Blogging has gone through a dramatic transformation over the past decade. What started for many as small niche projects to support online stores has now evolved into a highly competitive field. The landscape looks very different today:
- SEO competition is tougher than ever
- AI is reshaping the entire content industry
- Social media captures an increasing share of people’s attention
With these shifts, a natural question arises — is blogging still profitable? According to Google Trends, the overall interest appears to be on the decline.
Things aren’t as bad as they look, though; blogging is still going strong. When done right, it’s still one of the best methods to make money.
The truth is that blogging is still a proven and effective way to make money, even though most people pursue fast wins on social media and get caught up in short-lived TikTok phenomena. The key is in using the proper method and being aware of which steps are effective at the moment.
This tutorial explains all the most important ways to make money blogging, gives a step-by-step plan, and shows real-life examples of how to achieve it. All of the methods are still useful in 2025 and are based on current trends, not old ones.
So, what does it mean to write a blog these days?
In 2025, blogging is about a lot more than just putting your opinions online, getting content, selling it online, and getting money from it are all now aspects of a business plan. About 80% of people who use the internet read blogs on a regular basis, according to new data. There are more than 600 million blogs online right now, so blogging is a huge part of the digital world. The fact that almost 7.5 million new blog posts are generated every day shows that people still like the format.
Why blogging is still a good way to make money?
Even if social media and AI-powered platforms are becoming more popular, blogging is still a good way to gain money over time. Search engines still help billions of people find blogs every month. Reports say that firms who blog get 67% more leads than those that don’t. The average income from blogging varies a lot, but the best bloggers generate six- and even seven-figure incomes each year via a mix of affiliate marketing, sponsored content, product sales, and advertising. Blogging is a simple way to start an online business because it doesn’t cost much to get started (usually less than $100 for hosting and equipment). It can also grow and still make money in 2025.
Even if blogging is becoming more popular, there are still myths surrounding it:
- “There’s too much in the market.” There are always new niches cropping up, like AI and sustainability, that provide people a chance to stand out.
- “Only influencers do well.” Smaller blogs with specific content often generate more visitors and sales than bigger sites, according to the numbers.
- “It’s too late to begin.” Every year, new opportunities come up as more people watch and millions of new posts are produced every day.
There’s little doubt about it: blogging is still going strong and changing. There will still be billions of users, established ways to make money, and minimal hurdles to entry in 2025, therefore it will still be one of the finest ways to make money online.
How can bloggers get money?
Blogging is no longer only a hobby for many people; they now turn their blogs into real companies. There are a number of methods that bloggers can generate money in different areas if you’ve ever wondered how they do it.
Where the Money Comes From
1. Ads
Ads are one of the most prevalent ways for blogs to make money. Bloggers can put ads on their websites using networks like Google AdSense. The blogger gets a small bit of money when someone clicks on an ad. When a lot of people watch, ad revenue goes up, especially in popular areas like travel or fashion.
A Travel Blog by Nomadic Matt
Nomadic Matt, whose real name is Matt Kepnes, started his travel blog to help him pay for his own vacations. He is claimed to have generated more than $750,000 a year via a combination of affiliate marketing, ads, and his travel guides.
2. Affiliates as a way to market
When you promote items or services from other firms, you are doing affiliate marketing. A blogger gets a commission when someone buys something through their affiliate link. You can use this plan in a lot of other areas, like food and economics, as long as you can trust it.
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner writes about money
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner’s site, Making Sense of Cents, produces over $50,000 a month by pushing financial products through affiliate marketing.
Food Blogging with a Pinch of Yum
Pinch of Yum’s affiliate network gives bloggers half of each sale, so they might make a lot of money by promoting their eBooks and courses.
3. Things
Many bloggers make their own digital or real-world products. These can be extremely specific instructions, eBooks, online courses, or items. Selling things normally produces more money than putting up ads or doing affiliate marketing.
