Want to make money online with a blog but don’t know where to start? You’re not alone – 90% of bloggers fail because they miss these profit-boosting tactics
In this guide, you’ll learn:
✔️ 7 real ways bloggers earn in 2025 (not just ads!)
✔️ How to avoid common money-losing mistakes
✔️ Exact steps to go from 1,000/month
7 Proven Ways to Make Money Online With a Blog
1. Affiliate Marketing (10,000/month)
How it works: Promote products and earn commissions (3%-70% per sale).
Top Programs to Join:
- Bluehost ($65/signup – ideal for “best hosting” posts)
- Amazon Associates (4% commission – low but easy sales)
- ConvertKit ($30/signup – perfect for blogging tools, content)
Create comparison posts like:
“Shopify vs WordPress: Which Makes More Money in 2025?”
(These convert 3x better than single-product reviews.)
Case Study:
“My ‘Best WordPress Themes’ post made $2,100 in 3 months promoting Astra Theme.
2. Sell Digital Products (100% Profit Margins)
Best-Selling Digital Products:
| Product Type | Price Range | Example |
|---|---|---|
| E-books | 10−50 | “Blogging for Beginners: Launch in 1 Day” |
| Canva Templates | 5−20 | Instagram Story templates for coaches |
| Printables | 3−15 | Budget planners (sell on Etsy + your blog) |
Use Payhip or Gumroad (no upfront costs).
Promote via:
- Blog posts (“Free Budget Worksheet – Upgrade to Full Planner”)
- Pinterest pins (link to product sales page)
3. Offer Freelance Services (500/article)
(Leverage your blog as a portfolio)
How it works: Land clients through your blog’s expertise
Top services:
- Blog writing (0.10−1/word)
- SEO audits (200−500/site)
- Pinterest management (300−1k/month)
Add a “Hire Me” page showcasing:
- Client testimonials
- Case studies (e.g., “How I 3X Traffic for [Brand]”)
4. Sponsored Posts (5,000/post)
(Brands pay you to feature them)
Where to find deals:
- Pitch brands directly (“I can feature [product] to my 10k monthly readers”)
- Join networks (SheMedia, Collective Voice)
Rates by follower count:
- 5k followers: 200−500
- 50k+ followers: $2k+
Disclose sponsorships with #ad
5. Online Courses (50,000/course)
(Package your expertise)
Best platforms:
- Teachable (30k+ bloggers use it)
- Kajabi (higher fees but better tools)
Example course ideas:
- “Best niche to make money blogging for Beginners: Launch in 1 Week” ($97)
- “Pinterest Traffic Masterclass” ($297)
Use your blog posts as free previews to sell the full course
6. Membership Site (200/month)
(Recurring revenue = stable income)
What to offer members:
- Exclusive tutorials
- Monthly Q&A calls
- Downloadable templates
Tools to use:
- Patreon (simple setup)
- MemberPress (WordPress plugin)
7. Display Ads (Earn 10k/month at 50k+ visits)
Best ad networks:
- Mediavine ($25+ RPM) – Requires 50k sessions/month
- Raptive (Formerly AdThrive) – Premium CPM rates
- Ezoic (Start at 10k visits) – Uses AI optimization
Combine ads with affiliate links for 2X revenue
💰 Income Potential Comparison
| Method | Startup Cost | Monthly Potential | Time to Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliate Marketing | $0 | 500−10k | 3-6 months |
| Digital Products | 0−100 | 1k−20k | 1-3 months |
| Freelance Services | $0 | 1k−5k | Immediately |
| Sponsored Posts | $0 | 500−5k | 6-12 months |
| Online Courses | 50−500 | 5k−50k | 3-6 months |
| Membership Site | 100−300 | 1k−10k | 6-12 months |
| Display Ads | $0 | 500−10k | 12+ months |
Bookmark this table and revisit it every 3 months to track progress!
