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The Top 10 Highest Paid Bloggers in 2022
The illustrious sounds of affiliate income hitting your bank account is a beautiful sound. I know what it feels like when you check an affiliate account for the first time and you see that you have earned income. I can, in fact, remember the moment, I checked and my first $3 popped up, then a $75 payout.
I personally earned over $2000 in my first 30 days of blogging. You can read more here. If you are like many bloggers, then, of course, your desire is to earn income and be able to quit your 9-5, kick up your feet from a foreign destination, and blog full-time.
Yes, you did read correctly, there are tons of bloggers that started out just like you and me. Normal, everyday, run-of-the-mill folks, that had no previous blogging experience, have hit the proverbial blogging jackpot by simply applying a little magic, hard work, and consistency.
Blogging is not a get-rich overnight scheme, it is, in fact, a business like many others, but with a unique benefit, you can start your blog for under $100). You can essentially go from Zero to a million dollars in income in just a few years. You can become a million-dollar business with literally no overhead and no employees.
On that notion, I’m here to tell you that you can, in fact, make it happen. In the meantime, here are a few of my favorite bloggers that are doing the dang thang! I hope that they provide you with some magical inspiration.
What Exactly Is A Blog?
Let’s highlight what a blog is. A blog is a website or a web page that is simply updated on a regular basis with content that enables readers to take action; solve a problem; inspire or even instill inspiration within the reader. Blogs serve many different purposes and it really depends on the blog. You will find a variety of blogs in various niches from lifestyle, travel, business, mommy blogs, food, and many more.
How Do These Bloggers Earn Money
As you begin to blog, you will discover that there are only a few ways to make money from blogging. There’s nothing magical – maybe a little black girl magic~ honestly it isn’t rocket science on what you need to do in order to achieve 5 to 5 figures per month online:
- Affiliate Marketing: You simply earn a commission by promoting someone else’s products or services. It is the easiest way to jumpstart your blog and earn money
- Advertising: Ads and more ads are placed on your site. When someone clicks on these ads, you make money ~ Can you hear the cha-ching sound.
- Selling their own courses, downloadables, and services: Create your own product and services to sell to your readers. Make sure that you are giving away freebies as well.
- Content, content and more content. I believe this is by far the most critical, if you have crappy content that does not serve to help, assist or solve a problem, then chances are you will not get the engagement that you need. No engagement means people are not coming back to your site.
I’m Only Focusing On Individual Bloggers, No Big Companies
There are tons of huge blog sites that are run by major companies. Many of them you probably visit and did not realize that they are in fact blogsites. Sites such as the Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Forbes, and The Penny Hoarder are in fact blogsites and they earn millions of dollars per year.
My list is all about the little guys & gals that are still running their blogs from their home offices. Folks like you and me. Maybe #1 now has a bigger office, but he started like you and I.
#1 Tim Sykes – $1,000,000+/month
Tim Sykes is a penny stock trader that used his knowledge to leverage blogging and Instagram. Word on the streets is that he makes in excess of 10 million a year.
How does he make his money blogging?
The majority of his money comes from selling online courses that teach people like you and me how to trade in the world of penny stocks. Use what you know and what you have to your advantage. Tim shows people the lifestyle that he was able to achieve via Penny Stocks.
Things I Like
- It’s straight to the point
- He pulls you in with his lifestyle
What We Can Learn
- Take what you are an expert in and leverage it
#2 Michelle Schroeder-Gardner – $100,000+/month
Making Sense of Cents
Making Sense of Cents is one of my favorite blogs and currently the Queenbee of simplistic blogging and knowing what your readers want. The site is all about ways to make money, earn money, and keep the money. Michelle Schroeder created her personal finance and lifestyle blog with the intention of helping herself to improve her finances. Making Sense of Sense brings in around $200k monthly give or take. I don’t believe she currently posts income reports, but here is a link to one of her blog posts on what she has earned.
THINGS I LIKE
- It’s sleek & clean.
- It’s easy to follow and figure out where info is at.
- You aren’t bombarded with ads.
- Good content.
- She is the queen of lists, which is, in my opinion, a key ingredient for earning income.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- You will want to have Bluehost as an affiliate
- You will want to have a page on your blogsite on how to create a blog (click here to see what I mean).
- Consistency will pay off.
- Lists, lists, and more list.
3. Pat Flynn
Honestly, you are here on this blog site in part due to Pat Flynn. I ran across Pat Flynn a few years ago while I was searching for ways to create passive income. I wasn’t thinking in terms of blogging per se, just looking for ways to generate passive income. I was fascinated with the fact that he shared his various online businesses and the income he generated from each on a monthly basis. Fast forward a few years later and Pat has stepped it up a notch or two or three and turned a simple idea into a multi-million dollar.
THINGS I LIKE
- Pat took a simple idea/concept and ran with it
- The diversity of the brand, you have the blog, podcast and the E-books.
- Pat shows you how to solve a problem that people have.
- Work with what you have until you have more.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Never stop evolving and growing.
- Every dollar is made one day at a time.
- Stay consistent.
- Multiple Streams of Income is king
- Sharing Income stats will help you to gain followers on top of great content.
- Remain personable.
4. Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl
Debbie may not be rocking $100,000 per month, but she makes my list because she is doing the dang thing.
Debbie Gartner is the truth in simply using what you know very well and turning it into a viable income source. Her website is all about flooring. Flooring may not seem like a sexy niche. The income that she generates is sexy. The website remains consistent with providing info and links to flooring products. She is not all over the place with info that doesn’t tie back into flooring. Her website generates over 500,000 page views per month. That is impressive.
