So you’ve started a blog — or you’re about to.
You write, you publish, you share on social media, you peek at your Google AdSense every day… and you see pennies.
You wonder: Is blogging even worth it anymore?
The short answer is: YES — if you do it smartly.
The sad truth is that most small bloggers earn cents per click — literally. Google AdSense pays you a few cents when someone clicks an ad. That’s it. So, if you get 1,000 visitors, you might earn $1–$5. Not enough to buy coffee, let alone quit your job.
The good news? Real money in blogging doesn’t come from ads alone.
It comes from affiliates, offers, services, and your own products — even if your blog is small.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to turn a small blog into a real income stream, with real-life examples and practical steps you can follow today.
The Big Secret: Ads Are Pennies. Affiliates & Offers Are Dollars.
Here’s the truth many new bloggers don’t realize:
Google Ads = cents per click.
Affiliates = dollars per action.
AdSense: A visitor clicks a banner → you earn $0.01 to $0.50.
Affiliate marketing: A visitor clicks your link → buys a product or signs up → you earn $5, $20, $50, sometimes even $500 per sale.
So which one makes more sense if you only get 50–500 visitors a day?
The answer is obvious: get paid per action — not just per click.
✅ Real Examples: What You Can Promote — Even as a Beginner
Small bloggers often think affiliate marketing is only for big influencers. Not true.
You don’t need 100,000 readers — you just need the right readers who trust you and want what you recommend.
Here are some easy, proven affiliate ideas:
1️⃣ Online Courses
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Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare all have affiliate programs.
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Example: Write about “Top 5 Graphic Design Courses for Beginners.”
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If someone signs up for a course through your link → you earn.
2️⃣ VPNs
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VPN companies pay well because they have recurring income.
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Example: Write, “Why You Need a VPN When Traveling” → promote NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark.
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One sale can pay $30–$100 commission.
3️⃣ Web Hosting
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Web hosting is HUGE. Bluehost, Hostinger, Namecheap, SiteGround all pay affiliates.
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Example: Write “How to Start a Blog in Kenya/India/Philippines” → share your affiliate link for hosting → earn $65–$150 per sign-up.
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Some bloggers earn 90% of their income this way.
4️⃣ Fiverr, Upwork
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Yes! Fiverr has an affiliate program.
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Write “How to Make Money as a Freelancer” → link to Fiverr sign-up.
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You can earn $15–$100 per new user.
5️⃣ Ebooks, Templates, Software Tools
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Many digital products have affiliate programs.
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Example: Write about “Best Budgeting Apps” or “Best AI Writing Tools.”
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Promote Grammarly, Jasper AI, or Canva Pro.
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Some pay 30% lifetime commissions.
6️⃣ Shopify & Online Store Builders
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Shopify pays up to $58–$200 per sign-up.
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Write “How to Start an Online Store From Scratch.”
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Perfect for small bloggers in countries where e-commerce is booming.
How This Works in Real Life
Imagine this:
You have a blog about remote work.
You write an article: “5 Best Websites to Find Freelance Jobs in 2025.”
Inside, you link Fiverr and Upwork using your affiliate link.
You also link a recommended VPN to keep your client data safe.
Plus, you add a course about “How to Write Winning Upwork Proposals” (with an affiliate link).
One reader signs up for Fiverr → you get $50.
One buys the course → you get $15.
One gets the VPN → you get $40.
That’s $105 from one single reader, instead of $0.01 if they just clicked an AdSense banner.
The Key: Give Value, Then Suggest The Right Product
Affiliate marketing isn’t spamming random links. It’s about solving a problem, then giving people the best solution.
It looks like this:
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Problem: People want to learn graphic design.
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Your Solution: “Top 10 Free Graphic Design Courses.”
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Affiliate Offer: Link to Udemy. If they enroll, you get paid.
No sleazy sales tricks. Just helping readers take action.
Step-by-Step: How to Actually Start
Let’s break it into real steps.
✅ 1. Pick A Specific Topic
Random blogs that talk about everything rarely work for affiliate sales.
You need a clear angle:
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Freelancing in your country
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Remote work for moms
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Budget travel for students
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Online learning for career changers
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Starting a small business
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Saving money or investing for beginners
One clear focus helps you attract people with a specific problem — and a problem means they’ll pay for solutions.
✅ 2. Find Affiliate Programs That Match
Next, find products that make sense for your topic.
Where to look:
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Join networks like ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, Impact.com.
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Check big companies: Most SaaS (software) tools, courses, and hosting companies have their own affiliate pages.
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Google: “Product name + affiliate program” to find direct sign-ups.
