How to make money using a blog in 2025 (with proven examples)
*How to start a blog that actually makes money? How fast can you make money blogging? Can you make $1,000 a month with a blog? How hard is it to make money blogging?* I remember having all these questions when I started this blog, which brings me $$$$$ today.
You, my friend, are here because you’ve got similar questions. Yet you’re confused. You’ve found so much content out there that gives you superficial answers.
Even worse, answers that paint all rosy, like a walk in the park, without preparing you with the pro strategies you need for the challenges you’ll face as a new blogger to make money online.
Yeap, I said it, it’s paramount that you approach making money blogging the right way to achieve your online goals.
So, *Can people really make money successfully from blogging in 2025?* Absolutely! The answer to how to make money using a blog is straightforward: product or services, affiliate marketing, collaborations, sponsored content, and ads.
It’s easier than you think when you follow the strategies in this blog! Here is what you’re going to discover:
Blogging to become an online entrepreneur: How I turned my passion into profit
How to make money using a blog in 5 different ways (with proven examples)
Can you make $1,000 a month with a blog?
How do you live off blogging?
Can I actually make money from blogging?
How to start a blog and make money?
Can I make money blogging about my life?
How fast can you make money blogging?
How long does it take to make $1,000 per month blogging?
How much can I earn from 1,000 views on my blog?
How hard is it to make money blogging?
But you, my friend, want more than just a list of how to make money with blogging. You’re whispering *how long does it take to make $1,000 per month blogging?*. Ah-ha! Perfect Q!
This is the blog where you’ll find my early (and easily made) mistakes you can avoid and what to do to make money blogging without waiting for years for Google traffic.
Full disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission from.
Plus, I share with you the best step-by-step method to boost your blog traffic in this FREE cheat sheet: 7 Steps to Kickstart Your Pinterest for Online Traffic on Autopilot. Get it here totally FREE:
Don’t forget to pin this image!
Blogging: How I turned my passion into profit
Before I get you into the behind-the-scenes story of my blog and how I make money with a blog, let me tell you something, my friend.
Can you make money blogging?
Embracing making money blogging is also about getting ready for when people ask you what you do and the that-isn’t-a real-job stares that follow. Try telling friends (even family) that you are a professional blogger, and they won’t comprehend that you work. Haha!
Be prepared to hear this question again and again: *Can you make money blogging?* I’ve lost count of how many times saying I’m a professional blogger get “the look”, you know, the look where people don’t consider it to b a proper job.
The best comes when they discover you earn more money online with a blog (plus enjoy significantly more time freedom!) than them with their so-called-secure–9-to-5 job they’ve already lost at least once or twice.
Well, now to my story and why I can, from my personal experience, share with you more than a thing or two about how to make money blogging, my friend.
Blogging mistakes that helped me master how to make money using a blog
When I started blogging I thought I had mainly one challenge ahead of me: how to learn the tech to start a blog.
Then I threw at myself another challenge: getting a shiny, impressive website done before I ever publish a single blog. I convinced myself that without a full-fleshed website, I couldn’t seriously start a blog.
The thing is, back then, EVERYTHING was new to me.
I wasn’t quite clear on what I wanted to do to make money online with my blog, I had no clear purpose, and I was still trying to figure it all out for free by watching YouTube videos.
I wasted months (almost a year) before I got my first blog out. Why? I put the priority on the wrong thing.
Creating blogs to grow my audience should have been far, far more important than spending months struggling to create my website, my brand colors, my logo, my strapline, my vision statement, my brand photos....
Plus, I was convinced that, if my blogs were super pro (give plenty of value, they say), I’d get masses of online traffic in a matter of days (maybe weeks). Well, I still remember the *tap, tap, tap* refreshing Google Analytics to see close to no online traffic growth for months! *Why?*
I had completely disregarded one essential element of the Google algorithm: before you can rank and get tons of online traffic, it can take years because Google wants you to prove your authority and experience with other people linking to your website.
*If it’s that tough, why should I keep on reading, Isabel?* Wait, don’t go yet.
It sounds doom and gloom. But this is exactly what I wanted you to know. Here is one of my blogs that go even deeper into this:
Exactly, there is a wrong way to approach blogging that can get you frustrated and burnt out, where you earn little money. And there is the right one! Keep reading!
