How to Make Money Blogging for Beginners (Including Tips)

Blogs help people learn, connect, discover new ideas, and solve real-world problems. Makeup tutorials, travel stories, marketing tips, or political deep-dives — blogs cover everything. If there’s a niche, there’s a blog for it — or there will be once you start one. 

There’s a million-dollar question: Can blogs make money?

Absolutely, you can, even with a small blog. But it takes time, strategy, and a whole lot of consistency. Blogs don’t start making money immediately (unless you’ve already got a viral post or a massive following). 

So, how do you go from starting out to earning online? Let’s check out how to make money blogging, even as a complete beginner.

What is Blogging? Can Blogs Really Make Money?

Blogging started as a simple way for people to document their thoughts, daily experiences, and personal stories online. It’s short for weblog, which means logging things on the web. But blogging has come a long way since those early internet days. It’s no longer just about journaling what you had for breakfast (unless you’re a food blogger — then it is).

Today, blogs are dynamic platforms for communication, education, and influence. They can be personal, professional, or a blend of both. And you don’t need to be highly tech-savvy to start one. Blogging is available to anyone with ideas or experiences to communicate. 

Now, check out some of the most popular ways to make money blogging:

Affiliate Marketing

You promote a product or service—something useful, relevant to your audience (and ideally something you’ve used yourself). You include a special link called an affiliate link in your blog post. When someone clicks that link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission. 

Affiliate marketing fits into blogging. For instance, you run a blog about blogging tips or online business and recommend web hosting products like the one you use to run your site. It feels natural, and your readers actually want those insights. Affiliate marketing takes much effort and strategy, but it’s a fantastic way to monetize your blog. 

Source: WPX

IMPORTANT: 

Only promote what genuinely aligns with your niche and values. Many beginners view affiliate marketing as a shortcut to quick income. However, consistency and credibility are far more important. If your content feels forced or overly promotional, it is unlikely to be effective.

And here’s a super important point: transparency. Readers should know when you’re earning a commission. Disclose affiliate relationships clearly, usually right at the top or within the post. Not only does that build credibility, but it keeps you on the right side of regulations.

Display Advertising

This is a classic way to make money blogging. It is when you allow companies to place visual ads on your blog, and in return, you earn some cash. Most commonly, payment is based on either impressions or clicks. However, not all blog niches generate the same level of advertising revenue.

Display ads are one of the easiest income streams to set up. Once you meet the network’s requirements (like a minimum number of monthly views), the ads basically run themselves. Ads usually show up in the header, sidebar, or between paragraphs of a blog post. They’re placed there through advertising networks. Google AdSense is one of the most well-known.

OPPOSITE VIEW:

While ad networks are one of the most popular methods for monetizing blogs, many bloggers now consider them outdated. Some feel that ads clutter their websites, disrupt the reading experience, and annoy visitors, especially since users no longer click on them as often as before.

Selling Digital Products

A survey by GrowthBadger found that Google AdSense is the most common way bloggers monetize their content. However, among higher-income bloggers, AdSense ranks third—they are 2.5 times more likely to earn money by selling their own products or services than by using AdSense. 

Selling digital products is one of the favorite ways to make money from blogging: eBooks, online courses, templates, stock photos, or design kits. Digital products let you monetize your expertise. That’s powerful. 

Selling Services Online

Whether your expertise is content writing, web design, coaching, or specialized niches like SEO or web hosting, your blog can be a powerful launchpad. Every post demonstrates your skills and expertise, that you know what you’re doing, and that you can help the audience.

You choose the services you provide. You determine your pricing and manage client relationships. Promoting your services requires showcasing the value you bring through content, case studies, and testimonials that spotlight how you work.

Selling Physical Products

Many bloggers build an online store right on their blog or through an e-commerce platform and start selling things their readers actually want to own. It could be t-shirts, mugs, or handmade goodies you craft yourself. If you’re looking for inspiration, there are plenty of e-commerce website examples to explore.

Just sell something useful that fits your niche and speaks to the audience. After all, people love to support creators they trust.

EXPERT OPINION:

“Don’t find customers for your products; find products for your customers.” 

– Seth Godin – 

Sponsors

A sponsored post is basically a paid partnership. You create a blog post—whether it’s a product review, a how-to, or a listicle—that features a brand offering. You get paid for your words, influence, and audience reach. 

Sponsored content can pay very well, especially if your blog has a loyal, engaged audience or you are in a niche that brands are actively targeting. Even smaller blogs can get sponsors if they have a highly specific and engaged community. 

Transparency is non-negotiable. Disclose when a post is sponsored. Readers usually appreciate honesty.

Source: WPX

Memberships or Subscriptions

This is also one of the favorite ways to monetize because it lets you build a community while getting paid to create content you genuinely love. You get support from your fans.

You offer special, members-only content in exchange for a recurring fee. This could be anything from bonus blog posts, early access to content, exclusive videos, or live Q&As. People are happy to pay when they feel they’re getting something unique.

Email Marketing 

It means building an email list of subscribers who want to hear from you. People who’ve invited you into their inbox.

