15+ Most Successful Blogs On The Internet
There are millions of blogs on the internet.
However, only a few of them reach a high level of success.
You may be asking yourself, then, what are the factors that lead to a successful blog?
If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place.
We’re here to assist all of you aspiring bloggers out there in your journey to becoming the founder of the next Huffpost!
Read on to find out more about what makes a blog successful.
This guide will also take you through the most successful blogs in each niche.
Additionally, we cover the details of how they make their money as well.
Brett Helling is a digital marketing expert with over 10 years of experience building, managing, and scaling websites.
- Successful blogs focus on relatable, popular topics like food, finance, and digital marketing.
- High engagement through consistent, quality content drives blog profitability and visibility.
- Successful blogs monetize via ad revenue, affiliate marketing, courses, and sponsorships.
- Distinctiveness, passion, and expertise are key to building a standout, lucrative blog.
Leaderboard: Most Successful Bloggers of All Time (Overview)
We’ve included an overview of our top picks below. For detailed information on each pick, scroll down.
- Tim Sykes: TimothySkyes.com
- Huffpost.com
- Mashable
- Perez Hilton
- Rosemarie Groner: Busy Budgeter
- Jeff Rose: Good Financial Cents
- Michelle Schroeder-Gardner: Making Sense of Cents
- Pat Flynn: Smart Passive Income
- Darren Rowse: ProBlogger
- Ryan Robinson: Ryrob.com
- Trevor and Jennifer Debth: Show Me The Yummy
- Lindsay and Bjork: Pinch of Yum
- Abby Lawson: Just a Girl and Her Blog
- Steve and Jennifer Chou: My Wife Quit Her Job
- Alborz Fallah: Car Expert
General Overview
Before we dive into the details of the most successful blogs out there, let’s first go through the general guidelines that determine how successful a blog will be.
What Type of Blogs Are Most Successful?
The success of a blog largely depends on the type of content it offers its viewers.
Generally speaking, the main topic of a blog should be one that appeals to a large and diverse audience.
The blog ideas that typically bring the most success are:
- Food
- Finance
- Digital Marketing
- Travel
What Type of Blogs Make the Most Money?
The amount of money a blog makes directly results from the level of engagement it achieves.
Whether it’s through ad revenue or affiliate marketing, the more people visit a blog, the more money it’ll make.
As a result, the blogs that put forth content related to the aforementioned popular topics are often the most lucrative.
Most Successful Niches for Bloggers
The four topics mentioned in the previous section aren’t the only ones that can bring a blogger splendid success.
Other highly profitable blogging niches may include:
- Series and movie reviews
- Fashion
- Gaming
- Sports
- Diet and fitness
- Politics
- Personal development
What Makes a Successful Blog?
There are many factors that affect the level of popularity a blog will reach.
To start off, your blog should be visually appealing.
Your blog’s aesthetic is what will give viewers their first impression of it, and you want it to be a good one.
Additionally, your blog should offer its audience consistent content that focuses on a certain topic and doesn’t spread the reader’s attention too thin.
However, providing readers with regular content shouldn’t come at the expense of that content’s quality. This is a common trap that a lot of aspiring bloggers tend to fall into.
Leaderboard: Most Successful Bloggers of All Time
Here are some blogs that have had the most success over the years.
We’ll also cover how each of these blogs started out, as well as how it got to the level of popularity and profitability it’s at now.
1. Tim Sykes: TimothySkyes.com
Timothy Sykes is a highly successful stock trader and entrepreneur whose claim to fame came when he flipped his $12,000 Bar Mitzvah gift into $1.65 million.
The millionaire created his blog to use his wealth of experience to teach his audience how to replicate his success.
How Much Does Tim Sykes Make Per Month?
The exact amount that Tim Sykes’ blog earns per month is unknown.
However, since its creation 15 years ago, the blog’s monthly earnings have grown from $60,000 to being in the vicinity of $500,000.
How Tim Sykes Makes Money
The Tim Sykes blog makes money due to its huge level of engagement.
