Like me, if you are re-launching into the blogging world, or even launching for the first time, you’ve undoubtedly googled to see if it’s possible to make $10,000 per month blogging.
Unfortunately, the results that pop up aren’t encouraging.
Examples of “successful” blogs in the SERPS are typically big operations with big writing teams or old, established blogs that have been chugging along for decades.
But what about newer blogs piloted by a solo writer?
That’s what we’re all doing, right?
We don’t have a budget to hire a team.
Each of us is a team of one.
(I’m working on changing that. I’ve been thinking a lot about how us solo bloggers, together, can be a team. When I get my thoughts clearer and more organized, I’ll write a post on it.)
It can be discouraging when your blog gets zero traffic. You may even feel despair.
It could be enough to want to give up and, and…and what? Go back to your old life of quiet desperation? Go back to not building anything? Go back to living life on your knees?
For most of us, blogging and writing is the only way out.
And I think we can plot our escape together.
What Should You Do Instead?
Like I mentioned, eventually, we will be collaborating, I just don’t know what that looks like yet. For starters, hit me up in the comments. Hit me up on the contact form.
I’ll write a blog post for your blog for free.
Given (1.) it’s a real blog (2.) you are okay if my blog post doesn’t fit your niche exactly (but I will do my best). (3.) you are okay with no rewrites and my informal, grammatically error-ridden writing style (4.) you link to my blog. (5.) On my word of honor, there will be no AI slop or AI at all.
We can start building a new ecosystem of blogs.
“Are you really going to write a blog post for free for every legitimate blogger that asks?”
Yes, there will come a day when I take down my offer, possibly soon, but that day is not today.
I think when we get to the point of staying awake at night, not thinking only about how our blog can be better, but how I can help make other blogs better, is when we are going to reach the financial tipping point.
Be a missionary, not a mercenary.
Keep On Swimming
Like Dory, keep on swimming.
In our case that means keep on posting.
Even if it’s not your best stuff.
Obviously, try to make your blog posts good. But there comes a time where you must say “good enough” and let it fly.
And the annoying thing, many other bloggers will back me up here, it’s typically your less thought out, less polished posts that do big numbers. I do not know why. I wish I did.
Keep on posting though, even if it is into the abyss.
Embrace Non-Local Blogging
One of these days I’ll get around to writing a MEGA-POST on this concept since it is one of my core strategies; I just haven’t fleshed it out enough yet.
Essentially, we like to think of our blog as our blog and that’s where it ends.
That would be incorrect thinking.
Get more “spiritual” about your blog thinking.
Your blog, in addition to your actual website, is Pinterest, X, Instagram, Linkedin, Medium, Etc.
These are not just 3rd party platforms…they are an extension of your blog.
It is entirely possible to build an audience on a 3rd party and sell your wares directly on that platform; all without the audience ever coming to your blog.
No, you are not an “influencer.”
You are a non-local blogger.
Your blog transcends your domain name.
Start by choosing a third party platform to extend your blog to and get to work. This will help drive traffic and extend your reach.
Stay Focused On Achieving Your Goal Of Full-Time Blogging, But Be Flexible In The Approach
The old bloggers that fell into the abyss did so because they defiantly refused to change tactics when the writing was on the wall as to the changing landscape.
“This is the blogging strategy that worked 10 years ago and I’m sticking to it. I’m not the problem! Google, Social Media, and Greedy Corporations are the Problem! Grrrr!”
The “build it and they will come strategy” used to work, but not anymore.
I don’t like social media, 3rd party platforms, or greedy corporations either…but you have to work in the landscape that exists and not the landscape you wished existed.
I wish I could just write and vibe and be happy.
And so I came up with a strategy that is basically just that, again, my non-local blogging epiphany.
I love blogging, and if every platform is an extension of my blog, suddenly, tweeting on X doesn’t seem so bad; it’s me microblogging on my blog.
That’s the reframe I had to make.
You might have to make it too.
Eventually you will make it to full-time blogging, and even when you “make it” you must be vigilant of the ever changing landscape and make the necessary adjustments, or you will fall into the abyss just like successful bloggers from 2019.
Be Okay Using Video Platforms
We are writers. Zero of us want to be on video.
However, if you are willing to do what it takes to go pro in blogging. You will need to add video into your arsenal.
Even if you start as simple as doing a video walkthrough of one of your blog posts.
Video is HUGE and is not going away.
I’m not saying you must become a major YouTube personality, that would be a nightmare. But you have to have a presence even if you aren’t actively trying to obtain subscribers.
Circling Back To The First Paragraph
$10,000 per month blogging.
That’s my goal.
I suspect it is your goal too, or whatever income means “full-time” wherever it is you call home.
I mentioned if you google for examples of successful blogs, you typically get results of blogs with enormous writing teams or blogs that have been established 20 years ago.
However, there are other blogs that are cracking $10,000 per month.
I know this for a fact.
But most of those blogs are “stealth bloggers.” They don’t want anybody to know their blog is printing because they don’t want anybody to come into their niche, which I understand.
But I will give you an example of a blogger that averages $10k per month (fluctuates seasonally) because he publicly did a podcast and talked numbers, so I feel comfortable sharing: ohiotropics.com
Click on the link and behold what a $10k / month blog looks like!
“Wait, a guy who blogs about tropical plants he grows in his house in Ohio is having $10k months?! It looks like he made the blog with PowerPoint!!!”
Yes.
“But I could have built a blog like that!!! If fact, I have a weird niche hobby I could blog about right now!!!”
Yes, again.
It’s not rocket science folks.
Write words, make money, be free.