Many people think setting up a new blog will cost them hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. While that can be the case, there are much cheaper options. I set up this blog over the weekend for just $33.
Before I explain the setup, there are a few things you should know
When I create new blogs and websites, I aim to spend as little as possible. Some will work and some will fail, so there’s no point in spending a lot of money upfront to get the perfect site with the perfect logo.
What I prefer to do is build a site that’s good enough. Then I start adding content and see how much traffic I get. If the traffic is too low, I can just dump the site easily.
If the site gets traction and starts earning money, I can pay to upgrade the site if I think that will help.
So, don’t expect my site to be perfect. It’s not. And it’s not meant to be.
Why have I built this site?
I’ve been writing on Medium for the last year, but at the moment it feels like a dying platform. The majority of my posts have earned $0 this month. Out of 419 posts, only 135 have earned any money this month. Many only earned $0.01.
That means that I have almost 284 posts just sitting there, wasted. Earning nothing.
Over the coming weeks and months, I’ll be transferring many of these posts to this site. This should give them a new lease of life.
Building a valuable asset
Building my own site also means I’m building a potentially valuable asset. Websites and blogs that earn money can be sold for around 30-50 times their monthly profit.
If this blog earns me $100 a month, I could sell it for $3,000 to $5,000.
If it earns $1,000 a month, it could be worth $30,000 to $50,000. I had a travel blog that earned $1,000 a month that I sold for $25,000. Prices have risen since then.
Buyers are queueing up to buy sites that earn money every month. They offer an excellent return for investors.
Building the site
To get started with your own blog or website, you generally need three things.
A domain name.
Hosting – the site needs to be hosted on servers so that the general public can access it.
A website – for most people, this will be a WordPress site.
Here are the services that I used
Domain name
I usually buy my domain names from Namecheap.com. I’ve used them for years and have always had great support when needed. Their prices are very reasonable. A domain generally costs around $10.
I just checked the current prices and they show as $9.58 for the first year for a .com domain. Renewals will cost $13.98 a year. If you’re new to Namecheap, you can use discount code NEWCOM698 to get the domain for $6.98.
Hosting
For the hosting, I chose Bluehost. Their current best offer is $2.95 a month. You have to pay for the first year in advance though, which makes the price $35.40 for the year.
This is the offer I chose. I then clicked around and a pop-up window showed a reduced price of $2.75 a month if I bought it right away, which I did.
That means I paid just $33 for a year’s hosting. You should note that this is shared hosting. After the first year, the cost will rise to $9.95 a month. Hopefully, your site will be earning enough by then to justify the cost. You’re free to move the hosting and find another starter offer if you prefer.
This Bluehost offer includes a free domain name. I didn’t take up that part of the offer, as I prefer to keep my domain names with different companies than those I host with. I’ve heard too many horror stories of people wanting to change hosting companies but having a problem with accessing their domains. These are general stories and not specifically related to Bluehost.
The above is an affiliate link and I’ll be compensated if you buy hosting via this link.
I am recommending them because I use them myself.
WordPress Theme
Once you have your domain and hosting set up, Bluehost will automatically set up a WordPress site for you. They offer a few basic themes, but I didn’t like any of them. You can use them if they suit you, but it’s easy to find and install a different theme.
I’ve found the theme fairly easy to use and think it looks pretty good for a free theme. There’s also a Pro version that has more features.
Whether you use a free or premium (paid) theme is up to you, but as I mentioned above, there’s no need to go spending money on a premium theme right away. You can easily upgrade later.
Once you’ve chosen your WP theme, you need to install it onto your WordPress site. This is very straightforward.
After that, it will need some customizing. This can be a bit of a learning curve if you’ve never used WordPress. I’ll write another post that shows how I got my set up.
One thing I’d suggest before customizing the theme is writing a few blog posts. Or just copy posts you already have on Medium. This will make the customization easier. If you don’t have any posts or if you just have one, the site won’t look good and it will be difficult, or impossible, to see what’s going on.
I would suggest one post for each of your categories. As you can see from the top menu on my site, I have seven main categories. I may add more later though.
