Is Blogging Still Profitable In 2026?

A lot of people have been asking lately if blogging is still profitable.

The short answer is yes. I’m living proof that blogging is still a solid way to make money online.

I started my blog in 2022, and while it took about a year and a half before I started seeing any real income, it’s been picking up steam ever since.

I know people who’ve made money sooner, but I was definitely on the slower side.

Blogging is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but with consistency and the right strategy, it can absolutely become a reliable source of income. And no, you don’t need to be a tech wizard or influencer to make it happen.

Learn everything about blogging with Scale Your Travel Blog to Six Figures. I can’t recommend it strongly enough.

What is a Blog?

A blog is just a website with regularly updated content, usually articles (also called blog posts). You’ve probably landed on more blogs than you realize. Recipes, travel guides, how-to articles? All blogs.

Some people also do “vlogs,” or video blogs. It’s the same idea, just in video format. I stick with writing because that’s what I love, but vlogging is big too, especially if you’re comfortable on camera. A lot of people do both.

Why Be a Blogger?

There are many great reasons to be a blogger. For me, it’s all about the freedom to work where and when I want.

Blogging is Location Independent.

Blogging is a job you can do from anywhere as long as you have a laptop and internet. This is why travel blogs are so popular with digital nomads. We’re out here traveling the world, blogging, and making money. It’s fantastic!

You can even be a travel blogger without traveling. Your hometown can be a great niche all on its own.

This is what makes blogging such an attractive option for digital nomads. If you’re considering the digital nomad lifestyle, start your blog well in advance so you’ll be making money before setting out.

Blogging is Versatile

You can write about any subject that interests you. It doesn’t have to be travel. Food blogs are generally known to be the most profitable. (Too bad I can’t cook!)

You can write about homeschooling or childcare. Dog training blogs are also popular.

Basically, whatever you’re passionate about, you can write a blog about.

Make Money While You Sleep

Once your blog gets enough traffic, you can start earning money from multiple sources. Whether you decide to monetize your blog through ads, affiliate marketing, or selling products directly on your website, there are plenty of ways to make money blogging.

Creative Outlet for Sharing Your Stories

Blogging offers a unique opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas with the world while being rewarded for your hard work.

As a blogger, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field or just share interesting stories and anecdotes.

The possibilities are limitless. All it takes is dedication, creativity, and determination to succeed.

A woman drinking coffee working on a laptop.

How Do Blogs Make Money?

As mentioned before, there are a few ways you can make money from your blog. Many bloggers do all of these things.

Advertising

Once you have enough monthly visitors to your blog, you can apply to ad networks. It takes a lot of work and time to get to this point, but I know people who have done it in under a year. It took me a year and a half to qualify for an ad network.

Affiliate Marketing

This means you recommend a product or service, and if someone uses your link to purchase it, you get a commission.

You can start making money sooner with affiliate marketing than with ads, but you’re still going to need traffic to your site.

Don’t try to sell just anything with your blog. It’s best to only recommend products or services that you truly use and love. Recommending stuff just to make money is going to hurt your credibility.

All the affiliate links in this article (and everywhere in my blog) are for things that I (or people I know personally) use and love. I only promote products and services that I strongly believe in.

Sell Digital Products

The more formal term is eCommerce. I have bought some great spreadsheets from fellow bloggers. You can also sell books, ebooks, or courses.

Premium Content or Memberships

Many bloggers offer memberships where they provide advice or help. These can be about any topic. For example, a dog training blogger might have a membership where group training is provided.

Coaching or Consulting

Coaching and consulting are similar to memberships, but usually more of a one-on-one program. Consultants work with you directly in whatever area you need help in.

Sherry and her little, black dog, Shelby. — Me and my travel dog, Shelby.

How Do I Get My Blog Started?

Getting your blog up and running is easier than you might think. Here are the basic steps.

1. Take a Blogging Course

This step isn’t required, but I highly recommend taking a course before you get started. I see so many people wasting time fixing mistakes they made before they learned the right way to create a blog.

I took a course called Scale Your Travel Blog to Six Figures to get started blogging. It is amazing. You get so much information and help. The course actually walks you through every step of setting up your website.

There are a lot of tricks to know to optimize your site, so this is valuable information. It also saved me hours of time and a lot of stress.

A lot of people in the private Facebook group come in and say they’ve been blogging for years without success before taking the course. Once they learn how to start blogging the right way, they see the money start coming in.

2. Choose a Niche

In order for your blog to be profitable, you need to specialize in one particular area. It could be a city, country, or a type of travel if you’re a travel blogger.

It could be homeschooling. It could be converting vans to live in. Whatever you’re passionate about, focus your blog on that one thing. Or two related things.

The reason for this is that one of the things Google likes is expertise. The more posts you have about Croatia, the more Google will see that you’re an expert on the country. This boosts your posts over someone who blogs about everything under the sun.

In order to choose a profitable blog niche, make sure it’s one with an audience already. If people are already interested in a topic, it’s a good niche to choose.

