Starting a Christian blog is exciting! You’ve learned the basics like picking a domain and setting up WordPress. Now, let's dive into how to monetize your blog.
Trust me, this will be the most enjoyable part of your blogging journey!
Whether you're just getting started or you're a well-known Christian influencer, there are great ways to turn your blog into a source of income. Let's explore these monetization methods together!
Why You Can Trust Our Christian Blog Monetization Guide
Lasso is installed on over 8,000 websites, including many christian blogs.
Our team has built multiple 7-figure blogs in a wide range of niches.
We have hands-on experience working with founders to grow and monetize their christian blogs.
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for christian bloggers because it hits the sweet spot between time investment and earning potential.
Affiliate marketing is a form of advertising where a publisher (the site owner) links to a product in their content and earns a commission from the advertiser (the affiliate program) if readers click on that link and make a purchase.
TIP: With all monetization methods, the rule of thumb is the easier it is to accomplish, the less money you can make, and vice versa.
Also, since you can add links to your existing content, it’s the perfect method for beginners. You’ve already written content, so you’ve already done the hard part.
How to Start Affiliate Marketing for Christian Bloggers
If you're diving into the Christian blogging niche, there are plenty of affiliate products to recommend. These products resonate well with your audience and can also boost your income. Here are some great options:
- Bibles: Featuring various translations helps cater to different preferences.
- Devotional Books: These offer readers daily inspiration and reflection.
- Christian Courses: Online classes on topics like Bible study or spiritual growth.
- Church Merchandise: Items like T-shirts or mugs that reflect faith-based themes.
- Family & Parenting Resources: Books or courses focused on raising kids with Christian values.
Reasons to consider these affiliate products:
- Relevant Content: These products align perfectly with your audience's interests.
- Trust Factor: Recommending solid, faith-based resources builds credibility.
- Diverse Audience: Options appeal to different demographics within the faith community.
- Persistent Market: Christian products have a steady demand year-round.
- Personal Impact: Promoting meaningful resources can genuinely help your readers grow.
Once you’ve identified which products will solve problems for your readers, you need to sign up for their affiliate programs.
You should start by joining the Amazon Associates affiliate program.
Most physical products in the christian niche will be available on Amazon, and the conversion rate on Amazon is insane.
Yes, Amazon’s commission rates are rough, and they only offer a 24-hour cookie duration, but the conversion rate makes up for it. Plus, you’re nearly guaranteed to get accepted into their program.
For products that aren’t available on Amazon, just Google “[Product] affiliate program,” and you’ll find their program’s signup page.
To save you some time, here are a few of the best affiliate networks for christian bloggers:
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Commission Rate: $15 Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 45 Days
PureFlix is a video streaming service featuring family-friendly and Christian-focused content. It's a Christian equivalent of Netflix.
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Commission Rate: 20% - 50% Per Lead
Cookie Duration: 45 Days
eharmony is an online dating website that aims to help people find long-term relationships. Its famed 29 dimensions of compatibility are used for matching.
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Commission Rate: 13% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 30 Days
DaySpring is the largest publisher and distributor of Christian greeting cards and also sells Christian gifts, home decor, jewelry, and more.
TIP: We maintain a database of the best affiliate programs. Click here to see the best christian affiliate programs.
Once you’ve been approved for the product’s affiliate program, the program will give you your affiliate link, and you can start inserting it into your content.
How To Monetize A Christian Blog With Affiliate Marketing
To add your link to your content, go to your post editor, highlight the relevant text, and insert the link.
Here are a few best practices for adding affiliate links to your WordPress blog:
- Add links where it’s helpful. Adding too many links to your blog posts is just like adding too many ads; it’s annoying. Add links to product titles, images, CTA buttons, and the first time you mention a product. That’s plenty.
- Disclose your links. Every blog post with affiliate links should have a disclaimer at the beginning, and every CTA or product image should also.
- Use direct sales language. When you are writing your call to action, be direct. It’s not rude to say, “Check the price” or “Buy this product today.” Being too passive makes you look unconfident.
Or, take it a step further by creating product displays.
You Can Double Your Affiliate Sales With Lasso Displays
You can create displays manually using the post editor to add links to images and buttons.
However, it can be time-consuming to create these displays and keep them updated if you’re doing it all by hand.
Luckily, monetizing your blog with affiliate links is simplified when you’re using a tool like Lasso.
Lasso makes it super easy to add links and product displays to your posts. You can add product displays to posts right from the post editor; no coding is required. It’s as simple as clicking your mouse three times.
