Summary
- Blog income comes in two main forms: display ads (Google AdSense — you earn just from showing them) and affiliate marketing (you earn a commission when someone buys through your link).
- AdSense has no minimum traffic bar. The real gate is original, high-quality content + HTTPS + policy pages.
- For affiliates, Korea’s go-to is Coupang Partners; globally there’s Amazon Associates, AliExpress, Temu, and more.
- The two are not mutually exclusive — most blogs run ads and layer affiliates on top.
Ads vs Affiliate — at a glance
Ads are like renting wall space; affiliates are like a referral fee. Ads pay you for impressions and clicks on a slot in your blog. Affiliates pay you a cut when someone buys through a link you shared.
| Basis | Display ads (AdSense) | Affiliate marketing |
|---|---|---|
| Earns on | Impressions, clicks | A purchase via your link |
| Traffic dependence | High (needs views) | Conversion is key |
| Entry barrier | Approval required | Sign-up is usually easy |
| Best for | Any post | Reviews, recommendations |
When traffic is low, both earn little. So content comes before monetization — ads or affiliates only work once there are posts worth reading.
Track 1 — Google AdSense
AdSense lets Google fill the empty space on your blog with ads and shares the revenue from impressions and clicks. You apply, then pass Google’s site review.
What approval needs (as of 2026):
- Original, high-quality writing — copied or mass AI-generated content gets rejected. It is quality over quantity.
- HTTPS — sites without a secure connection (HTTP) are rejected.
- 18 or older, and compliance with AdSense policies (no copyright violations, adult content, and so on).
- Clean structure — navigation that does not lose the reader.
The common advice of “10–15 posts, 800+ words each” is a rule of thumb, not Google’s official number. What matters is real content with real readers.
AdSense on a Self-Hosted Blog
Run your own WordPress and you place the ad code yourself. Have these ready before applying:
- Policy pages — privacy policy, About, and contact.
- ads.txt — a file declaring who may sell your ad inventory; it sits at the site root.
- Enough posts — empty shells get rejected, so build up your archive first.
- Domain age — three to six months is said to help, but strong content passes even on new domains.
Applying means creating an AdSense account, entering your site details, and waiting for review — days to a few weeks.
Track 2 — Affiliate Marketing
Affiliates pay you a commission when someone buys through your referral link. A cookie works like a receipt for that referral — the purchase counts only if it happens within the cookie window.
| Platform | Type | Notes (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Coupang Partners | Korea retail | Korea’s biggest; ~3% (by category/performance); disclosure required |
| Adpick | App / CPA | Pay per action (install, signup); SNS-friendly |
| LinkPrice | Affiliate network | Many Korean merchants in one place |
| AliExpress | Global retail | ~5–8% commission, 30-day cookie |
| Amazon Associates | Global retail | 1–10% (mostly 1–3%), 24-hour cookie |
| Temu | Global retail | App-install bounty + order commission; aggressive as a newcomer |
Rates change often, so check each platform’s official terms before signing up.
Where to Start
The usual order is content → AdSense → affiliates. Ads need traffic to matter, so stack posts first, lay down AdSense, then add affiliate links to reviews and recommendations.
Two cautions. Too many ads ruin the reading experience, and affiliate links must carry a disclosure (“contains paid links”) — required by law in many places, and by Coupang’s own rules in Korea.
In the end, monetization is a byproduct of the writing. The value comes first; ads and affiliates are the roof you put on top.
Sources
Figures were verified against these official docs (June 2026; policies change).
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