10 Ways to Monetize a Blog (and Which Ones Work Best in 2026)

So you've been pouring your heart into your blog, and now you're wondering how to actually make money from it. Maybe you've heard stories about bloggers earning full-time incomes, or perhaps you just want to cover your hosting costs. Either way, you're in the right place.

Here's the truth: there are more ways to monetize a blog today than ever before. But not all methods are created equal, and some will work better for your specific niche and audience than others. In this post, I'll walk you through 10 proven monetization strategies, share which ones tend to perform best, and help you figure out where to start.

Ready? Let's dive in.

1. Display Ads (Your First Income Stream)

Display ads are usually the first way bloggers start earning money, and for good reason. They're relatively easy to set up and require minimal ongoing effort.

How it works: Ad networks place advertisements on your site, and you earn money based on impressions (page views) or clicks. Google AdSense is the most beginner-friendly option since there's no traffic requirement to get started.

Once you reach higher traffic levels (typically 50,000 monthly page views), you can apply to premium ad networks like Mediavine or AdThrive. These networks pay significantly more per thousand impressions than AdSense. We're talking potentially 10x more revenue from the same traffic.

Best for: Blogs with growing traffic who want passive income.

Reality check: You won't get rich from ads alone at the beginning. Focus on building your traffic first, especially through Pinterest, which remains one of the best free traffic sources for bloggers.

2. Affiliate Marketing (Recommend What You Love)

Affiliate marketing is where you earn commissions by recommending products or services to your readers. When someone clicks your unique affiliate link and makes a purchase, you get a percentage of the sale.

How it works: You join affiliate programs (like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or CJ Affiliate), get your unique links, and naturally incorporate them into your content.

The key word here is "naturally." Your readers are smart. They can tell when you're genuinely recommending something versus just trying to make a quick buck. Always prioritize products you actually believe in.

Popular affiliate programs to explore:

Amazon Associates (great for beginners, though commission rates are lower)
ShareASale and CJ Affiliate (access to thousands of brands)
Skimlinks (automatically converts regular product links into affiliate links)
RewardStyle/LTK (popular for fashion and lifestyle bloggers)

Here's some advice: You should create dedicated resource pages or "best of" roundup posts. These tend to perform exceptionally well for affiliate income.

3. Digital Products (Keep Most of the Profit)

This is where things get exciting. When you create and sell your own digital products, you keep nearly all the profit instead of a small commission. Plus, once you've created the product, it can generate income repeatedly with minimal additional work.

Digital product ideas:

Printables (planners, worksheets, templates, checklists)
Ebooks or guides
Photo presets or design templates
Spreadsheets or trackers
Digital artwork

Getting started: You don't need fancy tools. Canva works great for creating printables, and you can sell through platforms like Gumroad, SendOwl, or even directly on your blog with WooCommerce.

Don't overthink it. Your first digital product doesn't have to be perfect. Create something helpful, get feedback, and improve from there.

4. Online Courses (Share Your Expertise)

If you've developed expertise in your niche and gotten real results, people will pay to learn from you. Online courses typically command higher price points than digital products because they offer more comprehensive transformation.

What makes a good course topic:

You have proven experience and results
There's a clear problem you can help solve
People are already asking you questions about it
You can break the topic into teachable steps

Platform options: Teachable, Thinkific, and Kajabi are popular choices for hosting courses. They handle the technical side so you can focus on creating great content.

You might feel like an imposter at first. That's normal. Remember, you don't need to know everything. You just need to be a few steps ahead of your students.

5. Sponsored Content (Partner with Brands)

Sponsored posts involve partnering with brands to create content featuring their products or services. Companies pay you to reach your audience, and you maintain editorial control over how you present their offering.

How to attract sponsors:

Create a media kit showcasing your traffic, audience demographics, and engagement
Reach out to brands you genuinely use and love
Join influencer networks like ACTIVATE or AspireIQ
Be transparent about your rates and deliverables

Best for: Bloggers with engaged audiences in specific niches (not just high traffic).

Important: Only partner with brands that align with your values and would genuinely benefit your readers. Your credibility is more valuable than any one-time payment.

6. Social Media Monetization (Multiple Revenue Streams)

Social media platforms are increasingly offering built-in monetization options. While the payouts often start small, they add up and require content you're likely already creating.

