Starting a fashion blog is an exciting adventure! You've learned the basics, like registering a domain and installing WordPress. Now, it’s time to dive into monetization!
This is where the real fun begins. Transform your passion for fashion into profit!
Whether you're just starting out or have been strutting your style for years, I’ve got some great ways to help you make money with your blog.
Let’s explore these methods together and turn your hobby into a full-time gig!
Why You Can Trust Our Fashion Blog Monetization Guide
Lasso is installed on over 8,000 websites, including many fashion 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 fashion blogs.
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for fashion 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 Fashion Bloggers
When diving into the fashion blogging niche, there's a wide array of affiliate products you can recommend. Here's a breakdown of some popular choices:
- Clothing: Perfect for showcasing seasonal styles or trendy pieces. Think dresses, tops, and jeans. Fashion hauls attract traffic!
- Footwear: From chic heels to comfy sneakers, shoes can dramatically complete an outfit. They often have high margins!
- Accessories: Items like bags, jewelry, and sunglasses can add flair to any look. Small items can be impulse buys.
- Beauty Products: Skincare and makeup are popular. They go hand-in-hand with fashion and can increase engagement.
- Fashion Subscription Boxes: Great for monthly style refreshes. They entice users with a surprise element!
- Lifestyle Brands: Items like home decor or wellness products can suit the aesthetic. They encourage lifestyle integrations.
Here are some reasons to recommend these affiliate products:
- High Commission Rates: Fashion items often come with attractive affiliate earnings.
- Broad Appeal: Clothing and accessories attract diverse audiences, increasing the chances of sales.
- Frequent Trends: The fashion industry changes rapidly, encouraging repeat visits and new sales.
- Visual Content: Fashion lends itself well to eye-catching photography, making your blog more engaging.
- Social Media Leverage: Fashion products are highly shareable on platforms like Instagram, driving traffic to your blog.
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 fashion 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 fashion bloggers:
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Commission Rate: 7% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 30 Days
Reebok creates and markets sports and lifestyle products built upon a strong heritage and authenticity in sports, fitness, and women’s categories.
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Commission Rate: 2.4% - 4% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 7 Days
Stitch Fix is the personal style service that evolves with your tastes, needs, and lifestyle. Their goal is to change the way people find clothes they love.
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Commission Rate: 7% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 1 Day
For more than 100 years, Kay has devoted itself to providing beautiful, affordable and accessible jewelry to all. Get up to 7% commission per sale.
TIP: We maintain a database of the best affiliate programs. Click here to see the best fashion 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 Fashion 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 fashion blog. If you’re ready to start making a serious affiliate income from your fashion 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 Fashion Bloggers
Affiliate marketing can be a goldmine for fashion bloggers, but it comes with its ups and downs. On the pro side, you get to earn commissions on sales made through your links. If you partner with brands that fit your style, it allows for authentic content creation. Plus, it can boost your credibility when you promote quality products that you genuinely love.
On the flip side, the cons can be tough to navigate. One major issue is the potential for overly commercial content. Followers might turn away if they feel you’re pushing products just for the money. Additionally, building a solid affiliate marketing strategy takes time and effective promotional skills. It’s something you can’t rush.
Another factor to consider is the commission rates. These vary significantly, and some fashion brands offer more lucrative partnerships than others. Understanding the terms and conditions of each program is crucial to avoid surprises. Overall, balancing your authenticity and monetization strategy is vital for long-term success.
2. Display Ads
The second best way to monetize your fashion blog is with display ads. Ads are the internet's favorite monetization method, but they have severe drawbacks.
How to Monetize a Fashion Blog With Display Ads
Monetizing a fashion 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 Fashion Bloggers
Display ads can be a solid revenue stream for fashion bloggers. They can bring in income without a lot of effort. You place the ads, and the payments roll in based on views or clicks. This passive income can be beneficial for creators managing several projects.
However, the downside is that display ads can clutter your blog. Too many ads can distract readers and lower your site's aesthetic appeal. For fashion bloggers, visuals are everything, so maintaining a chic, clean look is crucial.
Another point to consider is the potential for lower engagement. While display ads can generate revenue, they may not resonate with your audience as much as affiliate links or sponsored posts. You need to balance monetization with staying true to your brand and keeping your followers engaged.
Lastly, not all ad networks will pay fairly. Some networks might offer low rates, which can lead to frustration. It's essential to research and choose networks that align well with your blog and audience’s interests.
3. Digital Products
Selling your own digital products is a great way to increase your earnings per visitor in the fashion niche.
A digital product is anything you can sell on your fashion blog that the customer will receive via download.
Digital products to sell on a fashion blog:
- Style Guides: Comprehensive e-books detailing seasonal trends, color palettes, and styling tips.
- Fashion Templates: Ready-to-use social media templates for outfit posts, lookbooks, and fashion events.
- Online Courses: Create courses on everything from fashion blogging basics to advanced styling techniques.
- Printable Wardrobe Planners: Handy planners that help followers organize their closet and plan outfits.
