How to Make Money Blogging: Blog Monetization Tips for 2024

Whether you want to earn a passive income from the blogging business or make it your primary income stream, you can’t go too far without an effective strategy. 

With the right approach, a significant number of bloggers have found this online business to be lucrative. 

The Content Marketing Institute found that 94% of B2B organizations used short articles in the past 12 months, making blog posts the leading content type among digital marketers.

Choosing a profitable niche is a vital step that positions your new blog for success. In this guide, we’ll go over how to get your blog ready for monetization, how to make money blogging and tips to help you make the most of these techniques. 

How much can you make from your own blog?

This is the question that’s likely burning in the minds of aspiring bloggers everywhere. The truth is, there’s no single answer. Blog earnings vary wildly, from a few dollars a month to six-figure (or even seven-figure!) incomes. Let’s explore the factors that influence your earning potential and set realistic expectations.

Factors that influence blog income

• Niche: Your chosen niche plays a significant role. Some niches, like finance, marketing, and tech, tend to have higher earning potential due to lucrative affiliate programs and advertising rates. Others, like hobbies or personal development, might require more creativity in monetization.
• Traffic: Simply put, more traffic generally translates to more income. However, the quality of your traffic matters too. Targeted traffic from your ideal audience is more likely to convert into paying customers or click on your affiliate links.
• Monetization methods: Different methods offer varying revenue streams. Display ads can provide a steady income, while affiliate marketing can generate higher payouts per conversion. Selling digital products or services can be even more lucrative. The key is to diversify your income streams.
• Audience engagement: A highly engaged audience is more likely to purchase your products, click on your affiliate links, and support your blog. Building a strong community around your content is essential for long-term success.

Realistic expectations

Let’s be real – you probably won’t become a millionaire overnight. Blogging requires consistent effort, strategic planning, and patience. Here’s a general idea of what you might expect at different stages:

• Beginner (0-6 months): Focus on building your foundation, creating quality content, and growing your audience. Income might be minimal or non-existent during this phase.
• Intermediate (6-18 months): As your traffic grows, you can start experimenting with different monetization methods. Expect to earn a few hundred dollars per month, potentially more depending on your niche and strategies.
• Advanced (18+ months): With a well-established blog and a loyal audience, you can generate a significant income. Many successful bloggers earn five figures or more per month through a combination of monetization methods.

To give you a better idea of what’s possible, let’s look at some real-world examples:

• Michelle from Making Sense of Cents: She consistently earns over $100,000 per month, primarily through affiliate marketing in the personal finance niche.
• Ryan Robinson: He generates a six-figure income from his blog through affiliate marketing, online courses, and freelance writing.
• Adam Enfroy: He focuses on building a personal brand and earns substantial revenue through affiliate marketing, courses, and his blog.

These examples demonstrate that significant income is achievable with dedication and the right strategies.

Long-term growth potential

Remember that blogging is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistent effort, continuous learning, and adapting to the changing online landscape are key to long-term success. By building a valuable asset and nurturing your audience, you can create a sustainable income stream that grows over time.

How to choose a profitable niche

Why your blog niche matters

Your blog niche influences your overall monetization strategy. Some niches, such as fashion blogs or travel blogs, tend to have built-in audiences and ample opportunities to monetize with ad networks and affiliate links. Other niches may require more effort to establish credibility, but they can be equally profitable if paired with the right business strategy.

But remember, choosing a niche isn’t just about what interests you. Instead, it’s about understanding how that niche aligns with keyword research and whether it offers significant opportunities for monetization.

For instance, profitable blog niches in areas like digital marketing, finance, and travel can attract high-paying sponsors and affiliate partnerships.

Steps to choose a profitable blog niche

1. Identify your passions and expertise: Start by reflecting on your personal interests. What topics do you feel passionate about? Are you knowledgeable enough to create consistent blog articles around these topics? A profitable blog begins with content that not only interests you but also adds value to others.

2. Assess market demand: Once you’ve identified potential niches, the next step is to conduct market research. Utilize keyword research tools like SEMrush or Ubersuggest to determine the search volume of relevant terms. A niche with a high search volume means that there’s significant interest in the topic, which can lead to higher blog traffic and more revenue.

