Introduction
When I first started blogging, I didn’t have a fancy strategy or a big audience. I just wanted to share useful content and see where it would lead. What surprised me the most? I earned my first $500 without showing a single ad on my blog.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I did it, what worked (and what didn’t), and how you can do the same—even if you’re starting from scratch.
My Starting Point
Niche: I chose the “side hustle + productivity” niche—popular, but still full of opportunity.
Platform: I started on WordPress with a basic free theme.
Content: I posted once a week—short, practical posts like “3 Easy Side Hustles for Students” or “How I Made $50 Online in a Week.”
How I Made $500 Without Ads
Let’s break it down:
🛍️ 1. Affiliate Marketing – $280
I signed up for beginner-friendly programs like:
Amazon Associates – linked to gear/tools I personally use.
Canva Pro – I use this daily, so I shared tutorials with affiliate links.
💡 Tip: Focus on solving a problem, not just selling.
📄 2. Digital Product – $150
I created a printable Side Hustle Tracker PDF using Canva and sold it on Gumroad.
Made it once, and it kept selling!
Promoted it naturally in blog posts like “How to Stay Organized With Multiple Side Hustles.”
🤝 3. Sponsored Post – $70
A small startup reached out after reading one of my posts. I wrote a review of their service in exchange for $70.
💡 Tip: Even if you’re small, your niche audience has value.
Traffic Strategy (No Ads, No SEO Tricks)
Pinterest: I created 2 pins for every blog post and used free schedulers like Tailwind.
Reddit: Shared blog links in relevant communities (without spamming).
Engagement: I commented on other small blogs and joined blogger groups on Facebook.
Tools I Used
Tool Purpose
Canva Graphics + PDFs
Gumroad Selling digital goods
WordPress Blogging platform
Grammarly Fix grammar
Google Docs Draft posts
Earnings Breakdown
Source Earnings
Affiliate Links $280
Digital Product $150
Sponsored Post $70
Total $500
Key Takeaways
You don’t need ads or viral traffic to earn.
Offer value before asking for money.
Start simple. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect.
Free Gift: Side Hustle Tracker Printable
Want the exact printable I sold? 🎁
[Download it FREE here] – It helps you track your side hustle goals, income, and hours weekly.
> (You can later gate this behind email sign-up using Mailchimp or ConvertKit.)
Let’s Connect
Have questions or just getting started? Drop them in the comments or DM me on Instagram [@yourhandle].
➡️ What’s stopping you from starting your blog today?
🧾 2. Free Downloadable Offer Idea
"Side Hustle Starter Kit" (PDF Bun9dle – 3 Pages)
📌 Weekly Income Tracker
📝 Blog Post Brainstorm Sheet
💡 Affiliate Programs Starter List
You can create this easily with Canva and offer it for free in exchange for email signups!
🗓️ 3. 30-Day Content Calendar (Passive Income Blog)
Day Blog Post Title
1 How I Earned My First $500 From Blogging Without Ads
2 5 Best Affiliate Programs for New Bloggers
3 What I’d Do If I Had to Start a Side Hustle From Zero
5 10 Digital Products You Can Sell in 2025
7 A Simple Guide to Setting Up a Blog That Makes Money
9 Passive Income vs Active Income – What’s Better?
11 My Blogging Toolkit (Free & Paid Tools)
13 How to Use Canva to Make a Printable Product
15 3 Real Ways I Monetized My Blog With <100 Visitors
17 Side Hustles That Work for Students
19 SEO for Bloggers Who Hate SEO
21 7 Blogging Mistakes That Cost Me Time & Money
23 How to Set Blogging Goals You’Introduction
When I first started blogging, I didn’t have a fancy strategy or a big audience. I just wanted to share useful content and see where it would lead. What surprised me the most? I earned my first $500 without showing a single ad on my blog.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I did it, what worked (and what didn’t), and how you can do the same—even if you’re starting from scratch.
My Starting Point
Niche: I chose the “side hustle + productivity” niche—popular, but still full of opportunity.
Platform: I started on WordPress with a basic free theme.
Content: I posted once a week—short, practical posts like “3 Easy Side Hustles for Students” or “How I Made $50 Online in a Week.”
How I Made $500 Without Ads
Let’s break it down:
🛍️ 1. Affiliate Marketing – $280
I signed up for beginner-friendly programs like:
Amazon Associates – linked to gear/tools I personally use.
Canva Pro – I use this daily, so I shared tutorials with affiliate links.
💡 Tip: Focus on solving a problem, not just selling.
📄 2. Digital Product – $150
I created a printable Side Hustle Tracker PDF using Canva and sold it on Gumroad.
Made it once, and it kept selling!
Promoted it naturally in blog posts like “How to Stay Organized With Multiple Side Hustles.”
🤝 3. Sponsored Post – $70
A small startup reached out after reading one of my posts. I wrote a review of their service in exchange for $70.
💡 Tip: Even if you’re small, your niche audience has value.
Traffic Strategy (No Ads, No SEO Tricks)
Pinterest: I created 2 pins for every blog post and used free schedulers like Tailwind.
Reddit: Shared blog links in relevant communities (without spamming).
Engagement: I commented on other small blogs and joined blogger groups on Facebook.
Tools I Used
Tool Purpose
Canva Graphics + PDFs
Gumroad Selling digital goods
WordPress Blogging platform
Grammarly Fix grammar
Google Docs Draft posts
---
Earnings Breakdown
Source Earnings
Affiliate Links $280
Digital Product $150
Sponsored Post $70
Total $500
---
Key Takeaways
You don’t need ads or viral traffic to earn.
Offer value before asking for money.
Start simple. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect.
---
Free Gift: Side Hustle Tracker Printable
Want the exact printable I sold? 🎁
[Download it FREE here] – It helps you track your side hustle goals, income, and hours weekly.
> (You can later gate this behind email sign-up using Mailchimp or ConvertKit.)
---
Let’s Connect
Have questions or just getting started? Drop them in the comments or DM me on Instagram [@yourhandle].
➡️ What’s stopping you from starting your blog today?
---
🧾 2. Free Downloadable Offer Idea
"Side Hustle Starter Kit" (PDF Bundle – 3 Pages)
📌 Weekly Income Tracker
📝 Blog Post Brainstorm Sheet
💡 Affiliate Programs Starter List
You can create this easily with Canva and offer it for free in exchange for email signups!
---
🗓️ 3. 30-Day Content Calendar (Passive Income Blog)
Day Blog Post Title
1 How I Earned My First $500 From Blogging Without Ads
2 5 Best Affiliate Programs for New Bloggers
3 What I’d Do If I Had to Start a Side Hustle From Zero
5 10 Digital Products You Can Sell in 2025
7 A Simple Guide to Setting Up a Blog That Makes Money
9 Passive Income vs Active Income – What’s Better?
11 My Blogging Toolkit (Free & Paid Tools)
13 How to Use Canva to Make a Printable Product
15 3 Real Ways I Monetized My Blog With <100 Visitors
17 Side Hustles That Work for Students
19 SEO for Bloggers Who Hate SEO
21 7 Blogging Mistakes That Cost Me Time & Money
23 How to Set Blogging Goals You’ll Actually Reach
25 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Blogging
27 How to Write a Blog Post That Gets Shares
29 What I Learned After My First Month Blogging
ll Actually Reach
25 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Blogging
27 How to Write a Blog Post That Gets Shares
29 What I Learned After My First Month Blogging