Why Most Blogs Fail to Make Money (And How to Succeed)
Over 80% of blogs never earn $100/month because they:
❌ Focus only on AdSense (too little, too late)
❌ Publish random topics instead of profit-driving content
❌ Ignore email lists (where 60% of blogger income happens)
The good news? You can shortcut success by copying what top-earning bloggers do and how to Make Money Online With a Blog.
🚀 Traffic Strategies That Work
Here are 5 proven traffic strategies to boost your blog’s visibility and earnings, each with actionable steps and real-world examples:
1. Pinterest SEO: The Silent Traffic Giant
Why it works:
- 85% of my blog’s first 50k visits came from 2 evergreen pins
- Pins continue delivering traffic for 2+ years
How to implement:
✔️ Pin design: Use Canva templates with:
- Bold text overlay (“How I Made $5,000 Blogging in 3 Months”)
- Vertical aspect ratio (1000x1500px)
✔️ Keyword-rich descriptions:
*”Learn exactly how to start a money making blog in 2025 with this step-by-step guide. Perfect for beginners wanting to earn passive income online.”*
Tool: Tailwind ($15/month) for automated scheduling.
2. Strategic Guest Posting (3X Your Reach)
How it works: Write for established blogs in your niche with backlinks to your site.
Where to pitch:
- Blogs accepting contributors (e.g., Blogging Wizard, Smart Blogger)
- HARO (Help a Reporter Out) for journalist requests
Email template:
“Hi [Name], I loved your post on [topic]. I’d love to contribute a piece like ‘[Your Pitch]’ for your readers. My work has been featured on [Site]. Let me know if you’re interested!”
Target sites with Domain Authority (DA) 30-60 – easier to get published.
3. Repurpose Content for YouTube (Tap into Video Traffic)
Why YouTube?
- YouTube drives 300% more engagement than text content
- Videos rank faster than blog posts
How to start:
Turn your top-performing blog post into a 5-10 minute tutorial
Example:
- Blog post: “7 Ways to Monetize a Blog”
- Video: “How I Made $10,000 From One Blog Post (Real Proof!)”
- Add captions (85% watch videos without sound)
- Link to your blog in the description
Equipment: Your phone + free CapCut editing software.
4. LinkedIn Articles (B2B Goldmine)
Best for: Business/finance/tech blogs
How to leverage LinkedIn:
✔️ Publish short-form articles (300-500 words) with key takeaways
✔️ Engage in niche groups (e.g., Digital Marketing Enthusiasts)
✔️ Share behind-the-scenes:
“How my blog post generated 12 client inquiries this month”
Case Study:
“My LinkedIn post about freelance writing led to 3 corporate blog contracts worth $2,400.”
5. Twitter Threads (Viral Traffic Spikes)
Why Twitter/X?
- Threads get 5- 10x more engagement than single tweets
- A fast way to drive immediate clicks
Winning formula:
- Hook: “Most bloggers fail because they make these 3 mistakes:”
- Value: Share bite-sized tips (use bullet points)
- CTA: “Want the full guide? Read here: [Link]”
Example thread that got 50k+ views:
“How I grew my blog from 0 to 50k visits in 6 months:
- Published 3 ‘money posts’ per month
- Repurposed every post on Pinterest
- Built an email list from Day 1
📊 Traffic Source ROI Comparison
| Strategy | Time Investment | Traffic Potential | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinterest SEO | 5 hrs/month | 1k-10k visits/month | Lifestyle/DIY blogs |
| Guest Posting | 3 hrs/article | 500-5k visits/post | Authority building |
| YouTube | 8 hrs/video | 10k+ visits/video | Tutorial niches |
| 2 hrs/week | 200-2k visits/post | B2B blogs | |
| Twitter Threads | 1 hr/thread | 500-50k visits/thread | Quick wins |
Combine 2-3 strategies (e.g., Pinterest + YouTube) for compound growth.
