Do you make money blogging?

[angelagrace]

I've read about how MMM makes some good money on his blog. Do any of you? Is it a good source of income? How many readers do you need to make "x" amount?

[CommonCents]

I'd search the forum - there was a thread discussing MMM's monetization of his blog, and a few bloggers volunteered information about traffic on their sites and how much it brought in.  I think it depends often on whether you have affiliate links on your site/posts (and whether your readers click on those links).  To really hit it big like MMM takes likely a good combination of good writing skills, hard work, a likeable "voice" and luck.

[angelagrace]

I'd search the forum - there was a thread discussing MMM's monetization of his blog, and a few bloggers volunteered information about traffic on their sites and how much it brought in.  I think it depends often on whether you have affiliate links on your site/posts (and whether your readers click on those links).  To really hit it big like MMM takes likely a good combination of good writing skills, hard work, a likeable "voice" and luck.

Do you know where I could find this thread? I've been searching but can't seem to find it. Thanks!

[worms]

  To really hit it big like MMM takes likely a good combination of good writing skills, hard work, a likeable "voice" and luck.

All the above, but also it needs to be on a topic that a lot of people want to read about, that isn't already well covered (unless you can bring a completely new perspective) AND that is related to a lucrative advertising market.

[CommonCents]

I'd search the forum - there was a thread discussing MMM's monetization of his blog, and a few bloggers volunteered information about traffic on their sites and how much it brought in.  I think it depends often on whether you have affiliate links on your site/posts (and whether your readers click on those links).  To really hit it big like MMM takes likely a good combination of good writing skills, hard work, a likeable "voice" and luck.

Do you know where I could find this thread? I've been searching but can't seem to find it. Thanks!

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/what-is-mmm's-net-worth/

[RootofGood]

I make money blogging.  Not a lot.  $500-600 most months, sometimes over a thousand if I get a lot of traffic from media interviews or viral articles.  Per hour, the pay isn't that great if you look at it like a job.  And I think I got "lucky" since most bloggers don't seem to do as well starting out.

If money is your objective, you can probably do better at a part time job.  Or flipping things on ebay/craigslist/amazon etc.  I'd say most bloggers starting out would be happy making a few hundred bucks six months in. 

For me, the blog led to a couple of interesting freelance writing opportunities that are sure bets in terms of making money.  Like $40+/hr if I actually work at it (instead of multi-tasking while I work).

I monetize the blog for money, but I write for fun and to share with others.  I definitely wouldn't do it for the money if you have no interesting in writing, interacting with others, and maintaining the technical side (which isn't really that hard if you can log in to a forum like this).

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I don't make a penny blogging and have been doing it for several months. I keep doing it anyway because I enjoy it and it helps me hold myself accountable. When I want to make money on the Internet, I do Leapforce (http://frugalparagon.com/2014/02/05/why-the-frugal-paragon-loves-leapforce-at-home/) which at $13.50/hr to start probably does better than 90% of blogs! (I made that number up.)

[P938LVR]

I don't make a penny blogging and have been doing it for several months. I keep doing it anyway because I enjoy it and it helps me hold myself accountable. When I want to make money on the Internet, I do Leapforce (http://frugalparagon.com/2014/02/05/why-the-frugal-paragon-loves-leapforce-at-home/) which at $13.50/hr to start probably does better than 90% of blogs! (I made that number up.)

How long did it take for them to get back to you to let you know they are going to hire you. I applied a few days ago but haven't heard anything yet... Thanks.

[OOBER]

I have had my blog for just over a year now. About 3 months ago I put Google AdSense on my site hoping to recoop some of the money invested. Thus far I have made a whopping total of $2.82.

I started my blog because I like to post pictures of my projects and it had gotten to the point that I was maxing out my photobucket account every month. Instead of paying photobucket ~$10 a month, I figured I could get unlimited hosting, bandwidth, and a website from Bluehost for just a couple of bucks more.

I do it because I like to teach about the hobby that I love. If other people get ideas, lessons, or learn something from my posts, then it has served its purpose. I don't do it to make money.

If anybody has tips to make more, I'm all ears!!

[P938LVR]

I have had my blog for just over a year now. About 3 months ago I put Google AdSense on my site hoping to recoop some of the money invested. Thus far I have made a whopping total of $2.82.

I started my blog because I like to post pictures of my projects and it had gotten to the point that I was maxing out my photobucket account every month. Instead of paying photobucket ~$10 a month, I figured I could get unlimited hosting, bandwidth, and a website from Bluehost for just a couple of bucks more.

I do it because I like to teach about the hobby that I love. If other people get ideas, lessons, or learn something from my posts, then it has served its purpose. I don't do it to make money.

If anybody has tips to make more, I'm all ears!!

How much does it cost to use Bluehost and how can I get set up with them? I am thinking of starting a blog but I don't want to sink in a bunch of money for something that I might not use all of that often. Can you start a website through them or should I use something like wordpress to get started? Thanks!

