Updated: January 5, 2016.
Today's post is the one that many of you have been waiting for. I don't think a single day goes by without me receiving an e-mail regarding how a person can make money blogging online and/or how to make money online.
If you are interested in starting a blog of your own, I created a tutorial that will help you start a blog of your own for cheap, starting at only $3.49 per month (this low price is only through my link) for blog hosting. In addition to the low pricing, you will receive a free blog domain (a $15 value) through my Bluehost link if you purchase at least 12 months of blog hosting. FYI, you want to be self-hosted. This is essential if you want to monetize your blog as you will appear more professional and this will help you monetize your blog tremendously.
Sometimes it's bloggers who e-mail me, but half the time the e-mails are from readers who do not have a blog but are interested in starting a money making blog.
As most of you have seen, a big bulk of my income every month comes from my blog in some form (I made over $320,000 online in 2015): advertising, affiliate income, consulting and so on. This How To Make Money Blogging post will be all about various ways that you can make money blogging.
When I started my blog in August of 2011, I never thought I’d be where I am at today. Now, I blog full-time, earn a great income, and I travel full-time, as you can see from my monthly online income report updates.
My extra income from my blog started slow, but within the past couple of months it has jumped significantly. I spend all of my extra time on finding extra income methods, and it definitely seems to be working.
Don't forget these other posts in my blogging series:
- Tips for Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics – This post is all about tips for beginner bloggers and I talk about mistakes that I made and also how you can get ahead.
- Blogger or WordPress – Tips on How to Move – Are you still on Blogger? There are SO many reasons why you should switch to WordPress now.
- How to Start a Blog – Tips for a Beginner – This post had a very similar title to the first post on this list, but this post is mainly about how to get started with your hosting, picking a domain and actually starting your blog.
- My Monthly Online Income Reports – I show you exactly how I earn a living each month along with valuable tips to help you along the way.
How to make money online blogging:
Use advertising networks to make money online.
This includes Adsense, Media.net, and many, many other companies.
You can place Adsense or other ad networks (such as Media.net) ads pretty much anywhere on your blog. Usually, bloggers place them in their sidebars, but you can also place them within posts, only on your homepage, as a banner above your header or within your blog’s footer.
It’s an easy way to make money blogging as all you have to do is insert the code that is provided to you. In general, the more page views you receive, the higher your income from ad networks will be.
Take part in affiliate marketing to make money online.
EDIT May 5, 2016: You can sign up for the waitlist for my affiliate income strategy online course here. I will be sharing tips on how I earn over $50,000 a month through affiliate marketing. By signing up for the waitlist, you will have access to it as soon as possible!
Affiliate income is something I’ve been working on more than ever lately. I am earning around $30,000 a month from it, and I believe it will continue to grow.
Affiliate income is great because you can create a post, review, etc., and then that post may earn you money years down the line with minimal work needed to maintain that article. It can be somewhat passive, which is what I love about it.
I believe recommending products you believe in is best. A lot of my affiliate income is from my How To Start a Blog post and that is because I include everything a person needs to know about blogging in that tutorial.
There are many affiliate programs out there, and you can always check out your favorite products to see if they have an affiliate program.
Affiliate income is where you will have a link (such as with my Bluehost link) and you recommend products in your blog posts. Then, when someone clicks on your link and buys something (according to the requirements of the affiliate program), you then make money. There is usually a 30 or 60-day wait on your funds, but that seems to be normal as Adsense does something similar as well.
Max Bounty – This is one of the largest affiliate programs that exists. Highly recommend!
Avant Link – This is an affiliate company that I highly recommend. They have many different companies that you can sign up for and they are easy to work with.
Link Vehicle – This is a relatively new affiliate website, but they have several affiliates that you have probably heard of.
Flex Offers – This seems to be one of the top affiliate programs/companies out there. There are a lot of companies on Flex Offers. You just sign up for Flex Offers and then after you are signed up, you can sign up for individual companies to promote. There are numerous companies for which you can get affiliate links for, such as clothing stores, Starbucks and so on. If you like a company, I bet you will find an affiliate program on there for it.
Commission Junction – This is another favorite affiliate program website of mine.
EJunkie – I've promoted a couple of ebooks that I love through here. There are tons of books on this site and I'm sure you could find something to promote.
Amazon's Affiliate Program – I just started using Amazon's Affiliate program, but I am excited about it. You promote products from Amazon and hopefully readers click on your link. You then get a percentage of the sales.
