Start earning from your online presence
Your website can be more than just an online brochure. Whether you’re a content creator, influencer, or small business owner, there are countless ways to turn your digital presence into revenue.
The best part? Many of the best website builders now come with built-in monetization tools that make earning money easier than ever.
We’re talking about everything from advertising revenue to selling products, memberships, and educational content. You don’t need advanced technical skills or a massive audience to get started. With the right approach, you can create multiple income streams that work together to build a sustainable online business.
How can I make money through my website?
Think of your website as online real estate. Just like physical property, the value comes from how you use it. Influencers, professionals, and business owners all leverage their websites to create revenue channels that work around the clock.
#2 Print-on-demand services
Want to sell merchandise without holding inventory? Print-on-demand services let you create custom products that are only manufactured after someone orders them. This eliminates upfront costs and storage headaches while giving you access to hundreds of product options.
Hostinger recently partnered with Printful to offer print-on-demand integration, giving users access to over 461 customizable products. The setup is remarkably simple: create your designs using Printful’s free Design Maker, add them to your Hostinger store, and Printful handles everything from printing to shipping when orders come in. You set your own prices and keep the profit margin between the base cost and what you charge customers.
#3 Memberships and subscriptions
Recurring revenue is the holy grail of online business. By offering membership or subscription access to premium content, you create a predictable income that compounds over time. This model works particularly well for content creators, coaches, and industry experts who can provide ongoing value to their audience.
WordPress users can leverage plugins like MemberPress to create membership sites with subscription management, paywalls, and course functionality, with plans starting at $399 per year for the Launch plan. For writers and newsletter creators, Substack offers a free platform that takes a 10% commission on paid subscriptions plus Stripe processing fees (approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). Medium’s Partner Program provides another option for content-focused creators looking to monetize their writing through reader engagement.
#4 Online commerce
If you’re ready to sell physical or digital products, dedicated ecommerce platforms offer the most robust feature sets. Shopify leads the pack with powerful tools for inventory management, order processing, and multi-channel selling. It’s the choice for serious online retailers who need scalability and advanced features.
For those seeking a more budget-friendly alternative, Hostinger’s Ecommerce Website Builder offers a complete solution starting at $2.99/month on the Business plan. It supports up to 500-600 products with features like inventory management, secure payments, and shipping tools — great for small stores. The platform includes an AI store builder that can generate your entire site in minutes, plus drag-and-drop customization tools for fine-tuning.
#5 Courses, tutorials, and education programs
Educational content commands premium pricing because it delivers transformation. If you have expertise in your field, creating and selling online courses can become a substantial revenue stream. The e-learning market continues its explosive growth, with more people than ever willing to pay for quality instruction.
Dedicated platforms like Teachable and Podia provide course-hosting tools with features like video lessons, quizzes, student progress tracking, and certificates. Both platforms offer unlimited courses and students on their paid plans, making them scalable as your teaching business grows. For those already using Wix, the platform’s Online Programs tool integrates course creation directly into your existing website, eliminating the need for separate software.
Where should I begin?
Now that you know the options, here’s your action plan for getting started:
- Start by picking your revenue stream. Do you want to teach online courses? Sell physical goods? Work with sponsors and display ads? Choose one or two methods that align with your strengths and audience. Don’t try to implement everything at once.
- Now pick a website builder. Your chosen monetization strategy should guide this decision. Need robust e-commerce? Consider Shopify or Hostinger’s Business plan. Focused on content and memberships? Look at WordPress with MemberPress or platforms like Substack.
- Design your content and landing pages. Create compelling pages that clearly communicate your value proposition. Whether you’re selling products, courses, or premium content, your pages need to convert visitors into customers.
- Set up a payment integration. PayPal and Stripe are the most common payment processors, offering secure transactions and support in most countries. Most modern website builders include these integrations by default, making setup straightforward.
- Promote your business. Use your existing social media following to drive initial traffic. Join niche communities related to your industry, cross-promote with peers in your space, and invest time in SEO and GEO optimization. Build an email list from day one, it’s your most valuable marketing asset.
Feature image credit: Glenn Carstens-Peters / Unsplash
By Ritoban Mukherjee
Ritoban Mukherjee is a tech and innovations journalist from West Bengal, India. These days, most of his work revolves around B2B software, such as AI website builders, VoIP platforms, and CRMs, among other things. He has also been published on Tom’s Guide, Creative Bloq, IT Pro, Gizmodo, Quartz, and Mental Floss.