Start reading up on existing blogs to see what’s out there. They may give you some inspiration.

I made a big mistake in choosing my niche. I wanted to write about becoming a digital nomad because that’s what I’m most passionate about. The problem is that the competition is too difficult for a newbie to get to the top of Google.

I do have some posts related to the digital nomad life, but I needed to wait until Google trusts me more before I could really dive into the subject.

I have had the same problem with travel with a dog. It’s a very competitive niche.

I branched out into Mexico travel since that’s where I’ve been for over two years and where I have the best chance of getting to the top of Google.

So I have three pillars of content. It’s not a good plan, and it took me longer to gain Google’s trust.

Don’t be like me. Choose one thing or place and write on it exclusively before moving on.

3. Name Your Blog

Numbers three and four go together. You want your domain name to reflect your blog name. As you’re brainstorming ideas for your blog’s names, check to see if the domain is available.

Your name should reflect what your blog is about, if at all possible. If you can get your niche in there, all the better.

Don’t overthink this, however. What your blog is called isn’t the most important thing and is not what’s going to get you on the top of Google.

4. Buy Your Domain Name

As soon as you know your niche and blog name, go ahead and buy the domain. GoDaddy is an easy place to purchase your domain name. You can always transfer it to your website host if you want.

Be careful when looking at available domains. Some cost $20 to purchase while others cost thousands of dollars.

5. Define Your Audience

Think about who you’re writing for. Are they parents? Retirees? Budget travelers? Be specific.

Knowing your audience helps you create content that actually helps them and keeps them coming back.

6. Build Your Website

The best platform for blogging is WordPress.org. Don’t get confused with WordPress.com. They’re different. It’s the .org one that you want.

Next, you need a host. There are many website hosts out there at a variety of price points.

Beware that you get what you pay for. A budget host will be slower and not provide great service. It’s important to start out with a good platform and host because site speed is very important.

My blog is hosted by Lyrical and I highly recommend them. They keep my site fast, have great security, and do daily backups.

Lyrical also has amazing customer service, making it super easy for non-techie people.

7. Start Writing

Now just start writing! Well, there is a bit more to it than that. You need to do some keyword research to make sure you can get your posts on top of Google.

Keysearch is the best tool in my opinion. You get a ton of tools besides keyword help, including content optimization.

What Do I Need to Know to Be a Blogger?

Here are some of the primary skills and concepts you’ll want to get familiar with:

Niche selection
High-quality content creation
Understanding your audience
SEO basics
Marketing and promotion
Monetization strategies
Basic website management
Using analytics
Being patient and consistent

Is Blogging Worth It?

It’s not easy and it’s not fast, but for me, blogging is worth it. I’ve been working hard at it for a while, and I’m finally seeing some income from my blog.

Earning a living as a blogger is the ultimate freedom. If you do it right and see it through, it can be well worth the effort.

The answer to how profitable blogging is depends completely on you. If you’re willing to put in the work, it can be a great way to make money.

Woman with a laptop and some cash answers the question "is blogging still profitable?"

Frequently Asked Questions: Are Blogs Still Profitable?

How do I start a blog?

Choose a niche, pick a name, buy your domain, get hosting, and start writing.

What should I blog about?

You can blog about anything that you are passionate about or have expertise in. It can be a hobby, a personal interest, or a business niche.

How often should I blog?

There is no set rule on how often you should blog. However, it is recommended to publish new content on a regular basis, such as weekly or bi-weekly. This will keep your audience engaged and interested in your blog.

How do I promote my blog?

There are various ways to promote your blog, such as social media marketing, email marketing, guest posting, and SEO. You can also use paid advertising to reach a wider audience.

How do I monetize my blog?

There are several ways to monetize your blog, such as affiliate marketing, sponsored content, advertising, and selling digital products or services.

How important is SEO for my blog?

SEO (search engine optimization) is essential for your blog as it helps you to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

How long does it take to see results from my blog?

The time it takes to see results from your blog depends on various factors, such as your niche, your target audience, and your content quality. Generally, it may take several months or even years to build a sizable audience and see significant results.

Is blogging saturated?

Yes, blogging is pretty saturated. It’s estimated that there are 600 million blogs worldwide! That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for you though. Make sure you provide better content than your competitors and you can still be a successful blogger.

The Bottom Line: Is Blogging Still Profitable?

Not only is blogging profitable, but it’s a great way to make money as a digital nomad. As long as you don’t expect to make money overnight and you’re willing to put in the work, you can be a profitable blogger.

I personally know bloggers who make over $100,000 a year. It’s 100% possible.

Are you thinking of blogging as a way to become a digital nomad? Like I said, it’s a great option. Check out my book for everything you need to know to become a digital nomad.

Ladies, join my free, private Facebook group, Women Over 50 Digital Nomads. It’s a safe place to connect, learn, and thrive as a digital nomad. You don’t need to be over 50 but you do need to be a woman.