Swagbucks – I also use Swagbucks as well. I don't make a ton of money from it, but I do cash all of my referral points for Amazon gift cards. I'm currently going to save everything I earn and hopefully get something awesome once I reach maybe $500 in Amazon gift cards. I'm thinking maybe a Camera (see what I did there, combined what I want using Amazon's affiliate program along with Swagbucks!).
Related articles:
- 75+ Ways To Make Extra Money
- 10 Ways To Make Money Online From The Comfort of Your Home
- 10 Things I’ve Done To Make Extra Money
- Ways To Make An Extra $1,000 A Month
Direct advertising.
Direct advertising is when a company reaches out to you and asks you to either publish a post on their behalf that they write or you write a post for them. The post may be about a product that they sell, a review of their company or product, a post about something related to their industry, and so on.
If you decide to do direct advertising, please be aware of how much you should be charging. There are numerous websites out there that have guidelines publicly available. The other day on Facebook (I won’t say who it was), I noticed that someone was offering $5 text link ads to her readers who blog as well. There were TONS of people who jumped at this and were commenting saying that they wanted in.
People, your blog is worth much more than $5!
I always recommend that a person charge at least $150 for a blog advertisement, and once your blog is more established you may be able to charge a few thousand PER post.
Staff writing/consulting in order to make money online.
I don't know if this should be included in today's post, but it does fit in. You can write for other websites and there is usually a set fee that either you or the website owner sets. It seems like many websites have staff writers, and I even have one of my own (Jordann). Read my post So You Want to Become a Freelance Writer to learn more.
Blog consulting can be a variety of things. Perhaps you can help other bloggers learn how to blog and are staying on call to pretty much be their “coach.” You can also offer market research opportunities for advertisers and companies and offer them consulting on their new products, companies or websites.
Are you interested in learning how to make money online? Are you interested in making money through blogging?
Please check out my article How To Start Your Own WordPress Blog if you are ready to start blogging.
Subscribe to get the free Master Your Money course!
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Related Posts
How To Start A Successful Blog In 10 Steps
How To Start A WordPress Blog On Bluehost
Tips For Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics
Blogger or WordPress – Tips on How to Move
$13,673 December Income – My Monthly Online Income Report and 2014 Wrap Up
How This 25 Year Old Earns $15,000 A Month From Her Blog
chelsey says
April 14, 2014 at 7:01 pmI am very interested in starting a blog. And all for it I am a little concerned with earning money though do I get a check in the mail or is it through something like PayPal where I need my account number online…
Melissa says
June 2, 2014 at 2:04 pmI loved this post so much, Michelle. Definitely bookmarking it. Thanks for all the helpful info – can’t wait to read the next installment!
Fiona Williams says
June 30, 2014 at 9:59 amFor me blogging is just one way of earning extra income. But if you are just new to it, I will recommend not relying so much on it as your only source of income. Learn the ropes, get yourself better and better at it then decide later if this type of profession is good for you. Will it be sustainable until the end? So for me, blogging is just a part time job, I am keeping my job which gives a steady source of income.
EarlyRetirementGuy says
August 2, 2014 at 5:54 pmGreat post and so true about the first year being the toughest, I recall reading somewhere that a majority of blogs do not continue past their first year.. infact quite a lot never post any content at all!
Sam @ Frugaling.org says
August 5, 2014 at 4:22 pmYou’re an inspiration, Michelle! I can’t believe the kind of growth you’ve been displaying on your site and through your earnings. Well done!
Please keep up the great work. I’m thinking about breaking down my earnings month-to-month very soon.
-Sam
Mrs. Maroon says
August 27, 2014 at 1:36 pmMr. Maroon and I are very new to the blogging world. We did a bang up job in January. And then somehow life got in the way… excuses! We have recently started back, and I must say that I’m completely addicted to it. I find myself trying to frame almost every single thing that happens in my day-to-day life into a worthwhile post.
We have a burning desire to achieve financial independence, or more importantly, employment independence by 2020. Every day I think more and more about how I could use our blog platform to accelerate that progress. I find this article inspiring and very informative. You can be assured that I plan to continue reading and researching in my quest to leave the J.O.B. that I currently rely on so heavily.
Thanks for all of the advice, Michelle!! I will be back again very soon!
Carolyn says
September 19, 2014 at 11:16 amGoogle Adsense is a good way to monetize your blog if you are writing about how-to posts. It has worked on my blog.
At first I have to test which ad is better (image or link) and its position. Don’t forget to dress up the ad whether you want it to stand out or blend in the content.
Tip: ads placed inside and close to the post are clicked often = more $$$ earnings.
Just a warning though, don’t clutter your blog and choose ads that will benefit your readers.
