We now shift our focus to indirect blogging monetization methods—ways to generate income because of your blog rather than directly from the blog itself.
Many of these approaches rely on two key assets you build as a blogger: your public profile and the perception of your expertise in a specific niche. Building this kind of influence doesn’t happen overnight; if you’re starting a blog with hopes of leveraging these methods, you need to view it as a long-term investment. From my own experience launching ProBlogger, it took roughly 12 months for opportunities in these areas to start emerging. However, the speed of building a personal brand online has accelerated today, so you may now access these opportunities sooner than I did.
1. Consulting Services
When you’re recognized as an expert in your field, people will naturally seek out your advice—and some will be willing to pay for it. Certain niches (like business, technology, or marketing) are particularly well-suited for bloggers to offer paid consulting, but opportunities exist across industries. For example, I recently spoke with a business/tech blogger who charges $600 per hour to advise large corporations. Most bloggers offering consulting sell time slots via booking tools—either by linking a payment cart to a scheduling app or using all-in-one platforms like Book Like a Boss. These one-on-one sessions often sit at the top of a “service pyramid” that may also include digital products or group coaching.
Real-World Examples:
- Neil Patel: He built a thriving consulting business by leaning into his expertise in SEO, content marketing, and online advertising. He works with companies and individuals looking to refine their digital strategies and boost online visibility.
- Amy Porterfield: A blogger and host of the “Online Marketing Made Easy” podcast, she shares insights on social media marketing and email list building through her blog and courses. She expanded into consulting, where she partners closely with clients to design and execute effective marketing plans.
- Joanna Wiebe: Founder of Copyhackers (a blog and training platform for conversion copywriting), she uses her expertise to help businesses improve their persuasive writing and optimize conversions through one-on-one consulting.
These examples show how bloggers can turn their credibility into a profitable consulting business—by sharing specialized knowledge and offering personalized guidance to clients.
2. Full-Time Employment Opportunities
Companies don’t just hire bloggers as consultants—many also offer them full-time roles, drawn to their proven expertise and niche knowledge. In this case, your blog acts as a living online resume, showcasing your skills, voice, and audience engagement to potential employers.
Real-World Examples:
- Lindsay Ostrom: She launched the food blog Pinch of Yum in 2010, sharing recipes and food photography. Her blog gained a loyal following, and her photography skills caught the eye of kitchenware brand Williams-Sonoma—who eventually hired her as a full-time photographer and recipe developer.
- Gina Luker: Founder of the DIY/home decor blog The Shabby Creek Cottage, her success in home decor and crafting led a home improvement retailer to hire her full-time. Her role included creating content and leading DIY workshops for customers.
A strong blog can open doors to careers where companies want to tap into your expertise, industry insights, and ability to connect with their target audience.
3. Corporate Blogging Roles
Beyond hiring bloggers for their niche skills, some businesses employ bloggers specifically to manage the company’s own blog (either as their main role or part of their job). These companies recognize that bloggers excel at creating authentic, engaging content that resonates with audiences—and they want to leverage that skill to boost their brand’s online presence.
Real-World Examples:
- Kate Arends: Founder of the lifestyle blog Wit & Delight (covering fashion, home decor, and personal growth), she was hired by Target as a full-time blogger and content creator. She produced content for Target’s website and social media platforms.
- The Toren Brothers (Adam & Matthew): They started YoungEntrepreneur.com, a blog for aspiring business owners. Their success led Dell to hire them full-time as bloggers and content creators, where they contributed to Dell’s entrepreneur-focused initiatives.
If you’re interested in these roles, follow platforms like ProBlogger Jobs—it lists hundreds of niche-specific blogging jobs each month, and you can set up alerts for keywords related to your interests.
4. Book Deals
If you follow blogger RSS feeds regularly, you’ll notice a common trend: many bloggers have a book in progress or recently published. Again, this boils down to being seen as an expert—publishers are more receptive to pitches from bloggers with established authority, and some will even seek you out. This is increasingly common because publishers recognize that bloggers often have a wealth of existing content (from their blogs) that can be refined into a book. Self-publishing is also a viable option if you’ve built a loyal audience through your blog.
Real-World Examples:
- Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman): She started her blog sharing ranch life stories and recipes. Its success led to a book deal, and she’s since written multiple cookbooks—including The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl, a New York Times bestseller.
- Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess): Her blog, filled with humorous, candid personal stories, earned her a book deal. Her memoir Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir became a bestseller and launched her career as an author.
