Ruth Soukup’s Elite Blog Academy Review: Should You Join?

When I first started exploring ways to make money online, I tried just about everything—freelancing, affiliate marketing, dropshipping, you name it. While some ventures brought in a little extra cash, it wasn’t until I fully committed to building an online business that things really took off. Fast forward to today, and I’m fortunate enough to run a six-figure online business that allows me the freedom and flexibility I once only dreamed of.

Along the way, I’ve learned that success online isn’t about luck—it’s about having the right strategy and tools. That’s why I was intrigued when I first heard about Ruth Soukup’s Elite Blog Academy (EBA). With its promise of a step-by-step framework for building a profitable blog, I decided to dive in and see if it lived up to the hype.

In this review, I’ll share my honest thoughts on EBA, who it’s best suited for, and whether it’s worth the investment for aspiring bloggers.

What is Elite Blog Academy?

Elite Blog Academy (EBA) is a comprehensive online course designed to teach bloggers how to turn their passion into a profitable business. Whether you’re just starting out or have been blogging for a while without seeing the results you want, EBA provides a step-by-step framework to help you grow your audience, monetize your platform, and scale your blog into a sustainable business. The course is divided into four modules—Refine Your Message, Grow Your Audience, Monetize Your Platform, and Build Your Business—each packed with actionable lessons and assignments that build on one another.

What sets EBA apart is its focus on creating multiple income streams. It covers everything from affiliate marketing and sponsored content to creating and selling your own products or services. By the end of the course, students not only learn how to generate revenue but also how to optimize their efforts for maximum ROI. For me, as someone who has explored various online income streams, this structured approach stood out because it bridges the gap between blogging as a hobby and blogging as a full-fledged business.

Who Created Elite Blog Academy?

Elite Blog Academy was created by Ruth Soukup, a highly respected entrepreneur, blogger, and author. Ruth is best known for her blog Living Well Spending Less and her bestselling books like How to Blog for Profit and Do It Scared. She’s also delivered a TED Talk and hosts the popular Do It Scared podcast. Ruth’s journey into blogging began as a way to support her family, and she successfully turned her blog into a multi-million-dollar business long before blogging was widely recognized as a career path.

Ruth’s reputation in the blogging world is stellar. She’s not only an expert in her field but also someone who genuinely wants others to succeed. Her ability to break down complex strategies into simple, actionable steps has helped over 15,000 students through EBA. Personally, I admire her transparency about her own struggles and successes—she’s proof that with the right mindset and tools, anyone can achieve financial freedom through blogging.

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Who is Elite Blog Academy For?

Elite Blog Academy is ideal for anyone serious about turning their blog into a profitable business. It’s perfect for beginner bloggers who need guidance on everything from niche selection to website setup, as well as intermediate bloggers who feel stuck or want to take their income to the next level. If you’re willing to put in the work—because let’s be honest, blogging isn’t an overnight success story—EBA provides the roadmap you need.

That said, EBA isn’t for everyone. If you’re already an advanced blogger with established traffic, an email list, and multiple income streams in place, you might find the course too basic. Similarly, if you’re looking for quick wins or aren’t ready to commit time and effort to implement what you learn, this course might not be the best fit.

For me, EBA’s structured approach was invaluable when I was starting out. It gave me clarity on what steps to take and in what order—something that saved me countless hours of trial and error. If you’re ready to invest in your blog’s future and treat it like a real business, EBA could be exactly what you need.

How is Elite Blog Academy Structured?

Elite Blog Academy is meticulously organized into four main modules, each designed to guide you through a specific phase of building a successful blogging business. Here’s a breakdown of the course structure:

• Module 1: Refine Your Message

  • Focuses on assessing your blog’s current state, setting goals, and creating high-quality content.
  • Includes units on blog structure, creating pillar posts, and designing a user-friendly site.

• Module 2: Grow Your Audience

  • Teaches strategies for driving traffic to your blog through SEO, email list building, and social media marketing.
  • Units cover optimizing your platform, growing your email list, and mastering social media strategies.

• Module 3: Monetize Your Platform

  • Focuses on turning your blog into a revenue-generating machine.
  • Covers topics like ad revenue, affiliate marketing, creating products, and crafting effective sales strategies.