[OOBER]

The first year is $6.95 a month and even cheaper if you sign up for 3 years. I am kicking myself because I didn't sign up for 3 years from the get go. It hikes up to ~$10 a month after the introductory rate is over.

I have an affiliate link on my recommendations page if you so choose to use it. I used the link on MMM "How to Start a Blog" to sign up for mine which gave MMM a kickback.

It has been really good so far, everything is pretty easy to use. I don't have much to compare it to because it is my first blog, but they offer simple word press and other free blogger installs along with free FTP and traffic logs.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I don't make a penny blogging and have been doing it for several months. I keep doing it anyway because I enjoy it and it helps me hold myself accountable. When I want to make money on the Internet, I do Leapforce (http://frugalparagon.com/2014/02/05/why-the-frugal-paragon-loves-leapforce-at-home/) which at $13.50/hr to start probably does better than 90% of blogs! (I made that number up.)

How long did it take for them to get back to you to let you know they are going to hire you. I applied a few days ago but haven't heard anything yet... Thanks.

Well, I've been with them several years, so I don't remember and the system may have changed. But for friends of mine that have tried it more recently, I think it can take up to a week. Hope you hear something tomorrow! Good luck! And if you get a test, remember what what they really want to know is did you read EVERY SINGLE WORD of the directions!

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Just a funny tibdit: I found out yesterday that apparently I DO make money blogging, but not in the way I might have expected. I was chatting with my mother and mentioned that her father, my grandfather, AKA the original Millionaire Next Door, had sent me $1000 to assist with my recent move.

She said that he had mentioned it, and evidently his generosity was inspired by my blog post Debt-free and Why We Did It (http://frugalparagon.com/2014/05/25/debt-free-and-why-we-did-it). I didn't realize he read my blog--not being in my target audience, if you will. Anyway, apparently I made a thousand dollars blogging :-).

[Nords]

I've read about how MMM makes some good money on his blog. Do any of you? Is it a good source of income? How many readers do you need to make "x" amount?

If the formula was that easy then everybody would be doing it... oh wait.

The revenue question is a function of your topic as well as your blog's readers.  If you're running Google AdSense then the advertisers are bidding on your blog's keywords, and some keywords are more valuable than others.  Other AdSense ads pay per reader impression, and those are measured in pennies per thousands of impressions.  If you're running credit-card ads (or other affiliate products like blog hosting) on your blog then you're paid when people sign up for the product.  If you're linking affiliate codes to Amazon then you get a small commission (4%-8%) on the product you're linking to, but the affiliate code will "stick" to that reader for up to 24 hours.  If they buy a Ferrari on Amazon right after they buy your linked product, then that commission goes to you too.  If you run a podcast or a video then you can have a sponsor's ads in the content, and that earns money every time someone downloads the content-- or it's paid as a flat fee.

If you're selling other products (like an eBook or a piece of software or consulting services) then it depends on the personal relationship with your readers, what value they get from your blog, and whether they trust you enough to click the "Buy" button.

The key to making money from a blog is to write stuff that people want to read.  If you're selling a product through that blog then you're writing about how people would use the product to improve their lives.  You'd also need to do it in a way that would get you on the first page or two of Google search results for your keywords:  a fresh perspective, a noteworthy writing style, links to your posts from huge blogs like Huffington Post or Yahoo!, writing for 1-2 years, or inventing keywords like "badassity". 

To answer your explicit question:  After I'd been blogging about military personal finance for two years, I started up AdSense.  The first month was $133 and the lowest month was $98.  By the time I sold the blog (eight months later) I was earning $250/month from a combination of AdSense, Amazon Associates, and individual ads.  The new owner has probably quadrupled that.

A cousin blogs about health eating (mostly paleo), with lots of recipes and photos.  She's been doing it for two years, she's funny and snarky and enthusiastic, and she has a compelling backstory.  She has an enthusiastic audience of probably 2000-3000 daily visitors.  She had her first $1000 month this year.

[DaveSch]

I have more of a website than a blog, but it is kind of bloggish. I started building crystal radios and tube radios around 13 years ago. Since I knew how to make websites, I did one for my little radios. The more people liked my sets, the more I made just to show the design online. I was working at the time, so paying for the site, domain names, etc. wasn't a problem.

In early 2007 I lost my job. I received unemployment while looking for a new job, but my frugal living over the years paid off. But in early 2010 a web visitor asked why I didn't have ads on my website? I ended up going with Google AdSense. My website is about 500 pages, including foreign language translations and visitors projects.

I've made about $15k since starting, but the rate has fallen to around $175 per month. Subtract the self employment taxes, federal tax, and state tax, there is still some left. This earned income allows me a small Roth IRA contribution. My retirement investments keep me fed and housed.

So the money isn't real wonderful. My subject matter is unique but not really the mainstream. The site is makearadio.com if anyone wants to peek. PM me if you have questions instead of hyjacking this thread.

Give blogging with ads a try. Just use original content and be willing to wait a while for people to link to your content, raising your Google page rank.

Dave