Monetizing a Technical Blog: Exploring All the Best Options

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 1. Self-Hosting a Blog (WordPress, Ghost, or Static Sites)

Self-hosting remains one of the most powerful ways to control your blog, content, and monetization strategy. Unlike platforms such as Medium, where you are bound by their policies and paywall restrictions, self-hosting gives you full independence.

WordPress (Most Popular & Flexible Choice)

WordPress is the most widely used blogging platform for self-hosting. With thousands of themes, plugins, and monetization tools, WordPress allows bloggers to customize their site for various income streams.

  • Pros:

    • Full control over SEO, design, and monetization.
    • Multiple income streams: ads, affiliate marketing, paid memberships, sponsorships.
    • Scalable with plugins like WooCommerce (for selling products) or MemberPress (for subscriptions).
    • Can be hosted on affordable platforms like Bluehost, SiteGround, or DigitalOcean.

  • Cons:

    • Requires technical setup and maintenance.
    • Hosting costs vary, ranging from $5/month to $30+/month.
    • Needs additional plugins for security, backups, and optimizations.

Ghost (For Paid Subscriptions & Newsletters)

Ghost is an alternative to WordPress that focuses on publishing, newsletters, and paid memberships.

  • Pros:

    • Optimized for technical writing and paid subscriptions.
    • Built-in email newsletter tools for engaging audiences.
    • Fast performance compared to WordPress.
    • No reliance on ads—perfect for subscription-based revenue.

  • Cons:

    • Self-hosting requires server setup (DigitalOcean, Linode, AWS, etc.).
    • Monthly costs for Ghost Pro range from $9 to $30+ depending on audience size.
    • Less plugin and theme variety than WordPress.

Static Site Generators (Hugo, Jekyll, Next.js)

For developers who prefer lightweight, high-performance websites, static site generators (SSGs) provide a great option.

  • Pros:

    • Free hosting on GitHub Pages, Netlify, or Vercel.
    • Blazing-fast performance without database queries.
    • Fully customizable and great for technical blogs.

  • Cons:

    • No built-in monetization; requires third-party integrations.
    • Technical setup may be too complex for non-developers.

2. Monetizing Through Ads (Google AdSense, Ezoic, and Mediavine)

If a blog generates high traffic, ads can be a steady revenue stream.

Google AdSense (Entry-Level Ad Network)

Google AdSense allows beginners to easily integrate display ads into their blogs.

  • Pros:

    • Easy setup with minimal approval process.
    • No upfront cost; pays per click and impression.
    • Supports various ad formats (banners, native ads, responsive ads).

  • Cons:

    • Low earnings unless traffic is high.
    • Requires consistent traffic (10,000+ pageviews/month) to make significant revenue.
    • Strict approval process for new sites.

Ezoic & Mediavine (For High-Traffic Blogs)

  • Ezoic: Requires 10,000+ pageviews/month, pays more than AdSense.
  • Mediavine: Requires 50,000+ pageviews/month, offers the highest ad revenue share.

Both networks use AI-based ad placement to maximize earnings without ruining user experience.

3. Affiliate Marketing (Amazon Associates, SaaS Affiliate Programs, Dev Tool Referrals)

Affiliate marketing is one of the most profitable ways to monetize a technical blog, especially when covering software, hardware, or cloud services.

Best Affiliate Programs for Technical Bloggers:

  • Amazon Associates – Earn a commission on books, hardware, and tech accessories.

  • DigitalOcean, Linode, AWS Affiliate – Pay high commissions for cloud hosting referrals.

  • SaaS Tools (GitHub Copilot, JetBrains, Notion) – Offer lucrative payouts for software recommendations.

  • Udemy, Coursera, Pluralsight – Earn commissions on online course referrals.

  • Pros:

    • High earning potential, especially if blog traffic is developer-focused.
    • Works well for comparison posts, software tutorials, and hardware reviews.
    • No need for ad clutter—purely value-based monetization.

  • Cons:

    • Requires highly targeted content.
    • Income is inconsistent unless traffic and referrals are steady.

4. Selling Digital Products (E-Books, Online Courses, Dev Tools)

For bloggers with in-depth expertise, selling digital products can be the highest revenue-generating option.

Ideas for Digital Products:

  • E-books – Publish a book on Docker, Kubernetes, Rust, Python.

  • Courses – Create a course using Teachable, Gumroad, or Udemy.

  • Custom Tools/Scripts – Sell automation scripts, templates, or AI tools.

  • Pros:

    • No middleman; direct revenue from readers.
    • High-profit margins compared to ads or affiliate links.
    • Positions the blog as an authority in the industry.

  • Cons:

    • Requires time and expertise to create.
    • Marketing is necessary to drive sales.

5. Sponsorships & Paid Reviews

If a blog has a strong niche audience, tech companies are willing to pay for visibility.

  • Sponsorship deals – Companies pay for featured posts, banners, or email mentions.

  • Paid product reviews – Get paid to review new developer tools, SaaS products, or hardware.

  • Pros:

    • High payouts ($100 - $5000 per sponsored post).
    • No need for ad networks or affiliate programs.

  • Cons:

    • Requires consistent traffic & authority in a niche.
    • Some readers may distrust sponsored content.

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