Perhaps you already have a blog, or always wanted to share your passion for adventure travel, sustainable fashion, or home decor. Blogging is a great way to share your expertise, connect with an online community, and make money at the same time. Best of all, you don’t have to become a full-time writer to monetize your blog. Whether you make it your full-time career, or a passion project, it’s possible to start earning money online.
Here’s what you need to know about how to start—or grow—your own online blog and 12 ways you can make money from blogging.
Before you start a new business, it’s important to have a sense of your earning potential. That will help you determine whether any business venture is a worthwhile undertaking. While you may know of people who make a living from blogging, it might surprise you to learn just how much money bloggers around the world are generating from their digital content.
How much money can you make from blogging?
Most bloggers typically earn anywhere from $200 USD to $2,500 USD a month in their first year blogging. However, there are many variables when it comes to how much you can earn from blogging. More experienced bloggers can earn much more than that, while many amateur bloggers may earn less than $200 USD in an entire year.
How much do top bloggers earn?
The most successful bloggers earn income from around $4,000 USD to over $160,000 USD per month, according to this 2022 bloggers income report that catalogued a variety of successful bloggers worldwide.
Keep in mind that while it is possible for your blog to reach these levels of popularity and profit eventually, building up a loyal following takes time and commitment, so don’t expect to achieve success overnight. However, if you’re ready to commit to the challenge, blogging is a great way to create a viable side hustle or even a full-time business.
What type of bloggers make the most money?
If you were starting a blog just for fun, you could talk about whatever topic came into your head, posting only when you felt like it, and that would be completely fine. However, if you want to actually make money from your blog, you’re going to need to put a little more consideration into the type of blog you start.
It’s important for you to choose a type of blog with a high potential for making money, but it’s equally important that it’s something you’re passionate about. Otherwise you will likely find yourself getting burnt out from writing about the same topic over and over again.
Here are the top types of blogs that earn the most money in 2022:
1. Travel blogs
If you’ve ever dreamed about becoming a digital nomad and travelling the world, a travel blog could be the perfect fit for you. The best part is, you don’t have to drop a ton of money on expensive vacations to get your foot in the door with travel blogging. You can start by posting about local attractions where you live. Then when you do get an opportunity to go on your next trip, you’ll already have experience writing a travel blog. Travel bloggers can also collaborate with hotels, tour companies, restaurants, and other businesses.
2. Wellbeing blogs
Depending on where your interests lie, there are different niches related to physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. If you’re interested in topics like self-care, mindfulness, or physical health and fitness, a blog in the wellbeing sphere might suit you.
If you’re a couch potato who has always wanted to learn to run, or you began a mindfulness and meditation practice during COVID-19, then share your knowledge and your wellness journey with readers.
3. Food and beverage blogs
Whether you’re a professionally trained chef looking to build an online presence or an amateur foodie who wants to try out all the hippest restaurants in town, you can start your own beverage or food blog. Potential blog topics include sharing your own recipes, reviewing local restaurants, or testing different products in the food and beverage industry.
4. Home design and renovation blogs
People love daydreaming about how they’ll renovate their home when they have the time and money. If you have an eye for design or you’re starting renovations on your own home, you’ll be able to provide a valuable behind the scenes look at everything that goes into designing and decorating a home. Home decor blogs are also a great place to share DIY ideas, upcycling furniture, or demonstrate how to achieve a specific aesthetic on a budget.
5. Fashion and beauty blogs
Whether you’re obsessed with staying up-to-date on the latest fashion and beauty trends or you’re more interested in forging your own unique personal style, a fashion or beauty blog is a great way to connect with readers who want to expand their knowledge on the topic. You could review different brands and products, share your routine for choosing an outfit or doing your makeup, or partner with brands as an influencer and create branded content.
6. Parenting or pets blogs
Parents of children and pets alike are always looking for new information on how to best look after their little bundles of joy. Your parenting or pet blog could focus on reviewing and comparing products, sharing your tips and tricks, or providing a behind-the-scenes view of your parenting journey. For parents, you could write about family-friendly meal ideas or parenting tips that have worked for you. For pet owners, you could write about training your pet, or what their favourite treats and toys are—and don’t forget to include tons of cute animal photos.
7. Celebrations blogs
People love to plan their events by researching online, so if you’re an event planner or photographer, a blog on that topic could be a great way to connect with new potential clients. Depending on your approach, you could write about the planning stages and steps that go into creating an event from start to finish, or you could share your process for photographing an event and ensuring that your clients are satisfied.
8. Finance blogs
With so many aspiring entrepreneurs out there, a financial blog that teaches people how to start their business, save money, invest, or pay off debts is sure to be a hit. You don’t need a background in business to write about your personal finance journey. Instead, consider blogging about what you’ve learned along the way and share your original perspective or strategy.
