How many pageviews do I need to make money blogging?
Advertising networks and pageviews
Ad networks like Google AdSense accept blogs with any traffic, but earnings are low (often $1-$10 per 1,000 pageviews). Premium networks like Mediavine require 50,000 sessions per month, and AdThrive requires 100,000 pageviews.
Your niche matters: finance and tech blogs often earn more per pageview than lifestyle blogs because advertisers pay more for those audiences.
- AdSense: any traffic, low RPM
- Mediavine: 50k sessions/month
- AdThrive: 100k pageviews/month
Affiliate marketing and products
Affiliate marketing can be profitable with less traffic if your audience is highly targeted. For example, a blog about photography gear might earn $100+ per sale, so even 1,000 monthly visitors could generate income.
Selling your own digital products (ebooks, courses) or services (coaching) can also monetize a small audience. The key is trust and relevance.
- High-ticket affiliates need fewer visitors
- Digital products scale well
- Services require time but pay well
Realistic expectations
Many bloggers don't make a full-time income until they reach 50,000-100,000 monthly pageviews, but some do with smaller audiences through diversified income streams.
Focus on building an engaged audience rather than just chasing pageviews. A loyal readership of 5,000 can be more valuable than 50,000 casual visitors.
Common mistakes
- Believing you need millions of pageviews—many bloggers earn well with niche audiences.
- Relying solely on ad income, which is unpredictable and low until you have high traffic.
- Ignoring email list building—your subscribers are an asset you own, unlike social media followers.
