When almost every day you meet bloggers of different topics in the digital space and hear about their roof-raising success stories and huge earnings, you can’t help but wonder why I can’t do the same? Actually, you can! Yes, there are some concerns around how to make money by blogging, like it’s an unstable source of income, it requires a long time to make the first profits, or that you need special technical skills to start. All your worries are justified by the specifics of blogging, but nevertheless, they are solvable, and you definitely have a chance to prepare for all the challenges of this path. We have collected for you all the most effective techniques of how to make money by blogging in one place. Enjoy!
Monetize your blog with HilltopAds!
What is blogging in 2025?
In 2025, the blog field has transformed from a basic personal diary into a complex online presence with great business potential. Nowadays, we’re not just talking about long articles in one thematic direction, but a wide range of content types on a variety of platforms: blogs, podcasts, vlogs, and social media posts. Speaking of social networks, with their spread and the increasing popularity of smartphones, blogging, and especially finding a connection with the audience, has become more accessible than ever before. Optimizing for mobile devices is crucial because more and more users are consuming content through their phones and tablets. Furthermore, apps like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have shaped blogging trends with their emphasis of concise, visual, and interactive content that engages readers and subscribers in innovative ways. For those who intend to make a personal blog their source of income, the industry offers a diversity of monetization opportunities to suit every taste: sponsored content, subscriptions, direct sales, affiliate marketing, and much more. This evolving environment indicates that blogging has moved beyond being merely a pastime — it has become a valid business model.
Watch our new YouTube video on how to make money by blogging, and start earn thousands of dollars with your traffic!
How to start blogging in 2025?
The fact that the field of blogging is especially developed in 2025, due to the abundance of tips, lifehacks, and success stories, makes the plan to become a blogger seem a bit chaotic. Don’t panic, we’ve compiled a base of essential steps in one place. Check our roadmap to get started:
Choose your niche
What came first: the egg or the chicken? We don’t have an answer to this philosophical question, but we know exactly what should come first when creating your own blog — the idea. First of all, to stand out in a competitive environment, you need to choose a specific and relevant niche, which will become the core of your content. It should reflect your interests, expertise, and the needs of your target audience (or potential segments you want to reach). Market analysis for 2025 shows the popularity and huge profitability potential of these topic areas:
- Lifestyle and personal development,
- Personal finance and investing,
- Health and wellness,
- Tech gadgets and AI,
- Digital marketing and entrepreneurship.
It doesn’t matter which niche you choose.
It is important that with HilltopAds you can monetize any of them.
Expert note:
Ben Cummings
Ben Cummings is the creator behind Blog With Ben, a go-to resource for bloggers, digital entrepreneurs, and creators looking to build and grow an online presence. With over 150,000 YouTube subscribers, Ben breaks down complex tools into simple, actionable tutorials that help others launch websites, master content marketing, and generate revenue online.
Website: blogwithben.com
In 2025, niches like personal finance, digital marketing, tech tools, AI, and blogging are some of the easiest to monetize, because they attract audiences who are actively looking to invest in solutions. These niches naturally lend themselves to affiliate marketing, digital products, and software recommendations. If your niche solves a clear problem and your audience has buying intent, you’re already one step closer to monetization.
Customize your blog platform
Your website is essentially your face and touch space with the audience you’re reaching, a reliable platform is essential for credibility and growth. You’ll need a domain name (your blog’s web address), a hosting provider (to store your website’s data), and a blog platform (like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix). Pay attention to hosting services that offer one-click WordPress installations to get your blog up and running quickly.
Plan your content strategy
Content is at the heart of any blog. Choose the types of posts you want to publish: articles, videos, interviews, guides, anything else. Plan your posting calendar, focusing on topics that resonate with your audience, plus tracking seasonal trends. Consistency is key: aim to publish regularly and provide valuable content that solves problems for your readers.
