- 6:00:00 PM
- 10 Comments
A couple months ago, I decided that I was going to start tracking all of my blog stats, social media followers, income, and expenses. I've seen a lot of big bloggers do this and I've been inspired to do the same, especially by Melissa Griffin. I mean did you see her report from September 2016? She made over $170k!
Obviously my numbers will be no where near hers, but they're still worth keeping track of! I know sometimes it can get overwhelming to see bloggers making thousands of dollars, so I thought it was important to show what it looks like for me. I only launched this blog in January 2016, so I still have a lot to learn, but I'm glad I can share it with you!
Actually, I'm more than glad, I'm super excited! I have been watching my numbers and waiting for the month to be over, so I can finally compare everything. Usually my husband is the math guy, but I can't wait to calculate everything!
Traffic Report
December Traffic
- Pageviews: 955 (+ 173.64%)
- Unique Visitors: 557 (+ 1,014%)
- Sessions: 673 (+ 325.95%)
- Duration: 1:10 (- 69.16 %)
- Bounce Rate: 76.82% (+ 1247.72%)
- New Sessions: 79.79% (+ 157.39%)
After getting hacked last month, I decided to figure out how to best take control over my Google Analytics account! Unfortunately though, I hadn't realized that my tracking code had also stopped working. So, I was unable to track my traffic from December 3rd until December 15th, which is why my numbers are so low. However, between my Google Analytics account and my Google Adsense account, I can estimate that my actual pageviews would have been closer to1,850 for the month of December.
On the bright side though, I figured out exactly how to protect my Google Analytics account from future spam! You can read all about it in my recent post, "5 Changes You Need to Make to Your Google Analytics Account Right Now!"
On the bright side though, I figured out exactly how to protect my Google Analytics account from future spam! You can read all about it in my recent post, "5 Changes You Need to Make to Your Google Analytics Account Right Now!"
December Traffic Sources
- Social: 52.70% (+ 278.59%)
- Pinterest: 44.57% (N/M)
- Facebook: 39.59% (N/M)
- Instagram: 0.88% (N/M)
- Twitter: 8.80% (N/M)
- Blogger: 5.87% (N/M)
- Google+: 0% (0%)
- Direct: 14.22% (N/M)
- Referral: 17.93% (-69.21%)
- Organic: 15.15% (-45.60%)
Again, due to the technical difficulties, my December traffic sources are a little off as well. However, I was able to track some data and it looks to be accurate based on the 15 or so odd days that I was able to get data for. However, since the last month's data was skewed as well, many of the percentages increased from zero. Unfortunately though, the mathematical equation that I use to determine percentage increased cannot be calculated from zero. So, for those calculations, I included the notation "N/M" otherwise known as "not meaningful."
Social Media Report
December Social Media Growth
- Instagram: 1,264 (+ 5.95%)
- Twitter: 1,536 (+ 8.09%)
- Pinterest: 1,133 (+ 18.27%)
- Bloglovin': 290 (+ 6.62%)
- Facebook: 139 (+ 54.44%)
- Google+: 36 (+ 24.14%)
- Email Subscribers: 51 (+ 24.39%)
My percentages definitely look better this month! Towards the end of November, I made time to sit down and plan out (almost) all of my social media posts for the entire month of December! And it definitely paid off! I've made so much progress with my social media accounts and I can't wait to see how they do next month!
Profit & Loss Report
December Income
- Freelance: $47
- Affiliate Programs: $44.74
- Ads: $1.27
- Miscellaneous: $16.47
- Products:
- Influenster Box: Free ($52 + includes shipping)
- Book: Free ($18.99 + includes shipping)
- Total Income: $109.48 + $70.99 worth of free products
I've gotta admit, I definitely could have done better this time around. I planned tons of material for Holiday Gift Guides and the holiday season in general, but I never got around to posting them. So, I lost out on a lot of potential affiliate income. Nevertheless, I still think it was a pretty good month!
December Expenses
- Storenvy: $9
- Adobe *: $32.39
- ConvertKit *: $29
- Blog Boss Babes *: $37
- BoardBooster *: $5
- Pinterest Ad *: $20
- Total Expenses: $132.39
(Anything with an '*' next to it is an affiliate link)
Total Profit: - $22.91 + $70.99 worth of free products
This month, I decided to upgrade my BoardBooster account from the free trial to the lowest paying gig. I now get 500 pins a month for $5 and it's pretty awesome! Just actively using this tool has helped grow my Pinterest following by 18.27% and of course that translates into traffic as well! In addition to that, I also decided to try out the Pinterest ad system. My goal was to spend $5 total, but I soon realized that I accidentally selected the option to spend $5/day. Luckily, I was able to catch that in time. So my monthly blog expenses did go up a little bit, but it's nothing I can't handle!