9. Hobby and interests blogs
Whether you’re a long-term hobbyist or you’ve just started exploring a new interest, a hobby blog is the ideal place to document your journey. The type of content you share will depend on what type of hobby you blog about. For example, if you’re an avid knitter, you can share things like your favourite patterns, in progress photos, and finished designs. You can also create guides or videos to teach your techniques. On the other hand, if you’re new to knitting, you can write about the process you’re using to learn, how it’s going, and share what you discover along the way.
12 ways to make money from blogging
Now that you know that it’s possible to make money from blogging and have seen how much money some bloggers make each month, it’s time to take a closer look at the different ways your blog could be monetized.
If you don’t already have your blog set up, your first step will be to create a blog using a website builder. Once you’ve decided on your niche and created your blog, you’ll be ready to start implementing these techniques and making money from blogging online.
Here are the 12 best ways to make money blogging in 2022:
1. Use Google AdSense
If you’re open to running paid advertisements on your blog, Google AdSense is the perfect place to start. Not only is it completely free to use, you won’t have to worry about connecting with and vetting the ads that run on your site. You’ll even be able to customize the appearance of the advertisements so that they fit the design of your blog and don’t look out of place.
Another benefit to using Google AdSense is that you don’t need to have an established audience in order to get started. AdSense will act as an agent, connecting you with businesses who are eager to pay to run advertisements on blogs just like yours.
The amount of money you can earn from running ads through Google AdSense will depend on a few factors. First, advertisers need to bid against each other to run an ad on your blog. Whoever bids the highest amount will win the spot and blogs that have a demonstrated audience are more likely to be in demand and bring in higher rates.
The other factor that contributes to how much you can make using Google AdSense is the number of clicks or impressions that the ad receives on your blog. This means that the more people who are visiting your blog and interacting with your content, the higher your earning potential will be.
Once you’ve signed up for AdSense, you’ll need to paste a unique code onto the backend of your blog in order to allow AdSense access. You can choose where you want the ads to be placed and how many you want to run. Once advertisers have bid on and won the ad spot, AdSense will take care of running the ad, billing the advertiser, and getting you paid.
Google AdSense automatically chooses ads for your blog based on what is relevant to your content and audience. This means that you don’t have to spend your valuable time approving the ads that run on your site, and you can still be assured that they will fit with the rest of your content. However, if you ever see an ad running on your site that you don’t think is a good fit, you can adjust your settings to allow or block certain ads, so you get the final say on what content your blog readers are seeing.
2. Monetize your blog with CPC or CPM ads
There are two main ways that online ads are priced: CPC and CPM. CPC stands for cost per click, meaning that every time one of your blog visitors clicks on an ad, you will earn a predetermined amount of money. CPM stands for cost per thousand mille, meaning that you will receive a certain amount every time an ad receives one thousand impressions. It’s a good idea to look at your blog analytics to determine which of these payment systems would be more beneficial, based on how your blog readers interact with your content and how many people are visiting your site every day.
If you want to get into running CPC or CPM ads on your blog, start by researching different ad networks that are relevant to your blog niche and that work with bloggers at your level of web traffic. Many ad networks will have an online form where you can apply, or you’ll be able to reach out using their contact information.
Some ad networks will choose to run a one or two-week trial with new blogs in order to test whether it is a good fit for both parties. You’ll be provided with a unique code to paste into your blog coding in order to start running ads.
The amount of money you can make with this method is determined by how many people are interacting with your blog. Make sure to use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to get your posts showing up earlier in search engine results. This will help you bring in more readers and therefore make more money.
3. Sell direct ads
The main difference between selling ads directly and using a third party is the level of control and responsibility you have. The benefit to using a third party is that they take care of everything for you. On the other hand, the benefit to selling direct ads is that while it’s more work for you, it also means that you get to set your rates and negotiate your own terms, allowing for higher earning potential.
As with any ads that you choose to run on your blog, it’s extremely important to ensure that they fit with the rest of your content and don’t discourage your loyal readers from continuing to visit your site. While ads are a great income stream for bloggers, you never want to sacrifice the quality of your blog with distracting and irrelevant advertisements.
First, do your due diligence on researching how much to charge, writing up your terms, and setting up a system for invoicing advertisers.
4. Include affiliate links in your blog posts
Becoming part of an affiliate program is a great way to monetize your blog in an organic way. With affiliate marketing, you set up an account with a company, and receive a custom affiliate link that you can share with your readers. Then, when someone clicks your link and uses it to make a purchase, you’ll receive a monetary reward. This is usually in the form of a set percentage of your visitors’ purchase. Sharing affiliate products in your blog posts is an effective way to help your online community find great products and support your business at no added cost to them.