Build reputation
The reality is that you won’t have a flood of subscribers immediately from the moment you create your blog; gaining trust and credibility takes time. Start by creating high-quality, informative content that demonstrates your expertise. Communicate with your audience through empathetic comments, networking, and guest posts. Collaborations with other influencers in your field can also help you build reputation and attract more traffic to your site.
Marketing and promotion
Once your content is live, you need to touch as many people as possible. Apply SEO-tactics to rank your materials on browsers, and promote your posts on social media apps like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also explore email marketing, paid advertising and influence strategies to expand your reach to a wider audience.
Build a community
Social media is a great way to connect with your audience and build a loyal following: respond to comments, run polls, and share your blog posts regularly. Here, your main task is to spark and constantly maintain a sense of community to motivate users to get involved. Special groups or forums on social networks, where subscribers can interact with you and each other, can help with this.
Expert note:
Ben Cummings
Creator & online growth strategist
A highly engaged audience wins every time. You don’t need millions of pageviews to make money. If you have a few thousand loyal readers who trust your recommendations, you can earn a solid income from affiliate marketing, products, and services. It’s all about connection and trust, not just numbers.
Set up monetization channels
As your blog grows, it’s important to consider ways to earn money from your content. You are free to choose any comfortable form of monetization from the variety that the market offers. This is a very important step, especially for those for whom blogging is not just a hobby, but a full-fledged online business machine. We will look at each monetization strategy in more detail in the following sections of this article.
Successful stories in blogging
It can be hard to motivate yourself to post regularly at first, especially when your subscriber base isn’t growing as fast as you’d like. At times like this, we recommend referring to the case studies of those who have already traveled your path. These Influencers can inspire you and give you a boost of productivity, as well as effective tricks for running your own blog. Check out three case studies of bloggers who have achieved significant popularity:
Start making money on your blog right now!
Maybe the next success story will be yours.
Adam Enfroy
He started his blog, AdamEnfroy.com, in 2019 after eight years of experience in digital marketing, including Digital Marketing Director position at BigCommerce. Adam approached blogging like a startup, using his marketing knowledge to grow his personal brand. Within just two years, Enfroy generated over $1 million in revenue, with monthly earnings exceeding $350,000 by 2024. His blog focuses on content marketing, affiliate marketing, and software reviews, attracting hundreds of thousands of readers each month. His success is attributed to leveraging SEO, building a personal brand, launching quickly without waiting for perfection, and creating and selling the Blog Growth Engine course, which has helped others replicate his success.
Neil Patel
A digital marketing expert whose blog has become a go-to resource for SEO and marketing advice. His success formula contained high-value actionable content for marketers and business owners + a combination of free and paid SEO tools + valuable insights, and strong marketing. In several years, Patel has grown a powerful personal brand with corresponding significant business growth. This case demonstrates how delivering quality content and integrating products can create a profitable online business.
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner
True legend started her personal finance blog, Making Sense of Cents, in 2011 while working a full-time job. The secret to success with six-figure sums in Michelle’s account lies in strategic content creation that clearly targets the audience’s request for making money online, taking control over personal finances, and budgeting. This is perfectly complemented by profitable recommendations of financial products with affiliate links. In 2017, she became one of the top influencers of the financial niche and earned more than $1 million on her blog. Michelle’s ability to turn a niche interest into a profitable venture highlights the potential of niche blogging and the power of affiliate marketing.
Why do you need to make money by blogging in 2025?
Before we start diving into the topic of monetizing your own blog, let’s, as conscious individuals, first determine why you need it at all (and whether you need it at all). Here’s a list of fundamental reasons:
Passive income stream
A personal blog platform allows you to generate income even when you’re not physically sitting at your desk by the sweat of your brow.
Freedom of creative flow
The sphere lets you write about topics you’re passionate about, share your unique voice, and build a personal brand while earning money.
Flexibility
Whether you’re a promoter for work-life balance or work-life blend, whether you like to work in the morning or late at night, it doesn’t matter, you’re the king of your schedule in blogging.