Success is a subjective concept that means different things to different people. For some, it may be achieving financial stability, while for others it could be pursuing their passions and finding personal fulfillment.
Regardless of what success means to you, there are certain habits and behaviors that highly successful people tend to adopt and cultivate in order to achieve their goals. Here are 10 such habits that you can adopt today to help you on your path to success:
Habit #1 — They set clear goals
Successful people know exactly what they want to achieve and have a clear plan in place to get there. They set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for themselves and regularly review their progress to ensure they are on track.
Habit #2 — They prioritize their time
Successful people understand the value of their time and make the most of it by prioritizing their tasks and activities. They focus on what is most important and eliminate or delegate anything that is not essential.
Habit #3 — They are lifelong learners
Successful people recognize that learning is a continuous process and make an effort to constantly expand their knowledge and skills. They seek out new experiences, take on challenges, and embrace opportunities to learn and grow.
Habit #4 — They have a growth mindset
Successful people are not discouraged by setbacks and failures, but rather see them as opportunities to learn and improve. They have a growth mindset and believe that with hard work and determination, they can overcome any obstacle.
Habit #5 — They are consistent
Successful people understand the importance of consistency and discipline in achieving their goals. They stick to their habits and routines, even when it’s not convenient or easy, and consistently put in the effort required to succeed.
Habit #6 — They are adaptable
Successful people are able to adapt to changing circumstances and pivot when necessary. They are open to new ideas and approaches, and are not afraid to try something new if it will help them achieve their goals.
Habit #7 — They are positive
Successful people have a positive attitude and outlook on life. They focus on the good, rather than dwelling on the negative, and believe that they have the power to shape their own destiny.
Habit #8 — They are persistent
Successful people do not give up easily and are determined to see things through to the end. They understand that success often requires perseverance and the ability to keep going even when faced with challenges and setbacks.
Habit #9 — They are resilient
Successful people are able to bounce back from adversity and setbacks. They have mental and emotional strength, and are able to recover quickly from setbacks and move on to the next challenge.
Habit #10 — They are proactive
Successful people take initiative and are proactive in pursuing their goals. They do not wait for opportunities to come to them, but rather create their own opportunities and make things happen.
By adopting these habits and behaviors, you can set yourself up for success in whatever endeavors you pursue. It may not be easy, and it will require effort and dedication, but the rewards of achieving your goals and reaching your full potential will be well worth it.
Photo by Kyle Bushnell on Unsplash
We would all like some extra cash and often struggle for ideas of how to get it. What if I told you that you likely have $1,000 hidden in your home? IT’s true. Many people have this amount and often more. Of course, not everyone does. But even if you manage to find $100, that’s still better than nothing.
There are many things that people have at home that they can sell to make $1,000. Some examples include:
#1 Furniture
People often have furniture that they no longer need or want, such as couches, tables, beds, and dressers. You can sell these items on sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or through local classified ads.
Here are three tips for selling furniture:
Clean and repair the furniture: Before you list your furniture for sale, make sure it is clean and in good repair. This will make it more appealing to potential buyers and increase the chances that you will be able to sell it.
Take good photos: When selling furniture online, good photos are crucial. Take pictures of the furniture from multiple angles and in good lighting. This will help potential buyers get a sense of what the furniture looks like and whether it will fit in their space.
Price it competitively: Research similar items that are currently being sold and use that information to determine a competitive price for your furniture. Don’t price it too high or too low, as either can turn off potential buyers.
#2 Electronics
Many people have old electronics that they no longer use, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. You can sell these items on sites like eBay, Amazon, or through local classified ads.
Here are four tips for selling electronics:
Research the market value: Before you list your electronic item for sale, do some research to determine its market value. This will help you price it competitively and increase the chances that it will sell.
Test the item and include details in the listing: Make sure the electronic item is in good working order before you list it for sale. Test it and make note of any issues in the listing. Include as many details as possible, such as the model number, storage capacity, and any included accessories.
Take good photos: When selling electronics online, good photos are crucial. Take pictures of the item from multiple angles and in good lighting. This will help potential buyers get a sense of what the item looks like and whether it meets their needs.
