One of the Biggest Questions New Bloggers Ask
Once your blog starts getting visitors, you’ll probably begin asking the same question every blogger eventually asks: “How do blogs actually make money?”
For many bloggers, the two biggest income sources are display advertising and affiliate marketing. You’ll hear people passionately recommend one over the other.
Some swear by display ads. Others say affiliate marketing is the only way to go.
So… Which one is actually better? The honest answer is that it depends on your blog, your audience, and your long-term goals.
What Are Display Ads?
Display ads are the advertisements you see while reading many blogs. Every time a visitor views or clicks an ad, the website owner earns money.
It’s one of the easiest ways for bloggers to start monetizing because once everything is set up, the income becomes relatively passive.
You focus on creating helpful content while the ads work quietly in the background. The biggest factor? Traffic. Generally speaking, the more people visiting your website, the more earning potential display ads have.
What Is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing works a little differently. Instead of earning money from page views, you earn a commission when someone purchases a product or service through your referral link.
For example, you might recommend a kitchen tool you genuinely use, a blogging resource you trust, or software that has helped your workflow. If a reader decides to purchase through your link, you may receive a commission at no additional cost to them.
The key word here is trust. Readers are much more likely to follow your recommendations when they know you only suggest products you truly believe in.
Which One Makes More Money?
This is probably the question everyone wants answered. The truth is…
Either one can outperform the other. A blog with millions of monthly visitors may earn significant income from display advertising.
A smaller blog with a loyal audience may earn more through affiliate marketing if readers regularly purchase recommended products.
There isn’t one universal winner. Success depends on your content, your audience, and your strategy.
You Don’t Have to Choose Just One
One of the biggest misconceptions is that bloggers must choose between display ads and affiliate marketing.
In reality, many successful bloggers use both. Display ads provide steady income from traffic. Affiliate marketing creates opportunities to earn through valuable recommendations. Together, they create multiple income streams instead of relying on just one source.
Always Put Your Readers First
This is something I’ve learned over the years. Income should never come before trust. It’s tempting to recommend every product that offers a commission.
But readers notice. If every article feels like a sales pitch, people stop coming back.
I believe the best recommendations come naturally. Products you’ve actually used. Services you’ve genuinely found helpful. Advice you would give even if there wasn’t a commission involved. That kind of honesty builds long-term relationships with your audience.
Blogging Is a Long-Term Business
One thing I wish more beginners understood is that blogging isn’t just about making money. It’s about building an audience.
Helping people. Creating useful content. Income usually follows trust. The more helpful your blog becomes, the more opportunities naturally appear over time.
That includes advertising, affiliate partnerships, sponsorships, and other forms of monetization.
If someone asked me today whether they should focus on display ads or affiliate marketing, I’d probably give the same answer every time.
Focus on creating helpful content first. Traffic and trust are the foundation of everything else. Without readers, neither ads nor affiliate links have much value. But when people genuinely trust your recommendations, monetization becomes much more natural.
So, which is better: display ads vs affiliate marketing?
Neither is automatically better. Both have strengths. Both can become valuable income streams.And many successful bloggers use a combination of the two.
Instead of chasing the fastest way to make money, focus on building a blog people genuinely enjoy reading.
Because when you consistently create helpful content and earn your readers’ trust, opportunities to monetize your blog naturally grow alongside your audience.
