Blogging has come a long way from being just a personal diary on the web. For some, like Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, it’s become a multimillion-dollar business. Michelle is the founder of Making Sense of Cents, a blog that not only helped her pay off $38,000 in student loans but also turned her into a financial powerhouse earning over $5 million. Here’s how she did it, and what she learned along the way.
From Financial Analyst to Full-Time Blogger
Michelle didn’t start Making Sense of Cents with the goal of making millions. Back in 2011, she was a financial analyst working her 9-to-5 and struggling to pay off student loans. Her blog was a passion project to document her financial journey and share budgeting tips with friends and readers. At the time, she had no idea that a simple blog could become a full-time career.
With her background in finance (she holds an MBA with an emphasis on Finance), Michelle began exploring side hustles to increase her income. She tried everything from mystery shopping to selling items on eBay. Eventually, she stumbled upon the idea of making money online—specifically through blogging.
What started as a hobby quickly turned into a source of income. Within just six months, Michelle landed her first $100 advertising deal. This sparked her interest in monetizing her blog, and it wasn’t long before Making Sense of Cents became her primary focus.
From Side Hustle to Multimillion-Dollar Blog
In 2013, Michelle took the plunge and quit her full-time job to focus solely on Making Sense of Cents. Her first year as a full-time blogger saw her earning $116,519 from the blog alone, a massive leap from the days of side hustles and small advertising deals. And that was only the beginning.
By 2015, Michelle had grown her blog income to $320,888 by focusing on blogging full-time and leaving her freelance clients behind. Her major breakthrough came in 2016 when she launched her first product—Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, an online course that helped her make $979,321 that year.
Michelle’s blog grew steadily, reaching over $1.5 million in income by 2018. She attributes her success to focusing on affiliate marketing, diversifying income streams, and offering valuable, actionable advice to her readers. With over 8,000 students in her course and millions of readers worldwide, Making Sense of Cents is now one of the most recognized personal finance blogs on the internet.
Key Lessons for Aspiring Bloggers
- Consistency is Key
Michelle’s blog success didn’t happen overnight. She worked on Making Sense of Cents consistently for years, slowly growing her audience and perfecting her craft. For bloggers looking to follow in her footsteps, consistency in posting content, engaging with readers, and refining the blog’s niche are essential.
- Monetize Early and Diversify Income Streams
One of the keys to Michelle’s success was her ability to monetize her blog early on. She began earning from her blog within six months through ads, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing. As her audience grew, she diversified her income by creating her own products, like her successful Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course, which has now earned over $1 million. For bloggers, experimenting with different ways to make money—whether through ads, courses, or affiliate links—is crucial for long-term success.
- Transparency Can Build Trust
Michelle was among the first bloggers to openly share her income reports with her audience. Her monthly blog income reports detailed exactly how much money she was making and from where, helping to build trust with her readers. Although she no longer publishes these reports, they were instrumental in establishing her credibility early on.
- Offer Real Value to Your Audience
Michelle didn’t create her blog with the intention of making money. She genuinely wanted to help people take control of their finances, and that’s what resonated with her readers. By providing real value—through detailed financial advice, personal stories, and practical tips—Michelle was able to grow a loyal audience who trusted her recommendations.
Building a Million-Dollar Blog
So, how exactly did Making Sense of Cents become a multimillion-dollar blog? It all comes down to the fundamentals of blogging success:
- High-Quality Content: Michelle focused on providing valuable, insightful, and actionable content about personal finance and making money online. Whether it was her story about paying off student loans or tips on starting a side hustle, her content was always relevant and helpful to her readers.
- Affiliate Marketing: One of the primary income streams for Michelle’s blog has been affiliate marketing. Through her course, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, she teaches other bloggers how to make money by promoting products they believe in. By partnering with brands and services that resonate with her audience, Michelle was able to earn passive income through affiliate commissions.
- Product Creation: Michelle’s affiliate marketing course is a prime example of how creating your own product can drastically boost your income. Instead of relying solely on third-party income streams like ads or affiliate links, creating a product you own allows you to scale your business significantly.
- SEO and Networking: Michelle took advantage of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to drive organic traffic to her blog. She also networked with other bloggers in her niche, collaborating on guest posts and sharing knowledge, which helped her blog grow faster.
The Road Ahead
Today, Michelle continues to run Making Sense of Cents from her sailboat, SV Paradise, while traveling full-time. Her blog has reached over 20 million readers and continues to help people improve their finances, side hustles, and overall quality of life.
Although she no longer publishes her monthly income reports, Michelle is constantly evolving her business and exploring new ways to help her readers. Whether it’s through affiliate marketing, online courses, or her own personal journey, she remains passionate about empowering people to take control of their finances and live the life they want.
How You Can Turn a Blog into a Business
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner’s story is proof that with consistency, smart monetization strategies, and a genuine desire to help your audience, it’s possible to turn a simple blog into a multimillion-dollar business. If you’re thinking about starting a blog, the key is to focus on what you’re passionate about, offer real value to your readers, and explore different ways to monetize your site. With over $5 million in earnings and counting, Michelle’s success with Making Sense of Cents is an inspiring example for any aspiring blogger. Whether you’re just starting out or already on your blogging journey, her story is a testament to the potential of turning a hobby into a thriving business.
