Understanding blog monetization models: From ads to affiliate marketing and products – BrilliantBloggers.com

Monetizing your blog might sound complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’ve ever wondered how those blog ads, affiliate links and products actually make money, you’re not alone. With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. But don’t worry — once you break down the most common monetization models, the path to turning your blog into a moneymaker becomes much clearer. Read on to learn more about blog monetization, from classic ads to your own products and the ever-popular affiliate marketing, and see what options work best for your websites.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a small commission. Thank you!

Display ads: The classic model

If you’ve been around the blogging scene for a while, you’ve likely come across blogs littered with banner ads. These are the classic display ads, and they’re one of the easiest ways to start monetizing your site. Think of them like digital billboards that pay you every time a visitor either sees or clicks on them.

The most popular option for beginners is Google AdSense. It’s a user-friendly platform that matches relevant ads to your content. You don’t need to be a tech whiz to get started, either. Once you’ve signed up and inserted the code into your blog, AdSense takes care of the rest — displaying ads and tracking your earnings. 

AdSense is notoriously low paying. Other companies like Monumetric offer a bit more, but you could also hold out for MediaVine or Raptive which pay the most. Each company has its own threshold for getting accepted, so keep that in mind before applying.

How it works:

• Cost per Click (CPC): You get paid every time someone clicks on an ad.
• Cost per Thousand (CPM): You earn money based on the number of times the ad is shown, regardless of clicks.

The pros and cons of display ads

Display ads are a popular starting point because they require low effort. You can throw some banners up and start earning money without creating additional content. However, they don’t always provide big payouts unless you have massive traffic. A blog with only a few thousand visitors a month might not see a huge return with display ads alone.

Pros:

• Easy to set up.
• Completely passive income.

Cons:

• Low-income potential unless you have a lot of traffic or are on one of the bigger display ad companies like Raptive or MediaVine’s products.
• Can clutter your blog and distract your audience from the content. Sites with too many ads are considered poor user experience, so always temper earning potential with user experience.

Sponsored content: Collaborating with brands

Sponsored content takes things up a notch, allowing you to work directly with brands. You get paid to write about a product or service and publish that post on your blog. Brands typically want to tap into your audience and gain credibility through your platform.

It’s important to keep in mind that your readers trust your opinion. Only partner with brands that align with your blog’s niche and values, so you don’t come off as inauthentic. Transparency is also key — disclose your sponsorships so your audience knows when you’re being paid to promote something.

We have a sponsored content expert in the Brilliant Bloggers community and many experienced bloggers there who can offer you all the advice you’ll ever need.

How it works:

• Brands pay you to create content that features their product or service, either in a blog post, social media post or a combination.

The pros and cons of sponsored content

Sponsored content is a win-win when it’s done right. You get paid, and brands get exposure to your audience. However, finding the right partnerships can take some effort, and you’ll want to make sure you maintain your readers’ trust.

Pros:

• Can be highly profitable.
• Helps build long-term brand relationships.

Cons:

• Finding brands willing to sponsor you can take time.
• Can feel like “selling out” if done too often or with the wrong brands.
• Brands are often picky, giving you a long list of criteria that must be met for each post or article.

Affiliate marketing: Earning while you recommend

Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular and effective ways to make money as a blogger. The concept is simple: You promote a product or service on your blog, and if someone purchases through your unique affiliate link, you earn a commission. It’s like being a salesperson for the products you already love and use.

Amazon Associates is a great program to start with since you can link to pretty much any product sold on Amazon. There are also affiliate networks, like ShareASale, CJ Affiliate and Rakuten Advertising, offering partnerships with a wide variety of brands.

Companies like Levanta, an official Amazon partner, offer higher commission rates and an easy-to-use platform to connect with brands.

How it works:

• You join an affiliate program.
• You get a unique tracking link for the product or service you’re promoting.
• When someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.

The pros and cons of affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing can be incredibly profitable, especially when done right. The best part is that it doesn’t require creating new products — just promoting what’s already out there. However, it can take time to build up enough of an audience to start seeing significant returns.

Pros:

• Can provide passive income.
• Flexible and works in most niches.

Cons:

• Requires a good amount of traffic to be truly profitable.
• Can come off as spammy if overdone.

Selling digital products: Sharing your expertise

Why not sell something you’ve created? Digital products like eBooks, courses and printables are a great way to monetize your expertise. This can be a big money-maker if you have valuable knowledge or resources to offer. The best part? You only need to create the product once, but you can sell it over and over.

You don’t need to be an expert in everything to create a digital product. Maybe you’ve got a knack for meal planning, budgeting or DIY crafts — whatever it is, there’s probably an audience for it. Platforms like Etsy, Gumroad or even your own blog can be used to sell these products.

How it works:

• Create a digital product that your audience will find valuable.
• Sell it directly from your blog or through a third-party platform.

We have an ebook expert in the Brilliant Bloggers community, and she makes a huge income earning from her digital products.

The pros and cons of selling digital products

Selling digital products can be incredibly rewarding. Once it’s created, you don’t need to keep investing time to generate income from it. However, you’ll need to market it well, or it may sit on your site without many sales.

Pros:

• High earning potential.
• Products can be sold repeatedly with little ongoing effort.

Cons:

• Requires upfront work to create the product.
• Needs strong marketing to attract buyers.

Offering services: Turning skills into income

Maybe you’re not interested in selling physical products but have skills to offer. From freelance writing to graphic design, offering services is another monetization model that’s gaining popularity. If you’re skilled in something your readers need help with, why not turn that into a side business?

The key to offering services is knowing what your audience needs. For example, if your blog focuses on business tips, you might offer consulting or coaching sessions. If it’s a food blog, you could offer meal-planning services. Tailoring your offerings to your audience can lead to a steady stream of clients.

How it works:

• You promote your services directly through your blog.
• Clients contact you for custom work or consulting.

The pros and cons of offering services

Offering services can bring in higher income than passive monetization methods, but it also requires your time and effort. You’re trading hours for dollars, so scaling can be a challenge.

Pros:

• High-income potential.
• You can start with no upfront investment.

Cons:

• Time-intensive.
• Hard to scale.

Choosing the right monetization model

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to monetizing a blog. Some bloggers succeed with display ads, while others thrive with affiliate marketing or selling digital products. It all depends on your audience, niche and how much time you’re willing to invest.

The key is to start small and experiment. You can always diversify your income streams later. As your blog grows, so will your opportunities to monetize it effectively. So, whether you’re dipping your toes into affiliate marketing or going all in on sponsored content, the possibilities are endless.

Jennifer Allen, co-founder of Brilliant Bloggers and Food Drink Life, is a retired professional chef and long-time writer. Her work has been featured in numerous top publications worldwide, including The Seattle Times, Morning AG Clips, Chronicle-Tribune, Los Angeles Daily News and Daily Press, among others. She manages nine personal websites and has authored two cookbooks, “Keto Soup Cookbook” and “Keto Diabetic Cookbook and Meal Plan.” These days, she’s busy in the kitchen, developing recipes for various publications and traveling. You can find all her best recipes at Cook What You Love.

Source