How I became an online entrepreneur making money blogging
After wasting far too long, I reassess my online strategy. I understood that:
Google alone would have taken me months, if not years, to bring me the online traffic I needed.
I searched for a traffic booster (without paying for ads). I found it!
Pinterest was THE game changer for me and my blog. More about this later.
Writing great blogs wasn’t enough.
I needed to stop writing blogs about the topics I like and start researching what my ideal audience was searching for (and I had a chance to rank for).
Making money with ads wasn’t going to achieve a 6-figure passive income fast.
Reaching the volumes of online traffic I needed to even get considered for the ads platforms that pay well was a long shot away.
I decided to invest my efforts in two main online income streams: digital products and affiliate marketing.
I would later expand my revenue strategy further with services, and collaborations.
My website was not the priority, regular new blogs to grow my email list were.
So I stopped wondering about my About Page and focused on writing blogs people were searching for.
I created a freebie to capture sign-ups into my email list.
Bingo! This re-focus made all the difference. Now I earn thousands thanks to my blog. Here is a testimonial from one of my clients, who as many, found me thanks to my blog!
How to make money using a blog in 5 different ways (with proven examples)
Products or Services
Selling your own products or services through your blog is one of the most profitable ways to make money online. You aren’t just taking 10% or 30% commission when you sell someone else’s product, when you sell, it’s your revenue IN FULL Yeah
When you understand what your audience needs, creating something like a digital template or an online course becomes a natural extension of your expertise. It's a way to offer immediate value while building trust, directly linked to your blog content ideas.
For example, my course The Profitable Pinterest Secrets shows a simpler way to gain more traffic, leads and time freedom. If you want to skip the endless hours spent on social media and make your content work overtime — so you don’t have to, the course is for you.
By the way, if you want to discover the 4-Pillar Pinterest System that’ll help you grow a profitable business and save up to a day a week: here it is!
ONLINE COURSES
Online courses are my fav way to make money blogging fast. When you haven’t got huge online traffic volumes yet, every click counts.
The maths are simple, just imagine you get 1000 views per month with your blog:
Scenario 1: On average, 1% of them click on an ad (that’s 10 clicks). Let’s say you get $1 per click. That’s a total revenue of $10 per month.
Scenario 2: On average, let’s say your course is $997 and a third of the people who land on your blog click your online course link. Your conversion rate is 1% because your traffic is highly targeted. That’s a total revenue of $2,991 per month.
Can you see the immediate difference in online revenue with the same online traffic? And as your traffic grows with more blogs, so does your revenue.
Now, I want to be open with you. Creating an online course isn’t a thing you should attempt to do on your own working it all out alone. That’s why if you’re considering creating an online course to make money with a blog, I recommend you watch my friend, Louise’s Henry free workshop first.
An online course isn't just about the info—it’s about guiding your clients to a successful transformation.
ONE-ON-ONE COACHING SERVICES
I get that you might not be yet at a point where you can consider creating an online course. Starting a blog to make money online is already quite an endeavor, my friend.
So here is a super straightforward option to make money blogging that doesn’t require creating a product or learning new tech tools.
One-on-one coaching services.
You just need to think about your expertise and offer your time to support others with it. Add an online booking calendar on your website and a free Zoom account and you’re off! That simple.
Offering services like coaching or consulting is another powerful way to monetize your blog. You’re essentially taking your experience and using it to help others on their journey.
When someone needs deeper support from me beyond my online courses, my one-on-one coaching takes them through personalized steps to scale their online business with confidence.
I also offer on-on-one coaching and here is a testimonial of on of my clients about it:
VIP INTENSIVES
A high-end version of online services you can offer to make money blogging are VIP Intensives. These are services conceived around offering a fully dedicated day to a client where you solve a specific problem.
For example, you start by charging $797 and increase your fee with time as you get more experienced. I have seen VIP Intensive offered at $3997 or more.
If you want to ditch months of guessing what content to create, to sell more, eliminate the daily content hustle without a plan, and achieve in a day content clarity to attract your ideal clients, you want to check out my Profitable Content Clarity VIP Day.
There are plenty more products and services you can offer. Here are some ideas to make money online blogging:
PRODUCTS
Online courses
Instant access video workshops
Digital templates (for planners, graphics…)
Printables (checklists, planners, or guides)
eBooks on niche-specific topics
Business tools (e.g. budget calculator, pricing calculator…)
Online shop for drop-shipping products
Online shop for physical products
SERVICES
Personalized coaching or consulting packages
Webinars or live training sessions
Custom design services (like branding, website design, or social media graphics)
Social media management
Copywriting services
Group coaching programme
Membership sites with exclusive content
These are just a few ways of how to make money blogging for beginners.