Offer a warranty or return policy: Consider offering a warranty or return policy to increase buyer confidence and make the sale. This can be especially important for electronics, which can be expensive and may have hidden issues that are not immediately apparent.
#3 Clothing
If you have gently used clothing that you no longer wear, you can sell it on sites like Poshmark, Depop, or ThredUp.
Here are four tips for selling clothing:
Clean and repair the clothing: Before you list your clothing for sale, make sure it is clean and in good repair. This will make it more appealing to potential buyers and increase the chances that you will be able to sell it.
Take good photos: When selling clothing online, good photos are crucial. Take pictures of the clothing from multiple angles and in good lighting. This will help potential buyers get a sense of what the clothing looks like and whether it will fit them.
Price it competitively: Research similar items that are currently being sold and use that information to determine a competitive price for your clothing. Don’t price it too high or too low, as either can turn off potential buyers.
Provide accurate sizing and product details: Include accurate sizing information and as many details as possible about the clothing in the listing. This will help potential buyers know what to expect when they receive the item and reduce the likelihood of returns.
#4 Books
If you have a large collection of books that you no longer want, you can sell them on sites like Amazon or eBay.
Here are four tips for selling books on Amazon:
Research the market value: Before you list your book for sale, do some research to determine its market value. This will help you price it competitively and increase the chances that it will sell.
Provide detailed product information: Make sure to include accurate and detailed information about the book in the listing, including the title, author, publisher, and ISBN number.
Offer fast and reliable shipping: Consider offering fast and reliable shipping options to increase buyer satisfaction and encourage repeat business.
Consider offering a return policy: Consider offering a return policy to increase buyer confidence and make the sale. This is especially important for books, as buyers may want to return a book if it is not in the condition they expected.
#5 Collectibles
If you have collectibles that are in good condition, you can sell them on sites like eBay or through specialty collectors’ stores.
Here are three tips for selling books on collectibles:
Provide detailed product information: Make sure to include accurate and detailed information about the collectible in the listing, including its age, condition, and any relevant history or provenance.
Consider offering a return policy: Consider offering a return policy to increase buyer confidence and make the sale. This is especially important for collectibles, as buyers may want to return a collectible if it is not in the condition they expected.
Sell to specialty collectors’ stores: If you are unable to sell your collectible online, you may be able to sell it to a specialty collectors’ store in your area. These stores often deal in specific types of collectibles and may be interested in buying yours.
#6 Handmade items
If you are skilled at making crafts, you can sell your handmade items on sites like Etsy or at local craft fairs.
Here are five tips for selling handmade items:
Choose a niche: Consider specializing in a particular type of handmade item, such as jewelry, clothing, or home decor. This will help you build a loyal customer base and increase the chances that your items will sell.
Take good photos: When selling handmade items online, good photos are crucial. Take pictures of the items from multiple angles and in good lighting. This will help potential buyers get a sense of what the items look like and whether they meet their needs.
Price your items competitively: Research similar handmade items that are currently being sold and use that information to determine a competitive price for your items. Don’t price them too high or too low, as either can turn off potential buyers.
Offer customization options: Consider offering customization options for your handmade items, such as the ability to choose different colors or add personalization. This can make your items more unique and increase the chances that they will sell.
Promote your items: Use social media and other online platforms to promote your handmade items and reach a wider audience. Consider setting up a website or an Etsy shop to make it easier for customers to find and purchase your items.
#7 Services
If you have a particular skill or talent, you can offer services like photography, tutoring, or home repair to make money. You can advertise your services on sites like Craigslist or through local classified ads.
Here are four tips for selling services online:
Choose a niche: Consider specializing in a particular type of service, such as photography, writing, or home repair. This will help you build a loyal customer base and increase the chances that your services will sell.
Create a website or online portfolio: Having a website or online portfolio will make it easier for potential customers to learn more about your services and see examples of your work.
Use social media and other online platforms to promote your services: Use social media and other online platforms to reach a wider audience and promote your services. Consider setting up a Facebook page or an Instagram account to showcase your work and interact with potential customers.
Offer excellent customer service: Providing excellent customer service can help you stand out from the competition and encourage repeat business. Be responsive to customer inquiries, deliver on time, and go above and beyond to exceed customer expectations.
