Nowadays It’s only natural that this has happened. The world of making money online has gotten saturated, and articles stay online forever. The incumbents are getting a ton of traffic, and it feels harder than ever to break into the industry. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it can feel as though blogging is useless, and an activity that’s only done in vain. I strongly disagree, and I’ve done real research and have real information to support this disagreement. But that’s for another article.
Something I’ve realized is that blogging has become a big business. It has also become a worldwide business. This means that freelance writers are generally cheap, but good freelance writers are in high demand. Quality content lasts forever, and those who can pay to acquire a good portfolio will do so. Just search for “blogger job”, and you’ll see all sorts of listings, in different countries and possibly even different languages.
Despite this fact, it seems like blogging as a side hustle has died. When you talk to young people about how they’re making money on the side, they seldom mention blogging. Instead, they’re focused on video YouTube shorts and Instagram reels. A lot of people seem to think I’m crazy for spending a lot of time on this blog because they can see just how much money I’m leaving on the table in the short term.
The truth is that blogging is a great way to drive traffic to your business, and I have nothing better to do right now. I’m studying for my bachelor’s degree in health science, and have a bunch of free time on my hands. Writing a couple hundred articles will be a great start to my future. As I mentioned in a previous article, blog valuations have gone up. If I can create a blog that generates $2,000 per month by the time I’m halfway through my degree, I’ll be out and swinging. Most people on this planet can barely earn $1,000 per month for themselves. Not all of my blog topics will be about making money online. Since I’m studying health science, I’ll be taking an interest in a variety of physical and mental health-related topics, while also discussing the digital nomad lifestyle. This is a multi-topic blog, and it will be multimedia by nature. Eventually, I’ll start a YouTube channel, and then I’ll be selling courses about things I know about. It won’t just be about making money online, and it’ll work well for my brand.
Blog articles aren’t a fast money maker. To rank high on Google, you need a high-authority domain name and a lot of backlinks. This means you will likely need to work at your craft for a while and gain recognition for work outside of your articles. But once your blog is built, it’s like a beacon to your potential customers. This means you should write about your expertise. This way, you open your mind and your heart to your customers in a way that can’t be done on video. Blog articles also have a ton of staying power, because a lot of people don’t want to write helpful articles. As someone who’s operated in the creator economy for years, I can say the following truthfully: there isn’t as much competition as you think. Most people are not getting anything done. If you can blog consistently for five years, you’re in the top 10 percent, bare minimum.
So as a solo blogger, the way you monetize your blog is by selling bespoke products and services. I’m using bespoke pretty loosely here. Even a simple course made for a specific group is good enough. Other bespoke products include:
- Digital Planners (for work, budgeting, or lifestyle purposes)
- Digital Marketing/Web Design Services
- Clothes
- Toys and Entertainment Products
You should be looking at selling this stuff, rather than trying to start an affiliate blog. Affiliate blogs earn good money, but you’re competing against people with big teams and/or who live in 3rd world countries. My hunch is that these kinds of blogs are a race to the bottom, especially in the era of ChatGPT. Blogging allows you to sell your uniqueness. This means you can earn more money with less traffic. Additionally, if you have a YouTube Channel or other form of social media presence, blogging will help you drive traffic to your business. As a result, blogging is an incredibly profitable venture. Even if you’re “just” a 9–5 worker, it always you the opportunity to network and share your thoughts. So don’t be afraid to write, because it will always be a worthwhile activity.
To start a blog for free, you can use Medium. But I recommend building your own website once you’re ready and have proof of concept. Building your own site allows you to join ad networks, and earn passive income for every single view your blog gets. You can also tack on links to your social media profiles, allowing both your blog and those profiles to grow faster. In short, blogging isn’t dead. It’s just gotten competitive and isn’t as new an industry as it used to be. But this doesn’t mean that blogging about a growing industry won’t make you money. Go ahead and do it. Take the leap and have faith.
