5 Best Ways To Monetize Your Blog

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On the JJ Barnes Blog, I share top tips for the different ways to monetize your blog, including guests posts, affiliate marketing and more, and my experiences with each method and platform.

Ways To Monetize Your Blog

A lot of people have asked me about blogging as a way to make money. Whether you’re interested in starting a new blog, or monetizing your existing blog, it can be a great side hustle and, eventually, a genuine career path. If you find success in blogging, you have the freedom to work from home or while traveling the world as a digital nomad, and spend your days writing about things you are truly passionate about as your own boss.

However, for many bloggers, the question of monetizing their efforts and turning their passion into a viable income stream remains a key concern. There are a plethora of monetization strategies that exist, each tailored to suit the specific nature and audience of a blog, and I have had experiences with a lot of them.

I’ll share my top tips for ways to monetize your blog (including links to some of the available platforms so you can start your blogging journey right now), and experiences I have had so you know what you’re getting into.

QUICK LINKS

See further down for more in-depth analysis of each option, plus my own experiences of working with them.

1. Advertising Revenue

Advertising revenue can be a valuable source of income for bloggers, allowing them to monetize their content and create a sustainable online presence. However, it’s crucial to ensure that advertisements are integrated into the blog in a way that doesn’t disrupt the user experience or negatively impact the blog’s content.

Google Adsense

Google AdSense is a program that enables website publishers to display ads on their websites and earn money from clicks or impressions. It is a popular way for bloggers and website owners to monetize their content and generate additional income.

How Does Google AdSense Work?

1. Website Approval: Publishers must first apply for Google AdSense and ensure that their websites meet Google’s eligibility criteria. This includes having a sufficient amount of quality content, a consistent audience, and a user-friendly website design.
2. Ad Placement: Once approved, publishers can select various ad formats, such as text ads, image ads, or video ads, and place them strategically on their websites. Google AdSense automatically matches ads to the content and audience of the website, ensuring that they are relevant and engaging for visitors.
3. Earning Model: Publishers earn money based on clicks or impressions. For text ads, publishers earn a portion of the advertising fee when a user clicks on an ad. For image and video ads, publishers earn a portion of the advertising fee based on the number of times an ad is displayed (impressions).

My Experiences With Google Adsense

If you’ve followed my social media for any length of time, you’ll have witnessed my somewhat embarrassing public breakdown in January 2023, caused by my experiences with Google Adsense.

Over the previous two years I had built a network of blogging sites which were Google Adsense approved and had began to make money. I was supporting my family and my home, paying off debts, and seeing a future of financial success. The harder I worked, the more money was coming in, and I was delighted with the experience.

However, in January 2023 they cancelled the account, refused to pay out the money earned in December 2022, and rejected my appeal. I don’t know why. It meant my family and my business lost our entire income. It is also why I had to very quickly learn about other ways to monetize content (which I detail below).

So if you’re going with Adsense, I have seen the highs and lows. I wish you a lot of success, and advise caution with depending too heavily.

Adsterra

Adsterra is a global ad network that connects publishers with advertisers to monetize their websites and mobile apps. It offers a variety of ad formats, including banners, video ads, and native ads, and is known for its high-paying rates.

Key Features of Adsterra

• High CPM Rates: Adsterra is known for its high CPM rates, which means that publishers can earn more money per thousand ad impressions.
• Variety of Ad Formats: Adsterra offers a variety of ad formats to suit different websites and mobile apps, including banners, video ads, and native ads.
• Targeted Advertising: Adsterra uses advanced targeting technology to match ads to the interests of website visitors, ensuring that they are relevant and engaging.
• Fraud Protection: Adsterra employs advanced fraud prevention measures to protect publishers from invalid traffic and ensure that they are paid for genuine ad impressions.
• Multilingual Support: Adsterra offers multilingual support to cater to publishers and advertisers from all over the world.

My Experiences With Adsterra

At the beginning I could see a lot of potential with Adsterra, and I was starting to earn money fairly quickly. Not masses, but enough that there was definitely a growth opportunity. However, I think perhaps my content was just not suitable for what the advertisers were looking for as after a while the revenue completely stopped. I’d say worth a try and I wish you more success than I had, but unfortunately I don’t think it was the right platform for me.