⚠️ 3 Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Monetizing Too Early (Killing Your Growth)
The Problem:
Launching ads/affiliate links before building trust. Example:
- A blog with 10 posts running 5 pop-up ads
- Every article is stuffed with affiliate links
Why It Fails:
➡️ Readers feel bombarded → high bounce rates
➡️ Google penalizes “thin affiliate content.”
Wait until you have:
- 30+ quality posts
- At least 1,000 monthly visitors
- Genuine reader engagement (comments/shares)
Mistake #2: Ignoring SEO (Traffic = Money)
The Problem:
Only sharing content on social media (Pinterest/Twitter).
Why It Fails:
➡️ Social traffic disappears quickly
➡️ Google brings consistent, free traffic
The Fix:
✔️ Do keyword research (use Ubersuggest or Keysearch)
✔️ Optimize old posts:
- Update stats (change “2022” to “2025”)
- Add internal links
- Improve meta descriptions
Case Study:
“Updating my 2-year-old SEO post doubled its traffic in 3 weeks.”
Mistake #3: Not Building an Email List (Leaving Money on the Table)
The Problem:
Relying only on social media followers.
Why It Fails:
➡️ You don’t “own” social media audiences (algorithms change)
➡️ Email subscribers spend 138% more than non-subscribers
The Fix:
✔️ Use ConvertKit or MailerLite (free up to 1,000 subs)
✔️ Offer lead magnets:
- Free checklists (e.g., “Blog Launch Checklist”)
- Mini-courses (e.g., “5-Day Pinterest Traffic Challenge”)
Add this to your sidebar:
Join 5,000+ bloggers getting weekly money making tips!
🚨 Bonus: The Silent Killer (Mistake #4)
Neglecting Evergreen Content
- Publishing only news/trends → traffic spikes, then dies
- Solution: Balance with timeless posts like:
“How to Write Blog Posts That Rank for Years”
📊 Mistake Impact Comparison
| Mistake | Traffic Loss | Income Loss | Fix Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early monetization | 50%+ | 90%+ | 3-6 months |
| No SEO | 80%+ | 70%+ | 6-12 months |
| No email list | 30%+ | 60%+ | 1-3 months |
Take Action Today:
- Audit your blog for these mistakes
- Pick one fix to implement this week
FAQ: Make Money Online with a Blog
1. How long does it take to make money online with a blog?
A: Most bloggers start earning within 3-6 months if they:
✔ Publish 15-20 quality posts (focus on “how to make money online with blog for beginners” topics)
✔ Drive traffic via Pinterest/SEO
✔ Monetize early with affiliate links or digital products
Example: “My first $100 came in Month 4 from Amazon Affiliates after publishing 12 posts.”
2. What’s the fastest way to make money online with a blog?
A: Combine these two quick-start methods:
💰 Affiliate marketing: Promote tools like Bluehost ($65/signup) in “best X” posts
💰 Freelance services: Offer blog writing or SEO audits (earn while growing traffic)
Pro Tip: “Write ‘[Product] Review’ posts, they convert 3X better than general topics.”
3. Can I really learn how to make money online with blog if I’m a beginner?
A: Absolutely! Follow this beginner-friendly path:
- Start a niche blog (e.g., “budget travel” vs. generic “lifestyle”)
- Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner to find low-competition topics
- Monetize with beginner-friendly options like Amazon Associates
Case Study: “A student made $500/month in 6 months blogging about vegan recipes.”
4. How much can I realistically make money online with a blog?
A: Income scales with traffic:
- 1k visits/month: 300 (affiliate links)
- 10k visits/month: 5k (add digital products)
Ready to turn your blog into a profit machine? By implementing these proven strategies from affiliate marketing to digital products, you can make money online with a blog starting today.
Remember, success comes from consistent action. Pick one method, apply it diligently, and scale up as you see results. The opportunity is real, and your first 100,1,000, or even $10,000 a month is closer than you think. Start now, stay persistent, and watch your blog income grow!