Authority building
Blog creation helps establish you as an expert in your niche, leading to more opportunities for collaborations, sponsorships, and professional growth.
Sustainable financial solution
The field of blogging can rightfully be called evergreen. If you are flexible enough to adapt to trends and are truly passionate about your field, this hobby can become a long-term reliable source of income.
Wider impact
Through blogging, you can engage and influence a large audience, sharing valuable content while building a community around your brand.
Start making money as never before on your blog today with HilltopAds!
Who can make money by blogging in 2025?
Nowadays, almost anyone can become a blogger. However, there is a certain pattern to what the lucky person who achieves success in this niche looks like. We have analyzed the statistics and compiled a profile of an ideal blogger, or so-called Perfect Blogger Profile — you can use it as a checklist to get the missing combination of traits and skills to collect carte blanche before launching your own platform.
| Quality | Description |
| Niche-focused | Know their audience and adapt their content to a specific topic with a strong value for a targeted group. |
| Authentic and unique voice | Have personal style and authenticity that shine through, making their blog stand out in a crowded online space. |
| Consistent content creator | Regularly publish fresh, valuable content that keeps readers coming back. |
| Tech-savvy and AI-enabled | Know how to integrate technology, SEO tools, AI-driven content strategies, and data analytics to optimize and grow their blog. |
| Strategic and innovative thinker | Always looking for new ways to grow their blog, from monetization strategies to content ideas and partnerships. |
| Marketing and monetization skills | Understand how to promote their content, build an audience, and convert that audience into income through ads, affiliate marketing, or products. |
| Audience-oriented and community builder | Focus on building relationships with their readers, fostering a loyal community through engagement and interaction |
| Patient, persistent, and adaptable | Understand that blogging takes time and effort, and they adapt to changes in the digital landscape without losing focus on their long-term goals. |
Make money by blogging: top ways
All right! Now we have a match: earning money through blogging suits you, and you have the necessary set of qualities, so you can think about earning the cash you deserve. There are many ways to monetize an author’s resource, but we have gathered the best of the best to start the strategy by testing the most profitable options.
Affiliate marketing
Blogging and affiliate marketing are just made for each other in the context of making money. You can promote partner offers through unique links in a native and maximally integrated way and receive user conversion fees through your link. Examples of popular affiliate programs are Amazon Associates, ShareASale, and Rakuten Marketing. The main secret here is to choose a reliable affiliate program or network and select the most interesting and relevant offers for your niche. Then users will have a sense of real benefit, and you will receive stable earnings.
Advertising networks
Such companies place ads on your blog, and you earn money when users click or view them (depending on the model you select: CPA, CPC, etc.). Check the best ones:
- HilltopAds: known for high payouts and great targeting capabilities, HilltopAds is a popular choice for publishers in various niches.
- Google AdSense: a famous and trusted network that has strong analytical algorithms to places relevant ads based on your content and audience.
- Mediavine: a premium ad network for lifestyle bloggers, Mediavine offers high CPM rates for ad placements.
Add your blog to the HilltopAds advertising network and
discover high payouts and extensive advertising customization options!
Sponsored posts and private advertising
Make a separate section of your website to post promotional materials, such as reviews of the sponsored products. These publications benefit both your readers and your sponsors. In addition, you can select a couple of places on your site’s page to place banners for direct paid advertising. The rate for placement may vary depending on the popularity of a particular ad space. Just don’t overdo it, don’t let your blog turn into a commercial gallery.
Direct selling of digital services or goods
If you have products or services to offer or a partner who can use you as an influencer to trade theirs, your blog is an excellent platform to sell them. It can be anything from e-books, online courses, printable to templates, or even photography. If you have a reliable supplier (or this is you), then distributing such products directly to your readers can become a steady income stream.
Offer coaching or consulting
If you are a true expert in your niche, you can offer personalized coaching or consulting services to your blog audience. To be honest, you don’t have to be a super professional, you just need to have proven experience and understand the ins and outs of the field, whether it’s business processes, fitness, cooking, or creating communication strategies. Monetize your expertise right among your blog visitors.
