5 Ways to Monetize a Blog Besides Ads and Affiliates

If you’re a blogger relying solely on ads and affiliate links, you’re leaving money on the table. While those are great starting points, they’re not always reliable, especially when ad rates fluctuate or affiliate programs cut commissions.

Fortunately, there are other powerful ways to turn your blog into a revenue-generating asset. Here are five smart alternatives to monetize your blog—without depending on ads or affiliate programs.

1. Sell Your Own Digital Products

Instead of promoting other people’s products, why not sell your own?

Ideas:

• Ebooks

• Templates (like Notion pages, spreadsheets, resumes)

• Online courses or mini-courses

• Printables or guides

Why it works:
Once created, digital products have zero marginal cost. Plus, you get to keep 100% of the revenue.

Example:
If you run a personal finance blog, you could sell a budgeting spreadsheet or debt payoff tracker.

2. Offer Paid Memberships or Subscriptions

Create a members-only section of your blog and offer premium content, community access, or special tools for a monthly fee.

Ideas:

• Behind-the-scenes case studies

• Monthly live Q&As or coaching

• Private forums or Discord groups

Tools to use:
Memberstack, Ghost, Substack, or even a private Patreon blog.

Why it works:
Recurring revenue. Even a small number of loyal subscribers can generate consistent income.

3. Sell Services

Leverage your expertise by offering services based on your blog’s niche.

Examples:

• Writing, editing, or content strategy for others

• Consulting or coaching (SEO, business, productivity, etc.)

• Design, development, or branding help

Bonus: Use your blog as a portfolio to attract clients organically.

4. Create a Job Board or Marketplace

If your blog serves a specific audience (like developers, marketers, or writers), you can build a niche job board or listing service.

How to monetize:

• Charge employers to post jobs

• Offer featured listings

• Add resume posting for job seekers

Tools to use:
WP Job Manager (WordPress), Niceboard, or custom builds.

5. Host Workshops or Webinars

Use your blog audience to launch paid events that solve specific problems.

Types:

• Live virtual workshops

• Recorded video series

• Group coaching calls

• 1-day challenges or sprints

Bonus idea: Use free webinars as a lead magnet, then pitch your paid offer at the end.

Final Thoughts

Ads and affiliates are not the only way to make money blogging. In fact, the most successful blogs diversify their income streams, relying on products, services, and community-based models for stability and scale.

If you're serious about turning your blog into a long-term business, try adding one of these monetization methods this month.