You can also automatically import product info from retailers like Amazon. Just paste the link into the Lasso dashboard, and Lasso will populate the display with the product title, image, and price.
With all of this, remember to follow the guidelines in the affiliate program’s terms and conditions. Amazon, in particular, is pretty stringent.
But everything Lasso does is compliant with Amazon Associates’ TOS, so you never have to worry about being booted from the program.
That’s just scratching the surface of what Lasso can do to help you monetize your christian blog. If you’re ready to start making a serious affiliate income from your christian site, sign up for Lasso today.
A WordPress plugin that lets you add, manage, and display your affiliate links from any program, including Amazon. Increase conversions. Find new affiliate link opportunities. Earn more revenue! Less than 5 minutes to set up.
Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Christian Bloggers
Affiliate marketing can be a game-changer for Christian bloggers. You create content people love, and if you recommend products aligned with your values, you can earn commissions. This approach allows you to monetize your passion while genuinely helping your audience discover useful resources.
However, there are some downsides. Not every affiliate program will resonate with your audience, and promoting irrelevant products can harm your credibility. It’s essential to choose partnerships that reflect your beliefs and serve your community, or you risk alienating followers.
Another consideration is competition. The blogging world is crowded, so standing out can be tough. It takes time and effort to build an audience that trusts your recommendations. But with patience and careful strategy, affiliate marketing can lead to meaningful income streams.
2. Display Ads
The second best way to monetize your christian blog is with display ads. Ads are the internet's favorite monetization method, but they have severe drawbacks.
How to Monetize a Christian Blog With Display Ads
Monetizing a christian blog with display ads couldn’t be easier.
First, choose an ad network to join. Networks have traffic requirements, so here are the best ad networks to join based on your site’s page views:
- 100,000+ Visitors per month - Raptive
- 50,000+ Sessions per month - Mediavine
- < 50,000+ Visitors per month - Ezoic
NOTE: WordPress is an open-source software found on WordPress.org. WordPress.com is a premium blogging platform, but you never need to pay to install WordPress on your website, even if it’s self-hosted.
Once you’re accepted to an ad network, follow their instructions to integrate their ads into your site. They will have documentation for every type of content management service (WordPress, Joomla, Ghost, etc.).
If your chosen ad network has a dedicated accounts manager, they will guide you through getting their ads on your site.
And… that’s it. Let the ads run and wait for your deposits to hit your account.
TIP: Optimize your display ads for user experience by using your chosen network’s software settings or talking to your account manager. Keep the ads in the sidebar and footer whenever possible.
You’ll make a lot of money in the long run if you put your readers ahead of quick profit.
Display Ad Pros And Cons For Christian Bloggers
Display ads can be a great way for Christian bloggers to monetize their content. They’re often easy to set up, and you can start earning money relatively quickly. Christian bloggers can choose ads that align with their values, ensuring they promote safe and relevant products to their audience.
However, there are downsides to consider. Display ads can slow down your website, which may frustrate your readers. They can also be distracting, potentially pulling attention away from your main content and messages.
Another challenge is the potential for low earnings in niche markets. Depending on your audience size and engagement, income from display ads may not be significant. This can lead some bloggers to feel disheartened if their earnings don’t match their effort.
Ultimately, balance is key. Incorporating a few well-placed ads can be beneficial, but it's essential to keep the focus on delivering valuable content to your readers. This ensures that the primary goal—communicating your Christian message—remains intact.
3. Digital Products
Selling your own digital products is a great way to increase your earnings per visitor in the christian niche.
A digital product is anything you can sell on your christian blog that the customer will receive via download.
Here are some digital products you can consider selling on your Christian blog:
- Devotional E-books: Create short e-books filled with daily devotionals or reflections to help readers grow spiritually.
- Bible Study Guides: Offer downloadable guides that help individuals or groups dive deeper into scripture with questions and insights.
- Printable Scripture Art: Design beautiful printables featuring inspirational Bible verses that users can decorate their homes with.
- Faith-based Journals: Sell digital journals or planners that include prompts for prayer and reflection to enhance one’s faith journey.
- Online Courses: Develop courses on various topics like theology, Christian living, or parenting from a biblical perspective.
A lot of people search for simple checklists and guides related to different topics. They’d happily pay you for them.
Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Products for Christian Bloggers
Selling digital products can be a great way for Christian bloggers to generate income. One major pro is the flexibility it offers. You can tailor products like e-books or courses specifically to your audience’s needs and interests. This personalization can strengthen their connection to your blog and their faith journey.