John Lee Dumas—Being an Entrepreneur and Blogging
John Lee Dumas, who runs Entrepreneur on Fire, makes over $100,000 a month by selling high-end memberships and online courses.
Chiara Ferragni’s Fashion Blog
Chiara Ferragni converted her fashion blog into a money-making enterprise, making millions of dollars a year from her clothing line and brand partnerships.
4. Services
Blogs can also make money by giving services like coaching, consulting, or freelance work. A blog is like a portfolio that attracts clients who want to learn from the blogger.
Henneke Duistermaat does marketing work
Henneke Duistermaat runs Enchanting Marketing, which produces $10,000 to $15,000 a month by offering writing and marketing services.
Cooking Classes with Deb Perelman
Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen generates money through seminars and private cooking courses. These sessions bring in an extra $5,000 to $8,000 a month on top of what she makes from ads.
Income Sources by Niche
| Niche | Ads Revenue | Affiliate Marketing | Products | Services |
| Travel | $50,000/year | $10,000–$20,000/year | $5,000–$10,000/year | $2,000–$5,000/year |
| Finance | $5,000–$10,000/month | $50,000+/month | $2,000–$5,000/month | $1,000–$3,000/month |
| Food | $10,000–$15,000/month | $20,000/month | $5,000–$10,000/month | $5,000–$8,000/month |
| Fashion | $20,000–$50,000/month | $10,000–$30,000/month | Millions/year | $5,000–$15,000/month |
| Entrepreneur/Business | $15,000–$25,000/month | $20,000–$40,000/month | $100,000+/month | $10,000–$20,000/month |
The essential idea is that there isn’t just one way for bloggers to generate money. A lot of money bloggers who do well employ a mix of ads, affiliate marketing, products, and services in different areas. There are many different types of blogs that produce money. Some are about travel, fashion, food, finance, or even extremely specific topics like personal productivity or niche interests. This indicates that blogging may be a successful and flexible approach to talk about what you like.
Even modest blogs can produce a lot of money if you have the right plan, audience, and dedication. You may make $500 a month from affiliate links or $100,000 or more a month by selling things and services, for instance.
2.1 How to Make Money Most of the Time
A lot of people who write blogs and other things online now make money doing it. You need to discover the best techniques to create money if you want to run a successful online business. A lot of bloggers these days use these models:
1. Affiliate Marketing
What it is: Bloggers utilize affiliate links to promote other businesses’ goods or services and get compensated for doing so.
Advantages:
- You have a good chance of making money.
- You don’t have to do things on your own.
- Works best when there are a lot of people around.
Rach Parsell’s Fashion Affiliate Blogging
Rach Parsell, who lives in Salt Lake City, makes roughly a million dollars a year, largely from rewardStyle affiliate commissions.
2. Selling things like e-books or online classes
What it is: Bloggers create and sell stuff like eBooks, online courses, and templates.
Advantages:
- High profit margins.
- Full control over the product.
- Ideal for subject matter experts.
Kat Norton’s Miss Excel Courses
Kat Norton, who is also known as Miss Excel, began posting Excel tutorials on TikTok. She now makes six figures a day by teaching classes online.
3. Money from donations, memberships, and sponsorships
What it is: Money that comes from fans’ subscriptions, donations, or brand sponsorships.
Advantages:
- It brings together a community of fans who care about it.
- Subscribers provide you money on a regular basis.
- You can work with many different brands.
Tam Kaur: Sponsorships and Social Media
Tam Kaur is a 24-year-old businesswoman from London who makes £470,000 a year by selling her “Self Obsessed Journals” and producing videos on YouTube and Instagram
Comparison Table: Monetization Models
| Model | Example Blogger | Potential Income | Audience Needed? | Beginner Friendly? |
| Affiliate Marketing | Rach Parsell | $1,000,000+/year | Yes | Yes |
| Selling Courses / Products | Kat Norton (Miss Excel) | $100,000+/day | Yes | Yes |
| Memberships / Sponsorships | Tam Kaur | £470,000/year | Yes | Yes |
Each monetization model has unique advantages. Combining multiple models can help bloggers diversify income and build a sustainable online business. Understanding your audience and niche is key to choosing the right strategy.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Blog and Making Money
You may talk about what you love and make money at the same time if you blog. A lot of individuals want to learn how to make money from their blogs. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the essential steps, from choosing a niche to launching your first post.
