{"id":13697,"date":"2010-06-29T15:17:15","date_gmt":"2010-06-29T09:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=13697"},"modified":"2026-10-13T13:38:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T08:08:34","slug":"why-blog-not-making-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Reasons Why Your Blog Is Not Making Money (and Fixes, 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Why is my blog not making money?&#8221; It&#8217;s the question almost every new blogger asks after a few months of hard work and tiny earnings. Guest author Rohit Sane listed 10 likely reasons in 2010, from low traffic to having only money on your mind. Most still apply in 2026, though one tip (hiding affiliate links from readers) is now the opposite of good advice. Here&#8217;s why your blog is not making money yet, and how to fix each problem.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-64338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blog-not-making-money-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"Why your blog is not making money\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blog-not-making-money-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blog-not-making-money-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blog-not-making-money-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blog-not-making-money-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blog-not-making-money.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> Your blog is probably not making money because it has too little targeted traffic, thin or unoriginal content, the wrong monetisation for its audience, poorly placed ads, no email list, no clear niche, inconsistent posting, or because you haven&#8217;t given it enough time. Fix traffic and content first, then match the right income streams to your readers.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ada8caf33f73\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ada8caf33f73\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#10_reasons_why_your_blog_is_not_making_money\" >10 reasons why your blog is not making money<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#1_Not_enough_targeted_traffic\" >1. Not enough targeted traffic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#2_Content_that_isnt_helpful_or_original\" >2. Content that isn&#8217;t helpful or original<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#3_The_wrong_monetisation_for_your_audience\" >3. The wrong monetisation for your audience<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#4_Badly_placed_ads\" >4. Badly placed ads<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#5_Undisclosed_or_unhelpful_affiliate_links\" >5. Undisclosed or unhelpful affiliate links<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#6_No_email_list\" >6. No email list<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#7_No_clear_niche\" >7. No clear niche<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#8_Inconsistent_posting\" >8. Inconsistent posting<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#9_Following_the_crowd\" >9. Following the crowd<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#10_Only_money_on_your_mind\" >10. Only money on your mind<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#Bonus_you_might_just_need_more_time\" >Bonus: you might just need more time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#Quick_diagnosis_checklist\" >Quick diagnosis checklist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#How_much_traffic_does_a_blog_need_to_make_money\" >How much traffic does a blog need to make money?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#Can_a_new_blog_make_money\" >Can a new blog make money?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/06\/why-blog-not-making-money\/#Should_I_hide_affiliate_links\" >Should I hide affiliate links?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_reasons_why_your_blog_is_not_making_money\"><\/span>10 reasons why your blog is not making money<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Not_enough_targeted_traffic\"><\/span>1. Not enough targeted traffic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Income grows with visitors who are interested in what you recommend. Focus on search topics with clear intent and promote posts where your audience spends time. See these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/04\/top-sites-to-drive-traffic-to-your-blog\/\">ways to drive traffic to your blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Content_that_isnt_helpful_or_original\"><\/span>2. Content that isn&#8217;t helpful or original<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Rewritten or AI-generated posts covering what everyone else covers won&#8217;t rank or earn trust. Add your experience, tests, screenshots and honest opinions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_The_wrong_monetisation_for_your_audience\"><\/span>3. The wrong monetisation for your audience<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Ads suit high-traffic informational blogs; affiliate links suit product and review content; services and courses suit expert niches. Match the model to your readers.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Badly_placed_ads\"><\/span>4. Badly placed ads<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Ads hidden at the bottom don&#8217;t earn; ads everywhere drive readers away. Test a few well-placed units or AdSense Auto ads. Read how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/03\/increase-adsense-revenue\/\">increase AdSense revenue<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Undisclosed_or_unhelpful_affiliate_links\"><\/span>5. Undisclosed or unhelpful affiliate links<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The 2010 tip to mask affiliate links so readers don&#8217;t notice is now bad advice. Disclosing affiliate links is legally required in many countries and builds trust. Short branded links are fine, as long as you mark them <code>rel=\"sponsored\"<\/code> and disclose them.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_No_email_list\"><\/span>6. No email list<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most visitors leave and never return. A list lets you bring them back for new posts and offers. See these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/list-building-secrets\/\">list building secrets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_No_clear_niche\"><\/span>7. No clear niche<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A blog about everything attracts no loyal audience or relevant advertisers. Narrow your focus.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Inconsistent_posting\"><\/span>8. Inconsistent posting<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Ten posts one month and none for the next three kills momentum. Schedule posts in advance and update old ones.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Following_the_crowd\"><\/span>9. Following the crowd<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Copying popular blogs makes you one of many. Find an angle, format or voice that&#8217;s distinctly yours.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Only_money_on_your_mind\"><\/span>10. Only money on your mind<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Rohit&#8217;s last point still rings true: readers can tell when you only care about earnings. Focus on helping them, and income follows.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bonus_you_might_just_need_more_time\"><\/span>Bonus: you might just need more time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Most blogs take 6 to 18 months to earn meaningfully. Track progress in Search Console and Analytics; if traffic is rising, keep going.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quick_diagnosis_checklist\"><\/span>Quick diagnosis checklist<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Do you get at least a few thousand visits a month?<\/li>\n<li>Do your top posts answer specific questions better than competitors?<\/li>\n<li>Does each post have a clear next step (subscribe, buy, read more)?<\/li>\n<li>Are you using the right income model for your topic?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more ideas, read how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/09\/maximize-blog-ad-revenue\/\">maximize blog ad revenue<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_traffic_does_a_blog_need_to_make_money\"><\/span>How much traffic does a blog need to make money?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It depends on niche and model. Affiliate blogs can earn from a few thousand visits; ad-based blogs usually need much more.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_new_blog_make_money\"><\/span>Can a new blog make money?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, especially with affiliate links or services, but steady income usually takes months.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_hide_affiliate_links\"><\/span>Should I hide affiliate links?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. You can use tidy short links, but always disclose that they&#8217;re affiliate links.<\/p>\n<p><em>Originally written by guest author Rohit Sane, who blogged about technology, SEO and computer tricks at TechFreakStuff. Updated for 2026 by QuickOnlineTips.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Why is my blog not making money?&#8221; It&#8217;s the question almost every new blogger asks after a few months of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":64338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[44,49],"class_list":["post-13697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogging","tag-guest-posts","tag-tutorials"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13697"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65341,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13697\/revisions\/65341"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}