113 comments so far… Leave a reply

1. Andy
   September 2, 2009 12:39 PM

   

   Great list mike! :)

2. Shane - Inspiring Your Success
   September 2, 2009 12:43 PM

   

   What a great list. I agree that each of them deserve to be on the list, each for different reasons.

3. John
   September 2, 2009 12:48 PM

   

   How about Belle de jour? Hit TV show and book deals, newspaper columns and all without losing her anonymity

4. Wayne Liew
   September 2, 2009 12:54 PM

   

   I follow most of the bloggers above and I have to say that they are not your average bloggers, they are also entrepreneurs that understand the business that they are in. Awesome list, as always... ;)

5. Clinton Skakun
   September 2, 2009 12:56 PM

   

   Hmm, looks like I need to blog more:D

6. Scott
   September 2, 2009 1:04 PM

   

   Gary V has good advice and Darren has heaps of info! Definitely now much more than bloggers :)

7. Sarge
   September 2, 2009 1:21 PM

   

   Great to see a couple of fellow Brisbanites in there in Darren and Yaro! :)

8. baloot
   September 2, 2009 2:25 PM

   

   perez hilton not in listing? why? i thought he was top blogger too.. :)

• Michael Dunlop
  September 2, 2009 2:29 PM

  

  Hey Baloot, His real name is Mario Lavandeira - he is on the list, number 4! Michael

9. Dave
   September 2, 2009 2:31 PM

   

   I agree - great list. I didn't realize College Humor was a blog - I have a friend who works there. :)

10. Yves
    September 2, 2009 2:37 PM

    

    Great list Michael, Since I started trying to learn more about blogging, building traffic and monetizing websites.... some of these I've been following for a while. Darren Rowse's blog is priceless. Thanks for posting! Yves

11. Peter Godau
    September 2, 2009 2:53 PM

    

    Oh inspiring list that just might have me at #21 let's say in about 100 years. Great reading and now that's 20 more i must follow. GophSTAR

12. Liam
    September 2, 2009 3:12 PM

    

    Nice list. Makes me want to start a new blog! You should have accepted the MTV offer, just to see what happens :D

13. Thomas
    September 2, 2009 3:15 PM

    

    Great List ! I could be a Top 30 list because of all successful bloggers like John Chow, iJustine, ...

• Clement
  September 2, 2009 5:39 PM

  

  I also wonder why John Chow has not been included. I think he is more successful than some of the folks on this list.

• Michael Dunlop
  September 2, 2009 5:44 PM

  

  Hey Guys, The post is about bloggers who started with blogging and then came a huge success and went into other types of business. For example Darren, Tucker, Heather and Gary all went on to write books because of blogging. John Chow is a huge success but his success isn't writing a book or getting his own TV show, his success is make a heck of a lot of money from a "personal" blog. Hope that clears it up, Michael

• Clement
  September 3, 2009 3:02 AM

  

  Okay.

• Dan Grossman
  September 4, 2009 12:41 AM

  

  I don't think he makes that much from his blog. It's mostly show. When I paid to have some products reviewed on his blog, there was almost no traffic or sales from the posts. Nobody trusts what he writes or cares what he recommends. They subscribe only because someone told them he was a big name. John Cow, the John Chow parody blog, has a more loyal readership. Far fewer people yet far more clicks and sales from a blog post there.

• Michael Dunlop
  September 4, 2009 11:28 AM

  

  Hello Dan, I would have to agree with you there, I recently bought a review for $500 and got 250 clicks. I would of been better paying top wack on Google Adwords, at least that way my traffic would of converted for me. Not sure how he can have 59,000 Subscribers and only get me a few clicks. Michael

• Benny
  September 6, 2009 11:02 PM

  

  Well I came over from his blog and found yours, which is great by the way. But I don't know how you didn't get more clicks. 250 is really low. Has it gone up a lot more or just a little? For $500, I would expect a lot more. But great stuff here, I'll be coming back often.

14. charlino
    September 2, 2009 3:46 PM

    

    This is an excellent post, and your list is well composed. The only blogger missing from this list is the marketing guru, Seth Godin.