Content for subscription
You can segment content into open-access and exclusive pieces for an additional fee. These unique pieces could be in-depth articles on your area of expertise, step-by-step guides on how to do something, videos, checklists, or some podcasts with famous gurus. This is ideal for bloggers with a loyal audience who are willing to pay for high-quality, specialized content.
Pros and cons in making money by blogging
Yes, blogging is an effective niche and a complete green flag to start sooner rather than later. However, like any other field of affiliate and digital marketing, there are pitfalls and challenges. Let’s take a closer look at the list of positives and negatives of making money from your own blog.
Pros
Easy to get started
The first steps in setting up a blog are quite simple and straightforward, and most of the related platforms and tools have long been automated and have manuals for beginners.
Income is unlimited and up to you
Your income potential is only limited by your efforts and the strategies you implement. Successful bloggers can generate substantial revenue.
Flexible lifestyle
Maintaining a blog is not a 9-to-6 white-collar office job. You’ll have the freedom to work from anywhere and combine it with hobbies and traveling.
Low startup costs
Starting a blog has minimal upfront costs compared to other businesses. Hosting and domain fees are affordable for most people.
Freedom to be creative
You have full control over your content, allowing you to express yourself and innovate as much as you like.
Multiple monetization options
There are several ways to make money, including affiliate marketing, ads, sponsored posts, and selling products, allowing for diversified income streams.
Community and networking
Blogging not only gives you the opportunity to unite like-minded people in your niche, but also to become part of that community yourself. You’ll get a lot of new connections, role models and opportunities for personal growth.
Cons
Can be time-consuming
Even when you’ve already created a content pipeline, it’s still a very energy-intensive process. Be prepared to supply it with your time, finances, and creativity non-stop.
Unstable income
Income from blogging can fluctuate, especially in the early stages, and it may take time before you start seeing consistent earnings.
Dependency on third parties
No matter how cool your content is, the ultimate success, views and monetization depend on the number of touches from users. In fact, your earnings are directly dependent on the attitudes and intents of a lot of other people. At the same time, you also depend on the affiliate program or advertising network for your payments — that’s why you should choose reliable brands like HilltopAds.
Technical skills needed
While many platforms are beginner-friendly, understanding SEO, content management, social media marketing algorithms and basic web design can help optimize your blog’s performance.
High competition
The search engine is literally bursting with millions of blogs on a variety of topics. A newcomer will really have to sweat to shout out their content and offer the crowd something fresh and unique.
Risk of burnout
From the moment your blog goes live, you’ll find yourself under constant attention, possible judgment, hate in comments and a desire to please everyone at the same time. This pressure can be truly exhausting, especially with the need to constantly produce original and useful content.
Expert note:
Ben Cummings
Creator & online growth strategist
One of the biggest challenges was patience. It’s easy to get discouraged when you’re publishing content and not seeing immediate results. Also, learning to balance content creation with promotion and technical setup (like email marketing, landing pages, SEO) was a steep learning curve. But once I got systems in place, it got a lot easier to scale.
How long does it take to make money by blogging?
No one will give you a definite answer to this question. But we can tell you exactly what this period depends on. Generally, it can take anywhere from a few months to a couple of years to see substantial income. Statistically, average timing vary from 21 months to 4 years. Key factors that influence this timeline include the niche of your blog, as some niches are more profitable or competitive than others. The monetization tools you choose also play a role — if you’re using affiliate marketing, ad networks, or selling products online, each method has its own timeline for generating income. There is also a certain seasonal pattern in traffic spikes for monetization (for example, e-commerce is at its peak during Black Friday or before Christmas).
Expert note:
Ben Cummings
Creator & online growth strategist
It took me about 12–18 months before I saw consistent, stable income from my blog. I was experimenting with affiliate links, digital product sales, and ad placements, and it took time to learn what worked, build trust with my audience, and get steady traffic. Once I focused on quality content, SEO, and solving real problems for readers, the income started to grow month after month.
