Have you ever wondered why some types of blogs that make money have long-term success while others barely scrape by?
I feel like I’ve seen it all when it comes to blogs — including the good, the bad, and the unprofitable.
And I’ll be honest: In 2024, certain blog types will be far more lucrative than others. So if you want to make money blogging, certain niches will make your job much easier (especially for affiliate marketing websites).
In this article, I’ll talk about what makes a blog profitable. As a bonus, I’ll also give you my top 10 recommendations for lucrative blog niches and tips on how to make money blogging, even if you don’t have a big budget to work with.
Let’s get started.
What Makes a Blog Profitable?
A profitable blog has a few distinct characteristics that make it stand out.
To start, a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is crucial. Your blog should offer a distinctive element — content, style, or perspective — not readily available elsewhere. The SEO copywriting that makes your blog unique will draw readers and keep them coming back.
Additionally, you’ll want to be solution-driven. Blogs that address specific problems or answer key questions tend to attract more dedicated followers. People are looking for resources that provide tangible help or insights into their challenges.
Finally, your blog has to be relevant and evolve with your audience and current trends. Staying relevant means continuously updating your content and engaging with emerging topics or shifts in your niche.
10 Best Blog Niches: Make Money Blogging
Now let’s dive into the top 10 types of blogs that make money in 2024.
1. Food Blogs
Food bloggers share recipes, cooking tips, and stories. They typically generate income through advertising, cookbook sales, and affiliate marketing focusing on kitchen tools or ingredients.
Nom Nom Paleo is a good example of a popular food blog.
Michelle Tam has developed a passionate paleo following with Asian-inspired recipes and vibrant step-by-step photography. She has three cookbooks available, sells ad space on her blog, and features affiliate links to ingredients and equipment.
2. Finance Blogs
Finance blogs offer personal finance, investing, and money management advice and insights. These blogs earn money primarily through affiliate marketing, offering financial products, sponsored posts, and, at times, subscription-based models for exclusive content.
Get Rich Slowly is a notable example in this YMYL niche. J.D. Roth started this site in 2006, and made a name for himself by providing readers with realistic and relatable financial advice.
Although J.D. no longer actively contributes to the site, Get Rich Slowly’s posts connect readers with practical guidance on managing their finances. There’s banner advertising on the site, and in the past, J.D. and his team have offered digital courses and audiobooks.
3. Beauty and Fashion Blogs
Beauty and fashion blogs are vibrant spaces where bloggers share trends, beauty tips, product reviews, and personal style advice. These blogs typically monetize through affiliate links, brand sponsorships, and creating their own product lines.
The Blonde Salad, founded by Chiara Ferragni, blends fashion, beauty, and lifestyle topics in its content. It’s evolved into a full-fledged brand, with its own clothing line and collaborations with major fashion labels.
4. DIY Blogs
DIY (do-it-yourself) blogs cater to audiences interested in crafting, home improvement, and creative projects. Bloggers in the DIY niche typically earn revenue through sponsored content, advertisem*nts, and, occasionally, by selling their own guides or project plans.
The Sorry Girls is a prominent example of a thriving DIY blog.
Known for their innovative and budget-friendly DIY projects, The Sorry Girls have built a substantial following by offering easy-to-follow tutorials and creative ideas.
Their success is rooted in their ability to inspire and engage DIY enthusiasts. With the right content and a unique voice, DIY blogs can win SERP features and turn a hobby into a profitable online business.
5. Parenting Blogs
Parenting blogs provide advice and resources for parents and caregivers, and often share firsthand parenting stories. These blogs typically monetize through ads, sponsored content, affiliate marketing for baby and child-related products, and through selling digital products like e-books or courses.
Jenny Lawson of The Bloggess is one of the original “mommy bloggers.” She has a large and loyal online following. Jenny is known for her humorous and candid approach to parenting and mental health. Her content resonates with parents who appreciate her blend of irreverence and sincerity.
Authenticity is key to Jenny’s blogging success, and she’s published three bestselling memoirs.
6. Health and Wellness Blogs
As a health and wellness blogger, you write about fitness, nutrition, and overall well-being. Blogs in this niche generate income through a combination of sponsored content, affiliate marketing for health and fitness products, and by offering personalized coaching or selling digital products like workout plans and ebooks.
The Nerd Fitness blog has become a runaway success because it targets a specific audience — fitness enthusiasts who identify with the nerd or geek culture.
Founder Steve Kamb earns revenue through the Nerd Fitness Academy, a paid online fitness community offering tailored workouts, nutrition plans, and support from fitness coaches.
He’s also published a popular book titled Level Up Your Life: How to Unlock Adventure and Happiness by Becoming the Hero of Your Own Story.
7. Technology Blogs
Technology bloggers cover the latest trends, product reviews, and insights into the tech industry. These types of blogs that make money often earn income through advertising, affiliate marketing, and collaborations with tech companies.
Bernard Marr, a top technology blogger and LinkedIn content creator, is known for his deep knowledge of big data and AI.
He’s built a reputation as a leading voice in the tech world, and monetizes his expertise by writing books, speaking at industry events, and providing consulting services to businesses.
Bernard’s site exemplifies how a technology blog can be the foundation for a broader, highly profitable professional portfolio.
How-To Geek is another tech blog example.
This site has carved a niche by providing easy-to-understand tech guides, tips, and reviews. While it might not be as large as some industry giants, How-To Geek demonstrates profitability through targeted advertising and affiliate links for tech products. SEO and SEM boost the site’s clear, helpful content, which appeals to both tech novices and enthusiasts.
8. Travel Blogs
Travel blogs offer insights, tips, and personal experiences about various destinations around the world. Bloggers in this space typically monetize through affiliate marketing, sponsored content, travel writing assignments, and selling travel-related products or guides.