• Module 4: Build Your Business

  • Guides you in scaling your blog into a sustainable business.
  • Includes lessons on business planning, team building, and long-term growth strategies.

Each module builds on the previous one, ensuring that you progress in a logical order. The course includes video lessons, Q&A sessions, workbooks, and assignments that require you to implement what you’ve learned before moving forward. This hands-on approach ensures that you’re not just consuming information but actively applying it to grow your blog.

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Are Elite Blog Academy Students Getting Results?

The results from Elite Blog Academy speak for themselves. Since its launch in 2014, the program has helped thousands of bloggers transform their platforms into thriving businesses. Here are a few standout success stories:

• Jennifer Marx: After starting EBA with just 10,000 monthly page views and minimal income, Jennifer grew her traffic to over 230,000 page views per month and now earns upwards of $20,000 monthly from her blog. She credits her success to following every step of the course diligently.

• Rosemarie Groner: Rosemarie went from making $18 per month to over $30,000 per month after completing EBA. She streamlined her efforts by following the framework and drastically improved her quality of life by reducing her work hours.

• Anonymous Blogger: One student reported tripling their traffic and increasing email subscribers by 500%, even before completing the entire course. They described EBA as a “game changer” for their blog.

These stories demonstrate that EBA works if you’re willing to put in the effort. However, it’s not a magic solution—success requires dedication and consistent implementation of the course material.

How Much Does Elite Blog Academy Cost?

Elite Blog Academy is undoubtedly an investment. The current pricing tiers are as follows:

• Silver Plan: $1,097 (or four monthly payments of $297). Includes core curriculum, bonuses, and access to the private Facebook group.
• Gold Plan: $1,597 (or five monthly payments of $377). Adds access to Ruth’s other courses and resources like the “Product Launch Playbook” and advanced Facebook ad training.
• Platinum Plan: $4,997 (or six monthly payments of $947). Includes all Gold Plan features plus personalized coaching from Ruth Soukup herself, website audits, and live training sessions.

EBA also offers a refund policy that requires students to complete all 36 assignments within six months (180 days) to qualify for a refund. While this policy might seem strict, it ensures that only those who fully commit to the program can request their money back. Personally, I think this is fair because it encourages accountability—if you put in the work, you’re likely to see results.

In my experience as an entrepreneur who has invested in various courses over the years, EBA’s price may feel steep upfront but is justified by the depth of its content and proven track record. For me—and many others—it has been worth every penny.

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Praises for Elite Blog Academy

Elite Blog Academy has received praise from many students and bloggers for several reasons. Here are the standout aspects that I personally found valuable:

• Comprehensive Framework
  EBA provides a clear, step-by-step framework that eliminates the guesswork in building a profitable blog. For someone like me who thrives on structure, this was a game-changer. Ruth Soukup’s approach of “do this, then do that” ensures you’re always working on tasks that directly contribute to your blog’s growth.

• Lifetime Access and Updates
  Once you enroll in EBA, you get lifetime access to the course, including all future updates. This is particularly beneficial in the ever-evolving world of blogging, where strategies can quickly become outdated. Knowing I could revisit the material whenever I needed was a huge plus.

• Proven Success Stories
  The course has helped many bloggers achieve impressive results, from tripling their traffic to earning full-time incomes. For example, students like Jennifer Marx and Rosemarie Groner have credited EBA with transforming their blogs into thriving businesses.

• Motivational Teaching Style
  Ruth Soukup’s teaching style is highly motivational. She has a knack for breaking down complex concepts into actionable steps while inspiring confidence in her students. Personally, this kept me engaged and excited to implement what I learned.

• Focus on Long-Term Growth
  Unlike some courses that focus on quick wins, EBA emphasizes building a sustainable business. From creating quality content to diversifying income streams, the course prepares you for long-term success rather than short-term gains.

Criticisms for Elite Blog Academy

While EBA has its strengths, it’s not without its flaws. Here are some criticisms that I—and others—have observed:

• High Cost
  At over $1,000 for the base plan, EBA is a significant investment. While I believe the value is there if you’re committed, the price can be prohibitive for beginners or those unsure about blogging as a career path. Additionally, students often need to purchase supplementary courses to fill gaps in areas like SEO and email marketing.