3. Analyze the competition: Competition is a good indicator that a niche has monetization potential. However, you should aim to find a specific angle that differentiates you from the competition. For example, if you’re considering entering the fashion bloggers space, you could narrow your focus to ethical fashion or minimalist fashion—niches that are growing in demand but less saturated.

4. Consider monetization potential: Finally, evaluate the monetization strategy for each niche. Are there ample opportunities for affiliate partnerships or sponsorships? Can you create online courses or sell digital products? Some niches, like health and wellness, naturally lend themselves to affiliate programs and sponsored posts, making it easier to make money blogging.

To assess the monetization potential, ask these questions:

• Can you create and sell digital products, courses, or memberships in this space?
• Are there products, services, or affiliate programs related to this niche?
• Are brands within this niche likely to sponsor content or work with influencers?

Profitable niches today include:

• Personal finance: With assets under management set to hit $145.4 trillion by 2025, people need information on how to invest their money and reach their financial goals.
• Blogging: There are over 600 million blogs, and many new bloggers need help to become successful.
• Food: RankIQ found that food bloggers had the highest median monthly income at $9,169. They were also more likely to have at least 50,000 monthly sessions. 
• Lifestyle: The same study by RankIQ reveals that approximately 25% of all new blogs are lifestyle blogs, making this niche worth considering.
• Travel: More than 80% of travel enthusiasts surf the web for tips and advice on planning their next trips. So, starting a travel blog is a great way to make money online.

Setting up your blog for monetization

Before you start looking for sponsorships or implementing your digital marketing strategy, ensure your blog is ready for monetization.

Here’s how to prepare for blog monetization:

Create a professional website

Not only do you need a monetization strategy, but you also need an attractive, optimized website ready for your target audience.

If your website could use a bit of a facelift, check out Bluehost WonderSuite. This easy-to-use website builder helps you create a beautiful website optimized for humans and search engines.

Your website must look good on both desktop and mobile devices. Approximately 76% of American adults have bought something on their phones, so optimizing your blog for mobile devices enables you to reach a wider audience.

Even if you aren’t selling items on your website, you should still keep in mind that 56.28% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, so chances are the majority of your audience views your website from their smartphones.

Publish high-quality content

While a professional website boosts your credibility, you don’t want to be all style and no substance. Your website should have great posts that are already getting readers to stick around before you work on monetization. 

In other words, populate your blog with posts that:

• Are engaging and well-researched.
• Are written with SEO (search engine optimization) in mind.
• Aren’t too short — aim for at least 500 words.
• Aren’t too long — any more than 3,000 words, and readers could lose interest.
• Include high-quality images. Bloggers who use 7-10 images per post are more than twice as likely to report improvements in their blog’s performance.

Your publishing frequency is just as important as writing great content. Publish new posts a few times a month — more often if you want to make the blogging business your full-time job. 

Comply with relevant regulations

While populating your blog with high-quality content, you want to ensure you’re not using copyrighted materials without the owner’s consent. These include images, audio files, video content and even text. 

To avoid copyright infringement and establish a strong reputation for your small business, create your own content or obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Regulatory compliance also involves understanding tax implications. As a best practice, consult a legal professional to ensure compliance with relevant regulations. 

Optimize your website for search engines

If you need help with SEO, there are several top-rated SEO tools you can use to boost your ranking in Google search. You may need to add more structure (e.g., headings and bullet points) to your posts or find new keywords that match the search intent of your target audience. 

SEO tools eliminate the guesswork by suggesting relevant keywords for your blog. Regardless of the size of your niche market, optimizing your website for search engines increases readership by bringing your content to the people most interested in it.

8 best strategies to make money blogging

1. Start with affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest and most popular ways to make money blogging, especially for beginner bloggers. It allows you to earn a commission by promoting products or services that are relevant to your readers. This is a great way to monetize a profitable blog niche because you don’t need to create your own products, and you can start earning income even with a relatively small audience.

