Passive Income Ideas For Seo Specialists [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a seo specialist in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a seo specialist today. These will help you increase your quality of life by bringing in more income for yourself or your business.
For each income idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, plus some things you might need to know before you start your passive income journey as a seo specialist.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a fantastic way for you as an SEO specialist to leverage your skills and turn your knowledge into a steady stream of passive income. By focusing on a specific topic you are passionate about, you could create unique and valuable content such as how-to guides, product reviews, and articles that attract a dedicated audience. Your expertise in search engine optimization would give you an edge in driving traffic to your blog, ensuring that your content gets noticed.
To monetize your niche blog, you could incorporate affiliate links, collaborate with brands relevant to your niche, or even grow a related YouTube channel. Over time, as your blog gains visibility and a loyal following, your earnings could grow through ad revenue and sponsored content. Regularly engaging with your followers and continuously updating your blog with fresh content would be key to your success.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
2. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
Starting a niche website could be a great way for you, as an SEO specialist, to supplement your income. With your expertise in driving traffic and optimizing content, you could create a site on a topic you're passionate about, attracting a dedicated audience.
You'd leverage your knowledge to ensure your site ranks well in search engines, drawing in visitors who are interested in your niche. Once you've built this audience, you could monetize your site through affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products, turning your specialized content into a steady income stream.
This venture allows you both creative freedom and the opportunity to use your SEO skills effectively. If you've got a specific interest and the drive to dive deep, building a niche website could be your next rewarding project.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
3. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
Starting an online course sales business could be a great way for an SEO specialist to supplement income and begin earning passive revenue. With your expertise in SEO, you could create courses that teach everything from beginner's guides on search engine optimization to more advanced strategies for improving website rankings. You already have the skills and knowledge, so why not share that with others who are eager to learn?
Creating and selling online courses is relatively straightforward. Choose a specific target audience, develop course materials, and select an online platform to host and sell your courses. The e-learning market is booming, with estimates suggesting it could be worth over $645 billion in the coming years. So, there's a significant opportunity for you to carve out a profitable niche by sharing your SEO expertise.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
4. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As an SEO specialist, starting an affiliate marketing business could make perfect sense for you. Your skills in driving organic traffic and optimizing websites are extremely valuable in this type of business. By crafting well-optimized content that ranks high on search engines, you could attract more visitors to your affiliate links, thereby increasing the chances of earning commissions.
Additionally, your understanding of keyword research and user intent allows you to choose the right products and brands to partner with. Imagine targeting an eCommerce store or a specific product category that you're familiar with; this expertise could then be used to create relevant and engaging content that helps you make sales. This means you could potentially build a steady stream of passive income without stepping too far from what you already do daily.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
5. Make passive income with a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As an SEO specialist, you could find great potential in developing a lead generation tool to supplement your income. This tool could automate the laborious process of identifying and capturing potential leads for businesses, allowing them to focus on converting these leads into customers. You could integrate this tool with websites, social media channels, and other digital touchpoints to collect valuable data like email addresses, phone numbers, and interests.
Given your expertise in SEO, you’d have the inside knowledge on how to attract and funnel the right audience into this tool, making it highly effective. With businesses always looking for efficient ways to grow their customer base, the demand for a reliable lead generation tool is high. This could be a profitable venture, leveraging your skills in a new, income-generating direction.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.
6. Make passive income with an email marketing tool ($249K/month)
If you're an SEO specialist, creating an email marketing tool could be a great way to generate passive income while leveraging your expertise. The skills you already have in researching keywords, understanding customer behavior, and improving website rankings can be directly applied to create effective email marketing campaigns. Since email marketing is a highly effective channel for generating leads and increasing sales, your tool could help businesses reach their target audience more efficiently than just through blogs or websites alone.
Given the increasing demand in the email marketing sector, this could be a lucrative venture. The market size is expected to reach $2.53 billion by 2028, highlighting the vast growth potential. Starting an email tool business is relatively straightforward with the right resources, and with your SEO knowledge, you could offer features that improve email deliverability and engagement metrics, adding value for your potential customers.
How much you can make: $120 — $2,083,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 170 days (?)
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
7. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($148K/month)
As an SEO specialist, you could leverage your expertise in digital marketing by starting a social media automation business. This involves creating tools and services that schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across various platforms. By offering these services, you help clients—from small businesses to influencers—save time and improve their social media presence.
Given the high demand for consistent and strategic social media engagement, there’s a growing market for automation solutions. Your understanding of trends and analytics would be a huge asset, allowing you to stay ahead of the curve and offer tailored services. This venture could not only supplement your current income but also become a substantial passive income stream as you build and grow your client base.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
8. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As an SEO specialist, you could leverage your expertise to create WordPress plugins that address common SEO challenges, such as optimizing meta tags or improving page speed. Since SEO specialists are always looking for tools to enhance website performance, your deep understanding of these needs could help you develop valuable plugins that others would be willing to pay for.
