> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://tmniche-docs.keywordrush.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://tmniche-docs.keywordrush.com/core-concepts/monetization-models.md).

# Monetization models

You choose a **monetization model** when you create a plan, and it's the most consequential choice you make. It reshapes everything downstream — the topics TMN plans, the article formats it favors, and the blocks it builds into each article.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**The model is fixed for the life of a plan — it can't be changed afterward.** To use a different model, create a new plan. So pick the one that matches how this site makes money.
{% endhint %}

## The dividing line: products vs. profiles

Every model comes down to *how the article makes money* — by recommending **products**, or by driving an action through a **profile**.

**Product-based models** put product blocks in articles — product cards, comparison tables, pros & cons, ratings. What differs is where the products come from:

* **Affiliate** — real products pulled from affiliate networks (Amazon, Walmart, eBay, …).
* **E-commerce** — products from your own catalog via a product feed; links go to your store, not a marketplace.
* **Display ads** — no real products needed; TMN can synthesize representative products so you can still run product-style articles for traffic.

**Profile-based models** make money through **conversion blocks** instead — CTA, pricing, testimonials, and trust signals — hydrated from a [profile](/core-concepts/profiles.md) you fill in once:

* **Lead generation** — a **Business Profile** for a service business.
* **SaaS / Digital** — an **Offer Profile** for a software product, course, or other digital offer.

These articles can still include **product blocks** where they help the content (comparisons, roundups) — the products are AI-synthesized and can even link to real merchant sites. The difference is that the *monetization* runs through the profile's CTAs and pricing, not the products.

## The five models at a glance

| Model               | Best for                             | What powers the content                               | Content Egg                   |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| Affiliate marketing | Commission on others' products       | Real products from affiliate networks                 | **Pro** (auto product search) |
| E-commerce          | Selling your own catalog             | Your product feed (WooCommerce, Shopify, any)         | **Feed module** (Free or Pro) |
| Display ads         | Ad revenue from traffic              | Info-first content; synthesized products where useful | Free is enough                |
| Lead generation     | Inquiries for a service business     | A Business Profile                                    | Free is enough                |
| SaaS / Digital      | Trials & sales for a digital product | An Offer Profile                                      | Free is enough                |

Content Egg is required for **every** model — it renders the blocks. The last column shows what each model needs *beyond* that; see [Free vs Pro](/content-egg-integration/free-vs-pro.md).

## Pick your model

* [**Affiliate marketing**](/monetization-playbooks/affiliate.md) — recommend third-party products and earn commission; TMN finds and ranks real products for your reviews and roundups.
* [**E-commerce**](/monetization-playbooks/ecommerce.md) — turn your own catalog into content that sends shoppers to your product pages.
* [**Display ads**](/monetization-playbooks/display-ads.md) — build traffic-first content structured for ad revenue.
* [**Lead generation**](/monetization-playbooks/lead-generation.md) — turn search traffic into calls and inquiries for a service business.
* [**SaaS & digital products**](/monetization-playbooks/saas-digital.md) — content-led growth that funnels readers to a trial or checkout.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://tmniche-docs.keywordrush.com/core-concepts/monetization-models.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.