Here are some of my blogs with even more:
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a simple yet powerful way for bloggers to earn money by promoting other people's products or services they love.
The idea is straightforward: you partner with companies and share their products with your audience using special links. When someone clicks through and makes a purchase, you earn a commission. It’s a win-win—you get paid for recommending something helpful, and your audience gets introduced to valuable resources without any extra cost to them.
Don’t miss the infograhic that summarises this later in this section (one of my best performing pin on Pinterest, by the way!)
In my own blogging journey, affiliate marketing has been a steady source of passive income. I’ve partnered with tools and online entrepreneurs that I genuinely use in my business.
For instance, I promote Kartra ass the one-in-all marketing tool to make money online. It has saved me thousands, made me thousands, and, even better, saved me hours of tech headaches. Want to know more about it?
Is Kartra Pricing Worth It For Solopreneurs? Kartra Review
You’ve also seen my affiliate marketing through this blog. I love supporting other online educators I have invested in, when I know their online course or programmes have transformed my online business results.
When I recommend online tools like Tailwind, that I use to schedule all my pins on Pinterest in just 1 day for months of content to help streamline the process for entrepreneurs, it’s easy to authentically share how they work. My audience appreciates those recommendations, and I earn a commission when they sign up.
The key to successful affiliate marketing, my friend, is trust. Only promote products you’ve personally used or truly believe in. When your audience knows they can rely on your recommendations, they’re more likely to make purchases through your links, which ultimately boosts your passive income.
Collaborations
Before you skip this part of the blog… I understand, my friend, that at the beginning of your online journey, you can be reading this section and thinking: “Who the heck will collaborate with me, Isabel? I know no one. I have no clue where to start…”
We all have been there. Still don’t pass too fast on this section.
Little by little, but surely, you’ll start creating a small network of other online entrepreneurs you know. It can happen through many different ways: a group coaching program (fab for this), a private membership site you are part of, a Facebook group, Instagram DMs…
Et voila! The start of your collaboration journey starts!
Collaborating with other brands is a great way to earn money by working alongside companies that fit your niche and resonate with your audience.
Instead of a one-off project, collaborations often involve a longer partnership, where both you and the brand can benefit from increased exposure. You might work together on several blog posts, webinars, or even co-host an event.
The goal is to align with brands that complement your content, making the partnership feel seamless to your readers.
I regularly collaborate exactly in this way. I recently held a live workshop for Ashlee Sang’s audience, a super inspiring brand messaging strategist. She reciprocated with my audience, with a phenomenally impactful “Power To The Persona: Creating A Values-Aligned Audience”. We have also created content for each other platforms. Here is her guest blog in my website:
Plus here is me as a guest on her podcast, Purpose & Progress - Values-Aligned Brand Messaging Strategy: Pinning Your Way To Impact & Purpose with Isabel Talens
Sponsored Content
Sponsored posts are typically a one-time project where a brand pays you to write content featuring their product or service. This could be a blog post, video, or even a Pinterest pin, depending on what the brand is looking for.
Sponsored content is a direct way to earn income while providing helpful recommendations to your audience, but it’s important that the content still aligns with your style and values.
My inbox is full of cold outreach emails proposing sponsored posts in my blog. I’ve never accepted these. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. It’s a very personal strategy that aligns with my business and personal values. I won’t simply promote to a product or service I haven’t used and don’t have a deep understanding about.
Display Ads
Think about how to make money blogging and the first thing that many new bloggers usually think is spreading ads through their blogs.
Aiming to make money with a blog and ads? Here’s a guiding principle: You can earn money through ads by partnering with ad networks like Google AdSense, Mediavine, or AdThrive. These networks place ads on your blog, and you get paid based on how many people view or click on them.
The process is simple: once you sign up with an ad network and meet their traffic requirements, ads automatically display on your blog, and you start earning. The more eyes on your content, the more ad revenue you’ll generate, making it a great option for bloggers looking for passive income.
Truth bomb: Traffic size directly impacts how much you can earn from ads.