We’d all like more money so that we can feel more secure and enjoy a better quality of life.
Fortunately, there are several tried-and-trusted ways that we can build wealth. Anyone can do these as long as they’re prepared to put in some work.
#1 Invest in real estate
One way to build wealth quickly is to invest in real estate by purchasing a rental property or flipping houses. Real estate can be a lucrative investment because it has the potential for high returns, particularly if you can buy low and sell high.
When buying real estate, you can choose between residential and commercial properties.
It is not necessarily the case that commercial real estate is a better investment than residential real estate or vice versa. Both types of real estate can be good investments, and which is a better investment will depend on various factors such as the location, demand for the property, and the specific details of the investment.
Here are a few differences between a commercial and residential real estate that may help you determine which one is a better investment for you:
Rental income: Commercial properties tend to generate higher rental income than residential properties. This is because they are often leased to businesses, which may be willing to pay higher rent than individual renters. However, commercial properties may also have longer vacancy periods, so you must consider this when evaluating the potential rental income.
Financing: It may be easier to obtain financing for a residential property than a commercial one, as lenders may view residential properties as safer investments. However, commercial properties may also offer more favorable terms, such as longer loan terms and lower interest rates, making them more attractive investments.
Management: Managing a commercial property can be more complex than managing a residential property, as you will need to deal with the needs of multiple tenants and may need to provide additional amenities. This can require more time and effort, but it may also result in higher profits.
Ultimately, deciding whether to invest in commercial or residential real estate will depend on your goals, risk tolerance, and available resources. It may be helpful to speak with a financial advisor or real estate professional to determine which type of real estate investment is right for you.
#2 Start a business
Another way to build wealth quickly is to start your own business. This could be a brick-and-mortar business or an online business, and it could be something that you are passionate about or something that you are knowledgeable about. The key is to find a market need and fill it in a profitable way.
Here are three business ideas that can be started with little cash:
Freelance services: If you have a skill or talent that you can offer as a service, such as writing, design, or marketing, you can start a freelance business. Many freelancers start out working from home, which can help to keep costs low.
Online store: Another business idea that can be started with little cash is an online store. There are many platforms that make it easy to set up and manage an e-commerce business, and you can sell products that you have made yourself or source products from wholesalers.
Social media consulting: If you have expertise in social media marketing, you could start a business offering consulting and management services to small businesses and individuals. This can be a low-cost way to get started, as you can likely do much of the work from your home and will only need a computer and internet access to get started.
It is worth noting that starting any business, even a small one, will require effort and dedication. It is important to do your research, create a business plan, and be prepared to put in the work to make your business a success.
#3 Invest in stocks
Investing in stocks can be a fast way to build wealth, particularly if you are able to identify undervalued stocks that have the potential to increase in value over time. It is important to do your research and invest wisely, as the stock market can be volatile.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether it is best to invest in individual stocks or an index fund. The decision will depend on your investment goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon.
Here are a few points to consider when deciding between individual stocks and an index fund:
Diversification: One advantage of investing in an index fund is that it offers diversification, as it holds a basket of stocks that represent a particular market or sector. This can help to reduce the risk of your portfolio, as it is not reliant on the performance of any one individual stock. In contrast, investing in individual stocks means that you are putting all of your eggs in one basket, which can be riskier.
Fees: Another factor to consider is the fees associated with each type of investment. Index funds tend to have lower fees than actively managed funds, as they are not trying to outperform the market. This can make them a more cost-effective investment option. Individual stocks do not have management fees, but you may incur trading fees when buying and selling them.
Time and effort: Investing in individual stocks requires more time and effort than investing in an index fund, as you will need to research and select the stocks you want to buy. If you do not have the time or expertise to do this, an index fund may be a more convenient investment option.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to invest in individual stocks or an index fund will depend on your personal circumstances and investment goals. It may be helpful to speak with a financial advisor or professional to determine which option is right for you.
#4 Invest in yourself
Another way to build wealth quickly is to invest in yourself, whether that means improving your skills and education, networking, or developing a new stream of income. By increasing your value to others, you can potentially increase your earning potential and build wealth more quickly.
