How I made $2,586.06 blogging in December
How did we make it to the last month of 2016 in blog income reports? This December 2016 Blog Income Report details how to make a blogging plan for the new year as well as my current blogging struggles. (Hint: It’s money)
Let’s dive in.
My gosh it’s hard to run a business! Just when you think you have a handle on everything, something new pops up to change your mind.
Let me explain.
It my past income reports, I’ve talked a lot about joining the Elite Blog Academy VIP (if you haven’t taken EBA yet, what are you waiting for?) Joining this mastermind group has been the best decision. But it’s made me aware of a few things:
- I need to be more productive.
- I need to be more intentional.
- I need to always put my reader first.
Being a Productive Blogger
I’ve had a little mindshift as to how I view my blog. My blog is no longer the be all, end all of making money.
Rather, it’s a marketing platform. It’s how I attract people to me and my message.
That’s a huge breakthrough. Now, I no longer concentrate on creating content for my blog full-time. My time is better spent creating products and emailing my readers who sign up for my list.
However, I still need new posts. Enter batch posting.
At the beginning of the month, I set aside 4 days to create all of the content for December. I spent 2 days planning and writing rough drafts, 1 day on taking and editing images and 1 day on finalizing the posts.
Only 4 days spent on the blog in December. What did I do with the rest of my time?
Becoming a More Intentional Blogger
I realized that I needed a master plan if I’m going to grow my income.
My goal is to make at least $8000 a month by this time next year. That’s a lot. And it’s time to stop hoping for it and actually make a plan to do it. Thus, my plan.
Ya, its hard to read. I get it. (Love the planner?)
Basically, I’m planning to make:
- $2000 in ad revenue a month. Based on my current income through Monumetric, I can only achieve this by increasing my blog pageviews to 350,000 page views a month. I’m spending time learning SEO, optimizing the blog for SEO and updating my Pinterest graphics.
- $4000 affiliate income per month. This is my big push this year. Learning how to maximize my affiliate income. I tried a Stitch Fix affiliate push at the beginning of the month through my email list. Two people bought. Sigh.
- $2000 product sales per month. This amount will be amortized throughout the year as I plan to only let people enroll in my Outfit Mastery course at specific times. I spent most of December taking Jeff Walker’s Product Launch Formula class. I’m nowhere near done, but man, I expect good results ahead!
Putting my Reader First
As I mentioned last month, I’m taking on less sponsored posts.
This is not to say I won’t EVER do them, but I’m now a lot pickier about the content of the post and how much I charge.
I’m still scared about this decision. Sponsored posts have brought in the bulk of my income since I started Whimsicle. However, I realized the money swayed me into posting content that wasn’t the best fit for my audience.
What sponsored content will I accept? I’m going by gut. If it’s not a hell yes, then its a hell no.
Now, lets get to the numbers.
Traffic
My page views and users are up almost 10% since November. Love it since I really haven’t done anything yet to explain that change. I will take what I can get.
Blog Income
Ad Revenue 357.57
These are my ads through Monumetric. I love them because I don’t have to touch a thing! Plus, I’m averaging around $7.60 RPM. That means for every 1000 page views, I get $7.60. It adds up.
Affiliate Income 212.87
I can definitely improve here! On it!
Product 15.62
I sold a tripwire of Outfit ideas when people signed up to download my wardrobe essentials. I sold 3. Have I told you that business is hard?
Sponsored Posts 2,000.00
I’m going to miss this. Yes, I’m scared to lose this income. But I’m hoping the right sponsored post opportunities will come my way and I won’t have to say goodbye completely.
Total Income: 2,586.06
Blog Expenses
Advertising 397.54
I spent a lot on Facebook ads this month. I didn’t get the result I wanted – which was a boatload of email subscribers and people buying my tripwire to pay for the ads (remember how I sold 3?). Chalking this up to the cost of experience and I’ll try again.
Bank Charges 2.20
Dues & Subscriptions 59.99
I never know what to classify classes I take. This is Webmaster Tools Course from Learn to Blog Hangouts. If you have no clue how to use Webmaster Tools (now called Search Console), I recommend it!
Job Materials 9.64
Supplies for an Arizona Midday segment. I bought the items for Kid Made Terrariums.
Legal & Professional Fees 299.00
Again, no clue how to code classes. This is an awesome SEO course I’m in the middle of. I just started using the strategies and I’m already getting double the clicks I used to from Google. I highly recommend it.
Office Expenses 14.01
My Quickbooks software
Subcontractors 175.00
Two things this month. Part of this is my Pinterest VA. I also asked my web designer to add an email signup to my homepage.
Supplies 2.16
More Kid-Made Terrariums stuff. I’m beginning to realize I kind of suck at accounting.
Tools 49.17
Adobe Photoshop, Canva for Work and access to Adobe Stock.
Total Expenses 1,008.71
Total Profit: 1,577.35
Yes! Profit! I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m confident in my plan to get me to my goal. In January, I’m batch posting at the beginning of the month, running an affiliate push and preparing for my launch of Outfit Mastery.
What are you working on?
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Thanks so much for sharing this. I love reading Income Reports because it is such motivation for me and my blog.