Most of the people who start a blog don’t ever make any real money off it.
According to one survey done a few years back, about 80 percent of bloggers make less than $100 from their blog over the life of it. Only about 8 percent are able to turn blogging into a full-time job.
But you shouldn’t let that discourage you from trying to start a career as a professional blogger if that’s really what you want to do! As you’ll see when you check out some of the most successful blogs, it’s not impossible for bloggers to put together blogs that are profitable.
Here are nine blogs you should browse through if you want to be a pro blogger.
1. Smart Passive Income
Who doesn’t want to learn how to bring in lots of passive income online without doing a ton of work to get it?
Pat Flynn, like so many other bloggers, realized people’s fascination with this early on and launched his Smart Passive Income blog to show people how to use different techniques to generate passive income online.
He has also launched a bunch of other blogs aimed at everything from food trucks to security guard training. But this one has turned into one of the most successful blogs by providing people with a blueprint from making money online.
Use what you learn on this blog along with one of these Mac website builders to get your blog off the ground.
2. Making Sense of Cents
If you wish you could figure out ways to save more of the money that you bring in every month, read Michelle Gardner’s Making Sense of Cents blog. It provides all kinds of useful tips for those who want to lead a more frugal lifestyle.
Michelle practices what she preaches, too. She actually started her blog to show people how she managed to pay off almost $40,000 in student loans in under a year by finding ways to earn extra money while cutting back on her budget.
Money is always a popular issue among Americans, which is a big part of the reason why Michelle has been so successful with her blog. It would be good for you to find your own niche like she has if you want to be a professional blogger.
3. Show Me the Yummy
What do you get when a professional photographer gets married to someone who spends all their time blogging about food? One of the most successful blogs—not to mention one of the most delicious blogs—on the planet.
Husband Trevor is the professional photographer, and his wife Jennifer is the food blogger. Together, they work on their blog Show Me the Yummy, which includes all kinds of great food blogs and recipes.
It’s far from the only food blog out there (stay tuned for another one!). But It’s proof that people love reading about and looking at food when they’re browsing through blogs.
If you think you could add something valuable to the conversation, food blogging is always a great way for would-be professional bloggers to go.
4. Just a Girl and Her Blog
If the popularity of Marie Kondo has taught us anything this year, it’s that Americans are obsessed with the idea of getting their homes (and their lives!) more organized. Abby from Just a Girl and Her Blog can help them do it.
She specializes in covering a wide range of topics on her blog, including:
- Home organization
- Home decor
- DIY projects
And despite the name of the blog, she also has some help in the form of her husband. It has helped her run one of the more successful blogs for DIY fans.
5. Single Moms Income
Earlier, we touched on how people love to read blogs that center around money. But there are so many of them out there that the last thing people want to read is another generic money blog.
Alexa, the founder of Single Moms Income, found her way around this by adding a slight twist to the typical money-saving blog. She focused her blog on the challenges of managing your finances when you’re a single parent.
A lot of people have flocked to her site over the course of the last few years to learn tricks and techniques for making and saving more money. It’s a good example of how you can find a unique way to approach a blog that covers a common topic.
6. Easy Baby Life
“Raising a baby is easy!” said no one ever. There is absolutely nothing easy about raising a child.
This blog, started by mother-of-two Paula Dennholdt, has been around for more than a decade. It now includes too many tips on raising a baby to count.
Paula has worked hard to establish herself as an expert in her niche. It’s what you need to do in order to run a successful blog.
7. Entrepreneurs on Fire
Entrepreneurship is one of the hottest topics on the internet these days. Conservative reports indicate that there are more than 25 million Americans running their own businesses today—and they’re always looking to consume fresh content on being entrepreneurs.
John Lee Dumas from Entrepreneurs on Fire provides that content on his blog. He also provides podcasts, online courses, e-books, and so much more for those who visit his site.
8. Pinch of Yum
Trying to figure out what in the world you’re going to make for dinner tonight? Head on over to Pinch of Yum to get your hands on all the recipes you could ever want.
Lindsay Ostrom makes meals, photographs them, and then provides recipes for them on her blog so that her readers can make her mouth-watering meals at home. It has helped her bring in millions of dollars over the last seven years.
9. So Over This
Are you “so over” dealing with the rat race that is corporate America? If you’re still reading this, there’s a good chance you are.
You can bust out of the rat race by checking out the So Over This blog from Justin Weinger. It’ll help you learn how to start your own blog and how to make smart financial decisions in other areas of your life.
Bookmark the Most Successful Blogs and Learn From Them
The most successful blogs are the ones that feature content you can’t find anywhere else. That might be because they cover a topic that’s unique or because they feature a unique voice that stands out in the crowd.
Study what you like and don’t like about the blogs listed here. You can find out a lot about what it takes to run a successful blog.
Read more of our articles about blogging before you attempt to launch a career as a pro blogger.
