Malaysian bloggers chalk up revenues of up to RM1mil annually

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 24 (ANI): If reports are to be believed, then Malaysian bloggers and blog operators are able to chalk up revenues of up to RM1mil annually.

According to Berita Harian, bloggers, who post their personal accounts are now exploiting their blogs for business transactions or advertisement placements, earning an average monthly income of RM70,000, reports the Star Online.

The daily highlighted blogger Mira Abu Bakar, whose highest monthly income revenue through advertising revenue was RM12,000 in 2008.

Mira, who has been operating her blog Redmummy.com since 2005, earns an average monthly revenue of RM2,000.

She admitted that she had to declare her side income with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) as she was unaware about it until she received an audit.

An IRB spokesman said online businesses including via Facebook were bound by the Income Tax Act 1967 and their income were taxable just like fixed income.

Nuffnang (M) Sdn Bhd manager Nicholas Chay said hat revenue of a blog depended on the number of viewers and visitors at a certain period.

He said popular blogs could earn huge profits because advertisements or product reviews posted. (ANI)