Summary
A personal WordPress.com blog can evolve from a reflective diary into a self-financing creative project. This article explains the actual cost of maintaining a Premium plan, how advertising through WordAds generates income, what the term CPM (Cost per Thousand impressions) means, and how many views are needed to cover yearly expenses. It also offers a simple, human approach to growing a small blog focused on emotions and personal reflection.
Context and Scope
Time frame: January 2024 to October 2025 (Europe/Amsterdam).
The analysis refers to a personal blog hosted on WordPress.com with approximately 1,100 views in 2024 and an estimated 1,700 in 2025. The purpose is to understand how WordAds revenue compares to the yearly cost of a Premium plan and to outline the main factors that can help a modest blog grow steadily toward self-sustainability. All numbers, definitions, and terms presented are verified against public WordPress sources and real-world averages.
Factual Narrative
Understanding the Costs
The Premium plan on WordPress.com costs about $96 USD per year. It includes a custom domain and access to the WordAds program, which allows bloggers to earn money from advertising. Lower plans do not include monetization options, so Premium is the minimum step for those who want to generate revenue.
How WordAds Works
WordAds automatically decides which ads appear based on the reader’s country, interests, and the content of the post. The blogger can enable or disable ads and choose their placement, but not select advertisers. WordPress shares revenue with publishers after deducting a service commission. Payments are issued through PayPal once the balance reaches $100 USD.
CPM Rates and Expected Revenue
CPM (Cost per Thousand impressions) represents how much advertisers pay for every 1,000 times an ad is displayed.
Average CPM ranges:
- Around $0.50–$2 for audiences in Latin America or Spain
- Around $2–$5 for audiences in the United States, Canada, or Europe
- Over $5 for specific niches like finance, health, or technology
For general lifestyle or personal blogs, a $2 CPM is a reasonable assumption.
Break-Even Point
At a $2 CPM, recovering the $96 yearly fee requires roughly 48,000 views per year, equivalent to 4,000 per month or about 130 per day.
With around 1,700 annual views, the income would be minimal—between $1.70 and $8.50 per year, depending on CPM—but this small base provides useful data for planning future growth.
Long-Term Projection
If the blog maintains its current 50% yearly growth:
- In 2026 it may reach 2,500 views
- In 2028 around 5,700 views
- In 2030 close to 13,000 views
- By 2033 or 2034, approximately 43,000–45,000 views
At that point, advertising alone could cover the Premium plan. Growth can accelerate through better content strategy and consistent posting.
Growth Strategy
Clarify the Focus
Turn personal reflections into relatable stories that provide value to others. For instance, instead of “Feeling distant from my partner,” write “What to Do When You Feel Emotionally Distant in a Relationship.”
Publish Regularly
Aim for a new post every one to two weeks. Frequency helps search visibility and keeps readers engaged.
Optimize Titles and Structure
Use natural, clear language. Titles that answer emotional questions—“Why we miss our ex,” “How to rebuild connection after conflict”—attract search traffic. Add short subheadings and one featured image per post.
Promote Organically
Share posts on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and WhatsApp. Include the blog link in profiles and email signatures.
Build Reader Loyalty
Enable the “Follow” option so visitors can subscribe and receive each new post by email. Loyal readers are more valuable than one-time visitors.
Introduce Gentle Monetization
Before advertising income becomes relevant, add small extras: donation buttons like Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee, or short eBooks compiling reflections. Each small revenue source contributes to covering annual hosting costs.
Entities and Roles Index
- WordPress.com — The hosting platform offering paid plans, including Premium.
- WordAds — The integrated ad network that pays for impressions.
- CPM (Cost per Thousand impressions) — The metric advertisers use to price every 1,000 ad views.
- PayPal — The payment system used to receive WordAds earnings.
- Ko-fi / Buy Me a Coffee — Donation platforms for reader support.
Practical Conclusions
To make a personal WordPress blog self-sustaining, reach around 48,000 yearly views assuming an average $2 CPM. While this target may seem distant, steady publishing, clear SEO (Search Engine Optimization) practices, and active sharing can multiply traffic over time. Combining ad income with small donations or digital products accelerates progress and keeps the blog financially balanced while staying authentic and personal.
Sources
- https://wordpress.com/pricing — Official WordPress.com pricing information.
- https://wordpress.com/support/monetize-your-site-with-wordads/ — Official documentation about the WordAds program.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_per_mille — Definition of CPM (Cost per Thousand impressions).
- https://www.paypal.com/ — Verified payment processor used by WordAds.
- https://ko-fi.com/ — Donation platform for creators.
- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ — Alternative micro-donation service for writers and bloggers.
Definitions and Translations
CPM (Cost per Thousand impressions)
Advertising metric indicating the amount paid by advertisers for every 1,000 ad displays.
WordAds
WordPress.com’s internal advertising system that manages ad placement and revenue sharing automatically.
Premium Plan
The paid plan on WordPress.com that costs about $96 USD per year and allows domain customization and monetization.
Follow Option
A feature enabling visitors to subscribe via email and receive notifications for new posts.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
A collection of writing and formatting techniques that help posts appear higher in search-engine results.
Ko-fi / Buy Me a Coffee
Online platforms where readers can support writers with small voluntary donations.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 