Can A Personal Blog Make Money in 2023? (Start Blogging!)
It seems you found this page because you were most likely searching for an answer to the question can a personal blog make money?
I’ll be happy to help you with your question!
A personal blog can make you money if you treat it like a business or a hobby you are very passionate about. In other words, you need to put in time and work in to your blogging efforts to reap any profit.
Blogging success doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time and a consistent publishing of blog posts (articles) to start winning. But yes, a personal blog can make money, keep reading and I will show you just how!
Do blogs really make money?
Blogs really do make money. In fact, there are blogs making 7-figures a year. However, it does take time and perseverance to stand out and become a successful blogger.
You need to create high-quality and SEO-friendly content on a regular basis to be able to enjoy organic growth and a sufficient number of visitors to your blog.
“Top Bloggers” sometimes make 100K+ a month, but they typically outsource content creation and other tasks related to running their blogs, in order to enjoy that kind of revenue streams.
In short, they have learned how to run their blog like a proper business enterprise.
Below are a few screen dumps from bloggers’ income reports which they display publicly.
With that said, blogging is not rocket science, literally ANYBODY can start and run a blog, including YOU.
The only thing you really need to be able to run a blog is an internet connection and preferably a computer to do your blogging on.
It can be overwhelming taking the first steps to launching your very own blog for the first time. Don’t worry, here’s a step-by-step guide for beginners I’ve created that will help you start a blog from scratch in 6 easy steps.
Also, keep in mind that there is a reason why there are millions of blogs out there today – it is partly because blogging is profitable if you do it the right way and the options for monetizing a blog have grown in the last years.
More on monetization later in the article…
How much money can you make from blogging?
Ohh this is a fun question. As far as I am aware, the sky is the limit (almost…).
You can make anything from a few dollars a month to over 100K a month as a blog owner – it really depends on the size and quality of your audience and how you have been going about monetizing your blog.
It also helps if your website/blog have been around for a while as Google seems to be a bit wary of sending to much traffic/visitors to blogs that have just been launched.
As a rule of thumb, if your blog is fresh on the scene, you can expect to wait several months before Google decides to send your new blog posts any traffic.
However, this will improve over time as your website gains trust and authority in the eyes of the search engines.
So how do you actually make money from your blog?
The easiest way to monetize a blog is to include affiliate links in your blog posts to products you are using or that you recommend.
For example, if you have a website about gardening, you can promote tools and products related to gardening and when people click those links and buy via your link, you’ll get paid a commission from the affiliate program.
Amazons affiliate program is a great place to start if you’re new to affiliate marketing – and it’s free.
Can a personal blog make money with ads?
Sure, you can sign up for an ad network and show ads on your blog. This is a great way to earn passive money with your website.
However, you do need to have a certain number of visitors every month before you can get accepted by the ad networks, so this might not work in the very beginning for you, but it will once you get the hang of it.
Ezoic is an ad network that has a beginner friendly approach.
Can a personal blog make money any other way?
The best way to earn lots of money with your blog is to sell your own products such as digital courses etc. This is usually how high-income bloggers make the majority of their money.
Let’s say you’re good at something, it can be ANYTHING, then perfect, you can put together a course and have it for sale on your website. Just make sure you have a steady number of visitors before you create a course.
A great platform for hosting and selling your own courses online is Teachable.
Can you blog and make money as a side hustle?
It is entirely possible to blog and make money as a side hustle. Creating a blog allows individuals to showcase their passions and expertise through blog content, while also having the potential to earn money. If you want to make money from your blog, blog monetization is key.
Bloggers make money through various channels such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, advertising, and selling products or services. To maximize your blog income, it is essential to identify your blog niche and create content that appeals to your target audience.
Choosing the right type of blog is also important as different niches have varying opportunities for monetization. While success in blogging requires dedication and consistency, it can be a rewarding side hustle that not only allows you to express yourself but also brings in extra income!
Can a WordPress blog make money?
A WordPress blog can generate money just as well as blogs that are published on other content management systems (CMS). In fact, as of 2023, WordPress powers 43% of all the websites online and tends to be the most popular choice for bloggers.
It is easy to monetize a blog that is using WordPress due to ease of customization, security and availability of plugins for all desired functionalities.
And since so many websites worldwide is powered by WordPress, many ad networks etc. are already familiar with this content management system.
In short, WordPress is easy to use and offer functionalities that other content management systems do not offer. Also, there are a ton of helpful WordPress tutorials available on YouTube, if you run into any obstacles.
For these reasons, I always recommend people that want to start a blog for business and income purposes to start a blog using WordPress.
If you take a look around to see what other high-income bloggers are using – it is more or less only WordPress with some exceptions. I have not seen any top blogger myself that is using any other CMS system.
If you’re considering starting a personal blog to make money from home, then I strongly advice you to make the right choice from the start and go with WordPress. Use my free guide to get your blog started in 30 minutes or so.
I’m sure you’ll thank me later.😊
What can a blog be about?
A blog is a website with articles frequently published on it, called “blog posts”. Your blog can be about any topic you can think of, from traveling, healthy living, schooling or any type of hobby you might have.
There are literally no boundaries, if you have an interest for something in particular, no matter how narrow it might be, you can start blogging about it and there will most likely be other people around the world with the same interest as you.