Monetag

Monetag is a state-of-the-art audience monetization platform that empowers publishers to maximize their revenue potential through intelligent ad placement, advanced targeting, and comprehensive reporting.

Key Features of Monetag

• AI-Powered Ad Placement: Monetag utilizes AI algorithms to analyze user behavior and website content to place ads in the most relevant and effective locations.
• Data-Driven Targeting: Monetag leverages extensive data sets to deliver personalized ads that align with the interests and demographics of website visitors.
• Multi-Channel Monetization: Monetag supports a wide range of ad formats, including banners, videos, native ads, and pop-unders, catering to diverse monetization strategies.
• Comprehensive Reporting: Monetag provides detailed reporting on ad performance, enabling publishers to track their earnings, optimize ad placements, and identify areas for improvement.
• Partnership with Top Brands: Monetag collaborates with leading advertisers, ensuring publishers have access to a vast inventory of high-quality ads.

My Experiences With Monetag

I found the adverts with Monetag to be effective but too intrusive for the kind of content I’m putting out. I had readers object to the pop ups and pop unders that most of the advertisers used as they negatively impacted the user experience of my websites.

2. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services of other businesses and earning a commission for each sale generated through your unique affiliate link. This strategy capitalizes on the trust and credibility built within your blog’s audience, enabling you to recommend products or services that genuinely enhance their lives. Choose affiliate programs that align with your blog’s niche and carefully vet the products or services to ensure they meet your standards and those of your audience.

Amazon Associates

The Amazon Associates Program is a performance-based marketing program that allows bloggers and website owners to promote Amazon products and earn a commission on each sale generated through their unique affiliate link. It provides a seamless way to monetize content and introduce readers to products or services that align with their niche and interests.

The Amazon Affiliate Storefront is a unique feature within the Amazon Associates Program that enables affiliates to create and manage their own personalized storefronts within the Amazon marketplace. These storefronts provide affiliates with a dedicated space to showcase and promote a curated selection of products aligned with their niche, audience interests, and values.

Benefits of the Amazon Associates Program for Bloggers and Website Owners

• Diverse Product Inventory: The Amazon marketplace offers a vast and ever-growing inventory of products across various categories, catering to diverse interests and needs.
• High Conversion Rates: Amazon is a trusted and established e-commerce platform, with a proven track record of generating high conversion rates.
• Transparent and Straightforward Commission Structure: The Amazon Associates Program offers a straightforward commission structure, with clearly defined commission rates for various product categories.
• Targeted Traffic and Audience: Bloggers can leverage their existing audience and content to promote relevant Amazon products, ensuring that traffic is targeted and engaged.
• User-Friendly Affiliate Tools: Amazon provides a user-friendly affiliate dashboard and tools to track performance, manage campaigns, and optimize affiliate links.

My Experiences With Amazon Associates

This program really suits me and the style of work I do. Through The Table Read Magazine I link to the books that I am promoting which benefits both myself and the author, they get the money from the following sales, and I get a commission from those sales. On my own blog, I write articles about interior design, entertainment, fashion etc, and am able to promote specific products that fit into each niche. There’s also the option to link to Amazon Music Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited etc, and get a bounty reward for every customer who signs up for those.

Ebay Partner Network

The eBay Partner Network is a performance-based marketing program that allows affiliates to earn commissions on sales generated from their unique affiliate links. It provides a seamless way to monetize websites, blogs, social media channels, and email marketing campaigns.

Benefits of the eBay Partner Network for Affiliates

• Diverse Product Inventory: eBay offers a wide range of products across various categories, catering to diverse interests and needs.
• High Conversion Rates: eBay boasts a strong reputation and a proven track record of generating high conversion rates.
• Transparent and Straightforward Commission Structure: The eBay Partner Network offers a transparent commission structure, with clearly defined commission rates for various product categories.
• Targeted Traffic and Audience: Affiliates can leverage their existing audience and content to promote relevant eBay products, ensuring that traffic is targeted and engaged.
• User-Friendly Affiliate Tools: eBay provides a user-friendly affiliate dashboard and tools to track performance, manage campaigns, and optimize affiliate links.

