TheList
Great tips thanks Aby. Lots to consider. I’ve been approached by a company asking if I would write posts about certain products but turned it down as I’m still building my visitors. I’ve got a freelance writing business which is separate to my blogging at the moment. There’s a few other quick wins on here which I’ll definitely look into. Thanks for hosting. #TheLink x
Great tips. I never knew that there were so many options for making money out of your blog 🙂 #thelist
Wow, there are way more potential revenue streams than I realised! x #thelist
I’ve heard about setting up a blog, running it for a year and then selling it. I couldn’t imagine doing it though, I think it’s too easy to fall in love with it and not want to part with it. I keep saying I’m going to sign up to Amazon’s affiliate program and never get around to it. It’s going on my to-do list! #TheList
Debbie
Great tips (as always) I have just started to do more freelance work and I’m really excited by it. xx #thelist
Great tips, just need to put them into practice now! X
#TheList
Great post. I’ve yet to dip my toe in the money making pound. We’ll see. #the list Lifeinthemumslane
This is great and really extensive! Thank you! #thelist x
Very helpful & comprehensive list – it is overwhelming knowing where to start. #thelist
Good pointer. I make my money through luck in many ways. I do worry a bit that there will never be enough paid work to go round for all the bloggers who would like it. I believe very few bloggers make decent money yet but I think that may change a lot in coming years.
Wow, so many things I never would’ve thought about! At this point I’m just blogging for fun, but will keep this post bookmarked in case I decide to take myself a bit more seriously 😉 Thank you!
I am at a cross roads, my blog has almost been running a year and the traffic has recently improved. I can’t make my mind up whether to take it somewhere or not. I don’t have time for another full time job and will require going self hosted and self employed – but at the same time it seems a waste if I don’t do anything with what Ive achieved!! Urgh! x
Great tips – I didn’t know about the Tipsjar one – what a great idea! #thelist
What a comprehensive list – at the moment I don’t make any money from my blog but it is something I am thinking about so lists like this are very useful resource. THank you
Great tips Aby! I made more in January than ever before on my blog and can see how some people make a full-time living from it. For me, it’s nice to do something on the side & fit it in around other freelance work as well as being the sahm to my little boy. Saying that though, I would love to earn more if over there were more hours in the day! Wow, I didn’t know you could sell your blog 🙂 Polly #thelist
When I started blogging I said I didn’t want to have display ads but the thought of a regular income, even small to begin with, is appealing. I’m also looking into different affiliate programmes. Pro Blogger’s explanation of Amazon’s affiliate programme was so handy. Great post Abi
Great tips again Aby. You have so many ideas, and it’s so kind of you to share them. #thelist
Great post Aby, I was thinking of looking into Amazon Affiliate. Also ADsense is just the bane of my life at the minute! I have been trying since way before Christmas and can not get it to work on the blog at all! Any advice would be greatly received!
Really useful. Lots of things I didn’t realise you could do
This is so useful as always, thank you! I’m just at the beginning of this journey and it is so confusing! I know the first thing I need to do is go self-hosted and that is daunting enough (a blog club post on that would be awesome, btw!)
Regarding advertising, my worry is if you begin to sell ad space you risk them advertising a product that you feel may undermine the tone and quality of your blog. How do you avoid that? Only approach brands direct rather than ad companies? Thank you #thelist
Great tips here Aby – I had no idea the list was so exhaustive! I really do need to start looking into some other avenues like Adsense and affiliate programmes. Thanks for sharing x #TheList
Wow, so many things for people to do if they wanted with their blog. Very interested to read, never heard of half of them. X #TheList
Useful post Aby, pinned for reference – thanks 🙂 #thelist
Really interesting and varied ways to monetise Aby. Some of these I hadn’t even considered to be honest. An eye-opener for me, thanks! #SundayBlogShare
Thank you so much for sharing, this is another really useful post, there’s so many ways to get going when starting to earn from your blog aren’t there? I’d never heard of a few of them ;O
X
#TheList
Love the idea of a Twitter party #thelist xxx
Excellent post. Very useful thank you!
All good tips as always lovely! I do the odd sponsored post but I don’t really aim to make money from my blog right now because my freelance work is going well. That said, I’m always interested to see how it’s done should I wish to take the leap in the future xx #TheList
Fab post! I’ve been hoping to get into paid post on Instagram but I have no idea where to start.
Author
My advice would be to really focus on you theme and producing a seamless feed then the offers will come huni x
All good tips as perpetually lovely! I do the odd sponsored post however I don’t extremely aim to create cash from my blog without delay as a result of my freelance work goes well. That said, I’m always interested to see however it’s done ought to I want to require the leap within the future xx #TheList
Hey Abi,
Love this post, I believe that consulting is a simple revenue stream for beginners so happy you included that in your awesome list 😉
Anyway, before I head off and share this bad boi on Twitter, I wanted to share something…
We just launched a tool that enables bloggers to turn website traffic into new pay per minute consulting clients simply adding a line of code/Wordpress widget to their site.
And hence pick up new consulting clients when they otherwise would have missed out.
(And the best part? It’s free ;))
Would love any feedback you have 🙂
Talk soon,
Tom
P.S.
Check your inbox, just sent you over an interesting proposal!
Great post on ways bloggers can make money Blogging. My favorite is affliate marketing. Everything I have on my website for sale I never sold but m as de commissions as soon as I got people’s foot in the door. I never made much money from ads. How about you personally what is your best Blogging income stream?