You can include affiliate links to products you genuinely recommend, promote your own digital products, invite readers to upcoming webinars, or share early-bird deals for your shop. Basically, your email list functions as a personalized marketing tool that helps you connect directly with your audience and drive meaningful engagement.

Successful email marketing is about building trust, delivering value, and keeping your audience excited to open your emails every time they see your name. 

Also read 9 Smart Ways to Make Money Online in 2025

Top Useful Tips for How to Make Money Blogging for Beginners

If you start blogging with focus and consistency, you’ll soon find yourself building an audience, exploring new income streams, and enjoying the creative process. So, ready to begin your journey as a blogger? Read on for top tips on how to start blogging and make money.

Source: WPX

1. Select a Profitable Niche

When you choose your niche, try asking yourself what you know well enough, what you enjoy sharing, and if people are already searching for this or spending money in this space. You’d be surprised how powerful it is when those three align. 

It’s recommended to choose a profitable niche. That doesn’t mean you need to sell out or pick the trendiest niche. But you do want to be realistic, if there’s no demand, it’s going to be tough to grow. 

According to the survey by Productive Blogging, the following niches were the ones represented by bloggers earning $1,000 or more per month:

• Food/Recipes
• Arts/Crafts
• Personal Finance
• Travel
• Beauty/Fashion/Hair
• Education/Home-schooling
• Gardening
• Health/Fitness
• Home Decor
• Lifestyle
• Online Business
• Parenting

A survey by RankIQ also revealed that food, personal finance, lifestyle, and travel are among the top highest-earning blog niches. It’s clear that you can make money blogging about your life, as personal experiences often deeply connect with and inspire readers.

Take it easy. Choosing a niche doesn’t mean you have to commit to one thing forever. But you do need to start with clarity because a focused blog builds trust, which leads to traffic, engagement, and eventually income.

2. Choose the Right Blogging Platform

There are tons of blogging platforms out there. We recommend thinking like a bloggerpreneur from day one. You’re not just writing for fun; you’re building an online asset. So, invest the time in setting it up right.

When people talk about blogging platforms, WordPress.org is the go-to choice for anyone who’s serious about building a money-making blog. It’s a self-hosted platform where you’re in control of your content, customizations, and income streams. But to self-host your WordPress blog, you need a hosting service (like WPX). 

Be simple: If your blog is a house, then your hosting provider is the land your house sits on. You need that land to build your site and keep it running.

3. Build Quality Content

Your content keeps users coming back and brings in the money over time. You can write blog posts, snap stunning photos, and create quick tip videos. Keep it legal. Do not lift other people’s work without permission.

How long should your blog posts be? A survey revealed that 75% of readers prefer blog posts under 1,000 words. Supporting this, 31% of marketers and business owners believe short-form content tends to perform best, according to Semrush’s 2023 report. Only 3% of bloggers regularly write articles over 2,000 words; most blog posts fall between 500 and 1,500 words, as reported by Orbit Media.

After all, the most important thing is to focus on content that’s useful and easy to read. In fact, 62% of top-performing blog posts are rated as easy or fairly easy to read, compared to only 24% of low-performing ones.

Set a posting schedule. Aim at least once a month, but some topics (like trending news) might need weekly updates. As of August 2023, according to Statista’s report, nearly 24% of bloggers worldwide said they publish blog posts weekly. About 23% post several times a month, while 17% blog monthly.

4. Promote Your Blog

Build your community to promote your blog. Social platforms are powerful tools for connecting with your audience; nearly 50% of bloggers say they get most of their visitors from social media (First Site Guide, 2020), but you don’t need to be on all of them. Start with 1–2 platforms that align with your niche. For instance, if you’re blogging about tech tips, LinkedIn and X can be great places to begin.

In addition, your email list is truly powerful. Your email list is yours, and nobody can take that away. Even if you’re starting from zero, start collecting emails from day one. Offer something small but valuable: a checklist, a discount, or a downloadable template. Then, keep in touch with those readers. Consistent newsletters can drive traffic back to your site.

Try to learn basic SEO. SEO has grown in popularity as a way to attract blog readers, with 66% of bloggers using it in their strategy. Focus each blog post on one clear topic, use keywords that people actually search for, and write clear headlines.

Collaborate. Guest posting on someone else’s blog, interviewing other creators, joining online communities, etc. These strategies all get your name in front of new audiences.

Don’t forget to review your analytics regularly to see what posts are popular, where people are coming from, and what content keeps them engaged. If a post is attracting significant traffic, consider creating a follow-up article, a downloadable guide, or a related YouTube video to maximize engagement and value.

SUMMARY:

When you first grow a blog, you might have big dreams and absolutely zero traffic. That’s normal. A survey by Databox showed that over 55% of experts said it typically takes 3 to 9 months for a new blog to start gaining initial traction, while achieving significant growth usually takes more than 1 year. Everything begins somewhere. Use your time to dive into analytics, rewrite headlines, update old posts, or watch tutorial videos about SEO strategy. Be consistent, then things will work.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to make money blogging, it’s time to stop scrolling and start writing. Don’t be discouraged by slow starts. Be patient. The blog you build today could become your most valuable online asset tomorrow.