On the flip side, there are some cons to consider. Creating quality digital products requires time and effort. You need to ensure they are valuable and resonate with your audience. If you rush this process, you risk creating something that doesn’t sell.
Another downside is marketing. Just because you create a fantastic product doesn't mean people will flock to it. You’ll need a solid marketing strategy, which can be daunting if you're already busy with blogging and other responsibilities.
Finally, keep in mind that the digital product market is competitive. Many voices are trying to reach the same audience. However, if you’re authentic and genuinely share your message, you can still carve out your unique niche.
How To Monetize a Christian Blog By Selling Digital Products
The first thing to do is create your digital product.
Look at which content your audience interacts with the most, and brainstorm digital products to help serve their search intent.
That’s what I did when I created our Ultimate Blogging Guide:
Get Your FREE 20-Page Guide To Making $1000/Day From Your Niche Blog
Then, create the product using whatever tools are at your disposal. For example, use Microsoft Word to create an ebook PDF, or Google Sheets to create interactive spreadsheets and checklists.
Next, you have to figure out how to distribute your product. The easiest way to distribute PDFs is by uploading them to your WordPress media library. Then you can give customers the link, and they can download the PDF from there.
Lastly, you’ll have to set up payment processing and order fulfillment. A plugin like Woocommerce can automate most of this, but you’ll have to tie it to a processor like Stripe or PayPal.
Woocommerce can even connect to an email tool like ConvertKit, so as soon as your customer finishes their checkout, they’ll get an email with a link to their download.
TIP: You can still use Lasso to get more clicks to your digital products. Just create a Lasso display with the link pointing to your product’s sales page.
Barring any issues, you won’t have to do anything but watch your bank account grow.
4. Email Newsletter
One effective way to monetize a christian blog is by creating an email newsletter. This method allows you to build a loyal audience and engage with your readers on a more personal level. Let's explore how to monetize a christian blog with an email newsletter and the pros and cons of email marketing for christian bloggers.
How to Monetize a Christian Blog with an Email Newsletter
Email newsletters are an excellent way to keep your audience engaged while also creating revenue opportunities. For Christian bloggers, they serve as a personal channel to connect with readers on a spiritual level. They can be beautifully curated with uplifting content, scripture, prayers, and devotionals, making them a valuable resource for your audience.
To monetize your newsletter, start by building a strong email list. Encourage visitors to subscribe by providing irresistible offers like free eBooks, downloadable prayer guides, or exclusive content. Once you have a list, you can nurture these subscribers through regular newsletters filled with encouraging messages and helpful resources. Include affiliate links to Christian products or services you genuinely recommend. This way, whenever they purchase through your link, you earn a commission while providing them value.
You can also monetize by promoting your own products. If you have created a course, workbook, or any other resource that helps your audience in their faith journey, your email newsletter is the perfect platform to promote these offerings. Share your insights, testimonials, or even testimonials from readers who benefited from your teachings. This builds trust and encourages your subscribers to consider your products as solutions to their spiritual needs.
Finally, consider partnering with other Christian creators. Guest features or co-promotions in your newsletter can help widen your reach and introduce your audience to other resources. This network can foster new opportunities for monetization through referral commissions or sponsorships, while also enhancing the spiritual growth of your readers.
Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Christian Bloggers
- Pros:
- Direct Engagement: Email allows you to communicate directly with your audience, fostering a personal connection that’s important in the Christian community.
- Consistent Content Delivery: Regular newsletters keep your audience engaged and can help reinforce your teachings and messages.
- Monetization Opportunities: With affiliate marketing, product promotions, and collaborations, there are several ways to generate income through your newsletter.
- Cons:
- Time-Consuming: Creating quality content for a newsletter requires dedication and can be time-intensive.
- List Building Challenges: Growing your email list can be slow if you're starting from scratch, requiring patience and strategy.
- Overwhelming Subscribers: If not done carefully, sending too many emails can lead to unsubscribes, so balancing frequency is key.
5. Consulting and Coaching Services
Consulting or coaching is exchanging your expertise and time for a fee. Your customers need an expert, and you’ve proven yourself to be that expert.
As you become an authority in the industry, people will reach out to you with questions about topics they consider you an expert in.
Now, you don’t have to charge for being helpful, but you should place a dollar value on your time.
As a christian blogger, you extensive knowledge of the industry. If a reader reaches out to you asking for help, you should get paid for that effort.
How To Monetize A Christian Blog With Consulting Services
Monetizing a christian blog with consulting services is similar to selling sponsored posts.
