I feel like blogging these days is too glamourized. We see fashionistas sailing fancy yachts, bloggers heading out for lunch at Chanel headquarters and couples sipping bottomless cocktails on the beach in Bali. As much as it is someone’s truth, it definitely isn’t where it all have started. Thus today, I wanted to bring 5 ordinary stories to you all. All of the bloggers mentioned in this post are regular people successfully making regular income online & if they can do it- so can you! 

I wanted to bring a piece to you all on creators that are just starting out. All of the bloggers mentioned below have only started their blogs a year or so ago & they are already making regular monthly income from the work they do online. Thus, if anyone ever tells you that starting a blog in 2018 is a waste of time, send them this link & shut their mouths forever!

These 5 stories are meant to take that stress off your shoulders and leave you feeling inspired rather than overwhelmed by the comparison. I know how hard it can be trying to make it online when everyone around you keeps shouting about those 6-figure-plus blogs. You won’t see the owners of these 5 blogs taking fancy cruises just yet, but I can assure you they are on the right track & this is your chance to join them on this journey!

Take notes on what they are doing if you’re currently on your way to making your first $100, $1000 or $10000 online!

Interested in starting a blog? Follow our 5 minute tutorial over here →

#1 The Wayward Home

Your Blog’s URL
www.thewaywardhome.com

What’s your blog about?
My blog is about all the ways people are downsizing and living tiny, from sailboats, to van life, to full-time RVing, to tiny homes. I live on a sailboat myself and am inspired by this movement that seems to be taking our country by storm.

When did your blog become profitable?
I started making money from Google Adsense right away, but it was mere pennies and maybe a few dollars sometimes. My blog started becoming more profitable in February of 2018, when I got a private advertiser to pay me $1500 to run ads on my site. Soon after that I was accepted by Mediavine, which was one of my major goals. Joining Mediavine increased my ad revenue by 5 times what it was with Google Adsense.

How much do you currently earn from your blog monthly?
My blog currently makes about $1,000 per month, mostly from advertising and a bit from affiliate marketing. I’m struggling with finding affiliate programs that go with my niche, but am now identifying more and more. My next focus will be on affiliate marketing.

Ways you’re monetizing your blog.
Most of my income is ad revenue from Mediavine, with $100-$200 per month coming from affiliate programs.

One tip you’d give to all new bloggers
Blog about something you really, really love. I could write about the subject I’m blogging about all day. I love talking about it. I love living it. I love interacting with other people who share my same vision and goals. I’ve connected with so many people living the tiny life through my blog and I finally feel like I’ve found a “tribe”.

#2 Blog Darling

Your Blog’s URL
www.blogdarling.co

What’s your blog about?
I blog about blogging, social media, and online business!

When did your blog become profitable?
I was lucky enough to start earning money during the first month because I was offering services as a web designer on my blog. After a couple months, I transitioned away from offering services and began earning passive income through affiliate marketing and selling my own products!

How much do you currently earn from your blog monthly?
I have been earning over $1,000 since February and finished off this past month earning more than $1,700! You can see the exact breakdown of my income each month in my blog income reports.

Ways you’re monetizing your blog.
The two main ways I monetize my blog are affiliate marketing and selling my own digital products because I love being able to generate passive income! I also make a small amount through sponsored posts, ads, and offering blog audits to new bloggers.

One tip you’d give to all new bloggers.
I think something that holds a lot of us back is waiting for the “right” time to start a blog, but there’s never going to be a perfect time, so just go for it! Don’t be afraid to jump in, make mistakes, and learn as you go. Your blog will evolve over time and you’ll figure out what works and what doesn’t. So don’t be afraid that it’s “too late” to start blogging or keeping holding out for the perfect time to start – just go for it!

#3 Gathering Dreams

Your Blog’s URL
www.gatheringdreams.com

What’s your blog about?
I started my blog as a place to collect everything I love in life. I blog about traveling, food, home decor and anything to do with personal finance. Gathering Dreams will become the story of how we can all create a life that we all love living, every single day and not a life driven by working for endless hours.

When did your blog become profitable?
My blog has been live since the 1st of November 2017. I made my first $21.16 with Google Adsense in December 2017, so one month after starting my blog. Although I wouldn’t call that a big win, it really helped me to believe that I could make money blogging. January 2018 was the first “real” profitable month, and I made over $1,000.

How much do you currently earn from your blog monthly?
Since January 2018 my income has been fluctuating between $2,000 to $4,000 a month.

Ways you’re monetizing your blog.
My biggest income comes from 2 sources at moment: Ads revenues, through Mediavine (currently 60% of my revenues) & Affiliate income (40% of my revenues)

One tip you’d give to all new bloggers
Ok, these might be 2 tips instead of one, I hope that’s ok!

1) Don’t listen to anyone that says there are too many blogs out there and it’s not possible to make money blogging anymore. If you work hard and consistently, you can still have success in 2018! I am the living proof that it is possible to make money blogging with no experience today!

2) If you want to make money with your blog, you have to blog about what people want to read. If you can gain a bigger audience and solve people’s problems from the beginning, you will be able to grow your blog much faster, read more on my blog.

#4 The Savvy Couple

Your Blog’s URL
www.thesavvycouple.com

What’s your blog about?
Personal Finance & Lifestyle Blog teaching others how to live life better!

When did your blog become profitable?
I don’t know the exact date but after we made our first $50 I quit my job to blog full-time. Right around the year mark, we started to earn around $1,000 per month.

How much do you currently earn from your blog monthly?
Anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000.

Ways you’re monetizing your blog:
Through our ad network Mediavine, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts. We have just opened up a Shopify store we hope to really help increase our revenue. It can be found here and will feature lots of great digital products.

One tip you’d give to all new bloggers.
Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Network and follow those who have been successful before you to learn from. Treat your blog as a legitimate business from day one and put 50% of your earnings back into it to help it grow.

#5 FITnancials

Your Blog’s URL:
www.fitnancials.com

What’s your blog about?
Fitness & Finance

When did your blog become profitable?
I started making $1k a month around the end of 2016 but that number fluctuated a bit. In 2017, I started making a steady $3,000 a month and was able to quit my nannying job.

How much do you currently earn from your blog monthly?
I earn roughly $5,000-$10,000 per month on my blog.

Ways you’re monetizing your blog.
Affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and ad revenue.

One tip you’d give to all new bloggers.
Stay patient and consistent. Blogging isn’t get a rich quick scheme. Blogging takes hard work. I’d say blogging is roughly 5% writing and 95% the million other things you have to do.

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Now that you’ve had the opportunity to read through some of the stories from everyday people around the world, you should definitely be inspired to take action and start a blog of your own. You don’t need to have a huge expertise or mind-blowing ideas just yet, the best you can do today is – just start! Seriously, it’s only going to take you 5 minutes if you use this tutorial, yet it can be the best decision you’ve ever made!