Work for Rachel and Sarah Campbell entails opening up their laptops wherever they happen to be – at a coffee shop, in a spa or even poolside, but not in some drab office cubicle.

The 29-year-old identical twins blog about the shopping, eating and goings-on around Sacramento on their Web site TwinSoup.com. And, unlike the majority of bloggers out there, they make enough money doing it that Rachel was able to quit her day job.

Just 28 percent of bloggers worldwide make money, with $200 a year being the median revenue for U.S. bloggers, according to the media company Technorati. Only about one in four bloggers say they're doing it for the cash, and about half have advertising on their blogs to bring money in.

"Most people do this as a labor of love," said Jennifer McLean, Technorati's vice president of marketing.

TwinSoup is headquartered in a fourth-floor office at downtown Sacramento's rehab-chic RetroLodge, at 11th and H streets. But the converted motel room is mainly an address. The twins and their interns are more likely to hold meetings at the Naked Lounge coffee shop across the street, and writing happens everywhere else.

"We have a conversational style," Rachel Campbell said. "So sometimes it's easier to write as you're talking about it with someone else."

The blog is modeled after DailyCandy, and the twins post once a day, dishing on new restaurants, social events and eco-friendly threads. They target local women who like to know about the latest trends, events and hot spots. Last week, the blog focused on Mother's Day gifts.

"We really just felt it was something missing," said Sarah Campbell. "Sacramento has a lot going on, but it doesn't get out there."

Since launching in January 2008, the blog has registered 2 million page views, with about 15,000 unique visitors a month. Ad sales are enough that four months ago Rachel Campbell quit her job in commercial title sales; Sarah still works as a real estate agent.

"Capitalism has a wonderful ability to co-opt anything," said Kevin Wehr, an assistant professor of sociology at California State University, Sacramento. "If you are a good enough writer and you can deliver a set of eyes to the screen, then you have a market."

Still, the majority of bloggers, including many locally, don't do it for the income.

On "Hunter Angler Gardener Cook," Hank Shaw writes about food that doesn't come in a package – meat he killed himself, and vegetables and fruits he either raised or picked up at a farmers market. He's been nominated for best food blog by the James Beard Foundation but still earns only about $20 a month through links to books on Amazon.com. There isn't a single ad on his blog.

"My blog is my house on the Internet," said Shaw. "If I have some outside advertiser in my house and they're not as trustworthy as I am, I think that really damages my credibility."

Writers for SacRag.com, a local news, gossip and entertainment blog, have a similar take.

"It's just a hobby," said Dan "Stickie" Scott, a 36-year-old who is job hunting after finishing graduate school in public policy.

"We have 10 writers, and all of us were born and raised in the area or long-term residents, so I think we have a unique perspective," Scott said. "We're not here reporting the news; that's a million other people's jobs. We're here to provide a personal perspective on the news."

At 4 years old, SacRag.com is one of the longest running local blogs and gets about 7,500 unique visitors a month. Last year, the writers got a share of ad money for the first time – $100 each.

"It was a little bonus," Scott said. "I used it to pay off my beer debt."

Call The Bee's Gina Kim, (916) 321-1228.