Here’s how to implement affiliate marketing effectively:

• Choose the right products: The products you promote should align with your blog’s content and resonate with your target audience. For example, if your blog focuses on travel, you could recommend travel gear, accessories, or even travel insurance. If you write about business strategy, consider promoting tools like Google Analytics or keyword research tools.
• Join affiliate programs: Look for affiliate programs that offer products your audience would genuinely find useful. Major platforms like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, and CJ Affiliate are great places to start. Many companies also run their own affiliate programs, so reach out directly to brands you trust.

For example, you can also join the Bluehost Affiliate Program, where you’ll earn a commission for recommending our hosting services to your audience.

• Integrate affiliate links naturally: Avoid overwhelming your readers with constant promotions. Instead, integrate affiliate links naturally into your content. For instance, if you write a post about “Top 10 Travel Essentials,” include affiliate links to those items without overloading the article. Be sure to disclose affiliate relationships transparently to maintain trust.

Pro tip: Track the performance of your affiliate links using tools like Google Analytics to see which products and strategies are driving conversions. This data will help you refine your affiliate marketing efforts over time.

2. Leverage display advertising for passive income

If your blog is attracting significant blog traffic, display advertising is another effective way to earn money. By joining ad networks like Google AdSense, Mediavine, or AdThrive, you can earn passive income by placing banner ads on your site.

Here’s how to get started:

Step 1: Start with Google Adsense network

If you’re a beginner blogger, start with Google AdSense. It’s relatively easy to set up and doesn’t require high traffic. However, as your blog grows, you can switch to more selective, higher-paying networks like Mediavine or AdThrive, which cater to blogs with at least 50,000 sessions per month.

Step 2: Optimize ad placement

Where you place your ads on your blog can significantly impact your earnings. Test different ad placements using A/B testing to determine what works best for your readers. Ads in high-visibility areas, such as above the fold or within the content, tend to perform better. However, avoid placing too many ads, as this can detract from the user experience and drive readers away.

Step 3: Use responsive ads

Make sure the ads you display are mobile-optimized and responsive, so they look good on all devices. With a large portion of blog traffic coming from mobile users, it’s critical that your ads don’t disrupt their browsing experience.

Pro tip: Balance is key. Too many ads can slow down your website and frustrate your audience. Keep user experience as your top priority while optimizing for revenue.

3. Offer sponsored posts to monetize authority

As your blog grows and you establish yourself as a trusted voice in your niche, brands may approach you to write sponsored posts. This can be a lucrative monetization strategy, but it’s important to only collaborate with brands that align with your blog’s ethos and offer value to your readers.

Here’s how to secure and execute sponsored posts:

• Build your authority: Brands are more likely to approach bloggers who have an engaged audience and strong authority in their niche. Focus on building blog traffic and creating high-quality, valuable content that attracts a loyal readership. Use email marketing to stay connected with your readers and encourage repeat visits to your blog.
• Craft a media kit: A media kit is essentially a portfolio of your blog’s metrics, audience demographics, and past collaborations. It shows potential sponsors what you offer and why partnering with you would be beneficial. Include data like monthly visitors, social media followers, and examples of successful blog articles.
• Execute sponsored posts transparently: When you write sponsored posts, be clear with your readers about the partnership. Transparency is key to maintaining trust. Ensure the content is still valuable and relevant to your audience, so it doesn’t come across as overly promotional.

Pro tip: Don’t wait for brands to come to you. If there’s a brand you believe would be a good fit for your audience, reach out to them directly with a pitch outlining why a partnership would be mutually beneficial.

4. Create and sell digital products

Selling digital products is a scalable way to generate income that requires little ongoing effort once the product is created. Whether it’s an online course, eBook, printable, or template, digital products offer high profit margins with no need for inventory.

Here’s how to create and sell digital products:

• Identify a need: Your digital product should solve a specific problem your readers are facing. If you run a business strategy blog, consider creating an online course that teaches new entrepreneurs how to create a business plan. If you run a fashion blog, you could create a style guide or a capsule wardrobe planner.
• Create the product: Use tools like Canva for design, Teachable for online courses, or Gumroad for selling eBooks. Ensure your product is well-designed, easy to use, and packed with value. The higher the quality, the more likely it is to sell and generate positive reviews.
• Promote your product: Use email marketing to promote your digital product to your existing audience. Highlight the key benefits and how it will help them solve a problem. You can also create a dedicated blog content or landing page that explains the product in detail, showcasing testimonials or previews.

