50 Successful Blogs in Every Topic Imaginable
50 Successful Blogs in Every Topic Imaginable
One misconception that forever bothers me is theВ belief that blogging doesn’t work unless it’s meta.
People don’t believe blogs can be successful unless they are about blogging, marketing, or social media.
What they don’t understand is that it’s only the marketing blogs that publish things like “income reports” and the like.
Regular blogs in traditionalВ topics don’t do this, yet they are still out there killing it.
Today I’m going to bring you fifty successful blogs, often built solely through publishing good content + guest blogging, that span aВ big varietyВ of topics, to prove once and for all that blogging can be used to build an audience in almost every topic imaginable.
What Are The Guidelines?
Any blog featured here cannotВ have any of the following characteristics:
- Concentrate on blogging/marketing/social media
- The blog cannot be tied to another popular site
- Must have an involved community
- No “mega” blogs or magazines
I’ve included data on the approximate (
) subscriber count (when available) and what the major income source seems to be (when applicable).
For sites that have no subscriber count available, I used the Google Reader browse feature, which shows the number of Google subscribers only, so keep in mind that those RSS counts are likely muchВ higher.
1.) Help Scout blogВ [Customer Support]
Main income source:В Software
The blog I’m responsible for! Help Scout is support software that is trusted by thousands of puny businesses.В We run the gamut over on the Help Scout blog, but our bread-and-butter will always be customer support.
Here are a few of my private favorites:
We also use a large selection of resources to grow our traffic and subscriber base.
Two.) Digital Photography School [Digital Photography]
Main income source:В Advertisements, affiliate links, e-Book sales
Run by ‘the Problogger’ himself, Darren Rowse, this blogВ is actually his real money maker, notВ Problogger.net.
This thing is an absolute monster, a large blog in a veryВ profitable niche. Lots of peopleВ buy cameras, and they’re expensive.
All of the tips that Darren writes about on Problogger are put into act here, so if you want to see the Problogger at work, go after the strategies that this blog utilizes, rather than reading the next Problogger post.
Trio.) Freshome [Interior Design/Architecture]
Main income source:В Advertisements, affiliate links?
Let me very first say that I love the design of this blog, and it’s a good thing to, as it concentrates on design, but not the type you see on the web.
No, Freshome is an absolutely astoundingВ architecture and interior design blog.
One of the writers, Ronique Gibson, exposed on Problogger that she has posted over seven hundred seventy three posts (and that was in 2011!), displaying how a “curation” style blog, combined with lengthier posts, can create a real winner if it’s on a focused topic (and the content is top notch).
Four.) PsyBlog [Social Psychology]
Main income source:В e-Book sales, advertisements
You can very likely guess that this is one of my individual favorites, but it’s effortless to see why any reader can love this blog.
The author takes psychology studies that they come across (they happen to be a psychological researcher), and relates them to real world issues and in laymen’s terms, so that anyone can build up the information that they have to suggest.
That’s the big emphasis I’d like to make on this blog: you should always be mindful of beginners, it’s not that you have to appeal onlyВ to beginners, but taking more elaborate information and boiling it down into something interesting that anyoneВ can read is a formula for a winner, as long as the audience is there.
Five.) NerdFitness [Exercise/Physical Fitness]
Main income source:В Product sales
Steve Kamb is a stud well known in the marketing niche, but he doesn’t write about marketing.
That’s because his blog has served as a good example of how to build a successful site utter of an endearing personality, outside of the blogging/marketing niche of course.
This is one of the good advantages of being someoneВ knowledgeableВ in content marketing: you can suggest up your success story to all sortsВ ofВ marketingВ blogs if you create a popular site in a atypical topic.
Marketing blogs absolutely loveВ case studies of this kind, and you’ll get attention and links just by telling your story. It’s a method Steve has used numerous times to emerge on sites like Lifehacker and ThinkTraffic.
6.) 1stWebDesigner [Web Design]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 49,594)
Main income source:В Affiliate links, advertisements
There are a hugeВ number of web design blogs out there, and yet some still find ways to be successful…
Somebody should ask DainisВ how he did it, because 1stWebDesigner manages to stay a top web design blog and emerges to be growing still.
I can tell you that 1stWebDesigner at least does everything in it’s industryВ the right way, while setting a few innovations (industry examples being stuff like free PSD files and the like).
That’s the big takeaway for this site: find out what works for the big players in your niche, pull some ideas that you like, and innovate on the rest.