1. Choosing a Niche
The first step is to pick a topic for your blog. Your specialty tells you who your readers are, what to write about, and how to generate money. Here are some popular niches:
- Travel: Talk to other people about your plans, give them tips, and tell them stories.
- Fashion: Talk about what’s in style right now, give advice on how to dress, and write reviews on clothes.
- Finance: Teach individuals how to save, make a budget, or invest their money.
If you want to gain more readers and keep them coming back, it’s really crucial to pick the right niche. If you want to make money blogging, choose a niche that you are interested in and know a lot about.
2. Picking the Right Blogging Site
After you choose a niche, you need to put your work on the internet somewhere. Some frequent choices are:
- WordPress.com: Very adaptable and a wonderful way to make money.
- You can drag and drop objects on Wix, which makes it straightforward to use.
- Squarespace: Great layouts for blogs that are all about design.
What you want to do and how proficient you are with technology can help you choose the ideal platform. People who want to make money talk about WordPress a lot since it can expand and there are numerous ways to make money with it.
3. Finding a domain name and a place to put it
A professional blog needs a domain name that isn’t already in use and hosting that is stable:
- Domain Name: Your web address should reflect your niche and be easy to remember.
- Hosting: Bluehost, SiteGround, and HostGator are all great places to host your blog since they make it easy for people to find and load rapidly.
If you want to look professional online, this step is really vital. After you set up your domain and hosting, you can install your blogging platform and start making changes to your site.
4. Write your first post
People will read your blog if the content is decent. Start by writing blog posts that will teach, entertain, or inspire your audience. To keep people’s interest, add pictures, movies, and catchy headlines.
The best strategy to get more visitors to visit your site is to post useful information on a regular basis. This will eventually lead to ways to make money.
If you want to make money, you need to plan out your blog posts and stick to them. Pick a subject that interests you, such as money, fashion, or travel.
3.1 How to Write Your First Blog Post
It’s a good idea to start a blog, but writing your first post could be tricky. More people will read your blog article if you know how to write one well. This guide for beginners talks about how to organize, structure, handle basic SEO, and use useful tools.
1. Getting everything ready and in order
Before you start writing your post, think about what you want to express. This will help you stay organized. Your work will be more interesting and easier to read if you plan beforehand.
Do these things:
- Pick a subject: Know what your specialty is and what your target market likes.
- Make a plan: Look to determine if the message is meant to teach you something, make you laugh, or assist you solve an issue.
- Use bullet points, headings, and subheadings to make things easier to understand. Make a plan.
- Make it easy to read: Use lists, short paragraphs, and pictures.
If your blog is easy to use, people will stay on it longer. This is a very important thing to keep in mind when you write about things on a blog.
2. Basic On-Page SEO for Newbies
SEO makes it easier for search engines to find and rank your content. You don’t have to know a lot to get started.
Here are some crucial rules for SEO that you should follow on your site:
- Put your core keyword in the title, headings, and first paragraph in a way that sounds natural.
- Use meta descriptions to give search engines a brief summary of the post.
- Put alt text on pictures that tells what they are.
- Linking to other pages on your site and to other sites provides your information greater context and authority.
Using a few simple SEO tips, people can find your blog content on their own.
3. Suggested free tools for writing and publishing
Using the correct tools can make your blog article look better and make it easier to write.
Popular free tools:
- WordPress.com is a popular free program that makes it easy to publish and handle basic SEO.
- You may use Canva to make new photos, drawings, and charts.
- Grammarly checks for spelling and grammatical errors and how easy it is to read.
- Hemingway Editor: Make your writing more clear and simple to read.