Realistic Timeline: If you're starting from scratch, it can take 6 to 12 months (or longer) to build up enough traffic to qualify for premium ad networks like Mediavine or AdThrive.
However, with a solid content strategy and traffic drivers like Pinterest, you can start seeing results faster. Don’t miss the next section!
Unpopular opinion comin' in hot… When you want to make money with a blog fast, ads shouldn’t be your number 1 and only strategy. Let's face it, there's little chance of a blog getting 50,000 views in 3 months.
Ads can and will work, yet your revenue will take tiiiiiime to get to thousands per month. Plus your user experience can suffer if you spread too many ads throughout. And that, my friend, Google SEO doesn’t like it at all.
Don’t forget to pin this!
How Pinterest can bring online traffic to your blog faster
Pinterest: The Search engine that gets you discovered for year
Why did I decide to become a Pinterest expert? Pinterest plays a massive role in driving a lot of traffic for online entrepreneurs like you.
Say goodbye to waiting for years to rank in Google.
Pinterest accelerates the online traffic to blogs, especially for new bloggers.
Unlike social media platforms where content disappears quickly, Pinterest works like a search engine—meaning your pins can keep driving traffic for months or even years after posting.
The gist: By creating eye-catching pins that link back to your blog posts, you can reach a broader audience, even if your blog is brand new. Pinterest users are often looking for solutions, making it a perfect platform for driving targeted traffic to blog content.
How I grew online my business with Pinterest
Pinterest has been a game-changer for my online business.
When I started optimizing my pins and using strategic keywords, my blog traffic skyrocketed. Look at how much more traffic I get from Pinterest compared to social media (directly from my Google Analytics)! (Can I get a hell yeah!)
One of my most successful pins continues to bring in steady traffic long after I created it. Here it is for you:
Pinterest has helped me grow my email list and reach new readers without relying on social media algorithms or constantly posting updates. It’s an evergreen source of online traffic that works in the background while I focus on creating more valuable content. (Yup, you heard that right)
My online course sales start with my audience discovering on Pinterest! That’s $$$$$ thanks to the power of Pinterest!
For new bloggers, Pinterest is one of the fastest ways to get traffic to your blog. *Gasp!*
What's the big takeaway? When you want to make money with a blog, always add Pinterest to your growth strategy to accelerate your results and your months.
I have something very special for you my friend: your FREE 7 Essential Steps to Kickstart Your Pinterest for Online Traffic on Autopilot.
Or even better, why not watch my FREE Pinterest training now (instant access!):
FAQ about making money blogging
Can you make $1,000 a month with a blog?
Yes, you absolutely can make $1,000 a month with a blog! The key is diversifying your income streams and focusing on strategies that align with your audience’s needs.
Here’s how you can hit that goal using five main revenue streams:
Products or Services: Selling digital products like eBooks, courses, or offering services like coaching can quickly boost your income. For example, if you sell a course for $100, you only need to make 10 sales a month to hit $1,000.
Affiliate Marketing: By recommending products you genuinely use and love, you can earn a commission on every sale. Let’s say you earn $20 per affiliate sale—you’d only need to refer 50 sales in a month to reach $1,000. This works especially well when your blog content is aligned with high-quality, useful products.
Collaborations: Collaborating with brands over time can lead to steady income. A brand might pay you $300 to $500 per collaboration, so if you can secure a couple of collaborations a month, you're well on your way to meeting that $1,000 mark.
Sponsored Posts: Sponsored posts offer great one-time income. You could earn between $100 to $500 per post depending on your traffic and engagement. By doing just 2-3 sponsored posts a month, you can significantly boost your income.
Ads: Once you have enough traffic, displaying ads on your blog can be a nice passive income stream. With networks like Mediavine or Google AdSense, it’s realistic to earn around $100 to $300 a month depending on your page views.
But there's a catch… As a new blogger, you may struggle at the beginning to reach $1000 by focusing on just one of these online streams to make money online.
Combining some of these streams makes it far more achievable to earn $1,000 or more each month from your blog! The key is to keep building traffic, nurturing your audience, and offering products and services that bring real value.
How do you live off blogging?
Living off blogging is about turning your blog into a strategic business.
Here's the real truth and nothing but: It’s not just about writing posts—it’s about building multiple revenue streams and consistently growing your audience.
To make a full-time income from blogging, you need to think of your blog as the foundation for a larger ecosystem where you offer products, services, partnerships, and more. The real magic happens when you layer these strategies together.