Initially, you could sell these plugins on platforms like CodeCanyon, your own blog, or even set up a dedicated website. Over time, as your plugins gain popularity and more users, the recurring sales could become a steady stream of passive income. Moreover, providing regular updates and premium versions of your plugins could further increase your revenue.
How much you can make: $120 — $120,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Wheely Sales CEO Josh created a lucky wheel popup that has grown revenue from $0 to $600/month in just 4 months since getting started and has attracted over 1.1 million users to his customers’ websites, all while proving that when it comes to creating a product, competition is validation.
9. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
As an SEO specialist, starting a YouTube channel could be an excellent way to earn passive income. You could use your SEO knowledge to create educational videos on topics like search engine optimization tips, best practices, and case studies. By offering valuable content, you could attract a consistent audience and monetize your channel through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.
Creating compelling video content that is well-optimized for search engines could help your channel rank better on YouTube, thus reaching a broader audience. Additionally, you could offer in-depth tutorials or step-by-step guides that appeal to both beginners and advanced SEO learners. Over time, your channel might become a trusted resource in the SEO community, opening the door to further income opportunities.
Despite the initial effort required to film and edit your videos, the long-term benefits could be significant. With consistent updates and continuous engagement, you could create a strong, evergreen content library that generates passive income continuously.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
10. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As an SEO specialist, you could explore creating an AI writing tool to supplement your income and add another dimension to your professional services. This tool would utilize the latest advancements in artificial intelligence to generate high-quality, error-free content quickly, meeting the ever-increasing demand for consistent and engaging material from businesses, bloggers, and students.
Leveraging your existing knowledge in keyword optimization and content strategy, you could develop an AI tool that not only produces content but also ensures it is SEO-friendly, driving better results for clients. This could save significant time for users who currently struggle with content creation, making your tool highly appealing and potentially leading to a steady stream of passive income.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.
11. Make passive income with a cold email service business ($170K/month)
As an SEO specialist, you could leverage your expertise in understanding target audiences and crafting engaging content by starting a cold email service business. This venture involves creating and sending targeted email campaigns to potential clients on behalf of other businesses. By applying your knowledge of analytics, keyword research, and competitive market analysis to email marketing, you could increase open rates and conversions for your clients.
You'll need to write persuasive emails and use tools to track their performance, similar to tracking website metrics in SEO. With a strategic approach, you could start by serving small businesses looking for lead generation and gradually expand your client base as you build success stories. Combining your existing marketing skills with cold emailing techniques could make this side business lucrative and satisfying.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $450,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)
How long does it take to build: 35 days (?)
GMass, an email marketing platform that allows users to send cold emails and email marketing campaigns with Gmail, has attracted over 500,000 user signups, including major tech companies like Uber, LinkedIn, and Google, and now generates over $200K in monthly recurring revenue through a successful content marketing strategy and focused ad spend.
12. Make passive income with a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a great way for you as an SEO specialist to share your expertise, connect with a broader audience, and create an additional income stream. By discussing topics related to SEO, digital marketing, and the latest industry trends, you could attract listeners who are interested in improving their own websites and online presence.
With basic equipment like a microphone and headphones, and by choosing an affordable or free hosting platform, you could begin producing episodes that educate and entertain your audience. As your podcast grows in popularity, you might reach a point where sponsors and advertisers are interested in partnering with you, providing a steady stream of passive income.
Promoting your podcast through social media, online communities, and word of mouth could further increase your visibility, helping you build a dedicated listener base. This venture not only supplements your income but also positions you as a thought leader in the SEO space, opening up additional opportunities for professional growth and networking.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
13. Make passive income with an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
As an SEO specialist, you could leverage your expertise to boost your own eCommerce reselling business. Your skills in keyword optimization and search engine strategies would be incredibly valuable in driving targeted traffic to your reselling platform, whether it starts on social media or expands to a website.
By selecting popular and trending items to resell, you could use your SEO know-how to ensure these products rank well in search results, making them more visible to potential customers. This approach minimizes production costs and makes smart use of your existing skills, turning your SEO talent into a source of passive income.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,999 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.
14. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As an SEO specialist, you could leverage your skills to create a mobile app that enhances user experience or provides valuable tools. Imagine developing an app that helps small businesses optimize their websites or track their SEO performance. With your background, you likely have insights into what users need and how to make an app discoverable in app stores.
You could start by coming up with a clear vision for your app and either learning some basic coding or hiring a developer to bring it to life. Focus on designing a user-friendly interface and thoroughly testing the app to ensure it runs smoothly. Once your app is ready, use your SEO expertise to market it effectively, driving downloads and generating passive income.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
