Recently, at the BlogHer conference in Chicago, my 16-year-old daughter Chloe gave her first conference presentation on “professional blogging.” Chloe got to share her story about “making money while she sleeps,” based off of the popular virtual pets site, Neopets.
Watch some of the highlights from Chloe’s panel at BlogHer:
At 15, Chloe, like many teenagers, was looking for a way to make money. She had decided that she didn’t want to mow lawns in the neighborhood, babysit, or flip burgers–instead she hoped to turn her love for Neopets into dollars, by simply making a few, smart SEO decisions using keyword research tools like Google Suggest and WordTracker, and find trusted sources to build links for her blog. With the success of her blog, Chloe attempted to integrate Google ads, but wasn’t able to because of WordPress.com’s restrictive terms of service that forbids the use of AdSense or other third-party ads. Not long afterward, Chloe moved her entire blog to the domain neopets fanatic.com, which is currently ranking #4 for “neopets” out of 6.2 million results. (I’m so proud of her!!) Currently, her blog produces $20 to $30 per day in AdSense revenue, which totals an average of $700-900 per month for only a few hours worth of work on the site. If Chloe were working a minimum wage job at McDonalds, she’d have to work 25 to 30 hours per week to make that amount of money!
Chloe’s story should not be an unusual one. Anyone can turn SEO common “sense” into “cents,” by using the knowledge and the tools that are available.
Is she not in violation of Google Adsense seeing how you must be ’18’ to sign up and participate? Google AdSenseTM Online Standard Terms and Conditions state that you must be 18 in order to participate in the Program.
Comment by Rose — August 15, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
That’s wonderful! Coming from someone who started young too… it’s good to know there are others taking advantage of the opportunities the internet renders! Great job Chloe!
Comment by Terra Andersen — August 21, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
Congrats to you and your daughter. She sounds like she’s doing very well. To be 16 and realize you can do more then flip burgers or work in retail really says alot about a person. Good Luck to your daughter in all her future plans. Keep Blogging!
Comment by Amanda Sands — August 22, 2007 @ 10:37 am
very inspiring. so young, yet so income oriented. she really prepares for her future. keep it up!
Comment by afterburner — August 22, 2007 @ 11:56 am
How lovely little girl Chloe, very happy that you have so a good daughter, I envy very much!My daughter is also 12 years old, she would this makes money from I, her idea is a lot of, and your knowing much time us is understand their meaning!Oh, I am to say that they can bring the whole family a lot of happinesses, is not?
Comment by inflatablepools — August 27, 2007 @ 12:54 am
Thanks so much for the great info., Stephen. From someone who started later and is working hard to make the transition from print to on line writing it’s great to hear stories like this!
Comment by Shawn A. Hessinger — August 28, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
It’s also great that she’s making money from something she loves. Well done to the young businesswoman 🙂
Comment by Mom's Finance — August 31, 2007 @ 5:27 am
It is always good to know that there are actually people who succeed in the online world. What is great about this post is that Chloe is became successful at a very young age. I am sure she will have more success as she continue her journey in the online world. Way to go..
Comment by reash — September 6, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Google adsense is a good product for teens who want to learn about principles of the media and advertising business. I wish it was around when I was young, all I could do was sell candy and soda to hungry students leaving school
Comment by Michele — September 19, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
An amazing kid! Good job Chloe! i hope I can teach my kid to be just like you when she turns 16.
Comment by entrepreneur ideas — September 24, 2007 @ 2:12 am
Wow, I am so proud of her for doing so well so young. It’s nice to see creativity in the younger generation, rather than their generation’s obscene behavior which dominates the news these days. Again, well done her!
Comment by Jack — October 6, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
I am proud of her too. Your daughter is in good step to succeed in the future. Her success should inspire teenagers in the world to get money!
Comment by business solution idea — February 18, 2008 @ 8:03 pm
There are so many bright kids like this who could really benefit from some interesting paid work throughout school. A hundred years ago they used to let them leave school at 14 and go to university or into a top-level job. Why do we have to waste so much time these days? There was very little point in my time working in a factory for minimum wage – though my elders seemed to encourage the martyrdom involved.
Comment by Linda — April 29, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
Thanks so much for the great info., Stephen. From someone who started later and is working hard to make the transition from print to on line writing it’s great to hear stories like this!
Comment by blogger — August 25, 2008 @ 2:46 am
Yep me too. I started at 14 ! I now help teens get online jobs over at http://www.squidoo.com/instantjobsforteens. This generation is even keener than we were I think. Great blog !
Comment by Will Knight — September 8, 2009 @ 2:47 am
My GOD! Really awesome. Wish someday i can do as the best she could. Amin! 🙂
Comment by Gandhi — November 14, 2009 @ 9:47 am