Last week’s article in the Wall Street Journal revealed that my blog earnings are in excess of $250,000 per year (a very ballpark figure).
The problem with these type of articles is that they report in a few words just one element of a story – in this case my earnings.
While it’s true that I have built my blogging to a point where I’m able to earn good money blogging there are many things that an article like the one in the WSJ didn’t (and couldn’t) mention about how I was able to build my blogging up to this point.
The impact of this missing ‘back story’ is that much of the reality of blogging for money goes unseen by those looking at blogging as a potential income stream – leading some to naively enter into blogging with false expectations.
Of course when these expectations are not met things can get ugly with disappointment and anger being a common reaction. What disappoints me as a blogger writing on this topic is that I regularly see other bloggers feeding their readers with hype and false hopes about how easy it is to make big money from blogging. This only adds to the distance between their reader’s expectations and the reality of blogging for money.
The Reality of Blogging for Money
So what is the reality of building up one’s blogging to a point where they can make a full time living blogging?
Here are five facts that I’d like to share about my own story to give a more realistic picture to those considering getting into blogging as a way to make a living.
1. It takes a concerted long term effort
I have been blogging for five years. The first year was not for money in any way (although I learned a lot about blogging in that year) and the next two I worked 2-3 jobs at a time (and was studying part time) while I built my blogging up from a hobby, to part time job to a full time venture (more on my story here).
I’m often asked things like – ‘I need to make $xxxx in the next few months – how would you do it with a new blog?’
The average age of blogs in the Technorati Top 100 was over 3 years when I last surveyed it – while the occasional blogger has a fast rise to frame they are the exception. Building a successful blog takes a long time (it takes time to build readership, to work out how to monetize it etc) so take a long term approach and pace yourself.
2. It takes luck
I won’t speak for other bloggers but in my case I was very fortunate on many fronts. I started blogging at a good time (it was a lot less crowded and competitive back then).
- I stumbled on making money from blogs quite accidentally
- I started my first money making blog on the spur of the moment and picked a topic (digital
- photography) without knowing what I was doing – but for the time it was right)
- I met the right people at the right time
- Bigger bloggers discovered me at opportune times
The lucky list could go on – but I was very lucky. Of course some people ‘make their own luck’ and to some extent I agree with this – there are ways to increase your chances of being lucky – but some of it is outside your hands. Sometimes the luck comes and sometimes it doesn’t.
3. It takes a lot of work
There’s been a lot of talk lately about how blogging less can mean more from your blog (example 1 and example 2). While I agree with this – that doesn’t mean you can just come up with a few posts on a whim every few days and expect the traffic (and money) to come rolling in. Over the last 3 years I’ve consistently worked 40-60+ hour weeks on my blogging. At one point I was posting 20-30 posts per day (mainly news related posts back then). Most bloggers that make a full time living from blogging work corresponding hours on it.
4. Many don’t make much money blogging
I’ve often used the analogy of Professional sports people to highlight that in any ‘game’ there are many who play it – less who make a little money from the game, even less who are able to earn a living from it (just) and just a small group who make big money from it. The same is true for bloggers. I’ve run many polls here at ProBlogger on how much people are earning from the medium (eg) and on every single occasion they reveal that the vast majority of bloggers are making very little per month. While it is possible to make amazing money from blogging the sad reality is that most don’t make more than pocket money. Even some blogs who ‘deserve’ to make money blogging don’t.
5. It’s hard
One thing that I’ve found to be common with when I had small/new blogs and now having blogs that are doing reasonably well is that in both instances it can be really hard to keep them going. The pressure to keep coming up with fresh ideas, to respond to critique of others, to deal with jealousy when others do well and more can be difficult to deal with. On some levels it gets easier to deal with as your blog grows – but on other levels the demands that you face from a larger readership can at times be overwhelming. Most bloggers that I know (big and small) have at one point or another been close to giving up – I know I have.
Feeling Depressed?
I don’t want to put a downer on those of you wanting to take your blogs to a level where you could make good money from blogging – the fact is that it is possible and and increasing number of people are making a part time or full time living from the medium – but I do think it’s important to have a realistic picture before getting into blogging for money.
While some bloggers do talk about blogging as a way to make quick money I’ve not had that experience myself. Perhaps others do get rich quick from blogging – but I’ve not met any successful bloggers who’ve told me that yet.