You can allow comments on your blog posts which opens up for dialogue and discussions on things you have in common with your future audience. This way, your blogging will be rewarding in both ways.
Let’s say your blog is about snakes (scary for some, interesting for others), you can literally write hundreds of articles on different snakes, where they originate from, how much they need to eat and how long they will live.
How would you monetize a blog about snakes? Well, why don’t you sign up for Amazon’s affiliate program and recommend products such as aquariums etc. for snake keeping at home.
You can also put ads on your site once you have enough traffic coming every month. Hell, you can even create your own info product such as an eBook or a course on snake keeping and have it for sale on your front page.
See, the possibilities are really endless with blogging once you start thinking about it.
Should you get tired of your blog in the future, perhaps you chose the wrong niche, then you can also easily sell your blog.
There are markets online for buying and selling websites, and people pay plenty for them (although this might be hard if you base your blog around your person).
If you ever want to sell your blog/website (or buy a website), you can do so by going to Flippa.com.
Why a blog is important
Having a blog is important for several reasons.
A blog gives you the opportunity to showcase your work, ideas and content to the entire world in a very cost-effective and accessible manner. A blog will also strengthen your brand and allow for additional income sources.
Any person, association or business entity that strive to get their message across, will experience benefits after having established their blog.
A blog is a very creative space where you’ll be able to publish exactly what it is you want to have published (as long as it doesn’t break any laws – which often happens in countries with limited freedom of expression).
In contrast to a newspaper, where the articles are heavily edited, you are the publishing editor of your own blog and are responsible for the published content. Thus, you’ll have plenty of creative freedom as a blogger.
Not only do you decide what content are to be published on your blog, you also decide when your content is to be published. Perhaps you prefer to publish one article per week, or maybe you decide to have three articles published every week – it’s up to you.
Usually, the more articles you publish – the more visitors you’ll see come to your blog. The more traffic, the more income potential.
Another reason why a blog is important is that it gives you authority in your niche or business field. If you want to be seen as a key player among your peers and competitors, you should use every chance you get to get your message and presence out there.
Lastly, a blog is a valuable asset, it can literally become your #1 source of leads, clients and revenue if you take it seriously and scale it as time goes – this is really why a blog is important.
Conclusion: Can a personal blog make money?
So, back to your original question: can a personal blog make money?
A personal blog can make money if you run it the right way and treat it as a proper business. You need to regularly publish quality content and put in a substantial amount of time into the management of your blog.
With that said, running a blog is not however complicated in any way. Any person with a drive, a computer and an internet connection can become a successful blogger, no doubt about it.
In fact, you can become a successful blogger without even writing any of the content on your site. In my 6-step beginners guide to starting a blog from scratch, I illustrate how you can outsource the main bulk of the content creation on your blog, if you don’t have enough time to do the writing yourself…
For me personally, I have three blogs up and running, and that would not have been possible without me outsourcing some of the writing.
If you have a strong interest for something, perhaps a hobby of yours, you could most likely turn that into a business by starting a blog and sharing what you know about your topic.
Just keep in mind that blogs take time to build up and turn profitable, it doesn’t happen overnight, it is a long-term project that requires dedication.
The best thing you can do is to write down a plan for your blogging activities for the next 12 months. Decide how often you will publish an article and how much time you need to allocate to get it done.
Keep at it, and you’ll notice how your blogging will improve. After the first 12 months, evaluate your efforts and the status of your blog, then make a new plan for the next 12 months.
That’s it.
Keep this up and your blog will sooner or later become profitable.
Frequently asked questions
Can a personal blog make money?
Yes, a personal blog can make money. There are several ways to monetize a blog and earn income from it.
How can I make money blogging?
There are various ways to make money blogging. Some popular methods include displaying advertisements on your blog, creating sponsored content, selling products or services, and utilizing affiliate marketing.
Can I start a blog to make money?
Yes, you can start a blog with the intention of making money. However, it’s important to remember that blogging takes time and effort, and success may not come overnight.
What is the key to a profitable blog?
The key to a profitable blog is to create valuable and engaging content that attracts and retains readers. Building a loyal audience is essential for monetizing your blog.
How can I monetize my blog?
You can monetize your blog by displaying advertisements through platforms like Google AdSense, creating sponsored content for brands, selling digital or physical products, and promoting affiliate marketing links.
Can personal blogs make money?
Yes, even personal blogs have the potential to make money. By attracting a niche audience and creating valuable content, you can monetize your personal blog.
What is a blogging niche?
A blogging niche refers to a specific topic or subject that a blogger focuses on. Choosing a niche for your blog can help you target a specific audience and establish yourself as an expert in that area.
How do I drive traffic to my blog?
There are several ways to drive traffic to your blog, including promoting your content on social media, utilizing search engine optimization techniques, guest blogging on other websites, and engaging with your audience through comments and discussion.
What is the best way to make money from a blog?
The best way to make money from a blog depends on various factors, such as your target audience, niche, and personal preferences. Experiment with different monetization methods and find what works best for your blog.
How can I start my own profitable blog?
To start your own profitable blog, you need to choose a niche, create valuable content, attract an audience, and monetize your blog through various income streams. It’s important to be consistent and dedicated in order to build a successful and profitable blog.
Jay Palin is a blogger, content creator, and online business enthusiast. He is dedicated to helping people find suitable side hustles and business ideas to launch from home.