How much does blogging really pay?
A blog earns from ads and affiliate links, so pay follows traffic. AdSense gives you about 68% of what Google Ads advertisers pay, and pays out at $100.
Blogs make money from ads, affiliate links and their own products. Google says AdSense publishers receive 80% after the advertiser platform’s fee, which works out at about 68% when advertisers buy through Google Ads. Bigger ad networks ask for traffic first: Raptive wants at least 25,000 pageviews a month.
What do you need for blogging?
- A siteA domain and hosting, or a platform.
- Content people search forPay follows traffic.
- PatienceSearch traffic to a new site can take months. No date can be promised.
Who keeps what
| Item | Figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| AdSense share | 80% after the buy-side fee | About 68% when advertisers use Google Ads |
| AdSense payout | $100 | Google’s threshold for US dollar accounts |
| Raptive | 25,000 pageviews a month | Plus original content, and most traffic from 5 listed countries |
| Mediavine | $5,000 a year in ad revenue | Its Journey program opens at 1,000 premium sessions in 30 days |
| Pay per 1,000 visitors | No fixed rate | Depends on topic, country and season |
Neither Google nor Raptive publishes a fixed pay per visitor, so any blogger’s income report tells you about that site alone.
What it adds up to
| What advertisers spend on your pages | You get, about 68% |
|---|---|
| $100 of ad spend | $68 |
| $1,000 of ad spend | $680 |
| $5,000 of ad spend | $3,400 |
Through AdSense when advertisers use Google Ads. Google publishes no pay per visitor, so we start from what advertisers spend. Paid out from $100. Our sums on Google’s numbers above: an example, not a promise.
When does blogging pay you?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Paid out at | $100 with AdSense |
| Payment issued | Between the 21st and 26th, once the balance has passed the threshold by the 20th |
What is the catch with blogging?
- Traffic takes time, and no date can be promised.
- Raptive also wants most of your traffic from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand.
- A blogger’s income report describes one site, not what you should expect.
- If you use affiliate links, the FTC expects a clear disclosure close to the recommendation.
How to start with blogging
- Pick one subjectChoose something you can write about for years.
- Answer real questionsStart with what people actually search for.
- Add ads only when traffic comesAd networks set a traffic bar first.
- Disclose your linksPut the note next to the recommendation.
Read next
Sources
- AdSense revenue share, checked 5 Nov 2026
- AdSense payment thresholds, checked 5 Nov 2026
- AdSense payment timelines, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Raptive: requirements for creators, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Mediavine: introducing Journey, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Mediavine: two years of Journey, checked 5 Nov 2026
- FTC: Endorsement Guides, what people are asking, checked 5 Nov 2026