How to Start a Profitable Blog Course - Day Four.

Day 4: Monetization Basics—Start Earning from Your Blog

Yesterday, you tackled writing and publishing your first blog post—congrats! Hitting “publish” for the first time is a massive step. Today, we’re diving into something that might feel a bit like magic at first: making money from your blog.

Here’s the thing: You don’t need thousands of followers or months of content before you can start monetizing. Plenty of new bloggers earn their first affiliate commission or small sale long before they have a big audience. Let’s break down how you can do that, too.v

1. Monetization Overview

There are many ways to earn from blogging, but here are a few favorites for new bloggers:

  • Affiliate Marketing

    • You recommend products or services you genuinely love, and when someone buys through your unique link, you get a commission.

    • Easy to weave into your posts: “I used this [specific tool], and here’s why I love it.”

    • Examples: Amazon Associates, hosting companies, e‐books from other creators.

  • Ads

    • Basic ad networks (like Google AdSense) let you place ads on your site. You make small amounts each time someone views or clicks.

    • Earning potential grows as your traffic grows.

    • Great if you want more of a “set it and forget it” income stream.

  • Selling Your Own Digital Product

    • A simple PDF checklist, mini e‐book, or template can do surprisingly well—even if you don’t have a huge audience.

    • If you have a niche skill or knowledge, packaging it into a small, low‐cost product is a quick way to earn.

2. Picking Your First Method

You don’t have to do everything at once. In fact, I recommend picking just one monetization method to start. Here’s how:

  • Affiliate Marketing if you enjoy sharing helpful products or tools you already use.

  • Ads if you want something hands‐off—but remember, you won’t earn much until you have some traffic.

  • Tiny Digital Product if you like creating simple resources or teaching what you know.

3. Where to Insert Affiliate Links

If you choose affiliate marketing as your first step, here’s how to integrate it naturally:

  1. Mention a product you genuinely recommend in the body of your blog post (like “I tried [Product A], and here’s what happened”).

  2. Hyperlink the product name with your affiliate link.

  3. Add a brief disclaimer (e.g., “I may earn a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through my link”). Transparency builds trust!

(Don’t forget, you can sign up for programs like Amazon Associates or ShareASale to find affiliate deals relevant to your niche.)

4. Setting Up Basic Ads

If you want to try ads:

  1. Create a Google AdSense account (if you’re brand new).

  2. Place their code on your site (there are WordPress plugins that make this easy).

  3. Once you start getting traffic, you can consider applying to bigger networks like Ezoic or Mediavine.

Be mindful not to overstuff your site with ads, or it’ll turn off readers.

5. Launching a Mini Digital Product

If you’re feeling ambitious:

  1. Brainstorm something quick that solves a specific pain point (e.g., “30‐Day Meal Plan for Busy Moms,” “Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Keto Diet”).

  2. Create it in a platform like Canva or Google Docs.

  3. Sell it from a simple landing page or with a “buy now” button. Even a small $7–$10 product can add up over time.

(If you have my Launch Your Blog Toolkit, check out the Monetization Strategy Planner— it’s got a step‐by‐step timeline for rolling out your first affiliate links or product in your first few months.)

6. Don’t Be Shy About Promoting

This might be the trickiest part for new bloggers. Talking about how your blog can help someone is not “pushy”—it’s helpful if you genuinely believe in the product or service. Don’t be afraid to mention your affiliate link or your own digital product in relevant posts.

7. Your Mini Assignment

  1. Choose 1 Monetization Method: Affiliate links, ads, or a small product.

  2. Implement It This Week:

    • If affiliate, sign up for at least one program and add a relevant link to your new post.

    • If ads, sign up for AdSense and follow their quick setup.

    • If product, brainstorm a tiny resource and outline how you’d deliver it.

Coming Up in Day 5

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about getting traffic—because of course, monetization is way easier when people are actually visiting your blog. Stay tuned!

Until then, pick your monetization path and take at least one action step. There’s no better time than now to set that foundation.

P.S. If you’re feeling “uh, help?”—my Launch Your Blog Toolkit includes a Monetization Checklist and a 90‐Day Monetization Planner so you can see exactly what to do each week. It’s especially handy if you want to fast‐track your earning potential