In my opinion, blogging is the ultimate dream job! You get to set your own schedule, you don’t have to report to anyone, and the earning potential is virtually limitless.
Maybe you already have a blog, but it’s not making any money yet. Or perhaps you’ve heard that people make money blogging and you’re wondering how they do it. Blogging can open up dozens of different revenue streams, but let’s keep it simple to start.
Here are four common ways to make money with your blog, even if you’re a beginner. Many successful bloggers use all of them, but if you’re just starting out, it’s best to focus on one and master it before moving on.
**Affiliate Marketing**
Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest ways to make money as a new blogger. It involves earning a commission when someone buys something through a link on your blog. You’ll get a special tracking link, called an affiliate link, which installs a cookie on the user’s computer. This tracks the sale back to you, even if the purchase happens days or weeks later.
Many online stores and products have their own affiliate programs, and there are also affiliate networks that cover multiple brands. The programs you choose will depend on your blog’s niche and the products you want to promote. Here are some general affiliate networks that might be useful:
– **Amazon Affiliates:** You can link to anything sold on Amazon and earn a commission. They have different programs for various countries, so make sure you sign up for the right one for your audience. The commission rates are low, but Amazon is a trusted brand, so conversion rates are high.
– **MagicLinks:** Great for fashion and home items. Some partners pay per click, not just for purchases, so you can start making money immediately.
– **Awin:** Covers a wide range of brands and is the affiliate partner for Etsy.
– **ShareASale:** Another network with many brands, ideal for lifestyle bloggers.
– **Skimlinks:** Converts regular links into affiliate links if they are part of its network.
– **MaxBounty:** Good for promoting survey sites and other money-making opportunities.
There are also many individual affiliate programs. Just Google the product or service name with “affiliate” to find them.
**Sponsored Posts**
Sponsored posts are when a company pays you to publish a post mentioning or linking to them. Sometimes you write the post, and sometimes they provide the content. This can be harder for beginners, as most brands want to see an established site with a good Domain Authority (DA).
Fees for sponsored posts vary widely but generally increase as your blog becomes more established. Here are some places to find sponsored post opportunities:
– **Intellifluence**
– **Get Blogged**
– **Bloggers Connected**
– **helloSPON**
– **UK Blogger Opportunities Facebook group**
– **Bonjour Blogger**
**Ads**
Advertising is an easy way to make money from your blog, but you need a lot of page views to make significant income. Once set up, ads generate passive income. Different ad networks have varying requirements and payouts. Here are some recommendations:
– **Beginner:** Google Adsense or media.net
– **10,000 pageviews/month:** Monumetric
– **50,000 sessions/month:** Mediavine
**Selling a Product**
Many bloggers sell their own products, such as printable worksheets, ebooks, or physical items. Ebooks and online courses are popular because they can be sold repeatedly. You can sell directly from your blog or through third-party sites like Amazon or Etsy. You can even have other bloggers promote your product for a commission.
Ready to start making money from your blog? Affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, advertising, and selling products are the four most common ways to monetize. There are many other methods, but these are the easiest for beginners. Which ones have you tried? Do you know any other ways bloggers get paid? Stay tuned for more posts about making money blogging!