It’s true, spent the last 3 years blogging on my website and I have made $70 in that time.
*Sigh*
I think also something that matters a lot with making money blogging is the content that you are blogging about. It seems logical that someone blogging about electronics or cameras and with corresponding adds on their site and with high traffic would make more money than a site with equal traffic levels but content that doesn’t have the same high potential payoffs like blogging about electronics or cameras.
It is just a theory and maybe I’m wrong but I would be interested in hearing what others think.
You’re not putting a downer on anyone. They are simply facts and anyone who wants to make money from their blog needs to accept them.
Thanks for the reality check. Just like anything in life blogging for money takes hard work and persistence.
Thank you! :) I actually found this a spirit booster. It makes me feel my blog is progressing normally and isn’t a failure because it doesn’t have 1000 readers in 3 months.
Darren – you are a star when it comes to blogging. It doesn’t matter if you as one of the leaders in blogging make 250K a year. You provide an excellent service and that is what your site is about. The amount that you make matters not to me. I have been making six figures every month since 2000 ( all offline businesses though). Not that it matters much in the online world.
You have shown how to start from nothing, how anyone
(well almost) can do it, and to be able to make 250K a year doing something that you love is fantastic in anyone’s book. Up until 2005 I was miserable with a few of my businesses and although the money was great, it wasn’t nearly as fulfilling as my little blog that I have for just 3 months now and the input that I get from people. I owe that to you, and Maki at Dosh Dosh as well as Andy Beard. All of you guys have awesome sites and you all help people. That is what matters.
Anyone reading your site who thinks that they will be super rich overnight has their own problems.
What is important is you serve as an example to others. You have been copied, duplicated and imitated for many many months now.
You can rest well at night knowing that you have helped so many people and have such a loyal readership.
agreed — i find it a fun way to spend time and a learning experience
making money isn’t really my aim =)
Great post. Thanks for remaining realistic and not glorifying the medium.
I started my blog as a lark and stumbled on a ton of “make money blogging” sites. Most of them are the same recycled junk that puts unrealistic expectations into the heads of blogging newbies.
The one and only good bit of advice (spouted by numerous “pro bloggers”) was “create good content.” It’s the old “if you build it they will come” theory.
Another thing I learned along the way is just “building it” isn’t enough. You need eyeballs-lots of them- and you need to convert the eyeballs to regular readers.
I did all the SEO stuff I could figure out and I’ve managed to make anywhere from $750-$1000 per month for the past 6 months or so.
I am not getting rich, but I paid for my kid’s braces, some daycare expenses, a bunch of domain names, an attorney’s bill, some Christmas presents and a new memory card for my computer. And I still have money rolling in every month.
It sure beats having a part time job and it’s a lot of fun.
Would I like to make $250,000 a year blogging? HELL YES, sign me up. Maybe someday I will. In the meantime, I’ll continue having some fun and having a chunk of extra cash around every month.
Thanks for all the advice and guidance on this site-it has helped me immensely.
This is the first article I read on problogger.com. Great article. I’m a new blogger (started this January 1st) and luckily, I’ve always had the lens of reality screwed on tight. You put blogging into a much needed perspective.
You didn’t depress me..in fact…this article has motivated me to do more with my blog and come up with creative new concepts.
I’m in the infancy stage but learning a lot!
This is a good read, especially for those who think making money with your blog is easy. Your 5 points are indeed realistic. I hope a lot of bloggers who want to make money blogging read this. I’m actually surprised that that there are only 6 people who dugg this post.
Darren,
Appreciate the reality check. I’ve only recently started blogging and didn’t get into it to make money. If I’m able to along the way, that’s a bonus.
I’ve enjoyed your site and your advice, especially the part about finding your niche and developing good quality content.
My blog has been live for a little over a month now. I’ve focused on my topic, tried to provide valuable information and I’m getting some readers. Along the way, I’ve used some of your ideas (along with others) on how to monetize the site and I’m happy to say that it’s working and I’m very satisfied with the progress so far.
Thanks again,
John
The income I generate directly from my blog is secondary to the potential business leads it generates as a passive form of advertising. Given how much you’re socializing your own ideas and activities with people through digital means anyways, having a blog integrated into your website is not a stretch and has a lot of potential positive impact on your bottom line as a designer, artist, etc.
Darren – Did you know how much similarity between your 5 points about blogging are to descriptions of what it is like to play the board game Risk? I made use of your points as a great starting point into an exploration of the similarities between blogging and Risk.
