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

Hilary Erickson’s strategy outperforms a lot of “typical” blogging methods because I don’t rely on just one way to make money, and I play the long game instead of chasing quick wins.

I focus on four main income streams that work together:

• Ads through Mediavine on two niche, well-optimized WordPress sites
• Affiliates with a small group of brands I genuinely use and talk about often
• My own products (primarily online courses) which now make up about 66% of my income
• Occasional sponsored content, but only when it really fits

Behind that is years of consistency: I started blogging in 2005, leaned in hard around 2014, and it took until about 2017 to hit what I see as a full‑time income. I invest in tech, SEO tools, legal, VAs, and conferences so the business grows steadily rather than depending on viral posts or fads.

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