Online Publication

Online Publication Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 10th, 2024

Looking to share compelling content and generate passive income? Consider starting an online publication. An online publication allows you to create and distribute digital articles, news, and multimedia content to a global audience through a dedicated website or platform.

Your main task will be to curate engaging materials that attract readership and build a loyal following. Once you have a steady stream of visitors, you can monetize your site through ads, subscriptions, sponsored content, or even merchandise.

This business model is ideal for those with a passion for writing, editing, and digital marketing. It requires diligent content creation and SEO optimization to stand out in today’s saturated online environment. Online publications offer a flexible work lifestyle and the potential to influence and inform audiences, making it a fulfilling venture for aspiring digital entrepreneurs.

In this list, you'll find real-world online publication success stories and very profitable examples of starting a online publication that makes money.

1. Warrior Lodge Media ($252K/year)

Wes O'Donnell came up with the idea for Warrior Lodge Media out of frustration with the lack of simple military information online. He wanted to create a website that compiled every piece of unclassified U.S. military information in existence, and with the help of his network of military and veteran writers, he built Warrior Lodge slowly and organically. Today, the site earns between $18,000-$22,000 per month through ads, t-shirt sales, and affiliate links, and is almost completely hands-off, generating passive income for O'Donnell.

How much money it makes: $252K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 2

How I Started A $21K/Month Military And Veterans Media Company And Ecommerce

This case study is about the founder of Warrior Lodge Media, Wes O'Donnell, who started an all-in-one informational website for military and veterans and turned it into a $21k/month media company and eCommerce store, almost completely hands-off and generating true passive income.

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2. Startupily ($18K/year)

Safwan Khan, founder of Startupily, came up with the idea for his blog when he was struggling to find a job and needed to earn an income. Inspired by the trend of blogging for side income, he started interviewing entrepreneurs and publishing their interviews on Startupily. Over time, he expanded the blog by adding business articles, templates, and documents, attracting traffic and positive response from entrepreneurs worldwide.

How much money it makes: $18K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50
How many people on the team: 0

How I Started A Profitable Entrepreneurship Blog With Just $50

Founder Safwan Khan started Startupily, a blog for entrepreneurs seeking business articles and resources, after being inspired by Pat Flynn's podcast and networking app DUST, providing free PR services for small business owners, before expanding into publishing business articles and selling business plan templates and documents, resulting in partnerships with global sites Influencive and Thrive Global.

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Read by 2,815 founders

3. Dreamfruit ($12K/year)

Elizabeth Russell, creator of the Dreamfruit Almanac for Earthlings, came up with the idea after closing the doors of her integrative arts and community event space. In a moment of inspiration, she created a prototype for a moon-based planner/journal hybrid that blended her concern for the world with her faith in human compassion. She collaborated with her partner, worked with a designer to create a new website, and launched her business, attracting customers through emails and in-person events.

How much money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 1

On Launching A Moon Based Planner And Crowdfunding My Way to $6,500

Dreamfruit Almanac for Earthlings is a unique moon-based planner and guided journal self-published by Elizabeth Russell which resulted in a successful crowdfunding campaign with over 100% community support, building a core of supportive people through live-events and community-focused marketing.

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Read by 2,603 founders