Yes, it can, on the condition that you stay disciplined, consistent, and are ready to put in a lot of work for 12-24 months(average) before seeing a significant income in return.
Blogging remains relevant and is far from dead, even with AI search rising in popularity.
But with 600 million active blogs on the World Wide Web, it’s more competitive than the early 2000s.
The most common ways to make money blogging are:
- Display ads with Google AdSense or Mediavine, for example.
- Affiliate marketing, where you earn commissions when people sign up or buy something with your referral link
- Sponsored posts
- Selling digital products, such as templates, blueprints, or ebooks
- Services, like consulting or coaching
- Merchandise
- Donations through Buy Me A Coffee or Ko-fi from supporters and readers
Money can be earned in multiple ways, but it doesn’t mean you need to use all of them. If you apply them all, then you’re screaming desperation.
For example, I prefer to use affiliate marketing and donations to make additional income from this blog.
I might not earn as much as others, but I prefer to keep the blog clean and ad-free.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links might be affiliate links. I might earn a small commission when you buy through my links. If you do, please know I only support brands or companies that I either use myself or fully believe are beneficial for my readers. Thank you!
How To Pick The Right Monetization Model For Your Blog?
When you’re just starting, I would not consider this (yet). I made numerous attempts in the past to start a niche blog, with the sole purpose of making money.
When you’re solely focused on money, you hinder your short-term goals.
Your primary concern should be writing, practicing your writing, and finding a comfortable pace that works for you.
But if I were to pick a monetization model from day one, it would be donations and affiliate marketing.
- Display ads often require a threshold of traffic first, and have stricter rules
- Sponsored posts will work when you have a legitimate following, proven traffic, and influence
- Digital products might work, but I am afraid you spend too much time selling them and not enough time on blogging
- Services could work if you’re an expert in your field and blog about that niche
- Merchandise requires additional knowledge of e-commerce and print-on-demand
Affiliate Marketing
It’s my preferred method for the following reasons:
- Plenty of platforms like Partnerstack, CJ, Awin, or Amazon Associates
- A lot of the programs do not require additional review, so you’re getting instant approval
- Many companies have their affiliate program, which lowers the entry barrier
However, don’t promote products or services unless:
- They’re aligned with your niche or target group
- You tested them, or firmly believe in what they’re offering
- You’re a loyal user or an existing user
It would not make sense for me to promote pet food or apparel for adults when my entire website is about niche blogging.
Make sure you remain relevant within your industry or highly correlated ones.
You need to realize that once you’re establishing authority in your niche, or you start to attract a loyal fanbase, those readers and visitors trust your recommendations and are often happy to support your enthusiasm by using your referral link(s).
Donations & Support
It’s not uncommon for content creators and bloggers to have a “Buy Me A Coffee” link or badge displayed in their blog posts or the footer of their website.
However, don’t be discouraged if you’re not seeing any donations for months.
But it does help if someone throws you a tip once in a while to stay motivated.
Building Trust
To make enough money with blogging, you need to build trust with an audience.
Preferably, a group of readers who bookmark your posts, return regularly for updates, and are willing to trust your recommendations and advice.
My observation is that you should write with authenticity. Using AI tools to just publish content for the sake of volume is not going to help you build trust.
Read also: Should You Use AI To Write Your Blog Posts?
Those 5-6 figure bloggers worked hard to gain trust and are considered authorities in their niche.
Not because of quantity, but because they:
- Write quality content
- Work on their brand through other social media channels
- Have an extreme passion for their subject
I know a blogger who has been writing for over 5 years. Each week, one post about baking bread and recipes.
One post per week, for 5 years, and is now on track to make $ 30,000 each month.
Remain Consistent
My first niche blog was years ago. Poorly executed, and I was very irregular in my scheduling efforts. Sometimes I published 3 times per week, then for 2 months, nothing.
That was a mistake.
You’d better follow the bread guy, posting once a week and keeping a recurring schedule at an acceptable pace that works for you.
Holding a consistent pattern is a delight for your audience. They can expect to read new content regularly and start recognizing a pattern.
- Map out a content schedule, and think carefully about the publishing frequency
- Start publishing one blog post per week, and slowly increase the average per week
- Build a buffer of blog posts. This will help you schedule posts in advance, in case you’re too busy (it happens)
Final Word
Blogging can make you rich, or possibly replace your salary, but it’s not passive income.
You will need to work and write like your life depends on it for 12-18 months before yielding any decent monetary results.
Read also: How To Start A Niche Blog: A Beginner’s Guide & Basics
There are plenty of methods to monetize your blog, but pick the right methods that fit your niche and audience.
Keep in mind that most bloggers fail and abandon their blogs within the first 12 months, right before the cutoff of“making it”, or are not knowledgeable enough in SEO to rank fast.
So beat them to it, and before you know it, that next trip is paid with your blog!