HilltopAds will help accelerate the process of reaching a stable income
Try different monetization formats and different offers to find effective methods and start making good money!
How to earn a lot by blogging in 2025?
We’ve already listed the top ways to make money through blogging, but often mindlessly utilizing these channels isn’t enough. For big profits, it’s also important to take extra steps. Here are some tips from our side:
Use multiple monetization tools
Relying on just one method of monetization can limit your earnings. Instead, diversify your income streams by combining affiliate marketing, ads, sponsored posts, selling digital products, offering services, and membership content. This way, even if one revenue source fluctuates, others can help maintain a steady income.
Increase your audience through all measures
Your monetization strategy is all about your audience and the bigger your community, the more money you can make. Take the first step — help new readers find your blog through SEO optimization for search engines and social media advertising. Also, look into cross-promo tactics through reputable influencers in your niche, their customer base can potentially become yours and broaden your reach. If these people fit the portrait of your target consumer, they will surely be willing to pay for your offers too.
Expert note:
Ben Cummings
Creator & online growth strategist
SEO is still my top recommendation. It’s long-term, sustainable, and brings in targeted readers. But pairing it with short-form video content on platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or TikTok can help you grow fast and build a loyal audience. Email lists are still gold, and collaborating with influencers or brands can give you a huge boost. My advice: Pick 1-2 traffic strategies and get really good at them before trying everything at once.
Build a community that will pay you
You can, of course, build an audience on a hype or viral campaign and get a couple of temporary fans of your blog. But for long-term success and to stay afloat with all your content ideas, you need a loyal fan base behind you. You can get this by methodically posting really high-quality content that will resonate with these people and cover their needs and pain points. As trust builds, you can offer premium content, courses, consulting services, or exclusive memberships, which your readers will be willing to pay for.
Be patient and persistent
Blogging is a long-term endeavor. While some bloggers may see success quickly, most take time to build traffic, authority, and income. Be patient, even if you feel lonely and demotivated sometimes. Stay consistent with content creation and keep refining your monetization strategies. Persistence is key, as the more effort you put into growing your blog, the higher your potential income in the long run.
HilltopAds in making money by blogging
Let us ease your path to starting your own blog and monetizing it, at least in the matter of finding a reliable partner among advertising networks. Your ideal candidate is HilltopAds, you are welcome! One of the key advantages is that this network accepts blogs from absolutely any niche, so you don’t have to worry about how realistic it is to monetize your category traffic. The HilltopAds team pays high rates for organic traffic, which means that if your blog attracts visitors naturally, you’ll earn more. There’s also a whole kaleidoscope of multiple ad formats here, allowing you to choose the perfect match for your blog: popunder, in-page, video, banner, or generally a mix of several strategies. We also provide customization options for display ads so you can tailor them to your blog’s layout and audience.
Here is a go-to guide on how to monetize your blog using the HilltopAds ad network:
Step 1: Register on HilltopAds
- Go to the HilltopAds website and click on the Sign up button;
- Fill out the registration form with the necessary information (name, email, password, etc.);
- Check the letter with the confirmation link in your email.
Step 2: Add your blog to your account
- Go to the Manage Site & Zones section and click Add site button;
- Enter the link to your blog.
Step 3: Pass blog verification
If your site is based on a CMS platform with a domain (like myblog.wordpress.com or myblog.blogger.com), it will not pass automatic verification. In this case, contact your personal HilltopAds manager to do the verification manually.
If your blog has a custom domain (e.g., myblog.com), you can verify it automatically using one of these methods:
- Meta tag: copy the suggested meta tag and paste it into the <head> section of your site.
- Verification file: download the verification file and upload it to your blog — inside the root directory.
Step 4: Create an ad zone
- After successful verification, go to the Manage Site & Zones section of your dashboard;
- Click the Add Zone button and select the ad format.