THINGS I LIKE
- It’s a great example of what the basics can accomplish.
- It’s all about flooring and all about flooring.
- It doesn’t feel like she is trying to sell you anything.
- She is an authority in her niche.
- She has great courses on SEO/ Google Analytics
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- You don’t have to break the bank on designing a website.
- Be the authority on what you are blogging about, it adds to your credibility.
- Amazon affiliate is a must- The Flooring Girl is a great example of how to tie your blog posts back into products on amazon.
- You can, in fact, have a very specific niche and earn income.
- She has SEO and Google Analytics on lock, check out her free course on SEO.
5. Jerry Banfield
Jerry may not be rolling in the dough, but he makes my list because folks love him and he knows how to use SEO like a champ… and he’s entertaining. If you want to master SEO then don’t play the SEO game as Jerry shares this tip in one of his courses that I’m taking via Entrepreneur Magazine.
THINGS I LIKE
- Jerry is creating a video first and then converting them to blog posts.
- His Blog is not a Niche in the traditional way. His site is about everything under the sun
- He has mastered the art of organic search
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Patience is key
- Think long term
- Do not buy back-links. Don’t waste your time
- Just solve problems and the followers will come
- Just do the post and do the video, stop searching for perfect keywords
- Use your time wisely
- Stop overthinking, Do it and Do it again!
6. Melyssa Griffin – $100,000+/per month
Melyssa is a former teacher that transitioned into a professional blogger and podcaster. She shares her knowledge on how to earn money from blogging and increase your traffic. Her focus is on productivity.
The vast majority of her income is derived from the online course that she sells.
Things I Like
- Mellisa still has a pretty straight-forward website.
- She sells you without selling to you
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Her Blog is an art form of self-branding
- Think long term
7. Sarah Titus – $100,000+/month
Sarah Titus is the ultimate mom blogger. She shows other moms how to earn money and have the best life possible by creating Shopify stores that earn big bucks
How she makes money?
Most of her money is made via affiliate programs and selling her vast library of printables as well as the course she teaches on how to create a million-dollar store.
She connects with people on a personal and spiritual level.
THINGS I LIKE
- She overcame the odds and succeeded
- Her printables are simple and make you see that you can do what she does
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Never give up
- Do not let your circumstances define your end game
- Stay consistent.
- Multiple Streams of Income is king
- Sharing Income stats will help you to gain followers on top of great content.
- Remain personable.
8. Ryan Robinson – $50,000+/month
Ryan Robinson is a blogger in the personal finance niche. He shares his take on how to save money and make extra money.
How he makes money?
He has affiliate sales and online course sales on lock
THINGS I LIKE
- He makes you register on his site to get content, not a bad idea
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Grow your audience and remain true to your niche
- His content is vetted.
- Stay consistent.
9. Darren Rowse
Darren Rowse teaches practical tips to new and seasoned bloggers that enable them to increase page views and take their blogs to a higher level.
How he makes money?
Courses, coaching, and advertisements.
THINGS I LIKE
- He is doing what we all strive to do
- Website is sleek & clean
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Corporate looking themes can still be personal
10 . Yaro Starak
Yaro focuses on helping other bloggers and entrepreneurs to succeed.
How he makes money?
Coaching and online courses.
Things I Like
- His content is very streamlined.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Never stop evolving and growing.
11. Trevor & Jennifer Debth – $40,000/month
They have a blog that is all about food and recipes. They aren’t rolling in the 100k dough, but they are worth mentioning.
Food & Recipes are the top search terms on Pinterest and it shows. Even in what appears to be an oversaturated market, a blog niche within the food realm can still earn a decent amount of income.
How do they make money?
Advertising, sponsored posts, and affiliate programs.
THINGS I LIKE
- It’s sleek & clean.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- You will want to have Bluehost as an affiliate
12. Steve & Jennifer Chou – $80,000+/month
This cute couple is behind the successful blog My Wife Quit Her Job. They focus on teaching others how to make money online via an eCommerce store and several other key methods.
They aren’t quite at 110k, but close enough to make my list
This is the life we all want.
Where does their money come from?
Digital products, courses, and affiliate marketing.
THINGS I LIKE
- It’s sleek & clean.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Stay consistent
- Lists, lists, and more list.
13. Alex Nerney and Lauren McManus – $100,000+/month
Avocadu.com and CreateandGo.com
Lauren and Alex run two great blogs in completely different niches. They show us, bloggers, how to diversify.
How do they make money blogging?
Their Tutorials are everything and they have mastered the art online course
THINGS I LIKE
- It’s sleek & clean.
- Multiple streams on income
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Diversity is king
14. Jon Morrow – $100,000+/month
Jon Morrow is a gem and the founder of SmartBlogger. He has not let his circumstances stop him from achieving his goals.
You will not have any excuses once you read Jon’s story.
How he makes money?
He helps bloggers to increase their writing skills and drive new traffic.
Things I Like
- It’s sleek & clean.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- There are no excuses
15. Jennifer Maker
She turned her love of crafting into an incredibly successful blogging enterprise.
How she earns her money
Affiliates, courses, and ad revenue from her youtube channel
THINGS I LIKE
- Her site is fun and filled with personality
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Consistency will pay off.
- Focus on your craft
16. John Lee Dumas
John set the standard for the rest of us when it comes to podcasting. Make sure that you are incorporating podcasting into your blogging. He is the king of interviewing others for the benefit of all of us.
How does he make his money blogging?
The main source of income for John is his podcasts and books.
Things I Like
- Branding is everything.
- Become an expert on your topics.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
- Branding is everything
Let us know if there is someone that should be on the list that we missed. Make sure to share your comments
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