These free blogging tools make it easy for people who are new to blogging to start, modify, and publish their blogs without having to pay anything.
When to Turn on Monetization
Knowing when to start is the first step in learning how to generate money from blogging. Monetization works best when:
- Your blog already gets a lot of traffic.
- You write useful, high-quality content that draws in a loyal audience.
- You write about a specialty where people are likely to buy things, sign up for services, or trust what you say.
If you try to make money too soon, you won’t make much. You can start testing advertisements, affiliate links, and sponsored posts once you have at least a few hundred visits every month.
4. Ways to Make More Money
If you want to learn how to make money from blogging, don’t only think about one way to do it. Some of the most popular ways are:
- Affiliate Marketing, which means telling people about things and getting a cut of every transaction made through your link.
Example Case: Goats on the Road (Dariece & Nick)
Annual Income: $200K–$400K
Details: Initially aimed to earn $1,500/month to travel full-time. Now consistently earns up to $30K/month through blogging, courses, affiliate marketing, and email list monetization
Affiliate Marketing Strategy
- Niche Selection: They focused on budget travel, digital nomad lifestyle, and remote work opportunities — topics with strong affiliate product potential (travel gear, online courses, booking platforms).
- Affiliate Partnerships: By recommending travel credit cards, booking websites, and digital tools, they earn commissions every time readers book a flight, reserve accommodation, or sign up for a course through their affiliate links.
- Content Integration: Instead of hard-selling, affiliate links are placed naturally in blog posts like “How to Work Online and Travel the World” or “Best Travel Gear for Nomads.”
Revenue Streams Beyond Affiliate Marketing
While affiliate commissions are a core driver, Dariece & Nick diversified income by:
- Selling online courses about blogging and remote work.
- Monetizing an email list with product recommendations and guides.
- Collaborating with brands on sponsored content.
Key Lesson for Blogge
This case shows that affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways to earn money from blogging. By building trust with readers and aligning products with their lifestyle brand, Goats on the Road scaled from earning just enough to travel ($1,500/month) to creating a business generating hundreds of thousands annually.
2. Ad networks like Google AdSense or premium ad networks that show adverts on your blog that are relevant to your audience.
A good example is Practical Wanderlust, a travel blog created by Lia & Jeremy Garcia.
Monthly Income: Over $10K/month, later growing to multiple six figures annually. The blog quickly evolved from a fun project documenting their honeymoon into a full-time business. At first, ads were a small addition to revenue, but as traffic increased, income scaled dramatically. Today, Practical Wanderlust earns over $10K/month consistently, and later expanded into multiple six figures annually.
Revenue streams: Ads became the initial monetization tool, but the couple expanded into affiliate income, freelance writing, press trips, and digital products. However, ad networks remained a stable and scalable income stream — rewarding them directly in proportion to site visits.
This case shows how turning on ads at the right time can shift a blog from a passion project to a professional, sustainable business
Key Takeaway: For bloggers wondering how to make money from blogging, ad networks offer a low-barrier entry point. Once a blog reaches steady traffic (e.g., 50,000–100,000 monthly views), premium ad networks can significantly boost income.
3. Brands pay you to write about their goods or services in sponsored content.
A clear example is Chic Pursuit (Maria Julia), who reported $11,376.42 in January 2021. Her revenue came from a mix of affiliate sales, ads, her own products, and sponsored collaborations. These partnerships with brands allowed her to create relevant content for her audience while receiving direct compensation for her work.
Sponsored content provides a balanced approach to monetization: brands gain visibility with a trusted audience, and bloggers diversify their income beyond advertising or affiliate programs. For many, it represents a sustainable and professional path to growing an online business.
4. Digital products are anything like e-books, courses, templates, or printables that you make for your readers.
A strong example is Thrifts and Tangles (Tyler), who earned $6,796 in December 2021. Alongside sponsored posts and affiliate partnerships, a significant portion of this income came from digital products and teaching. What makes this model especially effective is that digital products are scalable — once created, they can be sold repeatedly without additional production costs.