Start by creating valuable, evergreen content that solves your audience’s problems, which helps drive steady traffic to your site.
From there, you can monetize through products, like courses or templates, and services like coaching or consulting.
As your blog grows, you’ll also build partnerships with brands for collaborations and sponsored posts. This helps generate additional income streams, while affiliate marketing and ads provide more passive income over time.
But here is the essential nuance. The key to living off blogging is balancing active revenue, like products and services, with passive income streams, such as affiliate marketing and ads.
A successful blogger constantly optimizes for growth—whether through SEO, Pinterest, or nurturing an engaged email list—so the income keeps flowing and scales over time.
Aaaand more! Keep reading ⬇️
Can I actually make money from blogging?
I hear you, my friend. You’ve read all this but you’re still asking yourself: *Can people really make money successfully from blogging?*
Absolutely yes! You make money from blogging!
Here's the thing: many people get stuck because of mental blocks, fears, and early missteps.
You might be wondering if it's really possible or if you’re wasting your time. These fears are totally normal, especially when you're starting out, but they don’t have to hold you back.
One common fear is that the market is too saturated. It’s easy to feel like there are already too many blogs out there, but here’s the truth: no one can bring your unique perspective to the table. Your voice, experiences, and expertise are what make your blog stand out, and there’s always room for fresh voices.
Another mental block is thinking that you need huge traffic to earn money. While building traffic is important, you can start earning with a small but engaged audience by offering high-value products or services.
The biggest misstep? Waiting until everything is "perfect" before starting. Many bloggers delay creating content or launching products because they feel unprepared. I’m a recovering perfectionist so I can tell you, that used to be me! It just helps to act like IDGAF from time to time.
But the reality is, blogging is a learning process. You get better and grow by doing. Don’t let the fear of not knowing every detail stop you. Start small—whether it’s with affiliate marketing, a simple service, or a sponsored post—and scale from there.
You can make money blogging. It starts with moving past those doubts and taking the first step.
Want to knoow more? Check out my blog:
How to start a blog and make money?
Absolutely! Here’s a simple, actionable step-by-step guide on how to start a blog and make money:
Step 1: Choose Your Niche
Pick a topic you’re passionate about and knowledgeable in.
Make sure it has an audience looking for information or solutions they will be prepared to invest money to solve them.
Step 2: Set Up Your Blog
Get a domain name that reflects your niche. Don’t
Sign up for a hosting service (Squarespace for me) to make your blog live.
Step 3: Create Quality Content
Write helpful, engaging posts that solve your audience's problems and your audience searches for.
Aim for evergreen content that stays relevant over time.
Use visuals (images, infographics, and video) to demonstrate your experience and expertise.
Here are my blogs that will transform your content results:
Chat GPT Prompts: A Real Marketing Powerhouse To Save You Time Today?
Top 3 Content Creation Hacks To Boost Your Creativity And Grow Your Email List
How To Write Unique Blog Posts For A Whole Year - Exact Blueprint For Quality Blog Content Ideas
How To Write Unique Blog Posts For A Whole Year - Exact Blueprint For Quality Blog Content Ideas
Step 4: Build an Audience
Use Pinterest as a great platform for driving traffic back to your blog.
Start an email list to keep in touch with your readers, promote directly and share new content.
Step 5: Monetize Your Blog
Products/Services: Create and sell your products, like online courses or digital downloadables.
Affiliate Marketing: Join affiliate programs and recommend products related to your niche. Earn commissions on sales.
Collaborations: Partner with brands that align with your blog
Create sponsored content.
Ads: Once you have enough traffic, sign up for ad networks like Google AdSense or Mediavine to display ads on your blog.
Step 6: Stay Consistent and Keep Learning
Keep creating content and promoting your blog regularly.
Learn about SEO, marketing strategies, and audience engagement to grow your blog’s reach and income.
Step 7: Track Your Progress
Use analytics tools (like Google Analytics) to monitor your traffic and income sources.
Adjust your strategies based on what works best.
Now you see the answer to how to start a blog that actually makes money.
By following these steps, you’ll be on your way to starting a blog and making money from it! Remember, patience and persistence are key.
Can I make money blogging about my life?
I get it: You want to start your blog and you’re struggling to think about a subject for it. So you’re considering blogging about your life. *Nahhhh*, *Yeah*? (Is it a bad or good idea?)
