5 Online News Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 19th, 2023
Start An Online News

The rapid pace of technological advancements is constantly evolving and creating different business opportunities. Starting an online news channel can be a great business opportunity for videographers with some journalism skills.

Millennials have become more adaptive to the latest technologies and viewing patterns, with most prefer watching news online. According to statistics, more than eight in ten Americans watch news through digital devices like smartphones, computers, and tablets.

Therefore, starting an online news channel can be a profitable venture. To start making money through your channel, focus on growing the audience so that marketers and advertisers can reach out for the airing of their advertisements through your channel.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a online news:

1. Information Guide Africa ($120K/year)

Igbo Clifford Chimaizuobi, along with his twin brother Igbo Stanford Onyemaizuchi, launched Information Guide Africa to provide a platform for writers to earn together. Starting with a general niche blog, they embraced multi-niche content and monetized through ad networks, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts, growing their monthly readership to over 200,000. They are now expanding into movie making and plan to launch apps for their blogs and movies.

How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $300
Current team size: 4

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These Twin Brothers Mastered SEO And Created A $60K/Year African Information Blog

Twin brothers from Nigeria launched multi-niche website, Information Guide Africa, which now attracts over 200k unique visitors per month and generates $60k annually through ad networks, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts.

About
Igbo started Information Guide Africa over 6 years ago
Revenue
Igbo grew the business to $10K/month
Costs
It cost Igbo $300 to start the business
Read by 3,118 founders

2. Contrarian Thinking ($3M/year)

Contrarian Thinking is a premium membership community that teaches people how to add cash-flowing income streams to their portfolios and achieve financial freedom.

Codie Sanchez, the founder of Contrarian Thinking, came up with the idea for her business after experiencing numerous career changes and realizing that money was the key to solving problems. After working in finance and investing, she decided to blend her love for writing, investing, and teaching others to create a company that helps people achieve financial freedom. Through her premium membership community, Contrarian Cashflow, she teaches members how to add more cash-flowing income streams to their portfolios and build the life they have always dreamed of. With over 100,000 newsletter subscribers, a community of 1.5 million people, and a run rate of $3 million this year, Contrarian Thinking is empowering individuals to challenge the status quo and shape their own destinies.

How much they make: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 4

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My Finance Newsletter & Community Hit A $3M Run Rate This Year

Contrarian Thinking is a premium membership community that teaches its 1.5 million members how to implement cash flow strategies to achieve financial freedom, with a current run rate of $3 million and a goal of $50 million ARR in five years.

About
Codie started Contrarian Thinking over 4 years ago
Revenue
Codie grew the business to $250K/month
Skills
Public Speaking, Copywriting, Community Building
Costs
It cost Codie $5000 to start the business
Read by 5,056 founders

So... can you actually make money with a online news?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

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3. The Newsette ($40M/year)

How much they make: $40M/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
Current team size: 38

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The Newsette's Daniella Pierson on how to prove your haters wrong

This case study shines a light on Daniella Pierson, the founder of The Newsette, who managed to grow her newsletter from 15,000 to over 500,000 subscribers and increase its revenue from one million dollars to 40 million dollars in only a few years, securing herself a spot as one of the richest women of color in the United States.

About
Daniella started The Newsette over 9 years ago
Revenue
Daniella grew the business to $3.33M/month
Costs
It cost Daniella $15000 to start the business
Read by 793 founders