Pro tip: Bundle your products for greater value. For example, you could offer an eBook alongside an online course at a discounted rate, which can increase your sales and earn money faster.

5. Explore consulting or coaching services

If your blog establishes you as an authority in a particular field, offering consulting services or coaching can be a lucrative way to monetize. Many successful bloggers offer personalized services in areas such as business strategy, digital marketing, or health coaching.

Here’s how to offer consulting or coaching:

• Define your offer: Whether it’s one-on-one coaching or group consulting, define exactly what service you’re offering. Focus on your unique expertise and how it can benefit your audience. For instance, if you’re an experienced freelance writer, you could offer coaching on how to secure clients and grow a writing business.
• Set up a booking system: Use tools like Calendly to streamline appointment scheduling, and ensure your pricing reflects your expertise. You can offer a free initial consultation to attract potential clients and give them a taste of the value you offer.
• Promote your service: Add a consulting services page to your blog where you clearly explain what you offer, include testimonials, and showcase case studies from past clients. Email marketing and social media promotion can help spread the word.

Pro tip: Build a waiting list if you can’t handle too many clients at once. This creates urgency and demand for your services, allowing you to charge higher rates over time.

6. Selling physical products

In addition to digital products, selling physical products can be a great way to make money blogging, particularly if your blog has a strong brand identity or a niche audience that values tangible items. Physical products can range from branded merchandise to handmade goods, or even dropshipping products you curate.

Here’s how to get started with selling physical products:

• Choose the right products: The physical products you offer should align with your blog’s theme and appeal to your target audience. For example, if you run a fashion blog, you could sell branded apparel, accessories, or curated fashion items. If your blog focuses on crafting or DIY, you could offer kits or handmade items.
• Set up an eCommerce store: You don’t need a complex system to start selling physical products. Platforms like WooCommerce (for WordPress users), Shopify, or Etsy make it easy to create a seamless shopping experience. WooCommerce, for instance, integrates directly with WordPress, making it a popular choice for bloggers.
• Promote your products: Once your store is set up, promote your products through your blog posts, social media accounts, and email marketing. Create blog content that highlights the products or showcases how readers can use them in their daily lives.

Pro Tip: If managing inventory seems overwhelming, consider using dropshipping as an alternative. With dropshipping, you don’t have to handle the physical products yourself—the supplier ships directly to your customers.

7. Crowdfunding and donations

Crowdfunding and donations offer a way for readers to support your blog financially without buying a product or service. Platforms like Patreon and Ko-fi allow your most loyal readers to contribute monthly or one-time donations, often in exchange for exclusive content or perks.

Here’s how to incorporate crowdfunding into your blog:

• Choose the right platform: Patreon is ideal for bloggers who can offer ongoing perks in exchange for donations, such as behind-the-scenes content, early access to posts, or exclusive tutorials. Ko-fi is a more casual platform that allows readers to make one-time donations as a way of “buying you a coffee” to support your work.
• Offer value in exchange for support: To encourage donations, offer something valuable in return. For example, if you run a food blog, you could provide donors with exclusive recipes or cooking videos. For a travel blog, you could offer travel itineraries, photo guides, or behind-the-scenes content from your trips.
• Promote your crowdfunding efforts: Include calls-to-action (CTAs) on your blog posts and in your email marketing campaigns, encouraging readers to support you through donations. Be transparent about how their support helps you continue to create valuable content.

Pro Tip: Build a sense of community by giving your donors special recognition. Whether it’s a shout-out in a blog post or early access to new content, making your supporters feel valued will encourage continued support.

8. Paid memberships or subscriptions

One of the most effective ways to generate recurring income is through paid memberships or subscriptions. By offering exclusive content or services behind a paywall, you can create a stable income stream while providing additional value to your most dedicated readers.