Yes, you can make money blogging about your life, but it’s important to approach it thoughtfully. While personal stories can be engaging, a self-centric blog often struggles to attract a broad audience unless you’re a high-profile figure.
I'm here to make your making money blog *a little* (ok, may be a lot) easier for you.To make your life blog successful and profitable, focus on creating content that resonates with your readers by offering action-driven educational content that inspires, or entertainment.
Start by identifying the themes in your life that could provide value to others. Think about your experiences—what have you learned that could help someone else?
Sharing relatable stories, lessons learned, or challenges overcome can inspire your audience and create a connection. You can also incorporate practical tips and advice that relate to your experiences, whether it’s about travel, parenting, personal development, or wellness.
Additionally, consider how to make your content more relatable. Instead of just sharing what you did, frame your posts around common struggles or interests your audience might have. This will not only draw in readers but also give you the opportunity to monetize through affiliate marketing, products, or sponsored posts related to those interests.
Remember, it’s all about balance. While sharing your life is essential, make sure to keep your audience in mind.
Focus on providing value and building a community around your blog, and you’ll find ways to monetize your content effectively.
Plus don’t miss this blog I’ve created for you:
How fast can you make money blogging?
If you’re sick of seeing content that barks at you how damn easy is to make money with a blog for a 6-figures income in no time only to hit the reality of painfully slow blog growth and income that doesn’t come any near your expectations—you’re in the right place.
The thing is, you, my friend, can approach making money blogging in many different ways, and that matters. You might be chucking lots of blogs, maybe even 2 or 3 per week, while hitting refresh on Google Analytics only to be deeply disappointed.
You’re starting to think what’s the point of all the time you’re putting at it. Trust me—I get it.
The timeline for making money blogging varies widely (many hide from you this) and depends on several factors, including your niche, content quality, audience engagement, and your monetization strategy.
While it’s enticing to think you could start earning a six-figure income in a month, that isn’t realistic for most bloggers.
Here's the thing though: Many bloggers begin to see their first income within 6 to 12 months.
This period allows you to build a solid foundation by creating quality content, growing your audience, and learning about effective monetization strategies. It’s essential to focus on consistent content creation and promoting your blog to drive traffic.
That’s where Pinterest comes in! It accelerates your discoverability and online traffic! Get ready to make money blogging faster when you leverage the powr of Pinterest to bring you online traffic and leads on autopilot.
And it only takes 1hour per week (or 4 hours per month!). That’s it that’s all! So time to watch my FREE Pinterest training:
As you establish your blog, you might start earning small amounts through affiliate marketing or ads, but significant income often comes as you grow your audience and diversify your revenue streams.
For instance, launching your own products or services can significantly boost your income once you’ve built a loyal readership.
So, what's the verdict? The beauty of blogging lies in its potential for long-term growth. While the initial months may require patience and dedication, the opportunities can be life-changing as you refine your strategies and establish a connection with your audience.
Stay committed, be realistic about your goals, and celebrate the small wins along the way!
How long does it take to make $1,000 per month blogging?
How long it takes to make $1,000 per month blogging depends on several factors, including your monetization strategies, how much time you dedicate to it, and the type of content you create.
Let’s break it down into 3 scenarios: the ok, the good, and the great.
SCENARIO 1 - THE OK: Conservative Timeline with a Single Income Stream
If you focus on just one revenue stream, like ads or affiliate marketing, your timeline to hit $1,000 per month will likely be more conservative.
For example, relying solely on ads means you need significant traffic (usually 50,000+ sessions/month) to generate a few hundred dollars.
If you’re focusing solely on affiliate marketing, you’ll need time to build enough trust with your audience to make consistent sales.
In this more conservative scenario, it might take closer to 12-18 months to reach $1,000/month, as your traffic and audience engagement gradually grow. The key here is that, if you’re only relying on one income stream, you need higher numbers in traffic or sales to meet that goal.
One strategy that works very well, is to concentrate on high-ticket affiliate marketing.
That’s exactly what I did when I started. I invested in a number of online courses too to shortcut the process of making money online and became an affiliate of the programs I found that transformed my results. That mean that for every course I sold as an affiliate, I was getting $200-$500. That added up quickly.
SCENARIO 2 - THE GOOD: Usual Timeline with Multiple Income Streams
In this scenario, you as a blogger focus on building multiple income streams from the beginning—affiliate marketing, ads, digital products, and services for example.