- Preshopped Lookbooks: Curated lookbooks featuring pieces from various retailers tailored to different occasions.
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 Fashion Bloggers
Selling digital products can be a game-changer for fashion bloggers. One major pro is the potential for passive income. Once you create a product like an e-book or a styling guide, it can keep selling without much ongoing effort. Plus, you can reach a global audience without shipping costs!
Another advantage is the low overhead. Unlike physical products, digital items don’t require inventory or warehousing. This means lower startup costs and risks, making it easier for new bloggers to test the waters.
However, there are some cons to consider. The market can be saturated, so standing out requires really great content and marketing. Additionally, if you don’t have a loyal following yet, it might be tough to drive initial sales.
Finally, keeping up with trends is crucial. Fashion evolves quickly, and your digital products need to reflect that to stay relevant. If you can’t adapt, your offerings might just gather digital dust.
How To Monetize a Fashion 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 fashion 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 fashion blog with an email newsletter and the pros and cons of email marketing for fashion bloggers.
How to Monetize a Fashion Blog with an Email Newsletter
Email newsletters are a powerful tool for fashion bloggers. They allow you to connect directly with your audience, sharing exclusive content, new collections, and personalized style tips. This direct line of communication can not only help build a loyal following but also create opportunities for monetization.
To start monetizing a fashion blog through an email newsletter, first, build a solid subscriber list. Offer something valuable in exchange for email sign-ups, like a free style guide or an exclusive discount code. Fashionistas love perks, and this will motivate them to join your mailing list. Once your list is substantial, you can send regular newsletters that include curated outfits, links to your posts, and promotional offers. Make sure your content is engaging, and always keep your audience's interests in mind.
Next, consider partnerships with fashion brands for affiliate marketing. Share links to products or brands you love in your newsletters. Each time a subscriber makes a purchase through your link, you earn a commission. This is especially effective for fashion bloggers, as readers often look for recommendations from trusted sources when shopping. Highlight trends, seasonal pieces, or items relevant to your followers’ tastes to increase click-through rates!
Lastly, use your email newsletter to promote sponsored content. Collaborate with clothing brands that align with your aesthetic, and include their products in your newsletters as sponsored posts. This seamless integration can be beneficial for both you and the brand, enhancing your blog’s credibility while giving readers fresh styling ideas. Just remember to maintain authenticity. Your followers should feel that you genuinely endorse these products.
Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Fashion Bloggers
- Pros:
- Direct Communication: Email allows you to talk directly to your audience without social media algorithms interfering.
- Higher Engagement: Newsletters can drive higher engagement rates compared to social media posts, as subscribers have opted in to hear from you.
- Strategic Monetization: You can easily promote affiliate links and sponsored content within your newsletters, tapping into a great revenue stream.
- Cons:
- Building a List Takes Time: Growing your email list can be slow initially and requires consistent effort.
- Content Creation: Regularly coming up with engaging newsletter content can be time-consuming.
- Risk of Unsubscribes: If subscribers feel overwhelmed, they may opt out, so you have to find a balance in frequency and content.
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 fashion 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 Fashion Blog With Consulting Services
Monetizing a fashion 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 Fashion Bloggers
Selling consulting services can be a great way to monetize your fashion blog. One major pro is the ability to leverage your expertise. If you've built a strong brand and gained a loyal following, many people will value your insights on style, branding, or content creation.
Another advantage is flexibility. You can set your own hours and choose your clients. This allows you to work on projects that inspire you and align with your values. Plus, it can be a lucrative revenue stream, often with higher margins than traditional advertising.
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 MoreFashion Blog Monetization FAQs
What Is The Best Way To Make Money From Fashion Blogging?
If you want to build a successful fashion 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 Fashion Blogging?
Absolutely! Some fashion blogs, like The Atlantic Pacific and The Daileigh 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 Fashion Blog?
Learning how to start a fashion 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 Fashion Bloggers Get Paid?
Most fashion 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 fashion bloggers also sell sponsored posts, consulting services, or their own products. In these cases, a payment processor like PayPal or Stripe is necessary.
Is Fashion Blogging Easy?
Nothing worth doing is truly easy, but that doesn’t mean fashion blogging isn’t fun.
As a fashion 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 Fashion Blog?
It’s absolutely worth it to start a fashion 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 fashion-related industries will take you seriously.
Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Fashion Blog
Congratulations! You've learned various ways to monetize your fashion blog.
But here’s a little extra gem for you:
Mix it up with different monetization methods!
Diversifying your income streams is a smart move for your blog's future.
If you rely on affiliate offers, display ads, and your own products, you'll be better protected if one source takes a hit.
With this multi-tiered strategy, paired with your hard work and planning, you’ll be on your way to earning what you truly deserve!
Why You Should Trust Our Fashion Blogging Content
You may be thinking, "that's all great, but what does Lasso know about fashion blogging?"
Quite a lot, actually.
Here's why you can trust our process for building a successful fashion 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 Fashion Bloggers Every Day
Lasso's WordPress plugin is installed on over 8,000 websites, including a lot of fashion 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 fashion 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.
