4 Ways to Make Money From Your Blog Without Ads

Posted on 2:00pm Tuesday 19th Mar 2024

Welcome to my blog post on monetising your platform without relying on traditional advertising. When I was a blogging beginner I thought ads were the only way to monetize. I had no idea there were other ways to generate an income from blogging!

While ads are a common revenue stream for many bloggers, they're not the only option or way to monetize your blog. In fact, diversifying your income sources can provide stability and potentially increase your earnings. Whether you're just starting your blogging journey or looking to expand your revenue streams, I've got you covered.

In this article, we'll explore four effective strategies to make money from your blog without plastering it with ads. From affiliate marketing to creating and selling digital products, I'll delve into actionable methods that can help you generate income while maintaining a positive user experience for your audience. Let's dive in and uncover alternative avenues for monetising your blog.

Read on to discover how you can make money at home from your blog without using display ads.

4 Ways to Make Money From Your Blog Without Ads

1. Selling sponsored blog posts

Sponsored blog posts involve partnering with brands or companies to create content that promotes their products or services. Instead of displaying ads, you integrate promotional material seamlessly within your blog posts, providing value to both your audience and the sponsoring company.

Sponsored posts allow you to monetize your blog while maintaining authenticity by choosing sponsors that align with your niche and interests. By crafting engaging content that resonates with your audience, you can effectively showcase the sponsor's offerings and earn income through sponsored partnerships.

Wondering where to find sponsored blog posts: Check these articles out:

While many people believe sponsored posts are against Google guidelines, they're actually not, hence why Google introduced the Sponsored tag to label links that are sponsored!

My experience with sponsored blog posts as a full-time blogger:

As I've been blogging for quite some time now, I receive daily opportunities straight to my inbox, including repeat work. Ensuring timely delivery of my blog posts is a priority, typically within 2 days, adjusting for weekends or school holidays. I strive to complete tasks promptly to move on to the next collaboration without rushing the quality of my work. Procrastination isn't in my vocabulary; I prioritise my blog as my livelihood and job.

In addition to receiving opportunities, I actively search for blog post ideas. Spending around an hour daily scrolling through Facebook groups and Twitter feeds helps me discover potential topics to explore.

Despite common perceptions, I don't view accepting sponsored blog posts as selling out. The best sponsorships grant me creative control over the content, allowing me to maintain my unique voice and cover topics that resonate with me. While sponsored posts with predefined content still have their place, especially when bills need to be paid, I prefer collaborations where I can heavily edit or create content from scratch. After all, money is money, but maintaining authenticity and creative freedom is equally important to me.

2. Charging for review blog posts

Review blog posts entail bloggers accepting products or services for review, along with compensation for their time and effort. This form of monetization allows bloggers to provide their audience with valuable insights and recommendations while earning income for their expertise.

Accepting items for review provides bloggers with access to new products or services relevant to their niche, enriching their content offerings and enhancing their credibility as trusted authorities in their field. Additionally, receiving compensation for their time acknowledges the effort invested in evaluating and sharing their honest opinions.

Review blog posts typically follow a structured format, including thorough assessments of the product's features, benefits, and potential drawbacks. Bloggers strive to maintain transparency and objectivity, ensuring their audience receives unbiased evaluations to make informed purchasing decisions.

Collaborating with brands on review blog posts offers mutual benefits. Companies gain exposure and valuable feedback on their offerings, while bloggers generate income and cultivate stronger relationships with their audience and industry partners.

My experience and why I started charging for review blog posts:

At the start of 2017, I made the decision to charge for product reviews and cease offering them for free. Reviews demanded more of my time compared to sponsored blog posts, yet sometimes the review items amounted to no more than a £10 item. The process involved testing the product, social media sharing, extensive research, and dedicating up to two hours to write each blog post. Additionally, promoting the post and daily efforts to build my following were time-consuming tasks that companies sought access to.

There was a week in 2017 when I had approximately 10 blog reviews scheduled, translating to over 20 hours dedicated solely to them. It dawned on me that this commitment was robbing me of precious time with my children and my own leisure. Despite the desire to assist these companies, I realised I wasn’t prioritising my own well-being. These 20 hours were spent without compensation, yet indirectly contributed to these companies' increased profits through sales, exposure, or improved online presence!

To address this, I introduced a structured review package and began charging for my services. While I occasionally accepted high-value items as payment, my standard practice became charging for my time and expertise. If I have free time, I prefer to spend it with my family or pursuing activities that bring me joy, rather than working for others without compensation!

The lesson: value your time and resources as a blogger and charge for all services.