If you’re consistently publishing valuable content, driving traffic through strategies like Pinterest and SEO, and engaging your audience, you are likely to reach $1,000 per month in 6 to 12 months.
By offering a mix of affiliate products, creating a small digital product like templates or an online course, and running ads, it’s possible to stack these income streams to reach your goal faster.
Here’s what it could look like:
$300 from affiliate marketing
$100 from ads (with 50,000 sessions per month)
$400 from selling a digital product or service
$200 from collaborations or sponsored posts
This diversified approach spreads the income sources and builds more stability, making it easier to reach $1,000.
There is nothing I would recommend more than creating your online courses. This is what generates most of my passive income. You create it and sell it many times.
Now, if you want to start your online course in the simplest and most impactful way, watch my friend Louise Henry’s FREE training:
Just you wait. It gets better!
SCENARIO 3 - THE GREAT: $5,000/Month with Online Courses, Affiliate Marketing, and Collaborations
When you’re aiming to reach $5,000 per month and more, the strategy and timeline shift slightly.
In this scenario, the bulk of your income comes from selling online courses, supported by affiliate marketing and collaborations.
This approach requires you to invest time in creating and launching a high-quality course while building an engaged audience that trusts your expertise.
Here’s a possible breakdown:
$3,000 from selling online courses: If you price your course at $300, you would need to sell about 10 courses per month. This is achievable once you have a solid audience and marketing strategy in place, especially if you use email marketing and Pinterest to drive traffic.
$1,000 from affiliate marketing: By recommending products that align with your niche, you can earn consistent affiliate commissions. If you’re earning $125 per affiliate sale, you’ll need 8 sales per month.
$1000 from collaborations or sponsored content: Collaborating with brands or doing sponsored posts can easily add extra income. One to two collaborations a month at $250 to $500 each can contribute significantly.
So how long does it take to make $1,000 per month blogging? (I’m keeping it real, my friend)
6-12 months: In the first year, expect to focus heavily on building your audience and creating your course.
During this time, you’ll see your income rump up—from a few hundred dollars a month from affiliate marketing to a few thousands—while you launch your course launch.
I learned from The Passive Profit Accelerator how to sell my course BEFORE I had even created it. That made me make money with my blog much faster than spending a year trying to create the perfect course. Deep down you know youou want to achieve the same, my friend.
Watch here Louise’s FREE training to start your online course journey like a pro!
12-18 months: Once your course is live and you have built trust with your audience, you can start seeing more consistent sales.
At this point, you’re likely generating significant traffic through strategies like Pinterest, and you’ve refined your sales funnel.
By month 18, it’s realistic to start hitting $10,000/month if you have an engaged audience and consistent marketing efforts.
From there, your digital products will help you grow your income more and more because you aren’t just selling your time.
This strategy is more focused on high-value products like online courses, where your income can scale more quickly compared to relying on ads or small affiliate commissions. While it takes some time to develop, it’s a powerful way to reach higher income goals once you have a solid foundation.
The bottom line: Reaching $1,000 per month depends on going after big-ticket revenue that you can make happen early on as a new blogger, plus diversifying your approach wisely. However, don't try to do it all at once or you risk losing focus and getting super overwhelmed.
You can easily start with affiliate marketing for the course you have joined.
Because you shouldn't have to rely exclusively on hundreds of thousands of page views to reach your online income goals with your blog.
A multi-stream approach typically accelerates the timeline, while a more focused, single-income approach may take longer depending on what it is. Both are achievable with time, consistency, and the right strategies in place!
How much can I earn from 1,000 views on my blog?
I hear you loud and clear, my friend. You’re all about reaching clarity about making money with a blog. So let’s be specific!
The amount you can earn from 1,000 views on your blog depends on a few factors: your monetization strategies, the niche you’re in, and how well you convert those views into income.
It’s easy to think that more traffic automatically means more money, but the key is not just volume—it’s optimizing for conversions and attracting the right audience.
LOW-TRAFFIC, HIGH-CONVERTING STRATEGIES
If you’re offering high-end services or products, like coaching or online courses, you don’t need huge traffic to make significant money. Let’s say you’re selling a $997 course or a high-ticket service. If just 1-2% of your 1,000 visitors convert, that could be 10 people interested, and even if one person buys, you’ve earned $997 from just 1,000 views.