• Limited Technical Support
  The course lacks in-depth technical guidance. For example, if you’re struggling with website design or troubleshooting plugins, you’ll need to figure it out on your own or seek help elsewhere. This can be frustrating, especially for beginners who are not tech-savvy.

• Not Beginner-Friendly in Some Areas
  Despite being marketed to all levels of bloggers, parts of EBA feel more suited for intermediate or advanced bloggers. Beginners may find themselves overwhelmed or needing additional resources to fully grasp concepts like traffic generation and monetization strategies.

• Lack of Personal Interaction with Ruth Soukup
  While Ruth’s teaching is motivating, her direct interaction with students is limited. Weekly live sessions are brief and may not address all questions thoroughly. Some students have expressed disappointment at not receiving more personalized support from her.

• Strict Refund Policy
  The refund policy requires students to complete all assignments within six months to qualify for a refund. While this encourages accountability, it can feel rigid and unfair in cases of unforeseen circumstances like personal emergencies.

In my experience, EBA is an excellent resource if you’re serious about blogging and willing to invest both time and money. However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution and may require additional resources to address its shortcomings.

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Should You Join Elite Blog Academy?

Deciding whether to join Elite Blog Academy ultimately comes down to your goals and commitment level. If you’re serious about turning your blog into a profitable business and are ready to invest both time and money, EBA can provide a clear roadmap to help you succeed. Personally, I found the structured approach invaluable when I was starting out—it saved me from wasting time on trial-and-error strategies and helped me focus on what truly matters.

That said, EBA isn’t for everyone. If you’re not ready to dedicate hours to implementing the lessons or if the upfront cost feels too steep, it might not be the right fit for you. Additionally, beginners who struggle with technical aspects of blogging may need supplementary resources to fully benefit from the course. However, if you’re willing to put in the work and follow the framework step by step, EBA has the potential to transform your blog into a thriving business.

For me, investing in EBA was worth it because I treated it as a business expense rather than a gamble. If you have a similar mindset and are ready to commit, I’d say go for it.

Elite Blog Academy Alternative

While Elite Blog Academy is an excellent resource for bloggers, it’s not the only option out there. If you’re looking for a more affordable and versatile alternative, I highly recommend Wealthy Affiliate. As someone who has explored various platforms for learning how to make money online, Wealthy Affiliate stands out as one of the best options for beginners and experienced entrepreneurs alike.

Here’s why Wealthy Affiliate might be a better fit for you:

• Affordable Pricing
  Wealthy Affiliate offers a free starter membership and an affordable premium plan at $49/month (or $497/year). This makes it much more accessible than EBA’s high upfront cost.

• Comprehensive Training
  While EBA focuses solely on blogging, Wealthy Affiliate covers a wide range of online business models, including affiliate marketing, e-commerce, SEO, and email marketing. This versatility is perfect if you’re still exploring different ways to make money online or want to diversify your income streams.

• All-in-One Platform
  Wealthy Affiliate provides everything you need in one place: website hosting, domain registration, keyword research tools, and a supportive community of entrepreneurs. For me, having all these resources in one platform made it easier to streamline my efforts.

• Beginner-Friendly Approach
  The training at Wealthy Affiliate is designed with beginners in mind. It walks you through every step of building an online business—from setting up your website to driving traffic and monetizing your efforts. If you’re new to blogging or online entrepreneurship, this hands-on guidance can be incredibly helpful.

• Active Community Support
  One of Wealthy Affiliate’s biggest strengths is its active community. Members are always willing to help with questions or share insights, which creates an environment of collaboration and support that I’ve personally benefited from.

While EBA is great for those committed specifically to blogging as their main focus, Wealthy Affiliate offers broader training that can help you succeed across multiple online business models. If you’re looking for flexibility or want a more budget-friendly option with robust tools and support, Wealthy Affiliate might be the perfect alternative for you.

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Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith is an internet entrepreneur. He created the Side Hustle Ideas Database to help people find side hustles for making extra money, with the potential of turning into a full-time income.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a business degree, he gained business experience at a consulting firm. At the same time, he tried various side hustles including freelance writing, blogging, and eCommerce. He managed to turn his side hustles into a full-time business, earning over $3 million. Now, he enjoys financial freedom and travels around the world as a digital nomad.