Earning through blogging takes time. The challenge is will you stick to it long enough to enjoy the rewards? Say you will.
Press on. Keep the words marching on.
Gabriel Rossi says
October 10, 2014 at 7:34 amBlogging would help me improve my writing skill and help me express myself better in english (like french and italian, I use to read a lot of things, but never try to write), but I do not have many free time, I’m always translating and studying and, sometimes, my eyes get tired =(
Thanx for all tips and advices 😉
Michelle S. says
October 23, 2014 at 10:08 pmWelcome Gabriel 🙂
Linda says
October 23, 2014 at 10:06 pmDear Michelle, I’ve enjoyed looking at your blog. I have a basic question so excuse my inexperience. I would like to start a blog about kindness and making an impact through our actions. I would like to make money on this blog and donate to my favorite charities. I you sign up for affiliates is this a guanteed income?
My dream is to build houses thru a couple of my favorite charities. Is us ok to say their names on my blog or is that frowned upon.
I would also like to do another blog to help my husband and I to pay off some student loans for my kids.
Are these realistic goals? the housing that I would like to build in Latin america is only 3200 and I have some of my own money saved but this would help alot and impact a family in a great way. Your advise is appreciated!! Linda
Michelle S. says
October 23, 2014 at 10:13 pmHello Linda,
Sounds like you have a great blog idea here. With blogging, there is no guaranteed income. You might make money, but you may not. It really all just depends on your writing skills, networking skills, and how much work you put into it. Blogging also does not bring in immediate income. It took me around 6 months to make my first $100.
I’m not sure how a charity blog works, but I’m sure it’s fine to mention the name of the charities. You can always reach out to the charity and ask as well.
When you are ready to create your blog, I have a tutorial that you will find helpful – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2014/08/how-to-start-a-wordpress-blog-on-bluehost.html
Dawn says
November 5, 2014 at 10:18 amHi! Should I set up a separate page for my blog on facebook or just use my current personal page?
Michelle S. says
November 5, 2014 at 10:38 amUsually a separate page for your blog is best.
Rajkumar says
November 20, 2014 at 10:14 amThanks for the tips shared here. It is a good article. I didn’t know anything about blogging but the post here inspires me to get started with my own.
I think blogging is one way to get honest money online now. Can earn a few bucks and even can continue for a full-time job to set your livelihood. Thanks it really helped.
Mustafa Gaziani says
December 31, 2014 at 1:44 pmExcellent post. There are lot of ways to earn money through blog. Most of renowned bloggers earn through selling their services to large firms.. Affiliate marketing and sponsored post both are another best ways to earn from blogging.
Nora Miller says
January 3, 2015 at 6:36 amEarning with blogs use to be a little easier way back but these days, the ads are not that easy to get, but it makes it a whole lot better because it pressures bloggers to write more with quality and informative content which is both for the god of the readers and advertisers as well.
Thanks for sharing these tips by the way.
Tim Seidler says
January 26, 2015 at 5:04 pmI know it seems like a big no-no to most bloggers, but the amount of money you make when you put CPC advertisements such as Adsense of Media.net in the content as opposed to the sidebar is remarkable. If you can find a way to elegantly layer them into the body of your text you’ll be shocked by how much more money you make.
Mr. Self Reliance says
January 27, 2015 at 5:03 amAnother great post. Will have to look up what affiliate company’s work in Canada, as well as read your blogger vs wordpress post…
Quiana Milam says
February 18, 2015 at 5:04 pmThis information is great! Because of you I have started my very own blog. I do have a question. How do you build traffic to your site when starting out?
Tamara says
February 19, 2015 at 1:47 pmPlease don’t post something like swagbucks as a way to make money/gift cards, it is insulting.
Note to others: Please don’t fall for this waste of time. Approximately a month of wasting time on that website just MIGHT yield you a $5 gift card to amazon, starbucks, etc..
The “surveys” are a scam. There is about 5-10 “qualifying” questions, and then they tell you you didn’t qualify for the survey and give you 1 swagbuck!! after wasting your time answering the questions!!
Michelle S. says
February 19, 2015 at 2:45 pmHello Tamara. I’m sorry that you feel so strongly about this. In my post, I never said it was a way to make a lot of money, I said that I actually don’t make much from it.
Joanne says
March 5, 2015 at 4:14 pmI blog about toys and hoping it will be a money making blog. Still working hard on it!
Crocus says
March 17, 2015 at 6:01 pmHey!