My Experiences With The eBay Partner Network

Much like the Amazon program, this really suits how I work. I am able to embed links to either specific products or a gallery of products related to the post I am doing. For instance, when I wrote about Christmas party fashion trends, under the section of velvet dresses, I was able to include a gallery of affiliate links to velvet dresses for sale on eBay.

Fiverr Affiliates

Fiverr Affiliates is a performance-based marketing program that allows affiliates to earn commissions on sales generated from their unique affiliate links. By promoting Fiverr’s diverse range of freelance services, affiliates can leverage their existing audience and traffic to drive conversions and generate revenue.

Benefits of Fiverr Affiliates for Affiliates

• Diverse Service Catalog: Fiverr offers a vast selection of freelance services across various niches, catering to diverse interests and needs.
• Global Reach: Fiverr operates a global marketplace with a vast and active community of freelancers and buyers.
• Transparent and Straightforward Commission Structure: Fiverr Affiliates offers a transparent commission structure, with clearly defined commission rates for various service categories.
• Targeted Traffic and Audience: Affiliates can leverage their existing audience and content to promote relevant Fiverr services, ensuring that traffic is targeted and engaged.
• User-Friendly Affiliate Tools: Fiverr provides a user-friendly affiliate dashboard and tools to track performance, manage campaigns, and optimize affiliate links.

My Experiences With Fiverr Affiliates

I have a very high opinion of this affiliate program. As a Fiverr seller myself I am able to integrate adverts directly to my own work on relevant posts, and I can earn commission promoting the work of others. For instance, on articles about writing I can link to people selling book editing or book cover designing jobs. Or you can include a search box that allows your blog readers to search within your site for sellers on Fiverr, and earn commission from those sales also.

Affiliately

Affiliately is a cloud-based affiliate marketing management platform that provides a comprehensive suite of tools and features for affiliate marketers of all levels. It empowers marketers to streamline their operations, track their performance, and optimize their campaigns to achieve their business goals.

Key Features of Affiliately

• Centralized Affiliate Management: Affiliately provides a centralized platform to manage all aspects of affiliate marketing, including affiliate recruitment, onboarding, program creation, payment management, and performance tracking.
• Intelligent Campaign Optimization: Affiliately utilizes data analytics and machine learning algorithms to identify the most effective campaign strategies and optimize affiliate performance.
• Real-Time Insights and Reporting: Affiliately provides real-time insights into affiliate performance, allowing marketers to make data-driven decisions and optimize their campaigns accordingly.
• Automated Affiliate Workflows: Affiliately automates repetitive tasks, such as affiliate payouts, commission calculations, and reporting, freeing up marketers to focus on strategy and growth.
• Integration with Major Affiliate Networks: Affiliately integrates seamlessly with major affiliate networks, allowing marketers to manage their campaigns across multiple platforms efficiently.

My Experiences With Affiliately

There is a nice range of companies to affiliate link to, but rather than being able to apply and link directly from the same page, you have to go through an individual application process and have a separate page open for each. It’s not as user friendly as some of the other options, but I’m starting to get to grips with it.

App.Impact

The App.Impact Affiliate Program is a performance-based marketing program that allows affiliates to earn commissions on app installs and in-app purchases generated from their unique affiliate links. Affiliates can promote a wide range of mobile apps, from productivity tools to games and entertainment apps.

Benefits of Participating in the App.impact Affiliate Program:

• Diverse App Catalog: Affiliates can promote a wide variety of mobile apps across various categories, cater to diverse interests, and find apps that align with their audience’s needs.
• High Conversion Rates: App.impact’s proprietary technology and app optimization strategies lead to high conversion rates, generating more revenue for affiliates.
• Transparent and Straightforward Commission Structure: Affiliates receive clear and transparent commission rates for app installs and in-app purchases, allowing them to calculate their earnings effectively.
• Targeted Audience and Traffic: Affiliates can leverage their existing audience and traffic to promote relevant apps, ensuring that the promoted content is relevant and engaging.
• User-Friendly Affiliate Tools: App.impact provides user-friendly affiliate tools and resources, including a dedicated affiliate dashboard, campaign management tools, and performance tracking analytics.