I messed up that link it should be similarities between blogging and Risk. Forgot the http’s :(
Darren, feel free to delete previous comments to save me from myself. I’m just trying to share the blog creativity back to your readers, not spam, but apparently I cannot link to posts tonight.
Final Attempt
Thanks Darren – I appreciate this reality check. Nice to see so many others value a bit of truth too.
It reminds me of commodities futures trading – the reality is that only 10% of investors make any money. Unfortunately all you hear are get-rich stories of people leveraging small investments into great fortunes … not the stories of people losing their homes, or people getting less return per hour than if they’d spent the time delivering pizzas instead.
I only blog as a hobby and to practice my writing, so was more than delighted last year to make enough money to cover domain and hosting fees with enough left over for a good coffee grinder!
I think the analogy of comparing blogging to professional sport is excellent. Although it seems easy and anyone can do it, it takes dedication and a bit of luck.
Never heard the 250k income before. Congrats on that.
I already commented above but I would like to add:
When it’s me who said people : get realistic it’s hard work, it takes a lot of time, many won’t believe me, when it’s Darren, every does so it’s great someone like did say so otherwise nobody wants to hear it :)
very well said. it is not that easy making money from blogging. a lot of hard work is needed.
Hi Darren,
Despite your claim that this post and others on the topic may have slipped under the radar for many readers, I think they are absolutely crucial… I have pointed several friends towards your site in order to simultaneously illustrate that, YES you can make money from a blog, but that is is hard work and success is not guaranteed.
WordPress + AdSense does not a millionaire make!
I am only a newbie at blogging, but I very much enjoy it and I, like many others, hope to earn money from it… I prefer to think of blogging as one of several income streams that I can build, and that it is more important to enjoy it for the intrinsic pleasure of blogging (and to make money as a bonus) than to seek money (and get frustrated by a lack of success).
Just my 2p…
I blog for fun :D And will continue to do so.
That is a real good writting. You see… that is the reason for your success… I have learn that you have to be carefully with your blogs/sites and to relaxe… write good articles and to wait a long time before your success will come!
Thanks for your good articles!
great post.that should put an end to people imaginations those who think write one post today and earn thousands of dollars tomorrow.
wow this is the best article ever. there’s a lot of smart ass bloggers who make it look easy but with your reality check that’s like the clincher to their arrogance. bottomline is what matters is you’re doing what you love. so i hope you check out my website coz it’s truly different than most.from now on i’m only gonna trust you hehe.God bless!!
THANKYOU. Someone needs to say, blogging isn’t the best or easiest way to make money and it It is really sad to see people leaving jobs or setting sites a little too high, pinning all their hopes on a blog of their’s suceeding. You should blog because you enjoy it, if you happen to make money from it eventually, then thats great too.
Well done you, though, problogger is successful and so it should be.
Really a nice post. This post itself shows you still put most efforts for the right guidance t continue the quality behind your blogs
Very interesting post, thank you.
I think one of the main elements that would actually scare me away from looking to blog as a career, or a full time job, is the pressure I think I would feel. I blog for my copywriting business, to get more clients via my blog, but I don’t even think I would WANT to have a huge following, I would cripple under the pressure. And I suppose it really takes a certain person to succeed in this, someone who doesn’t cripple under the pressure of having so many people waiting for your posts each day. Granted, if you build a number of readers with whom you have a good relationship, you can take a few days off here and there without annoying anybody but still, it’s not for me.
I have several blogs and this five points are completely real. A lot of work and luck and you can earn some money.
Receipe for Blogging Success
Take 1 blog
Add a pinch of a good domain name
Pour in some originality
A teaspoon full of common sense
A sprinkling of trust
Add a half-dozen good posts a day
Mix in 2 tablespoons of good luck
put in hard work at 200deg and bake for 3 years. Check for consistency. If still wet in the middle, bake for a further 2 years. Cake should be firm to the touch, whilst retaining that moist flavour thats vital to a successful receipe.
If you are lucky, you put the hours in, can write good quality, original content, you may end up with a successful blog that makes a small amount of income. Rinse and repeat for a number of different blogs and you may make a living from it.
Very true!
I’ve only been doing this since September 27, and have to this point made $7.48 (haven’t gotten it yet. Part of that is $1.48 from a program that says you haveto have made $100.00 to get a check! Ask me in three years.)