We recommend starting with the popunder format, as it offers the highest rates. If you have video content, add VAST ads to show video ads similar to YouTube ads. You can also work with in-page ads and banners — all ad formats are safe both for the site and for working with AdSense (or other services’) codes.
Step 5: Ad displays customization (optional)
Contact your personal manager to set up ad displays by specific niches (e.g., showing only e-commerce ads), preferred browsers (e.g., Chrome only) or targeted countries.
Step 6: Use DirectLink (if verification fails)
If your blog verification fails, you can use DirectLink — a special link that opens ads in a new window every time the user clicks on it. Add the DirectLink to buttons, images, or text on your site.
Step 7: Start earning
Once the ads or links are placed on your blog website, you’ll start earning. HilltopAds works with the CPM model, so the more quality traffic your blog generates, the higher your earnings.
This flexibility, combined with their high payout rates, makes HilltopAds an excellent choice for bloggers looking to monetize their content effectively.
Start monetizing your blog with HilltopAds today!
What to avoid while making money by blogging
In the world of blogging, there is a high temptation to find a workaround and start earning fast, but not in the best way. We’ve put together a few rules of so-called blog hygiene. Try to follow them so that you don’t get a reputation as a scammer among your audience or potential partners.
Fake traffic
Don’t purchase traffic or use bots to inflate your numbers. It may provide a temporary boost, but it won’t lead to genuine engagement and can harm your SEO rankings.
Misleading your audience
Avoid exaggerating claims or promoting products you don’t genuinely believe in. Misleading content can damage trust and your reputation in the long run perspective.
Scamming your audience
Never offer fake products, services, or links. This will trigger a high risk of legal liability for fraud and make you a target for public censure.
Neglecting transparency
Be honest and clear about your monetization methods. Disclose affiliate links and sponsored content to ensure your audience knows when you’re making money from recommendations.
Overloading with ads
Avoid using too much ads on your blog, this can overwhelm readers and reduce the overall user experience. Keep ad placements balanced and relevant to your content.
Myths in making money by blogging in 2025
There are several myths and misconceptions about blogging that can hold people back from pursuing it as a profitable venture. Let’s try to play legend breakers and get to the truth.
It’s complicated
— many people think blogging requires advanced technical skills, but with user-friendly platforms like WordPress and Wix, it’s easier than ever to get started, even without coding knowledge.
Blogging is dead or too saturated to be profitable
— while blogging has become more competitive, it’s far from dead. With the right niche, content, and monetization strategies, blogging can still be incredibly profitable in 2025.
It’s a scam
— some people view blogging as a “get-rich-quick” scheme or a scam, but successful blogging requires consistent work, strategic planning, and time. It’s a legitimate business model that offers real opportunities for income.
Need a lot of investments before start earning
— while investing in a domain name and hosting is necessary, you don’t need to spend large amounts of money upfront. Many bloggers start with minimal investment and scale over time.
It’s impossible to succeed
— you don’t need millions of followers to make money from blogging. Focus on creating quality content for a targeted audience, and you can monetize effectively with smaller, more engaged readers.
Blogging is just about writing
— blogging is much more than writing. Successful bloggers also focus on SEO, content strategy, audience engagement, and monetization. It’s a multi-faceted online business that goes beyond just producing articles.
Final thoughts about making money by blogging
Now you know that there is a specific algorithm to create your own content sharing platform in 2025 and make money from any convenient monetization channel: affiliate marketing, subscription content, selling digital products, or others. Don’t forget to check your skill set with our Perfect Blogger Profile to make sure you can handle all the challenges of this field. Also, try to avoid unfair mechanisms of earning views like scamming, misleading, and excessive advertising, if you don’t want to damage your reputation in front of your loyal audience and partners. Speaking of partners, cooperation with reliable traffic providers like advertising networks will give +100 points to your confidence. HilltopAds, for instance, will accept any blog without reference to the niche and will share all the charms of working with different advertising channels. Take advantage of such benefits before someone else takes advantage of them!
Add your blog website and earn today!