My Experiences With App.Impact

There are several businesses that will automatically accept your application once you’ve been accepted by App.Impact so it’s very easy to get started. Other businesses you have to apply and explain how you plan to work with them, and they will either accept or reject you. It’s very easy to integrate relevant advertising banners into your articles by finding assets and copying the code into your blog.

ShareASale

ShareASale stands as a prominent affiliate marketing platform that connects businesses with publishers to promote their products and services. This platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools and resources to help businesses achieve their marketing goals.

Benefits of Being an Affiliate Publisher with ShareASale

• Earn Income from Promotions: Promote a wide range of products and services across various industries, earning commissions for each sale generated through your unique affiliate links.
• Expand Reach and Build Traffic: Leverage the reach of established brands and businesses to expand your audience and drive traffic to your website or social media channels.
• Diversify Income Sources: Supplement your existing income streams by promoting products or services that align with your interests and niche.
• Work from Anywhere: Enjoy the flexibility of working from anywhere in the world, setting your own schedule and managing your own time.
• Access to a Diverse Market: Promote products and services across various categories, catering to a wide range of audience interests.

My Experiences With ShareASale

This is a very simple process and there is a huge range of businesses you can apply to. Some will automatically accept you, others you have to wait anywhere from a few hours to weeks to find out if you’ve been accepted or rejected. Once you’ve joined, you can either post pre-made banners, or create custom links to site pages or specific products that you want to promote on relevant articles. For instnace, I post links or banners for Grammarly near to anything related to editing work, or I’ll post links to clothing sites on fashion posts.

3. Selling Your Own Products or Services

If you possess expertise or unique offerings related to your blog’s topic, consider selling your own products or services directly to your audience. This could include digital products like e-books, templates, or online courses, tangible products like physical merchandise, or even your time through consulting or coaching services. By providing value-adding products or services, you can establish yourself as a thought leader and generate recurring revenue.

While promoting a shop takes as much time and effort as promoting a blog, it is possible to cross promote between the two, both driving traffic to your site, and driving sales from your online shop.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a free and open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress, a popular content management system (CMS). It provides a comprehensive platform for businesses to create, manage, and grow their online stores, enabling them to sell physical and digital products, manage customer orders, accept online payments, and track sales performance.

Key Features of WooCommerce:

• Easy Setup and Installation: WooCommerce is easy to set up and install on WordPress websites, allowing businesses with minimal technical expertise to create their online stores.
• Flexible Product Management: WooCommerce supports a wide range of product types, including physical merchandise, digital goods, subscriptions, and affiliate products.
• Powerful Payment Gateway Integration: WooCommerce integrates with a vast array of payment gateways, enabling businesses to accept secure online payments in various currencies.
• Advanced Order Management: WooCommerce provides a comprehensive order management system, allowing businesses to track orders, manage inventory, and fulfill customer requests efficiently.
• Customization and Extension Options: WooCommerce offers extensive customization options and a vast library of extensions, enabling businesses to tailor their stores to their specific needs.

Shopify

Shopify is a comprehensive cloud-based e-commerce platform that enables businesses to create and manage their online stores without the need for extensive technical knowledge. It provides a user-friendly interface, a wide range of features, and seamless integrations with various marketing and payment gateways.

Key Features of Shopify:

• Seamless Setup and Management: Shopify offers a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for businesses to set up and manage their online stores without any coding or design experience.
• Extensive Theme and Customization Options: Shopify provides a vast library of professionally designed themes, allowing businesses to customize their stores to match their brand identity and target audience.
• Powerful Marketing and Sales Tools: Shopify integrates with various marketing and advertising platforms, enabling businesses to reach their target audience effectively and boost sales.
• Advanced Inventory Management: Shopify provides a comprehensive inventory management system, allowing businesses to track inventory levels, manage stock, and prevent out-of-stock scenarios.
• Global Reach and Scalability: Shopify is designed for global businesses, enabling them to sell to customers worldwide and scale their operations seamlessly.