Online readers visit this blog around 5,000 times a day.
The stock trading expert’s blog was able to reach this level of viewership in large part due to good word of mouth.
More specifically, testimonials from those who followed the blog’s advice and experienced success in trading encourage others to check the blog out.
What Sets Tim Sykes Apart?
The thing that makes Tim Sykes’ blog stand out from the rest is his combination of expertise in and passion for the topic he’s speaking on.
Sure, there may be others who are more knowledgeable about stock trading than Sykes.
However, his ability to engage readers with fun, passionate content separates him from the crowd.
2. Huffpost.com
Huffpost is primarily a news blog.
That said, it also covers a wide range of topics that appeal to people from all walks of life.
These topics include:
- Business
- Politics
- Technology
- Entertainment
- Health and lifestyle
Huffpost obtains its content by buying it from writers as well as creating its own original content.
How Much Does Huffpost Make Per Month?
According to The New York Times, Huffpost rakes in almost $150 million annually.
The blogging giant makes around $14 million in revenue each month.
How Huffpost Makes Money
The primary driving force in Huffpost’s money-making strategy is ad revenue.
The blog is an extremely desirable platform for advertisers thanks to its supreme level of viewership and engagement.
Another reason Huffpost is so lucrative is the money that has poured in from corporate investment.
AOL bought the blog in 2011 for a whopping $300 million.
What Sets Huffpost Apart?
When creating a blog, dabbling in a wide variety of niches simultaneously usually isn’t a recipe for success.
Huffpost is the exception, though.
This blog has the financial means to be a leader in blogging on topics ranging from politics to entertainment without losing a step.
3. Mashable
Mashable is a globally renowned blog that specializes in technology and entertainment.
It’s also a digital media platform that considers social media news and content as its bread and butter.
How Much Does Mashable Make Per Month?
Mashable brings in an average of $3.3 million on a monthly basis.
This comes as no surprise considering that the blog achieves seven-figure revenues each year.
You should note that this monthly income figure is only taking into account Mashable’s ad revenue.
In other words, the blog’s total revenue per month is likely to be much higher.
How Mashable Makes Money
The main money maker for Mashable is ad revenue.
The blog brings in millions of dollars in advertising each year.
That’s thanks to its engagement rate of almost 250,000 visits/month and its 460,000 YouTube subscribers.
The blog also engages in affiliate marketing, which is another significant source of revenue.
What Sets Mashable Apart?
The staggering degree of success Mashable has experienced compared to similar blogs results from its diversity of channels.
The blog’s content is present on all social media platforms, creating a wide net to gather the highest number of viewers.
4. Perez Hilton
Perez Hilton is a blog that was started by American blogger Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr. The blog’s calling card is offering its viewers content surrounding the latest celebrity gossip, as well as posting tabloid photos of prominent figures in the entertainment industry.
How Much Does Perez Hilton Make Per Month?
It’s estimated that the Perez Hilton blog makes around $400,000 per month.
This puts the blog’s annual earnings in the ballpark of $5 million.
How Perez Hilton Makes Money
This celebrity news and gossip blog makes its ends primarily through money from advertising.
Placing an ad on the Perez Hilton blog isn’t for those with light pockets.
It costs almost $10,000 to post a single ad for a week on the blog.
What Sets Perez Hilton Apart?
So, what makes Perez Hilton stand out from the countless other celebrity gossip bloggers out there?
The answer to that question revolves around him establishing himself as the premier celebrity news source in the industry.
This has created an air of credibility around his content that keeps viewers coming back for more.
Examples of Successful Finance Blogs
Here are some of the most prominent blogs that have made their names by creating content centered around personal finance.
1. Rosemarie Groner: Busy Budgeter
Before starting her blog, Groner was a regular stay-at-home mom who constantly struggled with her household’s budget.
This led her to create The Busy Budgeter and put out content that aims to assist its audience in navigating their money problems.
How Much Does Rosemarie Groner Make Per Month?