Here’s how to set up a membership or subscription model:

• Define your offerings: Your paid content should provide extra value that readers can’t access for free. This could be exclusive blog posts, access to an online community, members-only videos, or live Q&A sessions. For example, a business strategy blog might offer detailed case studies or in-depth webinars.
• Choose a platform: Use tools like MemberPress (for WordPress users), Patreon, or Substack to create and manage your membership program. These platforms allow you to set up different membership tiers, process payments, and provide exclusive content to your paying members.
• Promote your membership: Use your email marketing list and social media channels to promote your membership. Clearly communicate the benefits of joining and why it’s worth the cost. You can also offer limited-time discounts or bonuses for new members to encourage sign-ups.

Pro Tip: Offer a free trial or introductory period to entice readers to try your membership program. This lowers the barrier to entry and gives them a taste of the exclusive content they can expect. 

Promoting and growing your blog for higher earnings

1. Expand your presence with content repurposing

One highly effective, often overlooked way to grow your blog is by repurposing your content for different formats and platforms. This allows you to reach new audiences without having to create entirely new content.

• Turn blog posts into videos: For visually driven platforms like YouTube or Instagram Reels, take your best-performing blog posts and convert them into engaging video content. For example, a blogging business post on “how to make money blogging” could become a step-by-step video tutorial or tips-based video.
• Create infographics: Condense complex topics from your blog posts into visually appealing infographics, which perform well on platforms like Pinterest and LinkedIn. Infographics can simplify your message and get more shares, increasing your blog’s reach.
• Compile eBooks or guides: Bundle related blog posts together to create a comprehensive guide or eBook. For instance, you can combine several posts on blog monetization strategies into an “Ultimate Guide to Making Money Blogging” and offer it as a free download to grow your email list.

2. Build relationships through podcasting

Podcasting is a powerful way to connect with new audiences and position yourself as an expert in your niche. It’s an ideal way to make money blogging indirectly by driving traffic to your blog, building your authority, and potentially attracting sponsors for your podcast itself.

• Start a podcast around your niche: If your blog focuses on topics like affiliate marketing or business strategy, start a podcast where you dive deeper into these topics and share actionable advice. Podcast listeners tend to be highly engaged, and once they trust your expertise, they’re more likely to visit your blog or purchase your products.
• Guest on other podcasts: If creating your own podcast feels overwhelming, consider guesting on established podcasts within your niche. This is a great way to introduce yourself to a broader audience and drive traffic to your blog.

3. Develop a community to foster deeper engagement

Creating a dedicated community around your blog can boost both traffic and monetization. Building a community ensures your readers stay engaged and invested in your content. This, in turn, increases the likelihood that they’ll click on your affiliate links, purchase your digital products, or share your content.

Here’s how to build an engaged community:

• Create a private Facebook group or forum: Start a private Facebook group or forum where your readers can interact with you and each other. For example, a travel blog could have a community where members share travel tips, itineraries, or advice. Within this community, you can share exclusive content, promote your products, and build relationships with your most loyal readers.
• Offer exclusive webinars or Q&As: Host regular Q&A sessions or webinars on topics that matter to your audience. This is especially effective if you’re in a niche like blogging business or digital marketing where your readers are looking for actionable advice.

4. Invest in paid promotion for faster growth

Organic traffic takes time, but paid promotion can help accelerate your blog’s growth, especially when you’re trying to scale up and reach new audiences quickly. The key is to use paid strategies wisely to maximize ROI.

• Use Facebook or Instagram ads: Paid social media ads allow you to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. If you run a fashion blog, for example, you could create a targeted campaign promoting a new post or product to users interested in fashion, trends, or styling.
• Run Google Ads: Google Ads can drive targeted traffic to specific blog posts that are optimized for high-conversion topics, such as “how to make money blogging” or “best affiliate marketing strategies.” You can focus on keywords that have the potential to bring in highly engaged readers who are more likely to convert.

5. Analyze and adapt using data-driven strategies

To continue growing your blog and maximizing earnings, you need to continuously analyze your performance and adapt based on the data you collect. Regularly reviewing your blog’s metrics can help you fine-tune your content strategy, understand what resonates with your audience, and improve your monetization efforts.

• Refine your monetization strategies: Use data to understand which monetization strategies are yielding the best results. If you notice that your affiliate marketing links are converting well in certain types of posts, double down on that strategy.
• Track your blog’s performance: Use Google Analytics to monitor key metrics like page views, bounce rate, and time spent on page. Pay special attention to which blog posts are driving the most traffic and generating the most conversions.
• Identify content gaps: Analyze what topics are performing well and what might be missing. If certain posts, like “how to make money blogging,” are performing better, consider expanding on those themes or creating a series around them.