Investing in yourself can be a great way to build wealth, as it can increase your value to others and potentially increase your earning power. Here are a few ways to invest in yourself:
Enhance your skills and education: One way to invest in yourself is to enhance your skills and education through training, coursework, or earning additional degrees. This can make you more competitive in the job market and increase your earning potential.
Network: Building a strong network of professional contacts can be a valuable investment in yourself. Networking can help you learn about new job opportunities, get advice from others in your field, and make connections that can help you advance your career.
Start a side hustle: If you have a skill or hobby that you are passionate about, consider starting a side hustle or freelance business. This can be a great way to earn extra income and potentially turn your passion into a full-time career.
Prioritize your physical and mental health: Investing in your physical and mental health is also a way to invest in yourself. This can include activities such as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and practicing stress management techniques. Taking care of your health can help you feel your best and perform at your highest level.
Learn a new language: Learning a new language can be a valuable investment in yourself, as it can open up new job opportunities, allow you to communicate with a wider range of people, and broaden your cultural understanding.
#5 Save and budget wisely
Finally, one of the most straightforward ways to build wealth quickly is to save and budget wisely. This means spending less than you earn, investing your savings in a high-yield savings account or other low-risk investment, and being disciplined about sticking to a budget. By saving and budgeting wisely, you can build a strong financial foundation that will allow you to build wealth more quickly over time.
On 14 November, I wrote my last regular story on Medium. After a year, it was no longer worth writing regularly. My views and earnings have kept dropping every month since last April.
But I still write and publish the odd update here and there.
In December, I only published 4 stories. So, it’s heartening to have earned $77.43 for such little work.
I suspect that January’s earnings will be even lower though.
Views
Medium views for December 2022 — Screenshot by the author
In November, my stories were viewed 8,617 times. In December, that dropped over 58% to just 3,564. That’s the lowest ever.
The 4 stories I published in December only got 501 views. So, over 85% of views were from stories published before December.
Audience
Medium audience for December 2022 — Screenshot by the author
My number of followers rose 165 to reach 4,901. I am surprised about this. It seems weird that people are still following me when I write so infrequently.
I also gained one email subscriber. I’m now at 141.
I didn’t get any new referrals, but I didn’t lose any either. The 15 referrals I have contributed $31.19 to my earnings.
Earnings
Medium earnings for December 2022 — Screenshot by the author
My earnings came in at $77.43. That’s a drop of over 50% from November’s $155.98.
It’s a drop of over 95% from April’s $1,695.06
December’s earnings were made up of $31.19 from referrals, $13.69 from the 4 stories I published in December, and $32.55 from stories published before December.
December’s stories earned an average of $3.42 each. I could earn more writing for a content mill. I don’t have any plans to do that though. I have bigger fish to fry.
You may think I earned so little because I only wrote 4 articles. What if I’d written 40 instead? I’d likely have made $136.90 for the new ones. That would take my monthly earnings to around $200. Maybe readers would also have read some of my older articles more often, but it would still be a lot of work for next to no return.
I need to focus on my blog, which is giving a higher return at the moment.
438 stories earned $46.24. That means that each story earned an average of $0.10. That’s pretty pitiful.
In complete contrast, my Side Hustle Monkey website earned $65 from 17 posts. That’s $3.82 per post. It’s even more amazing because only one of those posts has an affiliate link that made the money.
What lies ahead?
I’ll probably continue to write a handful of articles every month. These will likely be monthly Medium updates and monthly blog updates.
I wrote about how the Medium subscription fee is likely to rise soon. If this means writers start earning more money, I might consider writing a few extra stories to see if it’s worth it. No promises though.
Apart from that, most of 2023 will be spent traveling. My wife has her visa sorted out, so we’ll be starting our travels around mid-January. We’ll be booking the flights next week.
New writers on Medium often don’t know what the best approach is for building a following and earning a side income on the site.
So, if you are a new writer looking to establish yourself on Medium, here are a few suggestions that may be helpful:
Choose a niche or topic that you are passionate about and knowledgeable about. This will make it easier for you to write about the subject, and it will also make your writing more authentic and engaging for your readers.
Write high-quality, well-written articles. Take the time to research and fact-check your work, and be sure to proofread and edit your writing carefully.
