Relying solely on ads to generate income from your tech blog is like leaving money on the table. While display ads (like Google AdSense) can bring in some revenue, they often pay very little unless your blog gets hundreds of thousands of visitors each month. The good news? There are smarter, more sustainable ways to turn your blog into a business.
Here’s how to monetize your tech blog beyond just ads:
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1. Affiliate Marketing
Promote software, hardware, or online tools you actually use and trust. When someone buys through your unique link, you earn a commission.
Examples:
Recommending web hosting services (e.g., Bluehost, Hostinger).
Linking to developer tools (e.g., GitHub Pro, JetBrains, etc.).
Reviewing gadgets or coding gear (Amazon Associates).
> Tip: Write tutorials or reviews that naturally incorporate affiliate links — avoid sounding salesy.
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2. Offer Paid Products
You can turn your expertise into digital products.
Ideas include:
Ebooks on Linux commands, Python tricks, or open-source tools.
Cheatsheets for web development frameworks.
Technical templates (e.g., VS Code themes, Notion setups, code snippets).
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3. Launch an Online Course or Workshop
If you can teach a concept clearly, others will pay to learn it.
Platforms to host courses:
Teachable
Gumroad
Udemy
Your own site (for higher profits)
A short, focused course like “Intro to Docker for Beginners” or “Mastering Git in 2 Hours” could attract a loyal audience.
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4. Offer Consulting or Freelance Services
Use your blog to show off your skills and invite readers to hire you.
For example:
Performance optimization for web apps.
Security audits for startups.
Technical writing services.
Add a “Hire Me” or “Work With Me” page and link it in every post.
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5. Build and Sell a SaaS or Tool
If you're a developer, why not build a micro-SaaS or a dev tool and sell it?
Examples:
A tool that formats code snippets for blogs.
A lightweight API monitoring service.
A subscription-based Linux server dashboard.
Your blog becomes your marketing engine.
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6. Accept Sponsorships
Brands will pay you to write a post or review their product if your audience is niche and engaged.
Start by reaching out to:
Dev tool companies
Open-source platforms
Coding bootcamps
> Pro tip: Show your traffic, email list size, and engagement stats when pitching.
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7. Email Newsletter Monetization
Build a newsletter around your blog content, and monetize it through:
Affiliate links
Product launches
Paid subscriptions (Substack, ConvertKit, etc.)
A newsletter builds deeper trust — and trust is what sells.
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8. Create a Paid Community
People love exclusive access, especially in the tech space.
Options:
Private Discord or Slack for subscribers
Membership with Q&A sessions, templates, live events
Use Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, or Circle.so to run your community.
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Final Thoughts
Monetizing your tech blog is more than placing banner ads. Whether you're a developer, sysadmin, or tech writer — you have valuable knowledge. With the right strategy, you can turn your blog into a full-blown business.
Start small. Test what works. And remember: value always comes before revenue.