Deciding how to make money blogging is crucial for profitability, but optimizing your blog for monetization is just as important.

Advanced blog monetization tips

Tip 1. Diversify with affiliate marketing beyond basic programs

Affiliate marketing is a go-to method for many bloggers, but to truly maximize your earnings, it’s important to go beyond basic affiliate programs like Amazon Associates. By diversifying the products and services you promote, and choosing more niche-specific affiliate programs, you can target your audience more effectively and increase your commissions.

Here’s how to advance your affiliate marketing strategy:

• Explore diverse affiliate networks: Platforms like ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, and Rakuten offer a broader range of affiliate opportunities compared to basic networks. These programs provide higher commissions on niche products, allowing you to tailor your promotions more closely to your audience’s needs. For example, a business strategy blog can promote software tools like email marketing platforms, rather than generic products from Amazon.
• Focus on high-ticket items: To make more money with fewer conversions, consider promoting high-ticket items. For instance, instead of focusing on low-cost physical products, promote premium online courses, software subscriptions, or tools that offer higher payouts per sale.
• Build in-depth content: Write comprehensive reviews, how-to guides, and tutorials that highlight the value of the products or services you’re promoting. For example, a post titled “The Best Email Marketing Tools for Bloggers” could include detailed comparisons of various tools, driving more clicks and conversions.

Tip 2. Embrace emerging monetization trends

As blogging evolves, new monetization opportunities continue to emerge. Exploring these cutting-edge strategies can help you stay ahead of the curve and find innovative ways to grow your blog’s revenue.

Here’s what to watch:

• Experiment with micropayments: Platforms like Coil allow you to monetize individual pieces of content using micropayments, where readers pay a small amount (a few cents) for each article they read. This works well for bloggers who produce premium, highly researched content that readers are willing to pay for.
• Dive into Web3 monetization: Blockchain-based options like NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) or tokenized communities can offer unique ways to monetize your content. For example, you could create a limited-edition NFT of your best blog post or offer exclusive access to a tokenized membership group.

Tip 3. Stay on top of SEO trends to boost visibility and revenue

Beyond monetization strategies, staying updated with the latest SEO trends is critical for growing your blog’s visibility and ensuring it remains competitive in search rankings. By aligning your content with user intent and new SEO best practices, you can drive more organic traffic and increase your earning potential.

Here’s how to advance your SEO strategy:

• Prioritize user intent: Beyond simply targeting keywords, focus on understanding what your audience is really searching for. Tools like AnswerThePublic can help you uncover deeper questions and topics that your audience cares about. Tailor your content to answer these queries comprehensively.
• Embrace content optimization tools: Use tools like Clearscope or SurferSEO to optimize your content for readability, engagement, and comprehensiveness. These tools analyze the top-ranking content for your focus keyword (e.g., “how to make money blogging”) and provide suggestions on how to improve your post to outrank competitors.
• Adapt to technical SEO changes: With Google’s emphasis on Core Web Vitals and page experience, it’s crucial to ensure your site loads quickly, is mobile-friendly, and provides a smooth user experience. Regularly check your performance with Google’s PageSpeed Insights and make improvements to keep your site competitive.

Final thoughts: How to make money blogging — tips and best practices

It can take time to become a successful blogger and make money consistently. However, with the right strategy and a comprehensive grasp of how to make money blogging, you can achieve your blogging goals. 

Before looking for monetization options, position your blog for success by creating high-quality new content, optimizing your website for mobile devices and following SEO best practices.

Create awareness about your blog and drive organic traffic to your posts. This can be via email or social media marketing.

You also want your website to be secure, fast-loading and easy to navigate. A reliable web hosting company will help you get there. 

With Bluehost’s WordPress hosting, you’ll gain access to a comprehensive suite of SEO tools, a beginner-friendly website builder and secure web hosting that’ll keep your website running 24/7. 

Contact us to start your blogging journey today.

How to make money blogging: FAQs