I have blog about 11 months and 97 posts all about beauty, fashion and lifestyle. All I want I make money on my blog then I can make giveaways. Adsense didn’t accept me last year and I didn’t sign up again because my hope ran away.. What should I do? Thanks!
best wishes
Jennifer White says
March 21, 2015 at 8:37 pmHi Michelle, I live in Australia. I absolutely love to write, in fact I quite often get told I write too much..but it’s what I enjoy, I also love decorating and am just finishing building a new home with a wonderful company that I would recommend to anyone..As I love to write and I read many other Blogs all the time..would you think I should start one of my own? Only thing is that I am not quite sure how to start it? I am always looking up Stores for Decor/Furnishings..know many good places to shop..both here and in the US as My son lives in New Jersey.. Also about to start New Decor in my own home..putting my own personal style into this new home..I would dearly love to get your advice on this if you were able to do so…I will definitely recommend your posts and Blog also. My Kindest Regards, Jennifer xx
Diana says
April 30, 2015 at 10:54 pmYour blog inspired me to start creating my own blog just for fun. I still have a lot of reading to do on how to add ads onto my site. So far I just signed up for Google Adsense, and waiting on them whether or not they will want to add ads on my blog. I just wrote my first post on how I’m going to do the 52 weeks money saving challenge and see if I can make it by the end of the Week 52. Hopefully, I’ll be able to pay off my college and grad loans off by keeping track of my financial goals. :] Just wanted to say thank you for the inspiration!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
May 1, 2015 at 1:08 amAww yay. Glad you started a blog!
SSCSWORLD says
May 15, 2015 at 12:54 amYour articles are always inspiring. I like the way you weave your affiliate links smoothly and naturally within the text. That alone is a big lesson learned
Wanda Mcphee says
June 15, 2015 at 10:07 pmWhat an awesome and inspiring post! A lot of valuable informative and very insightful. I blog because I too love to write and interact with all the beautiful people I meet daily online, but it would be nice to earn a profit as well. Thanks so much for sharing. Am siked!
Chrisssi Penney says
June 16, 2015 at 12:43 pmI keep reading post after post after post from you. I’m determined not to go to work when we move next month. I had best get a move on! 🙂
Thanks so much!!!
Diana says
July 20, 2015 at 12:38 pmAwesome post. This is my first time here and I gotta say I am impressed. I had heard of Direct Advertising, but never really looked into it. Now that I have an idea what it is, it sounds like something I would like to implement into my business and blog.
Thanks for sharing,
Diana
Brooke says
July 20, 2015 at 10:36 pmI’m not sure my blog has enough readers to make money, but I’ll definitely keep these links in mind for future use. In terms of hosting, do you prefer Blue Host over other companies? I have Go Daddy and I’m considering switching.
charan says
July 29, 2015 at 11:59 pmFirst time visitor of your blog came through pinterest , its a perfect site to get ideas and learn the knowledge how to earn online through blogging … as a new blogger your blog really helps me to improve my blogging skills .. will read your all money making posts thanks for sharing..
Ally says
August 2, 2015 at 1:12 amHi Michelle my name is ally and i came across your post on pinterest. i’ve i applied for ad-sense and they denied my application due to not enough post on my blog =/ my question to you is, how long did it take for u to be approved by ad-sens?
Thanks so much for the info. keep up the amazing work it helps us readers so much
-Ally
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
August 2, 2015 at 8:42 amHello Ally,
Sorry, I don’t really remember. I did it in the very beginning though. Maybe their rules make it harder now?
Joshua says
September 6, 2015 at 4:05 pmHello Michelle,
Fantastic suggestions! I’ve been noticing that many experienced bloggers make the majority of their money through Products and Services. However, you are the first blogger I see that makes the majority of money from affiliates and ads. Which avenue do you feel brings in the most money, Products & Services or Ads & Affiliate Marketing?
Amanda says
October 14, 2015 at 8:02 pmMichelle, you are so inspiring and helpful! I have signed up for Blue host through your link and started my blog, but I can’t figure out where to save my affiliate meta tags so I can start using Flex offers. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
October 15, 2015 at 12:16 pmHey Amanda! I recommend contacting FlexOffers directly as they should be able to help you 🙂
Amanda says
October 15, 2015 at 1:08 pmThanks, Michelle, I will do that. 🙂
Kristina says
November 3, 2015 at 10:29 amThis was a very helpful article!!! I am just starting out to blogging and I have yet to find a more helpful article!!!!!!!! Thank you so much!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
November 3, 2015 at 11:43 amWelcome 🙂
My latest income report just went live yesterday as well and it may help you out too – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2015/11/october-online-income-report.html