15. Mike T Nelson
    September 2, 2009 4:37 PM

    

    Killer list of people and I loved learning about their backgrounds and how they got started. I love reading Tim Ferris's blog and Gary V is great. Rock on Mike T Nelson

16. Guy-Jacques
    September 2, 2009 4:39 PM

    

    Great post Michael! Thanks for sharing

17. Jacques
    September 2, 2009 4:52 PM

    

    Must say Michael, you showed me lots about blogging and I have to thank you but I found that your blog was becoming a bit boring. This article however puts the trust I had in you back on track. Great article. Inspires me and thank you

• Michael Dunlop
  September 2, 2009 5:08 PM

  

  Hello Jacques, I'm glad you enjoyed todays post but I do have a diverse readership and everyone likes different things. For example one of my favourite interviews was the one published on Monday with Ted Nicholas but a lot of people didn't seem as interested as me. Everyone is different thats why I want to bring regular content in different ways so hopefully this will bring you content you are after. Thanks for sharing your concern Jacques, will try to publish more inspiration ;-) Michael

18. Roseli A. Bakar
    September 2, 2009 5:31 PM

    

    These guys are so inspiring.... It was Shoemoney's adsense check to prompted me to started blogging. Thanks Jeremy !

19. Ecko
    September 2, 2009 5:39 PM

    

    Great list. Learn so much more to motivate myself to reach my goals.

20. takemoneyfree
    September 2, 2009 5:52 PM

    

    Great list it really inspire us thanks mike! :)

21. Cynthia
    September 2, 2009 6:24 PM

    

    Love it-Very inspirational. My Hope is to be on one of your list within a year or two

22. Domingo Rogers
    September 2, 2009 7:03 PM

    

    It's very interesting to see no one on your list has made their way from blogging into vast riches and wealth in the area of commercial real estate. Thanks Micheal for the great content and insights into those that have gone before us to set the standard of "success." Cheers ~

• Michael Dunlop
  September 2, 2009 7:51 PM

  

  Hello Domingo, I don't think thats a very fair point to make. Why would you execpt a blogger to go into real estate? Blogging is about doing what you enjoy and have a passion for, not all about money. Money after all is just a by-product. Regards, Michael

23. James Howard
    September 2, 2009 8:27 PM

    

    Hey Michael, I was just going to say it's nice that these people started blogs because they wanted to share information because they enjoyed it, not just to make money from it (to start with anyway lol) but looks like you just stated that in your reply above. So instead I will just say great post All the best, James

24. Ms. Freeman
    September 2, 2009 8:51 PM

    

    I always thought #4 Mario's real name was Perez. Thanks for clearing that up. LOL;)

25. Debi
    September 2, 2009 9:00 PM

    

    Interesting article and bookmarked. Good references for starting my blog. Would love to know why there are not more women on the list. Thanks for posting this!

26. Tom - StandOutBlogger
    September 2, 2009 9:48 PM

    

    So you never told us if you were talking the MTV deal! :P

• Michael Dunlop
  September 2, 2009 9:59 PM

  

  I declined Tom ;-) Wasn't the right time, still got big plans for online. I'm sure there will be other great opportunitys for me. Michael

• Tom - StandOutBlogger.com
  September 3, 2009 9:55 PM

  

  That is fair enough. You need to keep your focus on what is working for you. And obviously that is online :D

27. Sergey Rusak
    September 2, 2009 10:14 PM

    

    You forget to include Huffington Post by Arianna Huffington. As of today, it is the most popular blog.

• Michael Dunlop
  September 2, 2009 10:17 PM

  

  Hello Sergey, The post was more about people who got new kinds of success because of blogging. Arianna was successful wtih her political career before blogging otherwise I would of included her. Michael

28. Ian
    September 2, 2009 10:18 PM

    

    Inspirational!

29. Michael Torbert
    September 2, 2009 10:35 PM

    

    Isn't the obvious missing person Matt Mullenweg? He started blogging with no aspirations of creating the revolutionary blogging tool that you're using here.

30. JB
    September 2, 2009 11:08 PM

    

    Awesome list. I have been a big fan of about 75% of your list. Blogging has definitely gone mainstream and more of us are inspired to follow in these great bloggers footsteps. Thanks again for the list. All the best JB

31. Wakas Mir
    September 2, 2009 11:09 PM

    

    Amazing list and so inspirational.. God bless :D

32. Valerie Williams
    September 2, 2009 11:26 PM

    

    Very interesting list! I only read a small percentage of those who appear on this list, and because of that I wanted to bring your attention to Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge (http://www.designspongeonline.com/). She has a similar story that is very inspirational, but in a slightly different industry than most of those on your list. Thanks for the great article!

33. Mark
    September 2, 2009 11:27 PM

    

    This was definitely something I need to run across. I am a very new blogger and the stories here are very inspirational.

34. Mary Ann Halford
    September 2, 2009 11:28 PM

    

    Just launched my own blogand find this very inspirational . . . regularly read many of these . . . but will make sure now to check out all of them. Thanks!

