How does Hilary Erickson's blogging income strategy outperform traditional methods?

I focus on building a diverse, long‑term ecosystem instead of relying on one “traditional” method like ad clicks or one-off sponsored posts.

Here’s how my approach is different and usually more sustainable:

• I use four income streams that work together: display ads, affiliates, my own products (primarily courses), and occasional sponsored content. My own products are now about 66% of my income, which gives me much more control than relying on brands or algorithms.
• I’ve built this slowly over many years (blogging since 2005, really pushing it since 2014), focusing on consistent content, strong SEO, and a clear niche (pregnancy and family life). That “slow game” compounds over time.
• I stay very picky with affiliates and sponsors, choosing brands I genuinely use and trust, so content doesn’t feel forced—and it converts better.
• I reinvest in support (tech help, VAs, legal, insurance, tools like RankIQ) so I can spend more time on high‑value work: content and courses.

What part are you most curious about—ads, affiliates, or creating your own products?