For bloggers, this approach builds both authority and financial stability. Readers receive practical tools they can use immediately, while creators establish themselves as trusted experts in their niche. Digital products don’t just complement other revenue streams — they can become a central pillar of long-term growth.
5. Memberships and subscriptions provide you access to special material for a monthly charge.
A strong example is Mr. Money Mustache (Peter Adeney), who built his platform around financial independence and early retirement. His blog resonated so strongly with his audience that he was able to introduce additional community-driven products, workshops, and forums supported by subscription-based access.
By 2017, his model contributed to an annual income of around $400,000, powered not just by advertising and partnerships, but also by this loyal subscriber base. The appeal of memberships lies in the trust factor—people are willing to pay regularly for premium knowledge and a sense of belonging.
For bloggers today, adopting this approach can mean developing gated resources, members-only articles, or even a private group where subscribers receive insider guidance. Done right, it combines audience engagement with long-term financial stability.
Conclusion
The greatest way to generate money from blogging is to apply these tactics together because they lower risk and increase income.
It takes time, perseverance, and clever preparation to learn how to make money from blogging. The best bloggers don’t just use one way to make money; they build up several sources of revenue and grow slowly. If you put your energy into making good content first and then monetizing it at the perfect time, you’ll find that making money from blogging is not only possible, but also long-lasting.
How to Make Money in the Travel and Fashion Business
Writing about travel and fashion can be a lot of fun. At first glance, the two niches may look similar, but they generate income in very different ways. Travel bloggers often earn through sponsored trips, collaborations with hotels and airlines, affiliate programs for booking sites, selling digital guides, running ads, and even teaching others how to start their own blogs. Fashion bloggers, on the other hand, focus more on partnerships with brands, affiliate links for clothing and accessories, sponsored social media content, and launching their own products. What they have in common is the same formula: engaging visuals and authentic stories that build trust with their audiences.
Real-world success stories
Travel blogging can grow into a full-time career, as shown by Jeremy Jones. His two blogs—Discover the Burg and Living the Dream—generate about $12,714 per month. Most of his income comes from ads (93.6%), with affiliates (4%) and sponsorships (2.4%) making up the rest. His impressive profit margin reaches 55.8%.
Other travel blogs also show strong results:
Adventure in You earns around $19,000 per month.
Two Wandering Soles brings in $17,800.
Fashion blogging can be just as lucrative
In the second quarter of 2021, Brock McGoff—founder of The Modest Man—earned $116,093. His main revenue sources were affiliate sales ($64,845), Mediavine ads ($35,536), plus sponsorships and digital products.
Sarah Ashcroft, better known online as That Pommie Girl, turned her early blogging income (£1,500 in her very first month) into SLA, a global fashion brand now worth millions.
These examples prove that with trust, consistent audience engagement, and creative monetization strategies, hobbies like travel and fashion blogging can be transformed into thriving, money-making businesses.
Can You Get Money from Blogging?
Many new bloggers wonder, “Can you make money from blogging, or is it just a hobby that doesn’t pay off?” Blogging can be a great way to earn income, but like any other business, it requires consistent effort and patience before results appear.
How long it takes to make money and what ROI to expect?
Blogging isn’t a “get rich quick” path. On average, it takes 6 to 12 months of regular publishing and audience growth before you see meaningful income. Early earnings may come from ads and affiliate links, but substantial returns usually arrive once you have higher traffic, build trust with your readers, and diversify your revenue streams. Think of blogging as a long-term investment: the more time you put into quality content, SEO, and engagement, the greater the payoff over time.
Do you always need a website?
A common question is whether you need a website for blogging. Technically, no—you can still earn through sponsorships or affiliate links by publishing on platforms like Medium, LinkedIn, or even social media. However, having your own website gives you more control, stronger branding opportunities, and greater authority in the long run. It also ensures that the value of your work benefits you directly, rather than just the platform you publish on.
