Updated September 27, 2024.
Here is my list of blogging resources for you! Blogging is an excellent way to make money online, but the money doesn't build up overnight.
It takes a lot of time and patience. If you're interested in blogging or you already have a blog, here are some ways to earn money and also some more helpful resources toward the bottom of this page.
Popular Ad Networks
If you want display ads on your blog, the networks below are some of the best to use.
I have experience with several of these. The way they work is you apply with the networks and, if accepted, you get to start running their display ads on your site.
This can be done with a code you insert, or the ad network may handle ad placement for you. It will just depend on the network.
When people click them, you earn a little money per click. Some of the networks also pay per impression (a certain amount per 1,000 views of the ads).
- Google Adsense – Adsense is PPC (pay per click), some pay per impression. You can get paid via check or direct deposit once you have accumulated $100.
- Media.net – Delivers targeted ads based on the content on each page. This company pays net 30 if you have $100 accumulated.
- Raptive – This is the network I use on this blog. To qualify, you need to be getting at least 100K views per month on your site with primarily countries that are English-speaking. They pay monthly via either bank deposit or Paypal.
- Sovrn – This network is a little easier to get on with, but you won't earn as much. May be OK if your site is on the newer side.
- Taboola – This company puts the “stories you may like” links at the bottom of blog posts. You can earn per click on these links. The earning potential here is supposed to be high, but I've never tested them out.
In-Text Advertising
These are the little ads that pop-up within the text when you hover your mouse over them. Lots of people find them annoying, but they can definitely earn you money.
- Infolinks – This is the one I use and recommend if you are OK with these types of ads. They are easy to get in with. When I used them, I did have some control over how the ads appeared so they weren't too annoying to users.
- Vibrant Media – Probably the most popular alternative to Infolinks.
Popular Affiliate Networks
When you sign up to be an affiliate, you earn a commission by promoting products/services (generating leads, getting sales).
- Ultimate Bundles – This one is GREAT because they have tons of bundles containing e-books and e-courses across many different categories — health, parenting, essential oils, crafts, blogging, and more. I've been an affiliate for a long time and have had great success with them.
- Share a Sale – This is a very large network with a huge variety of offers, similar in many ways to Commission Junction. They pay monthly as long as you’ve accumulated $50.
- Commission Junction – A huge network with hundreds and hundreds of offers available in every category you can imagine. Payment minimum is $50.
- ShopHer Media – This is another affiliate network with lots of coupon and paid survey offers. They pay monthly via Paypal on the 15th.
- Rakuten Advertising – Another big network very similar to Share a Sale and Commission Junction with lots of variety.
- Amazon Associates – Earn a commission on Amazon product sales. Pretty easy to get in. Not available in some states.
Automated Affiliate Marketing Options
These sites will affiliate some of your links automatically. Great options to use if you don't want to miss out on any opportunities.
- SkimLinks – I haven't tried this company, but they have been around for years now and many publishers use them.
Selling Ad Space On Your Blog
In addition to using the ad networks I have listed at the top of this page, you can also earn money selling ad space on your blog directly.
You can of course do this completely manually without using a service (which is what I do), but the companies below certainly simplify the process for you.
- BuySellAds – Sell ad space on your blog, set your own rates, and have the freedom to decline the ads you don’t want.
Sponsored Posts
These are companies that will compensate you to review their products and services on your blog. Compensation may be in the form of cash and/or getting to keep the product you review.
Some of these companies might also want you to host a giveaway on your blog to help them promote their product and again, you may get to keep the product for yourself and/or earn money for holding the giveaway.
- Linqia
- Pollinate
- Massive Sway
- Tomoson – Read Tomoson Review – This site is similar to those above where you can get paid to try out free products and review them (or have a giveaway for them) on your blog, but you can also sign up even without a blog as long as you're an online influencer.
Promote Your Own Products & Services
Many bloggers make great money promoting themselves — not just other people and brands. Below are some ideas of products and services you could create and offer for sale on your blog.
- Write an eBook related to your blog's niche to promote and sell on your blog, using a site like Gumroad.
- Create a course related to your blog's niche and sell it to your blog followers. You can use Udemy as a platform for course creation if you don't know how to go about creating a course.
- Create and sell printable products (planners, guides, etc.) that your readers may want to download and print.
- Create and sell physical products (crafts, etc.) that you make and would be willing to ship to your readers if purchased.
- Offer live phone and/or video consultations, coaching, mentoring, to readers who would be willing to pay for your advice. You can set your own hourly rates for this.
Articles I've Written About Blogging
For a little more detail, you can browse through some of the past articles I've written about blogging.
- Ten Things I've Learned In Five Years of Blogging
- Easy Ways to Create Images For Your Blog Posts
- 8 Effective Ways to Get Traffic to Your Blog
- How to Make Money With Different Types of Blogs
- 17 Ways to Get More Facebook Likes
- My 5 Tips for New Bloggers
E-Book Recommendations
These e-books are recommended reading if you're new to blogging.
- How to Blog For Profit Without Selling Your Soul
- How to Make Money Blogging: How I Replaced My Day Job With My Blog
Recommended Blogging eCourse
- Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing – I invested in this eCourse in August of 2016. Within the first month of implementing what I learned, I had increased my affiliate earnings almost $2,000 over what I normally earn. Well worth it if you have a new blog and want to monetize it, yet you don't really know how. Affiliate marketing is one of the most non-invasive ways you can make money from your website, and this eCourse walks you step by step how to do it.
And that wraps up my list of different ways to earn money blogging! I hope it has given you some ideas!
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 13 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.