How to Make Money on Tumblr in 2025: The Complete Beginner’s Guide
Tumblr: the land of chaotic memes, endless fandom wars, and oddly specific aesthetic mood boards. One second you’re laughing at a cursed SpongeBob meme, the next you’re knee-deep in a 200-post debate about whether Batman could beat Naruto. (Spoiler: Tumblr will cite 17 sources and still not agree).
But here’s the twist most people miss—you can actually make money on Tumblr in 2025. Yep, that “just-for-fun” blog you’ve been reblogging GIFs on since forever? With the right Tumblr monetization methods, it can literally pay your bills.
Table of Contents
This guide will break everything down: proven strategies, real examples, step-by-step action plans, mistakes to avoid, and FAQs—all in one place. If you’ve ever searched for a Tumblr affiliate marketing guide or wondered how to grow Tumblr followers and earn, this post is your one-stop shop.
Why Tumblr Is Still Worth It in 2025
People love to joke that “Tumblr died in 2016.” Meanwhile, Tumblr has been chilling with 135 million active users, like, “lol okay.”
It’s not TikTok’s viral chaos, and it’s not Instagram’s aesthetic perfection. Tumblr feels more like a cozy internet café where fandom nerds, artists, and creatives hang out. And that’s exactly why it’s powerful—smaller, tighter communities mean more support for creators.
So if you’re thinking, “Wait, people will actually pay me on Tumblr?” The answer is yes. And here’s how.
1. Affiliate Marketing (Turning Reblogs Into Cash)
Storytime: You’re running a book blog. You post a cute shelf aesthetic with fairy lights and drop an affiliate link to The Hobbit. Someone clicks, buys, and BOOM—you just made money while fangirling about Tolkien.
Tumblr niches where this works best:
- Fashion blogs linking to outfits
- Desk-setup blogs linking to lamps/keyboards
- Skincare blogs linking to products
Pro Tip: Don’t overdo it. If your blog looks like one giant ad, people will unfollow faster than you can say “sponsored.” Keep it casual, like a friend recommending stuff.
This is the backbone of any Tumblr affiliate marketing guide. Start small, experiment, and watch your blog turn into a low-key online shop.
2. Sell Digital Products (Passive Income, Baby ✨)
Digital products are created once and sold forever. It’s like planting a money tree, but with pixels.
What to sell:
- Printables (planners, journals, stickers)
- Lightroom presets
- Canva templates
- Ebooks
- Custom Tumblr themes
You design a “Cottagecore Daily Planner” in Canva, upload it to Gumroad for $5, and post about it on Tumblr. Suddenly, people start downloading it. While you’re binge-watching K-dramas, your PayPal keeps pinging.
This method is one of the most reliable Tumblr monetization methods because you’re not trading hours for money—you’re building assets.
3. Offer Services (Your Blog = Your Resume)
If you’re good at something, Tumblr can be your portfolio.
Services Tumblr folks pay for:
- Writing commissions (poetry, fanfiction, copywriting)
- Graphic design (headers, wallpapers, branding)
- Web design (Tumblr or WordPress themes)
- Social media help
You post poetry snippets on Tumblr. A follower DMs you: “Hey, can I commission you to write something for my anniversary gift?” Just like that, you’ve landed your first paid gig.
Add a “Hire Me” page to your Tumblr. Let your blog show off your skills.
4. Sponsored Posts (Brands Love Niche Blogs)
Here’s the good part: you don’t need millions of followers. Micro-influencers (small blogs with engaged fans) often get the best deals.
Brands pay you to:
- Post reviews
- Feature their products
- Collaborate on giveaways
You run a soft-girl aesthetic blog. A small jewelry brand finds you and asks if you’ll feature their necklace in your next post. They pay you and send free stuff. Congratulations, you’re now a paid influencer.
5. Sell Physical Products (Tumblr Loves Small Creators)
Tumblr users LOVE supporting small businesses and indie creators.
What to sell:
- Stickers
- Art prints
- Zines
- Handmade jewelry
- Merch (hoodies, totes, mugs)
You doodle cute cats. People keep asking, “Where can I buy this as a sticker?” So you open an Etsy shop, link it to Tumblr, and suddenly your art is living on water bottles across the globe.