Use images, videos, and other media to enhance your stories and make them more visually appealing.
Engage with your readers by responding to comments and promoting your work on social media and other platforms.
Consider joining a writing community or joining a publication to get feedback on your work and connect with other writers.
Remember, it can take time to build an audience and establish yourself as a writer on Medium. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results, and keep working on improving your craft and building your platform.
Most writers give up within 6 months. Nearly all give up with a year. Very few keep writing for 5 years. Maybe only 1%. It’s that 1% that makes most of the money here.
Do you want to be a part of the 1%? If the answer is yes, then you need to put in the work.
Just like building wealth, it’s the 1% that tend to put in the work to build that wealth. The 99% just complain instead of doing the work.
What type of stories earn the most money?
It is difficult to determine exactly what type of stories earn the most money on Medium, as it can depend on a variety of factors such as the subject matter, the quality of the writing, the popularity of the topic, and the size of the author’s audience. That being said, some types of stories that may have the potential to earn more money on Medium include:
In-depth, well-researched articles on timely and popular topics
Personal essays or memoirs that resonate with readers
Stories that offer unique perspectives or insights on current events or trends
Practical guides or how-to articles on topics that are in demand
Stories that tell compelling, heartfelt, or inspiring stories
It’s important to note that earning money on Medium is not guaranteed, and it can take time and effort to build an audience and establish yourself as a writer on the platform.
I’ve started wondering recently whether Medium is the right place for me. I enjoy writing there and interacting with other writers, but it feels a little like a day job. And a not-very-well-paid day job at that.
That led to me consider if writing elsewhere would be a better option.
I wrote in a recent post about a few previous side hustles that worked for me. This made me realize that instead of writing articles for money, I could be writing articles to both make money and build a business.
The one that is at the front of my mind at the moment is creating another travel blog.
I ran one years ago which earned me $60,000 over three years. I’ve earned over $7,000 on Medium in the last year. If I could replicate the success of my travel blog, I’d be making three times what I make there. And I’d be writing about something that I love — travel.
Here are the three main benefits I see from creating your own blog or website.
Benefit #1 — A blog can earn more money
The main benefit is that a blog could earn much more than I can earn here. Of course, there’s no guarantee. I’ve created many blogs and content websites over the years, with a few being complete failures. It’s entirely possible that I could create a travel blog that ends up earning next to nothing.
Benefit #2 — It’s easier to take time off without losing traction
As you are probably already aware, if you stop writing on Medium for a month or two, your views and earnings will likely collapse. With an established website or blog, your views and earnings can stay steady for months, and even years, without any further work.
You will generally be relying on traffic from Google search. Once your site is ranking well, the visitors will continue coming. When I had my travel blog, there were a few pages that got 100-400 visits every day for years. The keywords ranked very well, with some being at the top of the search results.
When this is the case, the pages don’t suddenly stop ranking just because you stop writing.
Benefit #3 — You can build a valuable asset
Suppose you earn $1,000 a month writing on Medium. Also, suppose you no longer have time to write here. What can you do? Nothing much, except let your earnings drift quickly down to $0.
Now suppose you built a blog that earns $1,000 a month. Also, like above, suppose you no longer have time to write there. What can you do? Well, you could take a year off and continue earning that $1,000 a month. Maybe it will drop a little. But maybe the earnings will grow a little even if you neglect the blog.
Over time, your rankings can improve even without extra work.
But you also have another option. You could sell your blog. A content blog can easily sell for 40 times the monthly profit. I’ve even seen them sell for 50-55 times monthly profit.
Your $1,000 a month blog could be sold for $40,000 to $55,000.
With a blog or website, you’re building a valuable asset. Build a few and you can make substantial amounts of money.
So, why doesn’t everyone do this if it’s so easy?
The simple answer is that it’s not easy. Sometimes, everything falls into place and it is really easy. My previous travel blog was pretty straightforward. I traveled and wrote about it. That’s it. Oh, and took a few photos as well.
Other times, nothing seems to work. In that case, you’ll likely need to abandon the blog and try another one.
You need a niche
But this won’t work if you just publish random posts.