According to Rosemarie Groner herself, the Busy Budgeter blog brings in $86,000 per month.
This number is even more impressive considering that she only started the blog just over two years ago.
How Rosemarie Groner Makes Money
The busy budgeter blog makes money through ad revenue, as well as sponsorships.
The blog’s founder has also used her popular platform to market her budgeting guide “90 Day Budget Boot Camp”.
The sales of this publication contribute to the blogger’s income as well.
What Sets Rosemarie Groner Apart?
The key attribute that sets the Busy Budgeter blog apart is the fact that it’s relatable.
Whoever you are, there’s a pretty good chance that you can benefit from the blog’s content on money management and budgeting tips.
This allows the blog to have a high engagement level too.
2. Jeff Rose: Good Financial Cents
Good Financial Cents is a financial advice blog that was started by Jeff Rose, a Certified Financial Planner.
This blog was created with the aim of providing its audience with tips and ideas on how to improve their financial situation and avoid debt.
This includes content, such as investment tips and ways to earn passive income.
How Much Does Jeff Rose Make Per Month?
The Good Financial Cents blog nets Jeff Rose almost $50,000 per month in revenues.
How Jeff Rose Makes Money
This blog makes its money through two main channels.
The bulk of Good Financial Cents’ revenue comes from affiliate marketing.
The source of the rest of the blog’s earnings is ad revenue.
What Sets Jeff Rose Apart?
The factor that makes finance blogs likely to succeed is that they tackle a topic that is close to home for millions of people.
However, there’s one thing that makes Good Financial Cents even more successful than most finance blogs.
It’s the fact that the creator was affected by money issues early in his life since both of his parents struggled with debt.
Therefore, his content is coming from the heart, and it shows.
3. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner: Making Sense of Cents
Making Sense of Cents is a personal finance blog that was created by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner.
She’s a college graduate that was struggling to pay off almost $40,000 in student debt.
She started the blog with the aim of teaching herself how to save money and make sound financial decisions.
However, her personal finance blog transformed into one of the most popular ones on the web.
How Much Does Michelle Schroeder-Gardner Make Per Month?
The Making Sense of Cents blog nets Schroeder-Gardner around $100,000 a month in revenues.
How Michelle Schroeder-Gardner Makes Money
Making Sense of Cents has a diverse set of revenue streams.
Like most other blogs, it makes money through ad revenue and affiliate marketing.
In addition to this, the blog engages in sponsored partnerships and offers a couple of online personal finance courses as well.
What Sets Michelle Schroeder-Gardner Apart?
So, why is Making Sense of Cents more successful than other personal finance blogs?
The answer lies in the quality of the content offered by the blog.
However, this isn’t the only reason.
Other blogs may have content that is just as good, but they aren’t monetizing that content as efficiently as Schroeder Gardner is doing with her blog.
Examples of Successful Digital Marketing Blogs
Digital marketing is one of the main niches that bloggers choose to center their content around.
Here are some of the ones that have experienced the most success.
1. Pat Flynn: Smart Passive Income
The Smart Passive Income blog is run by Pat Flynn, who is one of the leaders in the field of digital marketing blogging.
Flynn uses his blog to share the ins and outs of how to maximize the potential of your blog or online business.
The blog also focuses on how you can make full use of passive income streams.
How Much Does Pat Flynn Make Per Month?
The monthly earnings that Flynn receives from his blog are approximately $170,000.
How Pat Flynn Makes Money
Smart Passive Income has a diverse set of income sources.
The blog makes a lot of money through affiliate marketing.
Additionally, the blog’s revenue is supplemented by the money that comes in from the sales of books and courses in which Flynn shares his expertise.
This is not to mention the revenues received from Flynn’s podcast sponsorships.
What Sets Pat Flynn Apart?
The main factor that sets the Smart Passive Income blog apart from the competition is that its founder, Pat Flynn, practices exactly what he preaches.
In turn, the incredible degree of success he’s reached makes his blog highly appealing to those trying to replicate his success.