35. Alejandra
    September 2, 2009 11:49 PM

    

    Great list, although it would have been great to see some of the big female bloggers who have done well for themselves. Wonkette or Julie Powell, for example. And I certainly hope to find myself on a list like that one day!

36. Ammon
    September 2, 2009 11:50 PM

    

    No mention of Leo Babauta of Zen Habits fame? Fantastic blog, by a fantastic human being.

• Michael Dunlop
  September 3, 2009 3:38 PM

  

  Hey Ammon, Leo is the man but unfortunatly this isn't the top bloggers list, that comes out in a couple weeks ;-) Michael

37. Travis Tasset
    September 3, 2009 12:11 AM

    

    Inspirational indeed...thank you! Wish all fellow bloggers out there continued success...

38. Jenn
    September 3, 2009 12:27 AM

    

    /sigh. oh, pete cashmore.. ;)

39. Oscar
    September 3, 2009 1:16 AM

    

    Interesting how the list is 17 men and 3 women. I wonder why that is? Not being flippant - seriously thinking this through.

• Tiara
  September 4, 2009 12:09 AM

  

  My guess is that because a lot of top female bloggers would be involved in other industries that wouldn't be noticed by people predominantly seeking wealth through SEO. Arts, crafting, social enterprise, etc etc. Notice how a lot of the list don't deviate greatly from web marketing.

• Michael Dunlop
  September 4, 2009 11:50 AM

  

  I don't think you are right at all Tiara. The above people are successful because they took action and did it. Not many bloggers look at SEO much, they get traffic because of the content and value they provide. Also your comment regarding its a bunch of web marketing.. its hardly like that, only a few mention web marketing, they all just talk about what they know, from celeb news to wine. Michael

40. Lynn
    September 3, 2009 1:55 AM

    

    WOW. Inspiring. Thanks for pulling this list together.

41. Mike J
    September 3, 2009 2:21 AM

    

    This is an amazing list largely from the diverse group of bloggers on it. Another top blogger on my personal list is Brian Clark of CopyBlogger.com his work in teaching the skill of copy writing has probably benefited some of the above bloggers. I really like your list posts here, I could handle seeing more. Thanks,

42. Saundra
    September 3, 2009 4:04 AM

    

    Great list. Interesting reading about how they started. I would love to have seen more women on the list so I guess I will have to step up and start blogging. Thanks for the inspiration.

43. Vijay
    September 3, 2009 5:26 AM

    

    Hi Michael, As usual, your lists are always good. They inspire me a lot as I have just begun on http://home4bucks.com Your site sets great standards and brings me back to read success stories of top performers and top blogs. Infact your site also features on my preferred readings link on my page. Keep it up Michael!

44. Issa
    September 3, 2009 6:09 AM

    

    Out of 20, there were only 3 women. I wonder why that is? Is it because there are more men bloggers or more men readers? And again, the question - I wonder why that is.

45. winelirious
    September 3, 2009 11:28 AM

    

    That's great to give the opinions and write something on website and give something back. Anyway even some feedback make us (as a blogger) happy.

46. aravind
    September 3, 2009 12:58 PM

    

    Amazing post. Really inspirational... Thanks a lot

47. Shelley
    September 3, 2009 1:15 PM

    

    I think there is more men simply because so many women bloggers are the *mommy bloggers*- myself included, and they might not have the opportunity to commit to blogging full-time. One of my personal favorites is Danielle Ice, of HomeEverAfter- http://www.homeeverafter.com/ -(previously HomemakerBarbi.) Her site is extremely popular, and she has created a business empire around it. Really great list, though, thanks for sharing.

48. Stuart Wooster
    September 3, 2009 1:46 PM

    

    Great list, how the hell you keep churning great articles out as you do I don't know! Hahaha! :)

• Michael Dunlop
  September 3, 2009 3:37 PM

  

  Hey Stuart, Great to hear from you as always, you know what, I always ask myself that question. I go to bed most evenings thinking what have I even done today for my business.... Must of done something if I can get so much content up I guess :) Michael PS. Beer with me and Daniel in Portsmouth soon?

49. Alessandro Cosimetti
    September 3, 2009 3:16 PM

    

    Stories are always very fascinating. I started blogging to supplement my salary. Today I run 3 blogs, one personal, one centered on a corporate blog and on services for Italian cars, the company created with my brother.

50. JesusFreak
    September 3, 2009 8:17 PM

    

    Brilliant! I'm coming soon. I started blogging over 1 year ago simply because i wanted to give words to my numerous thoughts to help people!

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