7.) TinyCartridge [Portable + Retro Gaming]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: Two,303)
Main income source:В Affiliate links, advertisements
TinyCartridge is simply a perfectВ example of how to embark a blog in a the amazingly overcrowdedВ gaming niche.
Did the founder determine to doom their site to an early death by just focusing on “gaming”?
TinyCartridge has become THE place to learn about mobile gaming news and updates, it “niched down” into a way less competitive market, and took it over.
That’s a AmpleВ takeaway from this post, one of the most significant: superior a puny niche, and stir onto broader things down the road.
8.) What I Wore [Private Style]
URL:В http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/В (No custom-built domain? For shame!)
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: Ten,849)
Main income source:В Advertisements, affiliate links?
Since I’m not into style blogs all that much, what I can tell you most about this site is that the author’s personality predominates.
It’s a private style blog, so that makes sense, but the general principle here is that her personality is inserted without pause.
Every post is flooded with the author, and it makes the case that a strong personality (and taste) can make for a good unique selling proposition, even in a crowded niche like this.
9.) Nature Mom’s Blog [Natural Living + Family Life]
Main income source:В Advertisements
“Mommy bloggers” is a term I hate, but if you’re taking your content and your site earnestly, I can undoubtedly love the work you’re doing.
That’s the case with this blog, from design to content, Tiffany is delivering the goods.
I like the “two-niche combo” going on here, something to learn from most certainly.
Instead of going the “health” or “mommy blogger” route, the author did both, taking two typical ingredients and making a very unique recipe.
Ten.) AutoBlog [Automobiles]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 1,766) [Likely muchВ higher]
Main income source:В Advertisements
What fellow doesn’t love a sweet looking rail?
Autoblog fills a big need for a big audience of automobile fanatics.
I see so many bloggers who are against “news” sites, and while I’m also in favor of creating ‘evergreen’ content, when you are predominant a specific niche well, your blog is certainly capable of violating news, even if those posts won’t generate lifetime traffic.
11.) Art Of Manliness [Studs’s Lifestyle]
Main income source:В Affiliate links, advertisements, product sales
A studs’s lifestyle blog that as absolutely pulverizedВ the concept of a strong and memorable unique selling proposition.
In addition, this blog is the opposite of the autoblog above it (not in audience, those are similar!).
What I mean is, Brett concentrates on almost entirely evergreen content, writing very long and in-depth articles that address topics that matter to studs, and that won’t be switching anytime soon.
This kind of content ensures that people can find old articles and still be “wowed” by the information there, and it is a strategy that has paid off very well for Brett, as AoM is now a entire different animal with hundreds of thousands of readers.
12.) StudyHacks [School & Career Success]
Main income source:В Book sales
I am actually a consistent reader of Cal Newport’s blog (known as StudyHacks), albeit recently he has moved on to “career hacks” in that he addresses career and job advice over studying in college.
One thing I love about Cal’s blog is that is isn’t afraid to speak out against the status quo, yet only does so when he has data and a strong argument to present.
He doesn’t stir up controversy just to do so, yet many of his posts are controversial because he cites evidence that goes against a lot of beliefs that we often hold. (For example, he doesn’t believe in “Following your passion”, that certainly threw me for a loop!)
13.) FarmVille Weirdo [FarmVille]
Approx. Subscribers: (Google Reader count: 770) [Concentrate is on the Facebook page, which sits at 425,000+]
Main income source:В Product sales
Ugh… it agonies me to write about this one, but I’ll attempt to remain unbiased.
This is one of those examples about becoming a “hub” for something utterly popular, in this case, FarmVille.
Being a source of FarmVille news and tips worked out well for this site, as it has for many in the past.
One word of caution: you have to take into consideration how long certain topics will remain in popularity.
If FarmVille is forgotten, this site will lose it’s purpose, not so with evergreen content.
Still, blogs that become a big part of a fanbase’s enjoyment for popular topics can live a long time, look at things like Pokemon (the kids game) or Madden NFL (another movie game) which have been around for yearsВ and showcase no signs of slowing down.
14.) Lovely Overcharge [Baby Animals & Pets]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 462,270) [Woah!]
Main income source:В Advertisements
Ah, adorable animals, overlords of the internet.
CuteOverload, one of the originators of the adorable animal blogs, obviously understood the appeal of “tumblogs” far before the trend set in.