Yes, a blog can make money—but not overnight. To turn it into a successful business, you’ll need months of steady effort, a clear strategy, and the right platform to grow.
The Last Piece of Advice for Making Money with Your Blog
If you want to make money from your blog, simply updating it isn’t enough. Here are some tips to help you attract more readers and increase your income.
SEO for higher search engine rankings
To get more readers, focus on improving your blog’s position in Google search results. This means using the right keywords, optimizing your headlines and meta descriptions, speeding up your pages, and building quality backlinks. The more people see your posts, the more money you can earn through ads, affiliates, and sponsorships.
Networking and collaboration
Building relationships is very important. Work with other bloggers, join niche communities, and reach out to brands that align with your content. Collaborations can lead to paid articles, affiliate opportunities, or guest blogging, all of which can increase your revenue.
Continuous learning
Blogging trends and algorithms are always changing. Learn new skills, such as advanced SEO techniques, social media strategies, or content marketing methods. Reflect on your journey by asking yourself, “How did I start blogging?” and think about ways to improve. Experimenting and adapting ensures your blog remains competitive and profitable over time.
By combining SEO, networking, and continuous learning, you can steadily grow your blogging income and turn it into a sustainable career.
Questions and Answers
How do bloggers make money in 2025?
There are many ways for bloggers to make money, such as through display ads, affiliate marketing, selling digital goods or courses, subscriptions, and sponsored content. In today’s competitive blogging world, the best way to maximize earnings is to diversify your income streams. This makes it clear how bloggers make money, what a money blogger might do, and which blogs actually make money.
What is blogging, and how does it still produce money?
In 2025, blogging involves creating unique content online to engage an audience and generate revenue through ads, affiliate links, and products. It remains profitable because more people are using the internet, and there are always new ways to generate income. This explains what blogging is and why it’s still an effective method to make money.
How to start a blog and make money step-by-step?
To earn money blogging, choose a profitable niche, pick a blogging platform, acquire a domain and hosting, publish quality content, and apply monetization strategies like ads or affiliate marketing once your audience grows. This is a helpful guide on how to start a blog and make money, including tips on how to start blogging for money and where to begin.
Is it feasible to make money from blogging without having your own website?
You can earn money on platforms like Medium, YouTube, or social media, but having your own website gives you full control and branding. For long-term income growth and credibility, it’s recommended to create your own website. This shows that blogging can make you money and explains why some bloggers need a website to do it.
When is the best time to start making money from my blog?
Monetization should be enabled once your site has consistent traffic and engaged readers. This allows you to earn more through ads, affiliate partnerships, or product sales without affecting the user experience. These tips help you understand how to make money from blogging and do it effectively.
What are the best ways to generate money by blogging as an affiliate?
Some of the best strategies include promoting relevant products through affiliate links, creating educational courses, and offering memberships or exclusive content. These methods help you generate income while building trust with your audience. This advice is useful for learning how to sell items online, developing an online business, and affiliate blogging.
How can I make more money by getting my site to show up higher on Google?
You can improve your Google ranking by optimizing on-page SEO, producing high-quality content consistently, building backlinks, and ensuring fast site speed. Higher rankings drive more traffic, which directly increases your blog’s earning potential. Read this article for tips on how to improve your blog’s Google ranking and maximize your blogging income.
Reviews
‘When I first started blogging, I didn’t know how to generate money from it. Over time, I realized that the key is to pick the right niche and stick with it. I now run a blog that makes money by selling my own items and doing affiliate blogging. It’s truly changed my life.’
‘I started travel blogging to keep track of my vacations for friends and family, but it grew into a small business. I learned that you can genuinely make money from blogging while doing something you love if you have the right SEO strategy and reliable partners.’
‘At first, fashion blogging was just a way for me to be creative. I didn’t think it would become a source of income, but by learning how bloggers make money and applying those strategies, I’ve built a dedicated audience and started collaborating with brands, making me a real money blogger.’
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