2. Darren Rowse: ProBlogger
ProBlogger is a blog that was founded by Darren Rowse.
He created it with the intention of sharing knowledge regarding how aspiring bloggers can reach their fullest potential.
The blog offers thousands of posts with valuable information regarding blogging best practices.
It also provides several tutorials and online courses.
How Much Does Darren Rowse Make Per Month?
The exact amount that ProBlogger makes per month isn’t known.
However, it’s likely north of $100,000.
How Darren Rowse Makes Money
ProBlogger makes its money through several avenues.
The blog makes a significant portion of its revenues through affiliate marketing, ad networks, and direct revenue from ad sales.
However, the blog also has other revenue streams, such as money from membership fees and Ebook sales.
What Sets Darren Rowse Apart?
Let’s start with the obvious; the main reason why ProBlogger is so successful is the quality and usefulness of its content to viewers.
Plus, the creator of this blog is an expert who’s providing valuable insights regarding blogging.
Therefore, you’d expect him to be running his blog like a well-oiled machine.
3. Ryan Robinson: Ryrob.com
The Ryrob blog is yet another one that offers its audience advice and tips on how to grow their own blogs into successful and profitable ones.
It was created by Ryan Robinson who shares the knowledge he learned through his journey.
He outlines how he’s become a leader in the field of digital marketing.
Additionally, he tells his readers how he came to be a consultant for companies such as Adobe and Google.
How Much Does Ryan Robinson Make Per Month?
The Ryrob blog nets Robinson almost $40,000 a month, giving him a yearly revenue of about $500,000.
How Ryan Robinson Makes Money
The major revenue streams that the Ryrob blog depends on are affiliate marketing and money from the online courses the blog offers.
On top of that, Robinson engages in consulting with other companies, which is also a significant source of revenue.
What Sets Ryan Robinson Apart?
The thing that makes the Ryrob blog stand out is the founder’s excellent track record.
Viewers are comfortable taking advice from an individual that has experienced great personal success in blogging and that has worked with some of the world’s largest companies.
Examples of Successful Food Blogs
Here are some blogs that have had a great deal of success in providing their audience with food-related content.
1. Trevor and Jennifer Debth: Show Me The Yummy
Show Me The Yummy is a blog that was created by husband and wife Trevor and Jennifer Debth.
They started the blog with the objective of sharing their favorite foods and recipes with the world.
The recipes the blog offers viewers come from all sorts of cuisines.
How Much Does Show Me The Yummy Make Per Month?
The Show Me The Yummy blog nets its founding couple around $50,000 a month.
In fact, Show Me The Yummy is one the few blogs out there that publish monthly income reports on its website.
They do so as a way to help aspiring bloggers see what works and what doesn’t when it comes to blogging.
How Show Me The Yummy Makes Money
Show Me The Yummy makes a large chunk of its money through affiliate marketing and direct ad sales.
The blog also has a YouTube channel with about 16,000 subscribers which contributes to its income. Another source of its income is sponsored content and the video workshop offered by the blog.
What Sets Show Me The Yummy Apart?
While most food blogs focus exclusively on posting recipes, Show Me The Yummy has successfully expanded its domain to include food photography and videography.
This has given the blog an extra dimension that most other food blogs lack.
2. Lindsay and Bjork: Pinch of Yum
Pinch of Yum is a food blog that was started over 10 years ago by an elementary school teacher who decided that she wanted to share her love for food with the world.
This blog which started as a hobby has evolved into a highly profitable one that gets featured on huge platforms such as CNN and Huffpost.
How Much Does Pinch of Yum Make Per Month?
With well over a million visits per month, Pinch of Yum brings in just under $100,000.
This means that the blog clears a seven-figure revenue each year.
How Pinch of Yum Makes Money
The primary sources of revenue for Pinch of Yum are affiliate marketing, ad sales, and sponsored posts.
However, the blog’s revenue streams aren’t limited to just that.
Pinch of Yum also makes money from Ebook sales.
The blog’s best-selling publication is Tasty Food Photography by the blog’s founder, Lindsey.