One thing to note is that a successful website or blog needs to have a fairly tight niche. Usually, you also need to do keyword research. To rank well, you need to write about what readers are looking for. You also need to target low-competition keywords.
Target low-competition keywords
As an example, you’ll never rank well for ‘things to do in London‘. There are too many huge companies in this niche. The top companies have teams of employees working full-time on ranking their sites.
Go do a Google search and see for yourself. One of the top results is from Trip Advisor. They have over 4,000 employees. Do you think you or I can outrank them for ‘things to do in London‘?
But you could travel to lesser-known places and write about those. For example, you could visit Chiang Rai and Pai in northern Thailand. A post about ‘how to get from Chiang Rai to Pai‘ would be much easier to rank well. That may get you 10-50 visits to your site each day. Keep writing similar posts and the traffic can add up quickly.
My travel blog consistently got 25,000 to 40,000 page views per month while targeting low-competition keywords.
Even with a travel blog, it’s important to have some kind of niche. Maybe traveling in Asia, traveling with kids, traveling as a disabled person, or similar.
Abena Talks recently wrote a Medium article about how she makes great money writing about fruit. Yes, fruit! There are plenty of similar niches that can make great money. Have a read of her post below.
I Made $200,000 Online From This Weird Fruit As mentioned above, you can’t just write about a bunch of random topics. You need to choose a niche and do some keyword research. Many websites cover keyword research in-depth, so I won’t go over it here.
Conclusion
I can’t say what’s right for you, but I will almost certainly start another travel blog. Stay tuned. First I need to find a great domain name and a decent WordPress theme.
I recently wrote about how I plan toearn $8,000 a month by the end of next year. One of the projects I was planning was a print-on-demand site. After further research, I decided to ditch that idea. I plan to replace that idea with a travel blog.
This should keep me on target.
Have you considered creating a blog or do you already have one? If you have one, how successful is it? If you have any tips, please share them in the comments section.
This is the first article that I’ve published on Medium since 14 November. That’s when I announced that I would no longer be publishing regularly on Medium. Instead, I will publish monthly earnings updates along with updates on my side hustles. There might be the other article or two as well.
Once I stopped writing, I expected my views and earnings to drop very quickly. That’s not what happened though. The views are down but not as much as I expected. The earnings have continued their downward trend.
Stories
I published 13 stories in November, which is 11 fewer than in October. It’s well below my average of 35 stories per month which I’ve achieved over the last year. Back in April, I published 58 stories.
These 13 stories were published in the first 14 days of the month, so I could easily have gotten to my average of 35 if I’d kept writing.
Views
Medium views for November 2022 — Screenshot by the author
In October, my stories got 11,577 views. In November, that dropped to 8,617 views. The figures are different from the screenshot above because the screenshot shows 2 November to 1 December.
My views are down 26%. That’s not too bad when you consider that I haven’t published an article for over two weeks.
The spike you see in the chart above is for an article that suddenly got some external views. It’s a story from July about feeding stray cats. It got 1,259 views over a week. Only three of the views were internal. I earned $0.04 during that week. A week later, I earned $1.84 on a day with zero views. I assume someone that read the story must have later signed up to Medium.
Followers, Subscribers & Referred Members
Medium audience for November 2022 — Screenshot by the author
I gained 156 followers in November. That’s the lowest amount I’ve gained in a month since I joined in October last year.
Email subscribers are down two to 141. This is the first time ever that subscriber numbers have dropped in a month.
I have 15 referred members, down one from October. That’s only the second time that I’ve lost a referrer over a month.
Earnings
Medium earnings for November 2022 — Screenshot by the author
In November, I earned $155.98. That’s a drop of 34% from October’s $237.76. It’s the worst month ever for earnings. My best month was back in April when I earned almost $1,700.
On the plus side, I’ve now earned $7,182.89 since I joined Medium on 30 October 21.
The Future
As mentioned previously, I’ll be writing mostly on my blog from now onwards.
At the moment. I’m in the process of transferring over all my relevant Medium stories. The first full month, November, has been better than expected, so I have high hopes for this. I’ll provide an update on this later. I’m just waiting for Google t update the final figures for November.