Put a “Coaching” option in your nav bar that goes to a landing page outlining your consulting services and your hourly rate. This will help head off some of the people looking for free advice.
TIP: Again, you can use Lasso to drive more clicks to your coaching pages. Just create a Display with a link to your sales page, and insert it into blog posts.
Then, wait for requests to come in, evaluate them, and propose your offer. If the customer accepts, send them an invoice using PayPal or another payment processor, and schedule the call.
Pros and Cons of Selling Consulting Services for Christian Bloggers
One of the biggest pros of selling consulting services as a Christian blogger is the opportunity to share your faith while helping others. You can guide fellow believers in areas such as spiritual growth, content creation, or monetizing their own blogs, connecting deeply with your audience. This way, your work isn’t just profitable; it’s also a means of ministry.
Another advantage is the potential for a flexible income stream. Consulting allows you to set your own rates and work schedule. As you gain experience and build credibility, you can increase your fees, making it a lucrative option for many bloggers.
However, there are some cons to consider. The market can be super competitive. Many bloggers offer similar services, so you’ll need to differentiate yourself and consistently prove your value. Also, consulting requires ongoing effort to maintain client relationships and keep up with industry trends, which can be time-consuming.
Lastly, relying solely on consulting for income can be unpredictable. Your earnings may fluctuate based on demand and clientele. This uncertainty can create stress, particularly if you’re depending on this revenue to support your ministry or personal needs.
Supercharge your earnings with Lasso. Create no-code product Displays and Tables that convert, find and fix broken links, and gain valuable business insights with revenue analytics.
Learn MoreChristian Blog Monetization FAQs
What Is The Best Way To Make Money From Christian Blogging?
If you want to build a successful christian blog, then affiliate marketing is the best way to monetize it. It’s the least intrusive way to make a lot of money from your site without much extra effort.
Can I Make A Full-Time Income From Christian Blogging?
Absolutely! Some christian blogs, like Christianity Today and iBelieve get hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors. That’s enough for a full-time income for a small team of people.
How Do I Start a Christian Blog?
Learning how to start a christian blog is the first best way to use your expertise to start an online business.
You need to register a domain, install WordPress, and publish great content. It's a lot of work, but totally worth it!
How Do Christian Bloggers Get Paid?
Most christian bloggers make money through affiliate commissions and advertising fees. Both of these monetization methods pay out one or two months after the fees have been generated.
Some christian bloggers also sell sponsored posts, consulting services, or their own products. In these cases, a payment processor like PayPal or Stripe is necessary.
Is Christian Blogging Easy?
Nothing worth doing is truly easy, but that doesn’t mean christian blogging isn’t fun.
As a christian blogger, you’ll get to go places, try new things, and meet new people. And it will be part of your business! What could be cooler than that?
Is It Worth Starting A Christian Blog?
It’s absolutely worth it to start a christian blog. Not only can you make a living from it, but you can also build a community and control the conversation.
Once you’re an established authority, people in christian-related industries will take you seriously.
Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Christian Blog
Now that you know how to monetize your Christian blog, here’s one last tip:
Use multiple ways to make money!
Diversifying your income streams is key to keeping your blog thriving.
If you promote affiliate offers, run ads, and sell your own products, you’ll be safer if one source slows down.
With this mix of strategies, some hard work, and smart planning, you’ll be well on your way to earning what your blog deserves!
Why You Should Trust Our Christian Blogging Content
You may be thinking, "that's all great, but what does Lasso know about christian blogging?"
Quite a lot, actually.
Here's why you can trust our process for building a successful christian blog:
We've Built Wildly Successful Blogs
Lasso is built for affiliate marketers, by affiliate marketers. We're not gurus; we've walked the walk.
Our team members have built multiple blogs from the ground up, some of them earning over seven figures in revenue.
We put that experience into every guide we write, so you can trust we're giving you a process that works.
We Talk To Christian Bloggers Every Day
Lasso's WordPress plugin is installed on over 8,000 websites, including a lot of christian blogs.
Our team supports those bloggers every day as they create awesome content and earn lots of money.
These communications give us a bird's-eye view of what's new in the christian industry. We take that information and use it to keep these guides as up-to-date and accurate as possible.
We're Super Nerds
We've put a lot of company focus into learning everything we can about blogging, affiliate marketing, SEO, and anything to do with online entrepreneurship.
We attend conferences, collect high-level contacts, read tons of books, and distill all of that information into our content. We pass information onto you that was previously only available to industry insiders.