I did one paid post, which I made all of $6.00 for.
Good thing I didn’t start this thinking I’d make tons of money fast. In fact, that $7.48 is $7.48 more than I thought I would make by this point.
Making money on blogging is indeed hard and with so much competition nowadays, there is a need of combining various income generating strategies in order to at least earn some dollars enough to pay the hosting bills. :)
The main thing about bloging, is becoming the best of what you are best in and also have the passion in it. Anything is possible if you would only believe in what you are doing and meet the right individuals.
Starting a blog is easy. Maintaining a blog is hard work, but if you love what you write about it can be worth it. I agree with just about everything you write in this post. The pressure to be creative every day is the challenge that I love about blogging. Luck is something we always need. The hard work we provide ourselves.
This is the pain of being a professional blogger. Sometimes you just need to be a right blogger, at the right place, at the right time. No proven specific money making tips that is applicable to all. But the sad part is, there are bloggers who just blog to earn money, and not caring for his readers. I am glad to be on of your subscribers because you never fail your readers.
Now I do not wonder why I am always your nth commenter. Thanks for sharing your story.
Success is a story people would love to talk about. What your hard work in the past is what you deserb in present , Let them like the great article.
My own attempt to jump on the get-rich-blogging bandwagon was to write a free report about getting-rich-blogging. What I learned while writing it, plus my own failure to get rich blogging, led me to give it the title “Who Else Wants to Have Their Own Blog… and Make Some Money at the Same Time?”. Maybe that’s why I’m not rich: my headlines are too honest. :)
Once again Darren, just as I was getting discouraged about my blog, your words of wisdom come at the perfect time. Never one for patience (unless it is with a child or a horse,) I realize how important it is to keep working on good content, findng other related blogs, and watching my grass grow!
Thanks again- I look forward to more encouragement from your words of wisdom!
Hello Darren,
I had been a silent reader, reading through your blog for the past few months. Somehow this post makes me feel that I need to lift up my lazy fingers to post a comment.
Good Job! :)
You had certainly made good efforts to create and maintain your blog business. Your blog provides alot of useful information and values for everyone.
This post is one of the content that I will remember with my heart.
Maybe making money from blogs and other websites just got a big bit easier. Check out my site and ” Get Paid For Every Visitor”
Hey Darren, You’ve now been a business tycoon if I’m not wrong. ;)
since wall street journals also have started to feature you. well it’s kinda goodwill to you as well. and yes, as you have also mentioned that lady luck has always favored you. hope this will be the story of the future as well.
best of luck to you.
Cheers.
Yep; we need a little grounding now and then. This post reminds us.
Thanks so much for posting this. I’ve only just started blogging, and while I do plan eventually to turn it into a living, I’m not even trying to monetize my site yet. I’m just writing and learning.
Here’s really why I like this post, though: When I’ve mentioned I’d like to blog for a living to most people who I know, they all say “It’s really hard to make money at that.” And they say it in that tone which says, “so why bother?” Thank you for being the kind of person who says yes, it’s hard, now go for it.
I like about Luck…
Yes.. Something after a hard work not guarantee we can get what we want…
THis is good story for desperate blogger like me… Huhuhuhuhuhuhuhu
I just QUIT MY JOB to start blogging and am hoping to make a living at it within a year.The reality is quite sobering, however. I’m posting daily statistics about my expenses, hours spent blogging, etc. at http://www.sixfigureblogexperiment.com/ .The numbers aren’t pretty. I’m often working 18-hour days and gaining subscribers is difficult. I am still optimistic, however.
~Clay
Good work as usual. Thanks for the reminder.
Hey Darren. Great post. I just wanted to let you know that I found it very inspiring. I mentioned it in my most recent post. It was the perfect way for me to wrap up the post!
Thanks again for the great advice!
Making money someday would be nice but for now I am just having to much fun writing to worry about it.
Always good to be into a project for more than one reason.
Money often comes easier when you focus on bigger goals.
I think all new bloggers should take away this from Darren’s post, which is the same advice I see from most successful bloggers–blog about something you truly care about, write well, provide interesting content, and be consistent.
Over time, you very well make money. But focus on content, content, content.
What?!? You mean I can’t write for two hours a day and make gobs of money?
Thanks for providing a backstory to the Wall Street Journal Post. It’s good to have our reality on straight.