6. Tumblr’s Own Monetization (Post+ and Tips)
Tumblr has:
- Post+ = subscription content
- Tip Jar = one-time support
You post exclusive art WIPs (work-in-progress). Fans subscribe to your Post+ for $4.99/month to see them, and one drops you a tip just to say thanks. That’s direct support, no middleman.
It’s basically Patreon vibes, but inside Tumblr.
7. Drive Traffic to Other Platforms
Think of Tumblr as your launchpad.
Where you can funnel traffic:
- YouTube
- Patreon
- Ko-fi
- Twitch
- Or your blog (like Voob.com.ng)
You’re hilarious on Tumblr, posting memes daily. But you also have a YouTube channel. You drop snippets and links, and slowly your YouTube grows. Eventually, YouTube ads pay more than your part-time job.
This works especially well if you’re learning how to grow Tumblr followers and earn from multiple platforms at once.
8. Print-on-Demand & Dropshipping (Merch Without Stress)
You don’t need to print or ship anything yourself.
Platforms like Redbubble, Teespring, or Printify handle everything.
You make a shirt that says, “Sleep is for people without 300 unread fanfics.” You upload it, promote it on Tumblr, and fans go nuts.
9. Crowdfunding (Let Your Followers Support You)
Crowdfunding platforms work great for creatives with loyal fans.
Options:
- Patreon
- Ko-fi
- Kickstarter (for bigger projects)
Example: An artist funds a zine project directly from Tumblr followers who pitch in $5–$20 each.
10. Create Online Courses
If you’re skilled (art, design, coding, writing), package that knowledge into an online course and promote it through Tumblr.
Platforms like Skillshare, Teachable, or Gumroad make it easy.
Courses are a long-term Tumblr monetization method because you’re building authority.
11. Freelancing via Tumblr
Think of Tumblr as a low-key freelance marketplace. By showcasing your skills in public, you attract clients.
Example:
- Post design tutorials → land design gigs.
- Share your coding snippets → land web dev clients.
This is one of the smartest ways to make money on Tumblr in 2025 if you already have professional skills.
How to Grow Tumblr Followers and Earn
Making money is easier when you actually have people who care about your posts. Here’s a quick mini-guide:
- Choose a clear niche: fandom, art, aesthetics, or memes.
- Post consistently → 3–5 posts a day is ideal.
- Use trending tags → Tumblr’s tag system is gold for discovery.
- Engage with others: reblogs, comments, and replies build relationships.
- Mix original and curated content; don’t just reblog, share your own work too.
With engaged followers, every monetization strategy—from affiliate links to merch—becomes easier and more profitable.
Step-by-Step Tumblr Monetization Roadmap
- Pick a niche you enjoy (fandom, art, aesthetics, memes).
- Build a consistent posting habit.
- Add a link in bio (affiliate links, Etsy shop, blog).
- Engage with the community.
- Choose 1–2 monetization methods to start.
- Scale with multiple income streams.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Spamming affiliate links → looks fake; people unfollow.
❌ Ignoring your niche → random content confuses followers.
❌ Not engaging → Tumblr thrives on interaction.
❌ Expecting instant money → building takes time.
❌ Copy-pasting others → originality wins on Tumblr.
FAQs
Q: Can I put Google AdSense on Tumblr?
Yes—but only with a custom domain.
Q: How many followers do I need?
Even 500 loyal followers can bring income if they’re engaged.
Q: Is Tumblr still alive?
Yep. Still millions of active users in 2025.
Q: What’s the easiest way for beginners?
Start with affiliate links and digital products.
Q: Do brands actually care about Tumblr?
Yes—especially niche ones (art, fashion, fandom).
Q: Can I turn Tumblr into a full-time job?
With multiple streams (merch, Post+, freelancing), yes.
Final Thoughts
Tumblr may not be the “mainstream platform” anymore—and that’s exactly its secret weapon. Less noise, more community, and tons of creativity.
Whether you’re sneaking affiliate links into moodboards, selling digital planners, or slapping your doodles on stickers, Tumblr can absolutely make you money in 2025.
So next time you’re reblogging cursed memes at 3 AM, remember: that chaotic energy could also be paying your bills.
Want more ways to monetize your creativity? Read our guide on the Top 12 Simple Ways to Make Money From Your Website.
Hi, I’m Prince Stephen Mordi, the mind behind Voob.com.ng. I write simple, beginner-friendly guides on tech, blogging, and making money online. My goal is to help you navigate the internet without headaches—because tech doesn’t have to be complicated!