3. Hosting brand giveaways for a fee

Hosting giveaways on your blog is another effective way to monetize your platform while providing value to your audience. While traditionally viewed as a free promotional tool, hosting giveaways can be monetized by charging a fee to participating brands or sponsors.

Charging for giveaways allows bloggers to generate revenue while offering brands exposure to their audience. By leveraging their platform and engaging their followers, bloggers create a win-win situation where brands gain visibility and potential customers, while bloggers earn income for their efforts.

When charging for giveaways, bloggers can offer various packages tailored to the needs and budgets of participating brands. These packages may include promotional services such as dedicated blog posts, social media promotion, email newsletter features, or custom branding opportunities.

Additionally, charging for giveaways ensures that brands are committed and invested in the promotion, increasing the likelihood of a successful campaign. It also allows bloggers to prioritise quality over quantity, focusing on partnerships that align with their audience and niche.

My experience and why I charge for hosting brand giveaways:

When I host a giveaway for a company, I charge a small fee to cover my time and the exposure they receive. Most of my giveaways garner upwards of 1000 entries and are widely shared across social media, providing significant exposure for the company. Entry methods often include following the brand, leading to an increase in their social media followers.

It's a win-win situation: the company gains exposure and followers, while I attract new views to my blog and receive payment to compensate for my time.

Charging for giveaways also ensures the company's commitment to the promotion. If a company fails to deliver the prize, I am obligated to provide a prize of equal value to the winner. I've witnessed instances where bloggers have been unable to fulfill this obligation, leading to financial strain. Charging upfront guarantees the brand's commitment to sending the prize. In case of any unforeseen circumstances, I can use the payment to cover the prize, mitigating any potential losses.

4. Earning commissions with affiliate links

Utilising affiliate links is a popular method for bloggers to earn commissions by promoting products or services relevant to their audience. These links, embedded within blog posts or other content, allow bloggers to earn a percentage of sales generated through their referral.

As bloggers gain experience, they often integrate affiliate marketing into their monetization strategy, forming partnerships with companies whose products align with their niche and audience interests. By recommending products or services they genuinely believe in, bloggers can provide value to their readers while earning commissions on successful referrals.

Affiliate links offer a passive income stream, as they continue to generate revenue over time without requiring additional effort once implemented. However, effective affiliate marketing involves more than just adding links; it requires strategic placement within content and transparent disclosure to maintain trust with the audience.

Additionally, tracking and analysing affiliate performance allows bloggers to optimise their strategies, focusing on promoting products or services that resonate with their audience and yield higher conversion rates.

By diversifying revenue streams with affiliate marketing, bloggers can further monetize their blogs while delivering valuable recommendations to their audience. As with any monetization method, authenticity and transparency remain paramount to building trust and credibility with readers.

My thoughts and experience with affiliate links:

I’ve not really made the most of affiliate marketing yet, as I don’t want to become overly salesy. I've focused on promoting things I personally know and love, or services I have actually used. It feels natural and effortless to promote these companies since I'm a satisfied customer already.

I'm also a member of Awin, an affiliate marketing company boasting over 6000 brands. Through them, I receive up to two payouts a month. Surprisingly, the most significant earnings haven't always come from my Awin affiliate links, but rather from a sponsored blog post and a competition via their platform! Awin offers a marketplace where you can offer your services, leading to opportunities like sponsored blog posts. Additionally, I participated in an Etsy competition through them and received money directly into my account. Awin offers much more than just affiliate marketing opportunities; it's a versatile platform with various income-generating possibilities. They do charge a £5 signup fee which is paid back in your first payout. You must reach £20 in affiliate income for your first payout.

Click here to sign up to Awin and start making money from affiliate marketing!

Final thoughts

In conclusion, exploring various monetization methods beyond traditional advertising can significantly enhance a blogger's earning potential while maintaining the integrity of their content and relationship with their audience. From sponsored blog posts to hosting giveaways and utilising affiliate marketing, there are numerous opportunities to generate income while providing value to readers.

It's essential for bloggers to prioritise authenticity and transparency in their monetization efforts, ensuring that sponsored content aligns with their values and resonates with their audience. By focusing on partnerships and opportunities that genuinely benefit both the blogger and their readers, long-term success and sustainability can be achieved in the ever-evolving landscape of blogging and digital content creation.

Ultimately, the key lies in striking a balance between monetization and maintaining the trust and engagement of the audience. By diversifying revenue streams and staying true to their unique voice and perspective, bloggers can thrive in the dynamic world of online publishing while building a loyal and supportive community of readers.

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