That’s the point I’d like to make here: tumblogs (blogs that concentrate on brief updates and are generally media rich) can be enormously effective if they niche down and predominate a popular topic.
Music blogs, photoblogs, and movie blogs are all of this diversity, as their brief updates usually come daily and concentrate on media over lengthy articles.
They are tighter to get initial traffic to (as guest blogging sometimes isn’t as effective), but when they take off, they can become BIG.
15.) Supersonic Electronic [Art & Art Culture]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: Two,582)
Main income source:В Product sales
Another blog I randomly check from time to time, the art featured here can be pretty amazing (Warning: it is sometimes Not Safe For Work).
As an art blog, this site primarily made it’s name with top quality selections and acted as a superb promotion method for fresh artists.
Later, with an established name, people now submitВ their art in hopes of being featured.
I found this to be the exact case with my electronic music blog, as when I grew in popularity, people messaged ME about getting featured, rather than the other way around.
16.) Stereogum [Indie & Alternative Music]
Approx. Subscribers: (Google Reader count: 57,076)
Main income source:В Paid promotion, affiliate links, advertisements
This one’s a biggie!
The big breakthrough for this site was being early in the scene, and cracking a lot of big artists very first (Arcade Fire and the like).
this site also knows their audience reallyВ well, and manages to always please despite the difficult task of selecting music that their audience will like.
17.) WPBeginner [WordPress Tutorials]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 210) [Concentrate on social media pages, which are fairly popular]
Main income source:В Affiliate links, advertisements, WP services
A pretty popular site for WordPress beginners.
The big point to be made here is that creating a site for beginners is always a good idea if it’s done well, because there will always be fresh beginners, so your audience can only grow (as long as your topic stays popular, which WordPress has).
Eighteen.) Skepchick [Atheism + Secularism]
Main income source:В Advertisements
One trend I noticed in the WordPress community is that Christianity seems to be a popular topic, and many pastors seem to get involved in blogging and web development.
I don’t indeed have a comment, just something I noticed.
This blog takes the opposite treatment and is all about atheism, and creates post on atheist news and issues.
Nineteen.) DeSmogBlog [Environment & Pollution]
Approx. Subscribers: (Google Reader count: 407) [Concentrate is on the newsletter]
Main income source:В Book sales
Featured on Time’s Best Blogs of 2011, it got a lot of press for stirring up a very heated issue.
Good way to build up notoriety for a blog: pick a hot topic and stir up some debate, while still maintaining integrity by not being overly aggressive orВ indigent.
20.) Listverse [Random Top ten Lists]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 7,654) [Concentrate on social media]
Main income source:В Advertisements
If there was ever a site that showcases the power of List Posts, here it is!
One thing even I don’t get is that this site get’s authors to guest post, but doesn’t even give them a link…
ApparentlyВ getting your opinion in front of a big audience is the only prize, something to consider when crowdsourcing for your own site.
21.) Smitten Kitchen [Individual Cooking]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 205,082) [Yowza!]
Main income source:В Book sales
Smitten Kitchen is one of those blogs that might have actually greatly benefitted from Pinterest (whereas most don’t), because not only does Deb throw down some delicious recipes, her individual photos are well done and made to be collective.
This blog has gotten a lot of press, and one main thing the authors tout is their little kitchen.
This selling point related to a lot of folks: you can make superb meals even in a puny kitchen.
It made this blog more “real” than those cooking shows with giant kitchens and pre-chopped ingredients.
22.) Canvas of Light [Travel + Photography]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 424) [Concentrate on social media]
Main income source:В e-Book sales, photography services
Photo travel blogs are a dime a dozen, and Canvas of Light made the cut here because the photos are amazing.
Nothing much I can add here, other than the author goes all out and has a lot of talent.
Excellent example of taking an excellent skill and making a truly memorable blog out of it.
23.) Yoga Dork [Yoga]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 1,740)
Main income source:В Advertisements, affiliate links
Yoga was (and still is) one of those absolute primeВ topics for somebody to take over with superb content and clever marketing know-how.
YogaDork does a superb job, but this is one I still feel there is big room for.
This site creates excellent how-to as well as news related posts (who’s doing yoga, fresh products, etc.)
Just an overall fine example of tapping into a topic of growing popularity and keeping things entertaining.