- Brandon Stanton (Humans of New York): He started his blog capturing photos and stories of New Yorkers. Its widespread popularity led to book deals, and he’s published titles like Humans of New York and Humans of New York: Stories—both of which showcase his blog’s unique storytelling.
These bloggers turned authors prove that a strong online presence and loyal audience can translate into successful book deals.
5. Offline Writing Gigs
Bloggers who demonstrate expertise, thought leadership, and a distinct voice often catch the attention of news outlets—leading to full-time roles as writers or contributors. These gigs let you expand your reach beyond your blog and work with established publications.
Real-World Examples:
- Ezra Klein: He began blogging about politics and policy on The American Prospect. His sharp analysis led The Washington Post to hire him as a full-time blogger and columnist.
- Megan McArdle: Her blog “Asymmetrical Information” covered economics, politics, and policy. She was later hired by The Atlantic as a full-time blogger and columnist.
- Martin Lewis: A former journalist, he launched the personal finance blog MoneySavingExpert.com. After building a large following, he was rehired by a major news publication as a full-time financial journalist and expert.
6. Online Writing Gigs
Similarly, bloggers often land roles writing for other niche websites—discovered through their blogs, these gigs let them share their expertise with new audiences while earning income.
Real-World Examples:
- Joanna Hawley (Jojotastic): Her blog focuses on home decor, lifestyle, and travel. She was hired by Apartment Therapy (a popular design site) as a regular contributor and writer.
- David Lebovitz: A food blogger and author, he was brought on as a regular contributor for Food52, where he shares recipes and culinary expertise.
- Ana White: Her self-titled blog offers DIY furniture and woodworking plans. Her accessible tutorials led BuildSomething (a woodworking site) to hire her to write exclusive projects for their platform.
7. Business Partnerships
Blogging about a niche you’re passionate about connects you with others who share your interests and expertise—and these connections often spark opportunities to collaborate on new businesses.
Real-World Examples:
- Joy Cho (Oh Joy!): Founder of a vibrant lifestyle blog, she connected with Angi Welsch (a children’s fashion blogger) through their blogs. They partnered to launch Oh Joy! Studio, a design agency offering branding, licensing, and product collaborations.
- Jess Constable (Makeunder My Life) & Erin Loechner (Design for Mankind): They met through their blogs, discovered shared values, and co-founded The CAMP—a creative agency offering branding, workshops, and educational resources.
- David Schneider & Rosie Sherry: A blogger/software tester and a fellow QA enthusiast, they connected through their shared interest in software testing. They co-founded Ministry of Testing, a community platform for testers with resources, training, and events.
These partnerships show how bloggers can combine their skills, audiences, and passion to build successful ventures beyond their individual blogs.
8. Speaking Engagements
While opportunities vary by niche, some bloggers are invited to speak at conferences, workshops, and seminars—sometimes for free, sometimes with travel costs covered, and often for a speaker fee. My own “Speaking” page offers tips on breaking into this space, but here are a few bloggers who have turned speaking into a revenue stream:
Real-World Examples:
- Pat Flynn (Smart Passive Income): His blog shares insights on online business and passive income. He’s become a sought-after speaker (including at ProBlogger Events) and delivers keynote speeches at industry conferences for a fee.
- Rand Fishkin (Moz): Co-founder of the SEO blog Moz, he’s a recognized authority in digital marketing. He speaks at conferences worldwide (including ProBlogger Events) and commands fees for his presentations on SEO.
- Marie Forleo (MarieTV): A life coach and blogger, she’s built a large following in personal development and entrepreneurship. She’s invited to speak at major events and earns significant fees for her inspirational talks.
Key Takeaways for Your Blog
If you want to leverage these indirect monetization methods, your top priority should be building your profile and credibility as a blogger. Think about the experts you admire—what do they offer that sets them apart? Typically:
- They’re original thinkers, not just regurgitating news—they provide solutions and vision for their industry.
- They’re well-connected, collaborating with other key players (both large and small) in their niche.
- They lead conversations, not just react to them—using their blog to propose ideas and drive change.
To get started:
- Publish content that demonstrates deep understanding of your niche (not just surface-level posts).
- Network actively within your niche—connect with other bloggers, brands, and industry leaders.
- Use your blog to solve problems, not just share updates—be proactive in offering insights that move your field forward.
The possibilities for indirect blog monetization are nearly endless. Have you used (or seen others use) other indirect methods to earn money from a blog?