My Experience With Online Selling

On my website, I sell in my shop through WooCommerce. Here I sell products related to creativity and arts created by a variety of artists and craftsmen from around the world. I also use it as a platform to sell ebook copies of my own books, while also linking to the different platforms where you can buy them in ebook, kindle, paperback or hardback form.

4. Sponsored Posts and Guest Post Collaborations

Partner with brands or businesses that align with your blog’s niche to write sponsored blog posts or host guest written articles. These partnerships allow you to promote products or services to your audience while maintaining editorial integrity and providing valuable content.

Intellifluence

Intellifluence is a powerful platform that connects businesses with influencers to create and manage sponsored content campaigns. This presents an opportunity for bloggers to earn money by writing sponsored content on their blogs.

How Intellifluence Works for Bloggers

1. Sign Up for Intellifluence: Create an account on Intellifluence and provide information about your blog, such as its niche, audience demographics, and traffic statistics.
2. Select Sponsored Content Campaigns: Browse through the available sponsored content campaigns and choose those that align with your blog’s niche and audience interests.
3. Submit Content Pitches: Write compelling content pitches that outline your approach to the sponsored content campaign. Highlight your understanding of the brand, influencer, and audience.
4. Create Sponsored Content: Once your pitch is accepted, you will be tasked with creating sponsored content that aligns with the campaign guidelines. Ensure your content is authentic, engaging, and relevant to the influencer’s audience.
5. Receive Compensation: Upon successful completion of the sponsored content, you will receive compensation according to the agreed-upon rates.

My Experience With Intellifluence

I’ve had some wonderful opportunities through Intellifluence and have collaborated with some excellent brands. It’s very user friendly, you can set your niche interests and browse the marketplace to find jobs easily. They pay out reliably and automatically, and you can make some really good money if you reliably produce high quality content. I just wish there were more jobs available more regularly!

Whitepress

Whitepress stands as a prominent platform that connects businesses with content creators to produce high-quality sponsored content. This presents a lucrative opportunity for content creators to monetize their expertise and reach a wider audience.

How Whitepress Works for Content Creators

1. Sign Up for Whitepress: Create an account on Whitepress and provide information about your writing style, niche, and experience.
2. Submit Writing Samples: Submit samples of your writing to showcase your skills and expertise to potential clients.
3. Browse Sponsored Content Opportunities: Browse through the available sponsored content opportunities and choose those that align with your writing style and niche.
4. Bid on Projects: Bid on sponsored content projects by submitting proposals that address the client’s requirements and outline your approach.
5. Create Sponsored Content: If your proposal is accepted, you will be tasked with creating high-quality sponsored content that aligns with the client’s branding and messaging.
6. Receive Compensation: Upon successful completion of the sponsored content, you will receive compensation according to the agreed-upon rates.

My Experience With Whitepress

I’ve had quite a few jobs through Whitepress. They email me when someone is interested in the collaboration, and it is up to me whether I accept. The post is already written and usually they include the graphics, it’s my job to format it and post it, then promote it across my network, so a very simple process. The only downside is you have to create invoices to get paid, rather than automatic payouts.

GetBlogged

GetBlogged stands as a prominent platform that connects bloggers with brands seeking to reach their target audience through influencer marketing. This presents an opportunity for bloggers to monetize their content and collaborate with brands they align with.

How GetBlogged Works for Bloggers

1. Sign Up for GetBlogged: Create an account on GetBlogged and provide information about your blog, such as its niche, audience demographics, and content style.
2. Create a Profile: Craft a compelling profile that highlights your blog’s strengths, expertise, and audience reach.
3. Explore Brands and Campaigns: Browse through the available brands and campaigns that align with your blog’s niche and audience interests.
4. Apply for Campaigns: Apply for sponsored campaigns by submitting proposals that showcase how your blog can effectively promote the brand’s products or services.
5. Execute Campaigns: Upon successful selection, collaborate with the brand to create and execute sponsored content that aligns with the campaign’s objectives.
6. Receive Compensation: Upon completion of the campaign, receive compensation according to the agreed-upon rates.

