How to Make Money Blogging Without Ads: 5 Alternative Strategies
How to monetize your blog without sacrificing your content quality!
Disclaimer: I do use affiliate links in this blog meaning that if you purchase anything through my affiliate links I receive commission at no additional cost to you! I only recommend products that I have heavily researched, tested and loved, and/or used for several years.
As I mentioned in my ‘What to Know Before Starting Your First Blog’ post, you should never create a blog with the key goal of monetization. Some blogs simply never generate income, and you must still feel fulfilled by working on it with no material gain. There is nothing worse than feeling like you wasted thousands of hours of work and a sizeable initial investment for nothing! However, monetization strategies can provide an added benefit of passive income if you wish to hold the long-term vision.
In this blog post, I walk through up front and maintenance costs as a refresher, and 5 proven monetization strategies. Now that I have a few profitable months under my belt, I feel confident writing on this topic. Remember, blogging is all about the long-term payoff so be patient (I know, it’s hard) and trust in yourself! I focus on methods that do not involve ads, as I personally believe that ads detract from the quality and aesthetics of blogs - but to each their own!
Up Front and Maintenance Costs
Every blog will have at least some up front and maintenance costs, so it is important to note how much revenue you would need to generate to break even. Below I have costed out how much I have personally invested into my blog.
Domain
$21.99
Website Design
$1,500
Monthly Squarespace Subscriptions
$40/month for website subscription
$34/month for acuity scheduling subscription
$14/month for email newsletter subscription
$10/month for digital products subscription
Total: $98/month or $1,176/year
Personal Mailbox or PO box (Required for Newsletters)
$35/month or $420/year
With just these 4 costs, I have invested about $4,910 just to create and maintain my blog so far — not to mention around another $1,000 on one-off ad campaigns, SEO optimization tools, and products for blog research.
While some bloggers invest tens of thousands of dollars more into website design and advertising, it's possible to build a successful blog with a low investment. You can create a professional-looking website for as little as $40 per month for website maintenance using a user-friendly platform like Squarespace. By focusing on creating high-quality content and consistently promoting your blog, you can attract a loyal audience and generate income without breaking the bank.
Monetization Strategy #1: Affiliate Links
Affiliate links are one of the most popular monetization strategies, and are an easy way to plug recommended products and services into your posts. Influencer marketing and content creation are often associated with affiliate marketing, but you don't need a large social media following to be successful (though I am proud of my 130ish TikTok followers lol). By focusing on creating valuable content, you can attract a dedicated audience and earn a substantial income through affiliate marketing without being in front of the camera all day.
There are many different types of affiliate programs that you can explore, but I personally use ShopMy (referral code here). I have found that the majority of retailers I link are included in the ShopMy program, so I am able to receive a small commission on any products purchased. Keep in mind that you will want to first focus on building up your number of blog posts in order to increase traffic to your site (500+ is the recommended amount - I know, I’m about halfway there).
I love to be delulu and optimistic as much as the next person, but the reality is that only a small percentage of total visitors will actually click on a link — and only a fraction of that group will actually purchase items. Focus on creating quality content first, and the traffic size will follow! Affiliate marketing is where I have earned the majority of my profits.
P.S. Make sure to add a small disclaimer blurb in all posts using affiliate marketing to provide transparency to your audience! You can see mine right below the piggy bank image. :)
Example of one of my ShopMy Edits:
Monetization Strategy #2: Blog Paywall or Subscription-Based Model
A paywall or subscription-based model is a strategy where bloggers restrict access to certain content or features unless users pay a one-time or recurring fee. This can be implemented in various ways:
Hard Paywall: All content is locked behind a paywall, requiring a subscription for access.
Soft Paywall: A limited amount of free content is available, with premium content requiring a subscription.
Metered Paywall: Users can access a certain number of articles for free before being prompted to subscribe.
While paywalls and subscription-based models can be lucrative for established bloggers and influencers with a loyal following, they may not be the best strategy for newcomers. While these models can offer exclusive access and premium content, they can also reduce traffic, provide a poor user experience, hinder community building, and impact SEO and indexing. I myself tested using a paywall for a couple of weeks, but found that it had a huge impact on my traffic and engagement.
Consider the potential drawbacks carefully, especially if you're just starting out. Building a strong audience and creating high-quality content are essential for long-term success. If your brand revolves around exclusivity and selective membership, a paywall might be a viable option. However, weigh the potential long-term impact against short-term gains.
Monetization Strategy #3: Products, Courses, and Services
For bloggers with an interest in building their personal brand, the strategies below may be for you!
Digital Products
Create and sell your own digital products, such as ebooks, online courses, or templates (Canva Pro is a great resource to create digital products!).
My 30 Day Self Care Calendar is a good example! I also sell on Etsy.
Now, you may see a popular tactic with bloggers advertising making $50-$100k a month selling products or courses — without having done so. They do this as sort of a reverse tactic to generate revenue by selling an idealistic goal. The truth is that there is no secret recipe that applies to every blog and every niche - I would personally focus on promoting authentic results with data-driven metrics you are able to achieve through these products (typical as the data scientist I am).
Coaching and Consulting Services
Offer coaching or consulting services related to your blog's niche. This can be a great way to monetize your expertise and build a loyal following and client base.
You can click on ‘Scheduling’ on my site to see how I have set-up Acuity scheduling for career coaching, sommelier education, and blog set-up (let me know if you would like to work with me!)
Print-on-Demand Products
Design and sell merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases featuring your blog's logo or artwork.
You can see my Nicole’s Sommelier Club sticker :)
Monetization Strategy #4: Sponsored Posts
Sponsored content is a form of advertising where brands pay bloggers or influencers to create content that promotes their products or services. By partnering with brands that align with your niche, you can create high-quality content that promotes their products or services. This mutually beneficial arrangement allows you to earn revenue while providing value to your audience.
To effectively monetize your blog through sponsored content, it's essential to build a strong brand and a loyal following. As stated with affiliate marketing — a larger audience and higher engagement rates will attract more revenue and in this case, lucrative brand partnerships. In contrast to a short-form TikTok video that an influencer may film, bloggers will be asked to write a blog post usually to a certain word count requirement. Make sure to read all the terms and conditions prior to accepting, so that you do not fall into any sort of financial trap.
My two cents is that maintaining transparency and authenticity in your sponsored content is crucial to maintaining content integrity. If a brand or product does not align with you and what your blog represents, you do not have to accept every single one! Make sure to overtly call out any sponsored content to maintain trust with both your audience and the brand itself.
Monetization Strategy #5: Donations
This one will probably be the least successful, but I like to think that there are generous hearts who are willing to make a monetary donation to support your blog and all the hard work you have put into providing value to your community! This can be done by adding a donation button to your website header or footer, and integrated at the end of your blog posts (see mine below). A popular one that bloggers will use is a ‘Buy Me a Cup of Coffee’ option — it helps to describe what the donations will be used towards. And if anyone found this blog post at all helpful, any donations would be deeply appreciated as I continue to expand nicolesimonek.com through 2025!
Thank you for your readership! <3
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If you enjoyed this blog post, I would greatly appreciate you taking a moment to browse my other blog posts (I write on lifestyle, beauty, travel, restaurants, working in tech, and cocktails + wine), subscribe, and/or make a donation. Donation proceeds go toward monthly Squarespace fees, PO box fees, website enhancements, ad campaigns, SEO tools, and time investment in addition to my full-time job. Thank you for your readership from the bottom of my heart! xx Nicole