What Sets Pinch of Yum Apart?
The reasons behind the great degree of success that Pinch of Yum has experienced are twofold.
Firstly, the blog was founded out of a passion for food and cooking, and this really shows in the quality of the content the blog offers.
Additionally, Pinch of Yum is highly efficient in its monetization of content, using a variety of strategies to translate its content into revenue.
Other Examples of Successful Blogs
1. Abby Lawson: Just a Girl and Her Blog
Just a Girl and Her Blog is a highly successful niche blog created by Abby Lawson.
As a mother of two toddlers, Abby constantly found herself living in a chaotic, cluttered home.
This inspired her to create a blog about organizing homes and spaces in general.
She uses her blog to share useful organizing tips and strategies with her audience.
How Much Does Abby Lawson Make Per Month?
Just a Girl and Her Blog nets between $40,000 and $50,000 for Abby Lawson in a typical month.
In a similar fashion to Show Me The Yummy, Abby shares monthly income reports on her blog’s website.
How Abby Lawson Makes Money
Just a Girl and Her Blog makes its money through several channels.
However, the primary source of income for the blog is the digital products it offers, as well as revenue from affiliate marketing.
Other sources of revenue include admission fees from online courses, in addition to ad sales.
What Sets Abby Lawson Apart?
What makes Just a Girl and Her Blog stand out from the millions of blogs on the internet is that there simply aren’t that many blogs centered around the issue that she tackles.
That, combined with the fact that home organization is an issue that resonates with a lot of people, has contributed greatly to the blog’s success.
2. Steve and Jennifer Chou: My Wife Quit Her Job
The story of My Wife Quit Her Job is quite unique.
It started with a couple that had become bored with their jobs and were looking for a change.
They decided to quit their jobs and start a wedding linen online business.
That business turned out to be a great success, leading them to start a blog chronicling their story.
They began sharing valuable tips on how to run a successful online business as well.
How Much Does My Wife Quit Her Job Make Per Month?
My Wife Quit Her Job brings in around $150,000 a month.
Fun fact: you can find detailed income reports published on the blog’s website.
How My Wife Quit Her Job Makes Money
This blog makes money in a variety of ways, the most significant of which are ad revenue and affiliate marketing.
It also generates revenue through podcast sponsorships and sales of the e-commerce online course it offers.
What Sets My Wife Quit Her Job Apart?
What sets My Wife Quit Her Job apart is the unique story behind it, as well as how accessible it is.
The way the blog started shows that you don’t have to settle for a job you don’t like and that there are other ways to make money.
3. Alborz Fallah: Car Expert
Car Expert is an Australian-based blog started by long-time car blogger Alborz Fallah in 2019.
This happened a few years after he had sold his previous blog, Car Advice, to Channel Nine.
The blog specializes in car reviews, comparisons, and news about the auto industry in general.
How Much Does Alborz Fallah Make Per Month?
The Car Expert blog is estimated to net Alborz Fallah around $125,000 each month.
How Alborz Fallah Makes Money
Car Expert generates revenues through affiliate marketing and ad revenues.
The blog also has sponsored partnerships with companies, such as 7news and PriceMyCar.
On top of that, the blog has a YouTube channel with almost 260,000 subscribers, which is another source of revenue.
What Sets Alborz Fallah Apart?
What sets Car Expert apart is its complete objectivity when reviewing cars.
The blog has a strict policy against sponsorships and deals with car manufacturers to maintain this neutrality.
This ensures that the blog’s audience is always getting an honest opinion.
Wrapping Up
When it comes to successful blogs, there are many factors that contribute to their high viewership and profitability.
In case you’re thinking of starting a blog, there are two main things you need to keep in mind.
That’s if you want your blog to reach the same level of success as the ones listed in this guide.
First, you need to create a blog that revolves around a topic that you’re passionate about, as well as one that’s relevant to a large and diverse group of people.
Additionally, you need to have a clear strategy on how you’re going to monetize your content.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop us a comment below.
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