✅ 3. Write Helpful, Searchable Content
Don’t just post “Buy This Now!”
Write:
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How-to guides
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Best-of lists
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Reviews
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Comparisons
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Tutorials
These rank well on Google because they match what people search for.
Examples:
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“Best Free Tools for Freelancers”
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“How to Start a Blog and Make Money”
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“Best Budget VPNs for Travelers”
✅ 4. Add Affiliate Links Naturally
When you mention a product, link it.
Add clear calls to action:
👉 “Click here to try Fiverr for free.”
👉 “Sign up for Bluehost — get 70% off.”
Disclose that you may earn a commission. It builds trust and keeps you legal.
✅ 5. Get Visitors Who Actually Take Action
This is where most new bloggers fail:
They write an article, share it on Facebook once, and hope for magic.
Instead:
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Do basic SEO (keyword research, good titles, meta descriptions)
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Share in Facebook Groups, Reddit, Quora (helpful answers!)
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Build an email list — even 100 subscribers is gold
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Repurpose content for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Pinterest
✅ 6. Repeat What Works
When you see one post earning commissions, write more like it.
Update old posts. Add better links. Test new offers.
Real Example: Small Blog, Real Money
Let’s say you have a small blog — 300 visitors a day — about online freelancing in Africa.
You write:
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“How to Start Freelancing in Nigeria”
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“Best Tools for Kenyan Freelancers”
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“Top 5 Online Skills That Pay in Dollars”
You join:
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Fiverr affiliate program
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Grammarly affiliate program
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Bluehost or Namecheap affiliate program
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NordVPN affiliate program
Inside each post, you share how these tools help freelancers succeed.
If just 10 people a month sign up for Fiverr → you earn ~$500.
Add 5 Grammarly sign-ups → maybe $50–$100.
Add 2–3 web hosting sign-ups → another $150–$300.
You’ve just made $600–$900 with tiny traffic.
Way better than 30,000 views earning $15 in AdSense pennies.
✅ Other Smart Ways To Monetize Small Blogs
Affiliate income is the best starting point — but don’t stop there.
Add these too:
1. Sell Your Own Mini Product
You can make:
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A simple PDF guide ($5–$20)
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A checklist
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A template
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A small video course
Example: “My Proven Upwork Proposal Templates — Get Hired Faster!”
Sell it directly using Gumroad or Payhip. No fancy website needed.
2. Offer A Service
Your blog makes you an expert.
So offer:
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Coaching (one-hour Zoom calls)
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Freelance writing or design
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SEO help for other bloggers
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Social media management
Add a “Hire Me” page. Even one client can pay you more than 1,000 clicks.
📰 3. Sponsored Posts
If you build traffic in a niche, brands will pay you to review or feature their product.
A small blog with a clear audience can charge $50–$200 per sponsored post.
What NOT To Do
Many beginners waste time or money. Avoid these traps:
🚫 Don’t spam random affiliate links in every sentence.
🚫 Don’t recommend junk products you don’t trust.
🚫 Don’t rely only on Facebook or WhatsApp shares — learn basic SEO.
🚫 Don’t expect to get rich overnight. It takes a few months to see real results.
How Long Does It Take?
If you’re consistent — writing helpful, problem-solving content with good affiliate links — you can see your first sales in 1–3 months.
Most small bloggers who succeed:
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Publish 10–30 solid posts
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Pick 1–3 affiliate programs, not 50
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Keep updating old posts
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Build an email list
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Treat it like a business, not a hobby
The Real Secret: One Good Post Beats 100 Weak Ones
One well-ranking guide can earn you more than dozens of random short posts.
Example: A single post — “How to Start a Blog in Kenya” — can earn hundreds in hosting referrals every month if you rank it well.
Final Words: You Can Do This
You don’t need to be a big influencer.
You don’t need 1 million pageviews.
You don’t need a fancy website.
You DO need:
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One clear niche
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Real problems to solve
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Trusted products to promote
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Consistent action for a few months
That’s it.
✅ Action Plan — Start Today
1️⃣ Pick a topic you care about that has buying intent.
2️⃣ Sign up for 1–3 affiliate programs.
3️⃣ Write your first “best-of” or “how-to” guide — 1,500–2,000 words.
4️⃣ Add your links and clear CTAs.
5️⃣ Share it in communities where your target audience hangs out.
6️⃣ Start your email list — offer a free cheat sheet or checklist.
7️⃣ Keep going. One good sale will fire you up for the next.
Don’t settle for pennies. Build for dollars.
Your small blog can earn you real money — if you treat it like a real business.
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