24.) Eat, Sleep, Draw [Drawing]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 675) [Tumblr blog, concentrates on “followers” over RSS reader]
Main income source:В Advertisements/paid promotion
I suck at drawing. Fortunately, my brother was blessed with the capability, so I’ve been able to love watching someone talented draw for most of my life, which I’ve liked because I love “traditional” drawn art.
Eat, Sleep, Draw caters to people like me, and unsurprisingly, to actual artists as well.
Showcasing a clean, ordinary format, ESD concentrates on reader submissions, another fine example of using your platform to get exposure for others, and using their submissions as a crowdsource method for your content.
25.) Fluent In three Months [Language Learning]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: Two,083)
Main income source:В Book sales, affiliate links
Proof positive that if you tackle a rough topic with relentless consistency, you’re guaranteedВ to find success.
There are some topics out there that I think are just prime for blogs to take over, but they’ve been vacant for so long because nobody with the right abilities has stepped up to the plate.
Hobbies & abilities that require (imagine that) actual skillsВ have a way higher barrier to entry.
The thing is, if you do get into them (and have something to suggest), you’ll face limited competition, and if you know your marketing, you will flourish.
26.) Make [DIY Projects]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 981) [Likely muchВ higher]
Main income source:В Advertisements, sales on site
Very likely one of the leading sites in DIY examples, I’m not too familiar in this space so I can’t be sure.
I know Makezine is pretty popular, so it would stand to reason that their blog would be too.
DIYers, this is undoubtedly one to take notes from (notice the curation + article content here as well).
27.) Ray Wenderlich [iOS & iPhone Development]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: Five,948)
Main income source:В Store
This is one of those “you need to be an pro” topics that I was talking about above.
Not remarkably, Ray Wenderlich isВ and accomplished and is blog is veryВ popular for people in the field.
He’s taking his skill in a growing topic, displayed his expertise, and uses good blogging practices.
How can he fail?
If you can do the same thing in another topic, how can you fail?
28.) Arseblog [Arsenal Soccer]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 1,382) [Concentrate on Facebook at 20k+]
Main income source:В Book sales, advertisements
Fine way to tackle a popular topic, without biting off more than you can chew.
If your a fresh blogger and thinking to yourself, “I’ll begin a soccer blog!”, I hate to be the fantasy killer, but it doesn’t work that way.
Concentrate is a fundamental key to blog success, being the king of your sub-niche and moving on to broader topics (or even entire fresh sites) down the line.
29.) ThreadBanger [Knitting + DIY Style]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 1,697)
Main income source:В Advertisements
All of В you DIY fashionistas are most likely already familiar with this one (wait… do any style forward people read my marketing blog?)
This may seem… well, I dunno how it seems, but let me just say that I think women (and women’s topics) are the future in blogging.
Topics that have been stereotyped as for “geeky masculines” have been covered to death and are very competitive: that group of people have always known how to set up and run websites.
That’s why blogs about gaming & tech are so saturated.
30.) The Brothers Brick [Lego & Lego Creations]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 8,839)
Main income source:В Advertisements
A blog on Lego! (Note: not “legos”, LegoВ aficionadosВ will drill you for that on ;))
Wow, if this doesn’t prove that you can literally embark a blog on anyВ popular topic, I don’t know what does.
As your freshly minted social media blog flounders among a million others, this Lego blog is displaying you how to cater to an audience of Lego fans who have been looking for a hub to see fresh creations and products.
31.) Nomadic Matt [Frugal Traveling Tips]
Main income source:В Affiliate links, store, advertisements
Combining frugal + travel tips was a fine way for Matt to stand out in the travel niche, and it’s worked indeed for him.
Another “topic + sub-topic” blog that’s used wise marketing skill to get traffic and build an email list in a niche that has a ton of competition.
Notice the clean and elementary blog design, proof positive that you needn’t go overboard with cluttered design in order to build something successful.
32.) The Style Blogger [Fellows’s Style]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: Trio,168)
Main income source:В Advertisements, store, affiliate links
Another area that I feel could truly be taken over with the right blogger, dudes’s style is a hot topic that has lotsВ of things to sell.
I’ve heard a ton of criticism about this dude’s style sense, but it doesn’t matter: he has a large audience that doesВ love his style tips and photographs.
A excellent example of appealing to those who actually love your content, and disregarding the haters.
33.) Phil Galfond [Poker]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 424) [Concentrate on his Twitter]
Main income source:В None (individual blog, Poker could use another blog!)
As an avid poker player myself, this is another area I would loveВ to see a “home grown” blog take over in, all you get in the poker results now are ways to play online.
