Blogging has become an increasingly popular way for regular people in the Philippines to make extra income online.
While large, established blogs can generate significant earnings, even small blogs with modest traffic are able to monetize their content and earn money.
Here are some of the main ways small blogs in the Philippines generate revenue:
1. Display Advertising
One of the easiest and most common ways for small blogs to make money is through display advertising.
This involves putting ad banners or boxes on your blog pages that are filled with ads by ad networks like Google AdSense.
Here’s how it works:
- Sign up for an ad network like Google AdSense or Media.net.
- Get approved to run ads after meeting traffic requirements.
- Place ad units on your blog pages and posts.
- Earn money when visitors click, view or interact with the ads.
The great thing about display ads is that they can be set up very quickly and require little maintenance.
Payments are sent to you monthly. With AdSense, you can earn 68% of the ad revenue share. Rates for display ads are based on your niche, traffic volume and quality.
While individual ad clicks may earn small amounts, with enough volume across your site the earnings can add up.
2. Affiliate Marketing
Another common monetization method is affiliate marketing.
This involves promoting relevant products from other sites and earning commissions when readers make purchases after clicking your links.
Affiliate programs are offered by large retailers like Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, travel companies, SaaS platforms and more.
To get started:
- Find affiliate programs related to your niche and sign up.
- Get your unique affiliate link for the products you want to promote.
- Place affiliate links within relevant content across your blog.
- Earn commissions when readers click your link and complete the specified action.
Affiliate commissions often range from 5-15% but can sometimes be higher for big ticket items.
The key is to blend affiliate links naturally into content and establish trust with readers.
3. Sponsored Posts
Sponsored posts involve creating blog content that promotes or reviews a sponsor company’s brand, product or service.
Essentially, your blog content doubles as an advertisement for the sponsor. Here are some tips for getting started:
- Look for sponsors relevant to your niche and pitch sponsored content packages.
- Negotiate your rates based on traffic and costs to produce content.
- Ensure sponsored posts meet guidelines from networks like Google AdSense.
- Disclose sponsored content, don’t make false claims.
- Get everything approved in writing before publication.
- Rates can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per post.
4. Product Reviews
Writing individual product reviews in exchange for free products and affiliate commissions can be lucrative.
You can pitch companies directly or go through a dedicated product review network like Tomoson.
Tips for getting started:
- Build relationships with relevant brands in your niche.
- Ask companies to send products for honest reviews.
- Disclose affiliate links and that the product was received for free.
- Craft helpful, high-quality reviews.
- Include photos, videos and ratings.
- Earn affiliate sales from readers who buy after reading.
5. Selling Your Own Products/Services
Having your own digital products and services to sell can be a great way to monetize a blog. These are some options to consider:
- eBooks – Create guidebooks, courses or reports related to your niche and sell them.
- Online courses – Build your own comprehensive course on Teachable or Thinkific.
- Freelance services – Offer your services like writing, design, consulting.
- Membership sites – Provide premium content or perks for a monthly fee.
- Physical products – Sell printed books, merchandise, crafts related to your brand.
Building multiple income streams around high-value offerings you create can lead to diversified, more passive earnings over time.
6. Crowdfunding
For established blogs with an engaged audience, crowdfunding campaigns can help fund special projects.
Platforms like Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, and PayPal allow readers to donate or pay set monthly amounts.
Tips:
- Reward patrons with exclusives like special content, discord access, their name listed on your site.
- Be transparent about how their funds help support your work.
- Provide consistent value to show patrons you appreciate their support.
- Set sensible contribution tiers and goals.
By diversifying monetization strategies, small blogs can generate income even with modest readership.
The key is providing high-quality content, building trust and leveraging platforms that allow you to monetize your niche audience.
Answers to Related Questions:
How many blogs do I need to make money?
You can absolutely make money from just one blog if you build up sufficient traffic and implement various monetization strategies. Many successful full-time bloggers earn a living from a single site. To maximize earnings, aim for at least 50,000-100,000 monthly pageviews from a niche site before looking to build additional sites. Focus first on quality over quantity.
How much traffic do I need to start earning on my blog?
Most ad networks like Google AdSense require a minimum of 5000 monthly views to qualify while affiliate networks may have a higher threshold of 10,000+ views. However, earnings will typically remain small until you reach at least 25,000-50,000 monthly views. At that point you can start optimizing layout, placements and banners to boost CPM and CPC rates. With niche optimization, 100,000 monthly views is a reasonable goal for earning a good side income from a blog.
How long does it take for a beginner blogger to make money?
It typically takes 6-12 months for a new blog to build enough content and traffic to generate income. The keys are consistency, keyword research for search optimization, and leveraging social media/Pinterest for referral traffic. Create at least 25-50 posts first covering your core topics before adding monetization. Focus on value first, then strategically introduce affiliate links, display ads, and sponsored posts. With diligent efforts, new bloggers should see their first earnings within their first year.
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