Most affiliate networks don’t require you to demonstrate an existing audience, so you can get started even if you’re still building your audience. Look for affiliate programs with companies that fit your niche, or go for a big company like Amazon’s affiliate program, Amazon Associates, which caters to a wide variety of niches.
Once you’ve signed up to be an affiliate, you can start organically inserting your affiliate links into your content, or create content specifically designed to encourage your blog readers to purchase certain products. The percentage that you make on each sale will depend on the affiliate company you work with.
5. Sell digital products
You know that it’s possible to make money by running advertisements for other companies, but have you considered expanding your business and creating a new income stream by selling digital products?
While creating and selling any product is a lot of work, creating a digital product is significantly less of an investment than selling physical products. You’ll need to come up with a product idea and execute it, as well as set your pricing and create product listings. However, once you’ve done all of that work upfront, your digital product can be automated so that it becomes a source of passive income, provided you continue to market it to your audience.
If you’ve never created a digital product before, you’ll probably want to start small. When deciding what products to create, keep your target audience in mind so you can make something that your current blog readers will be likely to purchase. A popular digital product is an infographic or document that addresses a topic your target audience struggles with. For example, if you run a pet training blog, you could release an infographic where you walk your customer through your foolproof guide for getting an unruly dog to obey you, or you could share a detailed list of products you recommend for new pet owners.
6. Use your blog as a content marketing tool for your business
While you may be interested in starting a blog in order to make money, blogging can also be useful for business owners who want to market their products or services to existing customers as well as build brand awareness in the marketplace. In this case, your blog posts should be aimed at bringing new people to your website and encouraging them to make a purchase. In order for this to happen, you need to get to know your target market so that you can streamline their customer journey and user experience.
In general, people don’t tend to make a purchase the first time they visit a new business website. That’s why creating a well thought out content marketing plan for your blog posts can be an effective way to create a connection, raise awareness around your products and services, and provide value that keeps readers coming back for more. You can also use your blog to share positive customer experiences or public reviews.
One of the reasons so many businesses use blogging as a method for getting new eyes on their websites is because blog posts are a great way to utilize Search Engine Optimization. When you create valuable content that answers peoples’ burning questions or teaches them to do something new, you could initiate a relationship. After all, you’re providing something your target audience needs completely for free. This can help to build trust and lead to converting your blog readers into paying customers.
Another thing to keep in mind when creating a blog for content marketing purposes is the two main types of content: evergreen and trending.
Evergreen content is information that will always be relevant, like a how-to guide for learning a new skill. This means that once you create the content, it could continue to bring in new readers for years with little to no upkeep on your part. However, the challenge with evergreen material is since it’s a topic not currently trending, it could take longer for your viewership to build to the point where your evergreen content will appear early on in search engine results.
Trending content, on the other hand, is when you write about something current or topical. You can research trending topics or, better yet, look at trend predictions to try to get a head start on creating content related to topics that are building in popularity.
A combination of evergreen and trending content can work well for building your audience, so you may want to find places to sprinkle them both into your content marketing strategy.
7. Build your credibility as a brand
If you already have your own business, and you’re interested in building your brand’s credibility, a blog can be a great tool to do just that. In order to expand your customer base, you need to give people a reason to trust your company, and that means providing value beyond the products or services you sell.
Your blog is an extension of your business, so it’s important that your content represents your values and principles as a brand. Give your audience a chance to get to know who’s behind your business and make a personal connection by sharing your genuine perspective and opinions. You can write about your take on new developments in your niche and encourage interaction by including a comment section where readers can participate in a dialogue.
You want to give your readers a reason to share their email address or bookmark your blog on their browser. Think about what topics your target market is likely to search for online, and include relevant keywords throughout your content. You can also connect with influencers in your niche who may be open to creating content for you or share your brand with their existing audience.
8. Create ebooks and educational products
If you’re interested in selling digital products but you don’t want to overextend yourself by putting a ton of work into creating a product that may or may not succeed, ebooks are the perfect place to start. Not only are they simple to create, you can repurpose content from your previous blog posts into ebook chapters that are available as digital downloads. This means you don’t have to worry about coming up with brand new ideas or stocking inventory.
In order to make your ebook stand out, you may want to design a book cover using a program like Canva. Then compile all of your pages and create a PDF, and you’ll be ready to list your new ebook on your website and start marketing it to your audience.
A big benefit to selling ebooks is that they can provide a lower price entry point for your potential customers. It helps you demonstrate the value that your paid content can bring to them and could lead to customers purchasing your higher ticket products in the future. This is also why it’s important to offer products at a variety of price points, so you can appeal to customers no matter how much money they have to spend.
When someone purchases your ebook, you can set up your website so that the product will be sent to them automatically. This means once you’ve created the product and listed it on your website, it becomes a completely passive source of income. Keep in mind that you’ll still need to make an effort to let your audience know about your products on a regular basis, and you may want to do some additional marketing as well.