If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a poker book, what better way than to build an audience with poker articles?
Phil is more individual with his site, not looking to monetize in any way (yet…), but still building a very active audience of poker fans.
34.) Lil Wanye HQ [Lil’ Wayne]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 867) [Concentrate on Facebook page at 100k+]
Main income source:В Advertisements
…Yes, you read that correctly.
With a Facebook page of 100,000+, it seems as however there are enough Lil’ Wayne fans as to warrant a site that updates on nothing but him!
I can’t hate, this site does a lot of things right in terms of appealing to a very specific audience, but that doesn’t mean I have to like his music! рџ‰
35.) Accomplished Enough [Skill Acquisition]
Main income source:В Product sales, affiliate links
The latest pet project of Corbett & Caleb of ThinkTraffic, this blog showcases two very unique learning points.
The very first is that launching a blog can be a process in and of itself. Corbett & Caleb took the launch very gravely, promoting it strenuously with a big guest post on ZenHabits and a phat very first post featuring a ton of folks (whom then collective the post they were featured in).
The other lesson is to listen to your audience, as primarily they were going to begin a fresh blog on “Blog Design”, but fans responded that another blog design blog was going to be boring.
The team listened, and came up with a much better concept (IMO).
36.) Money Saving Mom [Budgeting + Private Finance]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: Ten,360)
Main income source:В Affiliate links, advertisements
Ah, I had to add a private finance blog to the list, but I dreamed to stray from the “making money” types as they resemble MMO too much in some instances.
MoneySavingMom fit the bill, because it is a very focused individual finance site, with a giant emphasis on saving dough on day-to-day things.
Their “narrow mindedness” has been more rewarding than limiting, as the blog is super popular and puts out fresh contentВ continuously.
37.) PSD Tuts+ [Photoshop Tutorials]
Main income source:В Premium access, affiliate links, ads, Envato marketplace
When you have a popular program as expansive as Photoshop, it’s only right that there should be a blog that uncovers awesome tricks of the trade to using it decently.
With over 165,000 RSS readers, it seems the PSD Tuts+ audience agrees with me.
The Envato team are a super wise group of folks, undoubtedly go after along with what they’re up to, they know how to run a business.
Their content marketing efforts like this (which aims to get people to subscribe to a premium membership andВ buy things from their GraphicRiver design marketplace) are indeed effective and have helped them grow sales tremendously.
38.) Audio Tuts+ [Audio Production Tutorials]
Main income source:В Premium access, affiliate links, ads, Envato marketplace
For the sake of originality, I wasВ hesitantВ to include another Tuts+ blog, but the clever content marketing/blogging examples they serve are just too good.
In order to help with the launch of another marketplace (AudioJungle, for royalty free music), the team launched AudioTuts+.
This content has sent a lot of interested readers back to the AudioJungle site and certainly helped in creating a lot of very first time and repeat customers (such as myself!)
39.) Cats Who Code [Code + Web Development]
Main income source:В Advertisements
There are a duo of web development blogs to choose from, but who doesn’t like cats… who can code.
This quirky twist on a standard topic and some simply excellent content has made Cats Who Code a go to site for web devs.
Nothing fancy here, just a funny twist, ordinary design, and content that produces.
40.) Garfield Minus Garfield [Humor]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 17,123)
Main income source:В Book sales
I had to add at least oneВ totally strange blog up here!
Garfield Minus Garfield is the epitome of humor blogs in my opinion, because it creates nothing original, it actually just takesВ GarfieldВ out of his own unclothe,В revealingВ what seems to be a very delusion and nihilistic Jon Arbuckle!
This strange humor has to be seen to be believed, and if that’s not enough, Jim Davis has permitted the site to publish and sell a book of the comics! (I’m sure he gets a lump, but still, that’s just funny in itself)
41.) Universe Today [Space & Astronomy]
Main income source:В Advertisements
I was so glad to find this blog, this is another topic where people seem to just avoid blogging about it, despite space & astronomy being immensely popular.
You can’t get more basic than this either, this blog consists of an unedited Thesis theme with a basic logo… and that’s it.
42.) Pretty Much Amazing [Independent & Trendsetting Music]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 1,688) [Likely much higher, concentrate on social media)
Main income source:В Affiliate links, advertisements
Lofty topic title, but adequate.
