How to Monetize a Blog: 6 Revenue Streams and When Each Pays
Updated October 2026. Thresholds and fees below were read from each network’s or platform’s own pages on 22 October 2026.
Short answer: a blog makes money in six ways: affiliate links, display ads, sponsored content, digital products, memberships and services. Affiliate links and services can pay from the first month, because they depend on the reader in front of you, not on traffic volume. Display ads need traffic: AdSense has no minimum, but the managed networks start at 1,000 sessions a month from countries like the US and UK (Journey by Mediavine) or 25,000 pageviews (Raptive). Products, memberships and sponsorships pay once you have an audience that trusts you, usually built through an email list. Most blogs that earn well combine two or three of these.
The six streams at a glance
| Stream | What it needs | Earliest it can pay | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliate links | Content that helps readers choose a product; approval from each programme | First sale, at any traffic level | Recommending for the commission, not the reader |
| Display ads | Traffic. AdSense: none. Journey by Mediavine: 1,000 Tier 1 sessions a month. Raptive: 25,000 pageviews. Mediavine Official: $5,000 a year in ad revenue | AdSense from day one; managed networks once you qualify | Slower pages and lower earnings on small sites |
| Sponsored content | An audience a brand wants to reach, and a media kit | When brands find or accept you | Trust, if the fit is poor; must be disclosed |
| Digital products | A specific problem your readers will pay to solve | After you have an email list to sell to | Building something nobody buys |
| Memberships and paid newsletters | Readers who want more from you every month | Once you publish consistently for a loyal group | Platform fees and churn |
| Services | A skill your readers will pay for (writing, design, SEO, coaching) | First client, at any traffic level | Your time is the limit |
1. Affiliate links
You recommend a product with a tracking link and earn a commission when a reader buys. Commission structures vary widely. In web hosting, for example, Kinsta pays a one-off bonus of up to $500 plus 10% a month for life, while SiteGround pays $50 to $100 a sale; our hosting affiliate comparison lists nine programmes with the terms checked in October 2026.
Affiliate income works because it fits content you already write: reviews, comparisons and how-to guides. It is also where trust is easiest to lose. When we followed the money on page-one “best blogging tool” advice, 80% had a financial stake in the answer. Disclose above the first link, mark links rel=”sponsored”, and recommend what you would choose with no commission at all. Our affiliate marketing guide for bloggers covers the details.
2. Display ads
An ad network places ads on your pages and pays you a share of the revenue. The thresholds decide when this is worth doing:
- Google AdSense: no traffic minimum; publishers receive 80% after the platform fee (AdSense Help).
- Journey by Mediavine: 1,000 sessions from Tier 1 countries, the UK included, within 30 days (Mediavine requirements).
- Raptive: 25,000 pageviews a month, with half the traffic from the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand or Australia for sites under 100,000 pageviews (Raptive).
- Mediavine Official: $5,000 a year in existing ad revenue.
Ads earn little on a small blog and slow pages down, so many bloggers wait until they qualify for a managed network. Our Raptive vs Mediavine vs AdSense comparison sets out every threshold, revenue share and contract term.
3. Sponsored content
A brand pays you to feature its product in a post, a newsletter or a video. Rates are negotiated privately and no reliable public benchmark exists, so ignore anyone quoting a “standard rate per post”. What brands look at is the fit between their product and your readers, plus evidence of engagement: email open rates, comments, traffic from the countries they sell in. A one-page media kit with those numbers is the starting point. Sponsored links should carry rel=”sponsored”, and the post must say it is sponsored.
4. Digital products
Templates, checklists, ebooks and courses package what your blog already teaches into something more structured. They keep most of the price, with no stock or shipping. The risk is building something nobody wants, so sell it before you make it: describe it to your email list and see who pays or signs up. Our list of digital product ideas for bloggers has examples.
Readers pay monthly for extra posts, a community or early access. The platform you use decides how much you keep. Substack keeps 10% of subscription revenue plus card fees; Ghost and beehiiv take 0% beyond card processing (Substack, Ghost, beehiiv). Our WordPress alternatives comparison sets the fees side by side.
6. Services
The fastest money a new blog can make is often a service the blog demonstrates: freelance writing, design, SEO help, coaching. A blog with 30 strong posts is a portfolio. Add a clear services page and a contact route that works, and test it by sending yourself an enquiry.
Which stream to start with
- Under 1,000 visits a month: services and a few honest affiliate links on posts where readers are choosing a product. Start an email list now; see email marketing for bloggers.
- 1,000 to 25,000 visits: keep building affiliate content, add a first digital product for your list, and consider Journey by Mediavine if most visitors come from Tier 1 countries.
- 25,000 visits and up: apply to Raptive if you meet its traffic rules, add sponsorships, and look at memberships if readers ask for more.
If you would rather not run ads at all, see how to monetize a blog without ads. Starting a niche blog? We have census-based guides for gaming, food, fitness and personal finance blogs.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about earning from a blog, answered briefly.
How long does it take to monetize a blog?
Affiliate links and services can pay in the first month. Managed ad networks need at least 1,000 qualifying sessions a month (Journey) or 25,000 pageviews (Raptive). Products and memberships depend on building an email list first.
What is the best way to monetize a small blog?
Services and affiliate links, because neither needs large traffic. Display ads pay little until you qualify for a managed network.
Can you monetize a free blog?
Partly. Free platforms restrict ads and plugins; see making money from a free blog.
New to all of this? Start with our beginner guide to how to make money blogging, then come back here to compare streams.
Written by
Blogging Titan Team
Blogging Titan is an independent team of bloggers documenting what actually grows a blog in the AI search era. We have been building, ranking, and monetizing WordPress sites since 2017, and every guide on this site is based on strategies and tools we have tested ourselves. Want a second pair of eyes on your blog? Request a free blog audit or start with the 2026 playbook.