Platform opportunities:

YouTube: Ad revenue through the Partner Program
TikTok: Creator Fund and brand partnerships
Instagram: Reels bonuses and affiliate features
Pinterest: Creator Rewards Program

Best for: Bloggers who already maintain active social media presence.

Think of social media monetization as the cherry on top rather than your main income source. Use these platforms to drive traffic back to your blog where you have more control and higher earning potential.

7. Physical Products (Higher Margins, More Work)

Selling physical products gives you complete control over your offerings and typically higher profit margins than affiliate marketing. However, it also involves inventory, shipping, and customer service.

Options to consider:

Print-on-demand (no inventory risk)
Dropshipping (supplier handles fulfillment)
Creating your own products (highest margins, most control)

Best for: Established bloggers ready to operate more like a business.

Starting simple: Print-on-demand through services like Printful or Printify lets you test product ideas without upfront inventory investment.

8. Services (Trade Time for Money Strategically)

Offering services related to your blog's niche can be incredibly lucrative. While it's not passive income, service-based offerings often have the highest profit margins.

Service ideas based on your expertise:

Consulting or coaching
Freelance writing or design
Virtual assistance
Photography or videography
Home organizing, meal planning, or other specialized skills

Best for: Bloggers who enjoy one-on-one work and want to establish authority.

Your blog serves as your portfolio and marketing tool, attracting clients who already trust your expertise. It's a natural progression for many bloggers.

9. Memberships or Subscription Content

Recurring revenue is the dream, right? Memberships give your most dedicated readers access to exclusive content, community, or perks in exchange for a monthly fee.

What to offer members:

Exclusive articles, videos, or tutorials
Private community access
Monthly live Q&A sessions
Downloadable resources and templates
Early access to new content

Best for: Bloggers with highly engaged audiences craving deeper connection.

Platforms: Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, or membership plugins for WordPress make this easier than ever.

Start small. You don't need hundreds of members to make meaningful income. Even 50 members paying $10/month is $500 in recurring revenue.

10. Email Marketing (Your Most Valuable Asset)

Wait, isn't email marketing a strategy, not a monetization method? Yes and no. Your email list is actually your most valuable asset for monetizing your blog because it gives you direct access to your most engaged readers.

How email drives revenue:

Promoting your own products and courses
Sharing affiliate offers that genuinely help subscribers
Building relationships that lead to higher conversions
Maintaining income even if social media algorithms change

Best for: Every single blogger, regardless of niche or experience level.

If you take one thing from this post, let it be this: start building your email list today. Use a service like ConvertKit, MailerLite, or Flodesk, and offer a valuable freebie in exchange for email addresses.

Which Monetization Methods Work Best in 2025?

Here's the honest answer: it depends on your niche, traffic level, and strengths. But if I had to create a roadmap for most bloggers, here's what I'd recommend:

When you're just starting (0-10k monthly page views):

Focus on building your email list
Join Amazon Associates and practice affiliate marketing
Apply for Google AdSense to earn something while you grow

As you gain traction (10k-50k monthly page views):

Create your first digital product
Actively grow your affiliate partnerships
Reach out for sponsored post opportunities

Once you're established (50k+ monthly page views):

Apply to premium ad networks like Mediavine
Launch an online course
Consider physical products or services
Explore membership options

The most successful bloggers don't rely on just one income stream. They diversify. Ads might bring in steady passive income, while affiliate marketing provides commissions, and digital products offer high-profit margins.

Here's Your Action Plan

Feeling overwhelmed? Don't be. You don't need to implement all of these at once. In fact, please don't try to!

Start here:

Month 1-3: Set up Google AdSense and join 2-3 affiliate programs relevant to your niche. Focus most of your energy on creating great content and building traffic.
Month 4-6: Create your first simple digital product based on questions your readers keep asking.
Month 7-12: Apply to better ad networks if you qualify, reach out to brands for sponsored opportunities, and consider what course or service you could offer.

Remember, every successful blogger started exactly where you are now. They just kept showing up, testing what worked, and improving over time.

Your blog won't become a money-making machine overnight, and that's perfectly okay. Focus on serving your readers first, and the monetization opportunities will follow naturally. Some months will surprise you with unexpected income spikes. Other months will be slower. That's just how it goes.

The bloggers who succeed are the ones who don't give up. They treat their blog like a real business, invest in learning, and stay consistent even when results feel slow.

Pick one monetization method from this list, commit to implementing it this month, and see what happens. Then come back and try another.

Your future self will thank you for starting today.