My Experience With GetBlogged

I’ve had some fantastic jobs with GetBlogged, receiving either free products to write about, or compensation for posting both content I’ve written, or guest written articles. The marketplace is very user friendly, showing how many bloggers have pitched for each job and how many they have hired already, and you are able to set what you’d charge within the range of what they’re willing to pay. The only downside is there aren’t many jobs posted, and the competition to win the job is high.

Collaborator.pro

Collaborator.pro stands as a prominent platform that connects influencers with businesses seeking to collaborate on marketing campaigns. This presents a valuable opportunity for influencers to monetize their reach and connect with brands they align with.

How Collaborator.pro Works for Influencers

1. Sign Up for Collaborator.pro: Create an account on Collaborator.pro and provide information about your influencer profile, such as your niche, audience demographics, and engagement metrics.
2. Create a Compelling Profile: Craft a compelling profile that showcases your influencer expertise, audience reach, and engagement levels.
3. Explore Brands and Campaigns: Browse through the available brands and campaigns that align with your niche and audience interests.
4. Apply for Campaigns: Apply for sponsored campaigns by submitting proposals that outline your approach to promoting the brand’s products or services.
5. Execute Campaigns: Upon successful selection, collaborate with the brand to create and execute sponsored content that aligns with the campaign’s objectives.
6. Receive Compensation: Upon completion of the campaign, receive compensation according to the agreed-upon rates.

My Experience With Collaborator.Pro

I am brand new to Collaborator.Pro so I have very little experience. I found the application process very simple though so I am looking forward to finding out what opportunities are available!

5. Donations and Support

If you’re putting out free content, whether it’s a blog about your life or advice like this blog, you may find that your readers would love an opportunity to say thank you for your effort, and support you.

Ko-Fi

Ko-fi stands as a prominent platform that empowers content creators to receive direct support from their readers through virtual coffees. This platform fosters a connection between creators and their audience, allowing them to express gratitude for their support and build a loyal community.

How Ko-fi Benefits Content Creators

• Earn Direct Support: Receive direct financial support from readers, enabling you to continue creating content and invest in your creative endeavors.
• Build a Loyal Community: Nurture a strong relationship with your audience, fostering a sense of appreciation and loyalty.
• Showcase Appreciation: Express gratitude to your readers for their support through personalized messages and rewards.
• Promote Your Content: Use Ko-fi to promote your content, attract new readers, and grow your audience.
• Diversify Income Streams: Supplement your existing income sources by leveraging Ko-fi as a means of direct support from your audience.

My Experiences With Ko-Fi

I love Ko-Fi. I’ve had some lovely and very kind people support my work by buying me a coffee on the platform, and it’s super easy to integrate into your blog. I include a tip button at the top and bottom of all articles, so readers can offer thanks or support super easily. I also have a shop selling ebooks and art as part of my Ko-Fi.

Paypal.Me

PayPal.me stands as a user-friendly tool that enables bloggers to receive direct payments from their readers without the hassle of setting up a traditional business account. This platform offers a straightforward and efficient way to monetize blog content and connect with a supportive audience.

How PayPal.me Benefits Bloggers

• Direct Payment Collection: Receive payments directly from readers through their own PayPal accounts, eliminating the need for setting up a business account.
• Seamless Integration: Integrate PayPal.me links into blog posts, social media profiles, or email newsletters, making it easy for readers to support the blog.
• Transparent Transactions: Provide readers with a clear and transparent way to make payments, promoting trust and openness.
• Secure Payment Gateway: Leverage PayPal’s secure payment gateway to ensure the protection of both bloggers and their readers’ financial information.
• Diversification of Income Streams: Supplement blog revenue by accepting payments through PayPal.me, expanding income options.

My Experiences With Paypal.Me

This is a super easy easy way to accept payments directly from your readers who have a Paypal Account. It’s really easy to integrate and you can add button links or just in text links to your Paypal.Me page, and readers can send you a tip for your efforts.

Conclusion:

If you’ve been working on your blog and building up a good network of readers and you’re looking to start making money from your work, then I hope the ideas I’ve outlined above will give you solid idea of what you can do!

If you have any other options, please let me know so I can check them out and share them with my fellow writers!