How Adam Enfroy Built a $1.5M Blog in 3 Years

Turning a Weekend Hobby into a Multi-Million-Dollar Blog

When Adam Enfroy launched his personal blog in mid-2018 as a simple side project, he never expected it would balloon to over $1.5 million in annual revenue by 2021. What began as a handful of how-to posts and gear reviews quickly became a strategic mix of transaction-focused content and diversified monetization. By zeroing in on list posts and deep reviews, he captured high-intent traffic that paid off in commissions, courses and ad earnings.

Revenue Streams Breakdown

Adam identified five main income sources: affiliate marketing, course sales, consulting, display ads, and CPC ads. Affiliate revenue topped $897 000 in 2021 alone, driven by networks like PartnerStack and Impact. In June 2021 he introduced a paid blogging course, adding $472 000 in sales (after refunds). His SEO consulting side gigs brought in another $66 000 before he paused that service.

Display ads managed by Mediavine delivered roughly $118 000, while new CPC sponsorships on select articles added further passive income. This layered approach meant any high-traffic page could carry multiple revenue widgets, maximizing every session.

Managing Costs and Profit

On the expense side, Adam ran an S-Corp that paid him a $306 848 salary plus benefits. He worked with five freelance contractors for writing, design and video editing, adding about $242 000 in fees. With taxes, software subscriptions, hosting and office costs, his total outlay hit $688 454, leaving a net profit of $822 398 on $1.544 million in revenue.

Because he pays himself a wage from the business, his personal take-home was $1.13 million, reflecting a healthy 66% profit margin. That strong cash flow let him reinvest in tools, real estate and retirement, turning the blog into a true wealth-building engine.

Traffic Growth and Audience Building

Organic search remains the core traffic driver, with the site ranking for over 350 000 keywords. In 2021 Adam recorded 4.7 million sessions despite five major Google updates. He also grew his email list to 59 000 subscribers using ConvertKit, exit-intent popups and targeted content upgrades. Each month he adds about 2 000 new contacts, fueling course launches and product promotions.

Key Strategies and Takeaways

Adam’s blueprint is simple: focus 80% of posts on high-value transactional topics, keep 20% as how-to guides, and always test new monetization formats. By treating his blog as a small media company—selling banners, sponsored placements, and email spots—he unlocked revenue channels beyond basic affiliate links.

Moving from $200 000 in 2019 to $800 000 in 2020 and then $1.54 million in 2021 shows how compounding content and diversified income can accelerate growth faster than single-stream models.