Similarly, if you’re targeting high-value collaborations or sponsored posts, having a niche, highly engaged audience is more important to brands than sheer traffic. That’s exactly how I get proposals for sponsored blogs almost every week. (Yup. True story)
So you can achieve significant earnings per 1,000 views without needing massive numbers. (Can I get a hell yeah!)
ADS AND AFFILIATE MARKETING
If your strategy revolves more around ads and affiliate marketing, the income tends to be lower but consistent.
With ad networks like Google AdSense or Mediavine, typical earnings range from $5 to $30 per 1,000 views, depending on your niche and audience. (Ummm, what?)
Yeap, getting rich with only ads is an uphill battle.
In affiliate marketing, earnings can vary widely depending on the commission rates and the relevance of the products you’re promoting, but if you convert even a small percentage of your visitors, you can still see a decent return.
So while traffic volume matters, it’s the quality of your audience and how well you’ve optimized your content that really determines your income. (Phew!)
With a targeted approach and the right offers, you can earn anywhere from a few dollars to thousands from just 1,000 views.
How hard is it to make money blogging?
Making money blogging can feel overwhelming at first. (Amirite?)
Here’s the truth: it’s absolutely possible if you’re willing to put in the time and effort.
Yes, it takes work to build your blog, grow an audience, and figure out how to monetize it, but hard doesn’t mean impossible. In fact, the process becomes easier as you learn, take action, and start seeing results. *Gasp!*
It’s normal to feel frustrated when things don’t happen overnight—especially when you see others claiming they’ve made six figures in a few months. That can make you feel like you’re not cut out for this, but let me tell you: you are. I truly believe it! (That’s who I am!)
Success in blogging is about persistence, learning what works for you, and focusing on strategies that align with your goals. There’s no “one size fits all” approach, and you don’t need to follow a perfect path. Just take that first step.
You might be worried about failing or thinking, “What if no one reads my blog?” Those fears are valid, but they shouldn’t hold you back.
The desires you have for financial freedom, time flexibility, and the ability to live life on your own terms are within reach. Blogging can create those opportunities if you stay committed, keep learning, and focus on what you can offer your audience.
The best part? You don’t have to do everything at once. Start small. Get consistent. And over time, you’ll see that making money from blogging isn’t as hard as it seems—it’s a journey that pays off when you stick with it.
So, take a deep breath, start where you are, and trust that your blog has the potential to change your life. Ahem, *mic drop*
What next?
So it’s time to take action. What next? Before you start rushing to write a blog, spend a full day researching your ideal audience. Their fear. Their missteps. Their desires. Their frustrations.
Truth bomb: Without knowing this, there is no point in spending months blogging or wondering how to make money blogging. And, as you take action and start doing, you’ll expand and refine your understanding of your audience and ideal clients.
With that in mind, your blog, your products, your affiliate marketing, or any other online monetization strategies you decide to deploy will have 10x more impact.
It is a real privilege to know that you read and find value in my blog!
A BIG thank you for being here with me until the end.
Ready to take action and start growing your web design business blogging and boosting your results with Pinterest traffic? Getting started with Pinterest is easier than you might think.
Download my Free 7 Essential steps to Kickstart Your Pinterest For Traffic On Autopilot now to guide you through creating pins that attract your ideal clients and help you get booked out. This free resource will help you set up your profile, create engaging pins, and start generating leads through Pinterest marketing today!
Hi! I’m Isabel
Visual content creation is my passion
The sea is my happy place!
For years and years I have created and produced content, in particular visual content. You can find me very often with my cameras and tripod out and about!
My passion is to help solopreneurs and small business owners like you grow your online audience and biz using Pinterest. Yes, I’ll show you hacks and tools, but I believe that you need more than that to be successful. That’s why I combined my Pinterest expertise with powerful content marketing, business and mindset strategies to get your online presence to the next level! 🥳
Ah, I have also worked for 24+ in the corporate world, leading quite a mix: transformation, marketing, coaching, sales, productivity, programme management, investments and product management.
I love sharing all these skills with you in my blog.
I am also founder of Agavea Properties, our family holiday rental business. My husband and I lead it with the passion with one goal in mind: serving our customers to create a memorable holiday experience for them.
So there you have it, that’s me! Ah... I almost forgot, my happy place is by the sea.
Thanks for being here with me!