9. Offer one-on-one coaching services
If your digital products are doing well, or if you’re just more interested in providing a more personalized service, try offering one-on-one coaching at a higher price point. Many people are eager to pay for consulting services, advice or guidance, and accountability. Poll your existing audience to determine what type of program your readers would be willing to pay for so that you can design it based on exactly what your target audience needs.
As with any product or service, you’ll probably need to do some upfront work in terms of creating a program outline and deciding how many one-on-one consults will take place and when. You may also choose to create some supplemental worksheets or documents for your clients so they have something concrete to take away with them.
A good way to design your one-on-one coaching service is by starting with the result you want to help your clients achieve. The better you know your target market, the easier this will be. From there, determine how long you want your coaching program to last. For example, many coaches will offer their services as a one-month, three-month, or six-month package.
Next, determine the structure of your meetings. Would your ideal client be better served by group meetings in addition to their one-on-ones? Can someone start your program at any time, or is there a certain date they need to join by? Introducing time limits or perks for joining early can also encourage potential customers who are still on the fence.
Once you’ve identified the problem you’re going to help your client with, you’ll need to consider what skills you’ll want to teach them in order to achieve their goals. These takeaways look different depending on several factors, like your niche, who your target audience is, and what type of program you’re interested in creating.
10. Start an email newsletter
If you haven’t already been collecting email addresses for your list, a blog is the perfect place to start. The main benefit to starting an email list is that you get direct access to your target audience, rather than hoping they’ll visit your blog again. This way, you can send them special offers, news, and product offerings, all in the hopes of converting them from passive blog readers into paying customers.
An email newsletter is also an effective way of bringing in more blog traffic. Every time you write a new blog post, you can reformat it and send it out to your email list. However, make sure to only include the beginning of your post in the email, so that interested readers will have to click the link to be directed to your blog if they want to read more. This will bring in more web traffic to your blog, which can result in your readers spending more time interacting with your other content, clicking on paid advertisements, or making a purchase in your shop.
It’s important to stay consistent with your email newsletter, so make a schedule and stick to it. Continue checking in with your readers to find out what they want to learn from you. That way you can be sure you’re providing valuable content that will keep them coming back for more.
11. Syndicate your blog posts
When you syndicate a blog post, you are republishing your original post on a third party website. This is a great way to get other websites with large established readerships to click over to your blog, bringing in new potential readers, subscribers, and customers.
You’ve already written a ton of great content, so why not see if you can get it published elsewhere? Start by researching niche specific syndication partners, like popular blogs that are known to repost content. You can search for them by looking for terms like “guest post” or “this post originally appeared on.”
If the publication is accepting contributions, send over a syndication pitch with information about you and the blog post you want them to publish. Make sure that you’ve taken the time to look at the type of content they publish before pitching your work, so that you know your content is relevant and you don’t waste their time (or yours). Let them know if you’ve had work published in the past, and briefly summarize the content of your blog post in a way that gets them interested.
12. Become a freelance writer
You’re already an expert at writing about your niche, so if you’re interested in freelance writing, you can use your blog as a digital portfolio to apply to external opportunities. There are many types of freelance writing jobs, from traditional bylines (where you’ll be publicly credited as the author) to ghostwriting (where you write under someone else’s name) to sponsored content.
Start by letting your existing audience know that you are open to taking on freelance writing jobs. You can even create a page on your website where you provide details of the types of projects you’re interested in and information on how someone can hire you to write for them. Do some market research to determine how much to charge so that your rates are competitive with the industry standard.
Choose your niche and monetize your blog!
You may already have an idea of what you want your niche to be. But if that’s not the case and you’re feeling a bit lost, don’t worry. You may not realize it, but chances are you’re already an expert at something, and you have valuable insights to share with the world. Think about the topics you could talk about for hours on end. Be mindful of choosing a niche that would have a big enough audience, but specific enough to stand out in a crowded market. For example, there are plenty of travel blogs online. So consider what your niche might be. Is it solo travel for women, or sustainable travel, or luxury boutique stays?
Your best bet is to find a unique perspective on an already popular niche. Make sure that there’s a demand for content related to your chosen niche, as it’s more likely there will be opportunities to make money blogging about your specific topic. Remember that while your specialized content might initially attract readers to your site, it’s your personality and point of view that will keep people coming back in the long term.
If you’re looking for inspiration on blog niches that would make for a profitable blogs in the future, try looking into trend predictions to get ideas on the types of topics people are searching for.
Now that you know how much money you can make as a blogger and have a number of ideas for how to monetize your blog, you’re ready to get started!
This article offers general information only, is current as of the date of publication, and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by RBC Ventures Inc. or its affiliates.