The Cheapest Destinations Blog specializes in budget travel and provides readers with practical advice on how to explore the world without breaking the bank. This focus on affordable travel has also opened up opportunities for affiliate partnerships with budget travel services and products.
Founder Tim Leffel has also written several travel books, and manages a network of travel influencers called the 360 Degree Travel Network.
9. Pet Blogs
Whether furry, scaly, or feathered, people love their pets — which means a golden opportunity to make money blogging.
In the U.S., over 90 million households have pets, and caring for our animal companions isn’t cheap. In 2020, Americans spent upwards of $103 billion on their pets, including food, accessories, and medicines. These expenditures translate into many topics and products for pet blogs to cover and multiple avenues for monetization.
The Spruce Pets is a prime example of a blog that makes money, with its impressive annual readership of 140 million.
The website generates revenue through advertising, with banner ads strategically placed above the fold and along the sidebar in most articles.
Affiliate marketing is another significant source of income for The Spruce Pets. The site has a dedicated pet product review section with affiliate links.
10. Personal Development Blogs
Personal development blogs focus on self-improvement, life skills, and personal growth. They often generate revenue through a mix of book sales, online courses, speaking engagements, and branded products.
Gretchen Rubin is known in the personal development space for her insightful content on happiness and habits. Her blog serves as a platform for promoting her books, which delve deeper into the themes of her blog posts.
In addition to book sales, Rubin offers online courses and workshops. These provide a more interactive and personalized experience for her audience, enabling her to monetize her expertise in a format that extends beyond traditional blogging.
Gretchen also leverages her brand to create and sell related physical products that help readers apply her advice in their daily lives.
How to Find a Profitable Blog Niche
Identifying a profitable blog niche isn’t just about finding a trendy topic. You’ll need to identify the intersection between the demands of the market and your interests and skills.
From my experience, the journey begins with thorough competitor research. When I first started blogging, I spent hours analyzing what successful bloggers were doing. I didn’t do this to copy their efforts, but to understand gaps in the market and areas where I could complement what you’ll find in SEO books.
Niche profitability is a crucial factor. For instance, while exploring potential niches, I performed category analysis.
This meant looking at various blog categories and assessing their audience size, engagement levels, and the types of monetization methods they were using. It was essential to identify areas that interested me and had a proven track record of profitability.
Personal skills and passions play a significant role too. In my case, I leaned towards topics where I had both expertise and passion. This combination is powerful because it allows you to create content that resonates with your audience and showcases your unique perspective.
Remember, choosing a niche where you have personal investment and knowledge can significantly increase your chances of success.
Frequently Asked Questions About Types of Blogs That Make Money
Here are a few of the most common questions people ask me about types of blogs that make money.
1. Which type of blog is best for earning money?
The most lucrative blogs cater to specific, passionate online audiences. Niches like finance, technology, health and wellness, and travel tend to be highly profitable. No matter what niche you choose, you’ll need to provide unique, valuable content that resonates with your audience, and use effective monetization strategies such as affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and digital product creation.
2. Can you make $1,000 a month with a blog?
Yes, earning $1,000 a month with a blog is possible. Many bloggers achieve this by diversifying their income streams through advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and selling their own products or services. The time it takes to reach this level can vary based on factors like niche, the quality and consistency of content, and marketing and monetization strategies. Persistence and dedication are key.
3. What types of blogs are the most successful?
The most successful blogs typically provide high-quality, valuable content in a niche with a strong audience demand. With a unique voice and perspective, you can build a successful blog in an area like personal finance, health and wellness, technology, or pet care. You’ll need to engage with your audience, stay consistent with content publication, optimize content for search, and build backlinks to boost your SEO.
How to Monetize Your Blog on a Budget
Starting a blog can be an affordable way to enter the world of online business. You can use several cost-effective blog income strategies to start monetizing almost immediately.
1. Ad Campaigns
Ad campaigns are a straightforward way to begin earning money. The setup is simple: once approved for an ad network, you can start displaying ads on your blog. You’ll earn money based on either clicks or impressions. The key to bringing in significant ad revenue is traffic — the more visitors your blog has, the more you can potentially earn.
2. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is another effective monetization strategy, especially when operating on a budget. Promoting products or services means you earn a commission for every sale made through your unique affiliate link. The trick is to choose affiliate products that align with your blog’s niche and content.
For instance, if you run a fitness blog, you could promote fitness gear, supplements, or workout apps. This method requires minimal investment and can be highly lucrative if you have engaged and targeted traffic.
Consider adding affiliate links to content pillars that attract more visitors.
3. Selling Physical or Digital Products
Even on a low budget, selling products is feasible. You can create digital products like courses, e-books, templates, or printable materials with little to no upfront costs, apart from your time. These products are easy to distribute and can provide a steady income stream if you market them consistently and drive traffic to your site.
Physical products require a bit more investment, but it can be a profitable avenue if you have a unique product idea that resonates with your audience. Platforms like Etsy or Shopify can facilitate selling physical products without needing a large budget.
If you’d like to learn how to sell more products online, join the TTT Academy to take our course on best practices for an e-commerce blog.
How to Turn Your Blog Into a Money-Maker
We’ve covered some of the best blog niches if you’re looking to make money creating online content. From food to finance, DIY to parenting, each of these niches offers a myriad of opportunities for monetization in 2024.
Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or just starting, you can build a highly profitable blog. You just need to align your content with the right audience and employ effective monetization tactics. With persistence, creativity, and strategic planning, your blog can thrive and attract a loyal audience — while you reap the financial benefits.
If you want to learn how to build a website that brings in passive income, check out my course in TTT Academy: Creating a Money Site from Scratch.
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