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Most of us are forced to work for jobs that we don’t enjoy just to earn money. What if there’s a way to turn your passion into profit, right?

Have you ever heard the word Ikigai? It’s a Japanese word meaning, a reason to live.

And is the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

In fact, studies have shown that Ikigai is a strong contributor to why Japan has many centenarians.

Some of us already found our Ikigai, while most are still on the journey to figuring it out.

But what does Ikigai have to do with how to make money blogging online?

Blogging won’t make you rich overnight. And it takes a lot of time and effort to make a blog profitable. It may take an Ikigai for blogging to make money online.

So if you want to start a blog, your primary driver should not be earning, but rather your passion for sharing your thoughts through blogging.

And monetization will surely come in the process.

Why blogging a great source of income online

Most successful bloggers don’t just blog because of passion alone. They started blogging because of their passion and are well aware that there’s huge earning potential here.

So successful bloggers blog with monetization in mind.

Meaning, that their blogs are strategically crafted and follow a system to earn for profit, and at the same time, they enjoy writing it.

So how much do bloggers make?

On average, bloggers earn approximately $3,137 per month, while some can earn as much as $1,000,000 per month.

One blogger from making money online niche has generated $449,107 in a single year and even documented his blog income reports.

And while there’s huge earning potential in blogging, choosing a profitable blog niche and the right income stream that works for you is important.

Here’s how to make money blogging online.

Direct income stream

Direct income streams are income that is directly influenced by your blog site.

Advertisements

The fastest way to make money blogging is by displaying ads. And the most popular ad network is Google Adsense.

Adsense doesn’t require a minimum blog post, so if you have a blog site already, submit your site on Google Adsense.

And while displaying ads on your blogs seems to annoy readers, these ads will barely be noticed if you are creating valuable content.

You can check your potential earnings on Google Adsense Calculator.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is the process of promoting other company’s products or services through a unique affiliate link. And in return, companies reward you with a commission.

Here’s an example.

I have partnered with Hostinger to promote their web hosting plans, which in return I earn 60% of the sales purchased through my link.

And here’s an example of how I incorporate my unique affiliate link in one of my blog posts.

When a user clicks the affiliate link, it will redirect the user to Hostinger’s website. And when they make a purchase, I get a commission.

Most companies offer affiliate programs, and the most popular program that bloggers use is Amazon because you get to promote a lot of different products.

Here’s another example and how I used my Amazon affiliate link on my personal blog.

Keep in mind that every affiliate program out there offers different commission rates.

Sponsorship

When a blog gets larger monthly visits, it may be able to offer sponsored content to other brands by promoting their products or services.

And this is done by pitching directly to brands, or brands may approach the owner of the blog.

Here’s an example of sponsored content by ABS-CBN News.

While this company is not a blog site, sponsored content works in a similar fashion here. They even highlighted their articles that it is sponsored content.

For sponsored content, Companies typically pay anywhere from $50 to a thousand for a single post.

Selling your blog

While this might not sound like a good idea, just like any other business, you need to think of an exit strategy when it’s all said and done.

You may not be thinking about this right now, but it’s something to consider in the future for various reasons, such as health-related illnesses that will affect your blog writing abilities.

And believe it or not, there’s a big market looking to buy successful blogs.

One popular marketplace is Flippa, and successful blogs here bid from thousands to even millions of dollars!

Indirect income stream

While they may be influenced by blogging, generating income is not directly tied to the content.

Selling a product

Blogs play an important role for businesses in digital marketing. And because blogs produce a positive RIO, it is considered to be an extension of the business.

Whether you sell digital products such as Ebooks, and courses, or physical products like home-made cookies, blogs influence consumers on their buying journey.

Freelancing

Your blogs are a great way to showcase your writing skills.

while direct income streams may take some time to make money blogging online, getting a freelancing gig may be the fastest way for new bloggers to make money.

New writers typically earn $50 – $300 per post, while experienced writers such as Elise Dopson, earn over $1,500 per post.

In my free time, I am also considering taking a freelance writing gig, which is why I created a portfolio on Authory to showcase some of my best articles in one place.

Consulting

And because blogs are a great way to showcase your work and achievements, some of your readers may want to follow in your footsteps and want to learn more from you.

If a blogger starts to get inquiries for one-on-one sessions, then it may be the best time to consider adding a consulting service to your income stream.

Partnerships

What if your regular reader from your blog becomes a guest contributor, and eventually becomes a partner?

You’ll never know what to expect, but hoping for the best and unexpected things to happen to blogging.

How long does it take to make money blogging online?

Some bloggers started earning in their first month, and most started earning in their 6th month, but blogs became profitable a year later.

Making money blogging depends on a lot of factors such as choosing a profitable niche, SEO (search engine optimization), and the ability to create useful content consistently.

Setting realistic expectations is important to determine when a blog becomes profitable, especially when you are just starting out.

It’s safe to say that new blogs start making money in 6 to 12 months, while successful blogs will take 2 to 4 years.

Recommended reading: How to start a blog (beginner’s guide)

Final thoughts

Starting a blog can be a lucrative venture. Most bloggers started blogging as a hobby, turned it into a side income, and eventually transitioned into a full-time blogger.

While it takes time to make money blogging online, you won’t think much about it when you are blogging the things you are passionate about.

So if you want to make money blogging as a side income that has the potential to earn huge profit, I have created a guide on how to start a blog (without coding needed) for beginners like you.

And if you haven’t decided yet, then what’s holding you back? Let me know in the comments below.

FAQs

What are the most common ways bloggers make money online?

Bloggers make money in a variety of ways. This may come from direct or indirect income streams such as advertisements, affiliate marketing, and freelancing.

How long does it take to make money from blogging?

Blogging is a long-term game. It takes at least 6 to 12 months to start earning from a blog.

Is it possible to make income full-time from blogging?

It is possible to make income full-time from blogging and take Michelle Schoreder-Gardner as an example.

Michelle is the founder of Making Sense of Cents Blog, who is a full-time blogger and currently living/blogging on a sailboat at the same time.

Keep in mind that to be able to transition to full-time blogging, it would take years of blogging experience.

How important is SEO (search engine optimization) for monetizing blogs?

SEO plays a crucial role in monetizing a blog because a lot of your readers may find your blog from Google search.

If you want to learn more about SEO, check out my SEO beginners guide.

Featured image credit: Tima Miroshnichenko

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From passion to profit: How to make money blogging online