Pretty Much amazing concentrates on cracking music, and it’s site features are a hugeВ draw, which is the main takeaway from this site.
It includes a radio + shuffle feature that’s fairly unique for a site of this style.
The point: a unique feature can make a site stand out even if it’s content can be found elsewhere.
Presentation matters as much as the “meat” does, keep that in mind.
43.) Ecoki [Green Lifestyle / Eco-Lifestyle]
The green living space is big right now, and definitley growing.
I chose a “startup” blog over some thicker options because let’s face it, a list of giant blogs would be boring.
I love how the design of Ecoki speaks to it’s content AND to it’s audience, recall what people are reading about when creating the “look” of your site.
44.) Sirlin.net [Competitive Gaming & Game Design]
Approx. Subscribers:В Unknown (Numerous feeds, should be optimized better!)
Main income source:В Store
There are a hugeВ number of gaming blogs I could have picked, but this is one of the most interesting, and a stellar example of good content marketing at work.
David Sirlin is a professional game player (and now designer) who has created numerous card and board games, which he now sells to his audience via his site and other places.
How he got his embarked? Creating amazingly viral articles on game design such as the controversial “Playing To Win” series (an excellent read for even non-gamers).
45.) Fear Central [Horror Movies]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 1,216) [Concentrate on Facebook with 16k+)
Main income source:В Shop, advertisements
A nice spin on the generic “Movie Review” blog, a site that knows how to ‘niche down’, focusing exclusively on Horror content.
Honestly, few people are going to care about your random movie reviews on something that came out ten years (or even ten minutes) ago.
But, if you are the go-to place for a specific set of movies (catering to a specific set of fans), people willВ value your opinion and come back for more.
46.) Reality Tea [Reality Television Starlets]
Approx. Subscribers:В Unknown (ReceivedВ an error, Facebook page at 9k+)
Main income source:В Advertisements
Ugh, I guess I had to feature at least one of these (I hate gossip blogs, as well as they seem to do).
Not much to comment here, other than that popular topics = popular blogs, as long as they break through that “hump” and having something unique to suggest.
Instead of being a basic gossip blog, the concentrate here is on reality TV, another “niching it down” example that does it right.
47.) Startup Quote [Pictures + Quotes]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: 1,303) [Tumblr blog, concentrate on “followers” over RSS reader]
Main income source:В Advertisements
Fantastic use of good design work to build a popular blog around originalВ design content (not just posting “finds” from others).
I also like the showcase of the power of pictures here.
Pics often get collective far beyond the blog itself, and their spread on the internet is very powerful.
StartupQuote has a excellent strategy with this, creating unique photos that are super shareable, and putting a subtle shout out to their own site in each one (so you know the source).
48.) ZenHabits [Minimalism + Private Development]
Main income source:В Book sales
If ever I should add a individual development blog (many of which I think are garbage), it would be the grandaddy of them all, ZenHabits.
Leo has done a lotВ of things different (or very first), from the most minimal blog design ever to making all of his content copyright free, this site goes far beyond creating “excellent content” in terms of standing out.
49.) GoinsWriter [Writing]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader feed: 587) [Concentrate on email list over RSS]
Main income source:В Book sales, advertisements
There are a lot of superb writing blogs, but Jeff’s site is fine because it’s apparent to anyone that Jeff knows his marketing.
Email forms, riveting (and sometimes controversial) content, a concentrate on writing for the “modern” reader, this site does a lot of things right.
There’s also a lot of personality here, proving that building a brand around yourself can be a fantastic USP.
Wait, Could You Do This For Your Site?
One significant thing to recall is that these examples aren’t far fetched lofts that are unreachable by normal bloggers.
All of these sites (big and petite) were began by someone or a petite group of folks, and there’s no stopping you from doing the same if you concentrate on your topic and your strategy.
So, could you break down your own site in this way?
50.) This Song Is Sick [Hip-Hop & Dance Music]
Approx. Subscribers:В (Google Reader count: Two,359) [Likely much, muchВ higher]
Main income source:В Advertisements, ticket sales, merchandise, sponsored events
Only a dude truly interested in your success would blog about the competition ;).
While this blog doesn’t directlyВ contest with Sophistefunk, it is in a similar space, and as such I know a lot about it.
This is without a doubt one of the thickest dance/electronic music blogs out there, and often is a sponsor to yam-sized events like the Ultra concert among many others.
The emphasis is on song premieres, which it gets lightly due to it’s size.
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