How Your WordPress Site Can Earn Money — A Simple Guide

If you’ve been wondering how a WordPress blog can earn money, it helps to know there are a few built-in ways you can accept support, payments and even paid content from your readers. The editor has blocks designed to make this easy — and you don’t need a full online shop unless you want one.

Here’s a quick look at the main ways you can earn from your site, with practical notes based on how I use these tools too.

1. Set Up Your Payment Settings

Before creating any subscription or one-off payment plans, first make sure your payment settings are set up. This involves connecting a payment processor such as Stripe, which WordPress uses to handle subscriber billing for paid newsletters and one-off payments. Stripe is needed to process paid subscriptions or card payments through WordPress.

1. Go to Jetpack → Monetize → Payment Settings in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Create a monthly subscription plan for regular paid newsletters.
3. (Optional) You can also create a one-off payment plan—this works like a donation or single-purchase option for readers who want to support you without committing to a recurring subscription.

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2. How to Use the Payments Block

WordPress includes a Payments block, which lets you add quick, simple payment buttons anywhere on your site. You can set a price, add a photo and description, and let readers make one‑off payments for things like digital downloads, services, fixed‑price items or tips.

It’s a handy option if you ever decide to sell products or accept simple payments without setting up a full online store. I focus on reader support and subscriptions, but the Payments block is a flexible option if you ever want to sell products or accept one-off payments.

Note: requires a WordPress.com Premium (or higher) plan.

Optional Example:

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3. Accept One-Off Donations

One of the easiest ways to earn from a blog is by letting your readers support you with donations. WordPress includes a Donations forms block that you can add to pages or posts.

Here’s what I do:

• I use the Donations forms block in posts where I want to invite readers to support the site.
• Donors can give once or on a recurring basis (monthly or yearly) using card payments or PayPal.
• Most of my subscriptions and donations so far have come this way, and it’s lovely to see that support.

This is a gentle, friendly way to let people help if they enjoy your content.

Optional Example:

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4. Offer a Paid Subscription

WordPress lets you create both free and paid subscriptions for your readers. With a paid subscription, readers can pay to receive exclusive newsletters, while free subscribers get your regular updates.

1. I use the Subscribe Block on the home page and on the side widget.
2. When readers subscribe they are given the option to choose a free subscription or a paid subscription once they insert their email and click on “subscribe”.
3. Newsletter:
   • I only send the newsletter to subscribers (not to everyone) and I only send paid content to paid subscribers. Look on the Post side column and look for “Access” and choose one of the following for the newsletter:
   • Anyone subscribed: free subscribers receive the regular monthly newsletter.
   • Paid subscribers only: Receive the free newsletter, plus behind-the-scenes updates, early access, and exclusive content.

When readers subscribe using the Subscribe Block, they can choose either a free or paid subscription. WordPress handles the billing, so you can focus on creating content while subscribers manage their own payments.

Optional Example:

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5. Create Paid Content

WordPress also includes a Paid Content block, which is handy if you want to:

• Restrict certain content within a blog post so only paying subscribers can see it
• Offer exclusive posts, photos, guides or resources

This works well if you have extra content that some readers would happily pay for. You set the payment plan, and the block handles access and billing for you.

I haven’t used this much yet, but it’s a good option if you decide to offer premium content later.

Note: requires a WordPress.com Premium (or higher) plan.

Optional Example:

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6. Sell Products on Your Website

If you’d like to sell digital or physical products, WordPress supports this too via PayPal payment buttons:

• Sell digital products
• Sell physical products

You can use the PayPal Payment Buttons block to add multiple purchase options for things like prints, patterns, or other items you want to offer readers.

Note: requires a WordPress.com Premium (or higher) plan.

Optional Example:

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How I Use These Options

I focus on options that make it easy for readers to support my work while keeping everything simple for me.

• I add a Donations block in posts so readers can give if they want to support my work.
• I also include a Pay with PayPal button, especially for readers who prefer that familiar interface — it works well for one-off tips or gifts.
• I haven’t focused on selling products yet, but the Payments blocks make that possible if I add prints or ebooks later.

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A Quick Summary

Here are the main ways WordPress helps sites earn money:

• One-off payments – via Payments block
• Donations and tips – via Donations form block
• Paid content – via Paid Content block
• Paid newsletters – built-in newsletter subscriptions
• Selling products – via Payments Buttons block and plans

These tools give you flexibility, whether you want regular support, income from special content, or sales from your creative work.

Thanks for reading! Wishing you happy blogging and lots of support from your readers.
♡ Janet