Blogs and passive income generating website that offer content to its views while earning from that traffic, continues to be a viable income source, with many bloggers seeing steady growth in earnings over last 15 years.
During the COVID 19, the earnings as much as doubled in many cases, but now they are back to the normal growth of about 10% per year.
According to survey by Statistics Blogging, the number of bloggers in the U.S. alone is expected to reach 32.5 million in 2024, indicating sustained interest and opportunity in the field.
"Blogging is still a very viable form of passive income, although one has to pick the right niche to make sure they can earn a decent income of about $100k, at least, per year", according to Amanda Minalie, Director of Client Blog Marketing Services.
According to Forbes, some of the top bloggers in niches like personal finance, lifestyle, food, health, and travel can earn upwards of $100,000 per month. Minalie, gives more detailed numbers: "For the last 10 years, up to the end of this past years, we see on average our blog customers earning around $4,000-$7,000 per month, after having/promoting their blog with at least around 300-500 pages".
Minalie, also states that this figure is higher for larger blogs.
"We see our larger clients having an average income of about $12,000-$35,000 per month, after 5 or more years, with at least 500+ articles or informational pages or informational videos.", claims Minalie. She reminds us that her numbers are based on Anaxstar.com client surverys and not based on a nationwide or international survey.
A study by Glassdoor found that the average blogger's earnings in the U.S. can range from $19,000 to $79,000 per year, within anywhere between 1-3 years of the start of their operation, which supports, within reasonable growth rates, Minalie's numbers.
Of course, we have all heard or read about the top bloggers who earn significantly more. Some bloggers report earning high-six or even seven-figure incomes annually. While income from blogging can be passive to some extent, it often requires ongoing effort to maintain and grow. Generally, passive income from a blog might start forming a significant portion of earnings after several months or years of consistent content
Passive Income Blogging
Successful bloggers often diversify their monetization income streams.
Common monetization sources include display advertising, ad network revenue, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, digital products (e-books, courses), membership sites, and selling physical products. A study by Income Blogging Survey found that in 2023, ad space marketing was the top income source for bloggers, followed by digital products and online courses.
As of the latest available 2024 statistics, personal finance and lifestyle remain among the most lucrative niches for blogging income.
According to a study by SEMrush, personal finance bloggers can earn an average of $6,000 to $10,000 per month, within their first year, through various monetization avenues such as sponsored content, and digital products.
Lifestyle bloggers also continue to see significant earnings potential, with top influencers in the lifestyle niche reportedly earning six to even seven-figure incomes annually, primarily through brand partnerships and sponsored content deals.
In the food niche, data from Food Blogger Pro indicates that successful food bloggers can earn around $10,000 per month, mainly through sponsored content, and selling their own cookbooks or meal plans.
Health and fitness blogging has seen a surge in popularity, with top influencers commanding substantial earnings through sponsored partnerships, online coaching programs, and affiliate marketing, with potential earnings around $15,000 per month.
Similarly, travel blogging remains a viable income source, with top travel influencers earning significant revenue through sponsored trips, brand partnerships, and affiliate marketing, with potential earnings around $10,000 per month.
These niches continue to attract audiences and advertisers alike, offering ample opportunities for bloggers to generate substantial passive income. According to Minalie, "although these numbers provide insight into the potential of generating passive income through blogging, it's really important to note that success with blogging requires dedication, consistency, and adaptation to changing trends and audience preferences."
Top 50 Blog Earners, $3-5 million per month