Here are some hard truths I found making money from blogging.
Blogging is a website type that provides immediate, often informal, information on current events, personal opinions, and news. Blogs are created by people known as bloggers who typically post blogs with views on topics of interest or even diary-style text entries; this is according to https://greatcontent.com/pillar/what-is-blogging/
On to the juicy details. Can I really make money by blogging?
If you are like me and you have gone down a rabbit hole on this topic, you will know that there are many people saying that it is easy and you can make up to $ 10,000 from your blog. While that may be true, they may be exaggerating to fit their agenda.
The first thing we go for when creating a new blog is to add Ads, using Google Adsense. The next thing that they advise us to do is affiliate marketing.
Affiliate Marketing for making money online niche.
First, here is a list of affiliate marketing programs and networks that fit a niche which focuses on making money online, freelancing, and online education platforms. These programs will allow you to promote relevant tools, services, and platforms that your audience is likely to find useful. Here are some affiliate marketing sites that match your niche:
1. Fiverr Affiliates
Niche: Freelancing, gig economy, and digital services.
Why it’s relevant: Fiverr offers a wide range of freelance services, and you can earn commissions by referring users.
Commission: Up to $150 per sale (depending on the service purchased).
2. Coursera Affiliate Program
Niche: Online education, learning new skills, and career advancement.
Why it’s relevant: Coursera offers a range of courses, and you can earn commissions for every course or subscription purchased.
Commission: Up to 45% per sale.
3. Teachable Affiliate Program
Niche: Online course creation, education, and entrepreneurship.
Why it’s relevant: If your audience is interested in creating and selling their own courses (similar to freelancing or online tutoring), Teachable could be a great fit.
Commission: 30% recurring commission for the lifetime of each referral.
4. Udemy Affiliate Program
Niche: Online learning, skill development, personal development.
Why it’s relevant: Udemy is another online education platform that offers courses in areas like freelancing, marketing, and entrepreneurship. It’s great for readers who want to learn new skills or improve existing ones.
Commission: Up to 15% per sale.
5. FlexJobs Affiliate Program
Niche: Remote jobs, freelance work, and flexible job opportunities.
Why it’s relevant: Since your audience is interested in freelancing and remote work, FlexJobs is a trusted platform for finding legitimate remote and freelance positions.
Commission: $15 per subscription sale.
If you want to do affiliate marketing that does not require sales, here is a list
Affiliate marketing typically works on a performance-based model, meaning that most programs rely on sales to generate commissions. However, there are different types of affiliate marketing models that don’t solely depend on generating sales. Here’s a breakdown of the main models, some of which don’t require direct sales:
1. Pay-Per-Click (PPC)
How it works: You get paid for each click on your affiliate link, regardless of whether the visitor makes a purchase.
Depends on sales: No, it depends on clicks.
Example: Google AdSense (though not strictly affiliate marketing, it works similarly).
Ideal for: Websites with high traffic, as you’ll need lots of clicks to make significant money.
2. Pay-Per-Lead (PPL)
How it works: You earn a commission when a user performs a specific action, such as filling out a form, signing up for a newsletter, or registering for a free trial.
Depends on sales: No, just on leads.
Examples: Lead generation programs for SaaS companies, insurance, and financial products.
Ideal for: Bloggers and marketers who attract users looking for information and are ready to engage but not necessarily ready to buy.
3. Pay-Per-Impression (PPI)
How it works: You earn money based on the number of times the ad or link is viewed (impressions), regardless of clicks or sales.
Depends on sales: No, it’s based on ad views.
Examples: Display advertising platforms, often used by media companies.
Ideal for: High-traffic websites that can deliver large numbers of views, even if the audience isn’t clicking or buying.
4. Cost Per Action (CPA)
How it works: You earn a commission when a visitor completes a specific action, which could be subscribing to a service, downloading an app, or signing up for a free offer.
Depends on sales: No, only on the action being completed.
Examples: MaxBounty, PeerFly.
Ideal for: Websites that generate a lot of user engagement and drive people to take action (e.g., sign-ups or downloads).
In short, while sales-based models like Pay-Per-Sale are common, you can make money with Pay-Per-Lead, Pay-Per-Click, and Cost-Per-Action programs, which don’t rely on direct purchases. Focus on generating leads, clicks, and actions to succeed with these.
The truth about making money from blogging.
The idea that beginner bloggers will make money quickly with affiliate marketing is often overhyped or misleading. Here’s a clearer breakdown:
The Reality of Affiliate Marketing for Beginners
1. It Takes Time to Build Traffic:
Affiliate marketing relies heavily on having an audience. As a beginner blogger, you likely won’t have much traffic in the early stages. Building a consistent stream of visitors takes time—often months or even years of effort.
2. Success Depends on Audience Engagement:
Just having a blog isn’t enough. You need an engaged audience that trusts your recommendations and is interested in the products you promote. As a beginner, you’re still in the process of building that trust and engagement.
3. Competition is High:
Many niches in affiliate marketing are highly competitive, especially those promising lucrative commissions (like tech, finance, or fitness). It can be tough for beginners to compete with established blogs that have been around for years, especially in search engine rankings.
4. Learning Curve:
Affiliate marketing isn’t just about placing links on a blog. It requires a deep understanding of SEO, content marketing, conversion optimization, and sometimes even paid advertising. Beginners need to spend time learning these skills to be successful.
5. Conversion Rates Are Often Low:
Even with traffic, not everyone who visits your site will click on an affiliate link, let alone make a purchase. Most blogs have a small percentage of visitors converting into clicks or sales, especially in the early stages.
6. Earnings Can Be Slow and Small:
For beginner bloggers, affiliate marketing might bring in small amounts at first, like a few dollars per month. The big success stories you hear—like people making thousands—usually involve bloggers with established traffic and extensive knowledge of their niche.
Why People Say Beginners Can Make Money Fast
1. Marketing and Affiliate Promotions:
Many people who claim beginners can make money quickly with affiliate marketing are selling courses, ebooks, or memberships on how to make money. It’s in their interest to make it sound easy and achievable so more people buy their products.
2. Success Stories Are Highlighted:
The success stories you see often highlight exceptional cases of bloggers who made money fast. But these cases are rare and don’t reflect the typical experience of most beginner bloggers, who often struggle in the beginning.
3. Misleading Phrases:
When people say “make money through affiliate marketing as a beginner,” they often don’t specify the timeframe. Yes, you can make money as a beginner, but it might take months or years to see consistent, significant income.
What Can You Do as a Beginner Blogger?
1. Focus on Building Traffic: Without traffic, affiliate marketing won’t work. Invest time in SEO, content marketing, and social media strategies to grow your audience.
2. Diversify Income Sources: Affiliate marketing is just one way to monetize your blog. Consider display ads, sponsored posts, or even creating digital products as additional income streams.
3. Be Patient and Persistent: Making money from affiliate marketing takes time. Be realistic about your expectations, and don’t be discouraged if you don’t see results immediately.
Conclusion
The claim that beginners can make money quickly with affiliate marketing is misleading. While it’s possible to make money eventually, it requires consistent effort, content creation, and growing traffic before you see substantial results. Many beginners underestimate how long it takes to build a blog to the point where affiliate marketing becomes profitable. I am a beginner blogger for this website https://nolitaspace.com/ and I believe there is more that I still need to learn.
With that being said, Happy Side Hustling!