Here's to hoping I earn even more next month! With the help of you guys, I'm able to turn my dream into my business :) You guys are awesome!
Post Report
December Posts
- Number of Posts Published: 11
- Most Popular Posts:
- Book Review: On the Way to Simple* (Published December 2016)
- Product Review: Journal the Word Bible + Giveaway!* (Published December 2016)
- Clothing Haul (Published April 2016)
- Blog Stats & Income Report: November 2016 (Published December 2016)
- Product Review: Oska Pulse + Coupon Code* (Published December 2016)
As you guys might have noticed, I haven't been following my blogging schedule 100%. I've been sick on and off for the last few weeks and it's really taken a toll on me. However, I did try to spend a couple days catching up! So, I was able to publish a lot of my unfinished blog posts and ended up with 11 posts instead of my original three!
Goal Report
Last Month's Goals:
- Finish secret project
- Publish at least 18 blog posts
- Hit 5k total followers/subscribers
- Write at least 3 guest blog posts
This Month's Goals:
- Finish at least 3 future blog posts
- Collaborate with other bloggers
- Hit 5K total followers/subscribers
- Reach 2.5K pageviews
Sadly, this month's goal report is pretty disappointing. I haven't exactly been able to follow up with my goals this month. My secret project is taking much longer than anticipated, mostly because I keep adding things to it. And I definitely didn't publish 18 blog posts this month, but I can say that I wrote at least that many since I've got a head start on my 2017 posts! As for my social media goal, I was hundreds of followers away from 5K; but I think with some continued work and some social media threads, I'll be able to make it happen in 2017! Oh and those guest posts, they certainly didn't happen haha.
Overall though, I'm still proud of myself. Whether or not I accomplished the things on this list, I still managed to accomplish a lot. I outlined all of my goals for 2017, planned the content for both of my blogs for all of 2017, and did a bunch more! I'm truly excited to see what 2017 brings!
How was your December? Tell me in the comments!
* This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive some type of compensation. However, this adds no additional cost or inconvenience to you. For more information, you can read our full disclosure here. *
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- 6:00:00 PM
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A couple months ago, I decided that I was going to start tracking all of my blog stats, social media followers, income, and expenses. I've seen a lot of big bloggers do this and I've been inspired to do the same, especially by Melissa Griffin. I mean did you see her report from July 2016? She made over $100k!
Obviously my numbers will be no where near hers, but they're still worth keeping track of! I know sometimes it can get overwhelming to see bloggers making thousands of dollars, so I thought it was important to show what it looks like for me. I only launched this blog in January 2016, so I still have a lot to learn, but I'm glad I can share it with you!
Actually, I'm more than glad, I'm super excited! I have been watching my numbers and waiting for the month to be over, so I can finally compare everything. Usually my husband is the math guy, but I can't wait to calculate everything!
Traffic Report
November Traffic
- Pageviews: 349 (- 75.83%)
- Unique Visitors: 50 (- 92.54%)
- Sessions: 158 (- 81.65%)
- Duration: 3:47 (+ 138.95%)
- Bounce Rate: 5.70% (- 92.42%)
- New Sessions: 31.07% (- 57.06%)
After logging on to Google Analytics today, I realized that my account was also spammed by the infamous "Secret.É¢oogle.com You are invited! Enter only with this ticket URL. Copy it. Vote for Trump!" So, I can only assume that my numbers are messed up, especially because my blogger stats vary greatly from the numbers I'm using today.
November Traffic Sources
- Social: 13.92% (- 75.62%)
- Pinterest: 0% (- 100%)
- Facebook: 0% (- 100%)
- Instagram: 0% (- 100%)
- Twitter: 0% (- 100%)
- Blogger: 0% (- 100%)
- Google+: 0% (- 100%)
- Direct: 0% (- 100%)
- Referral: 58.23% (+ 646.54%)
- Organic: 27.85% (+ 85.67%)
As I mentioned earlier, I believe that my numbers are wrong and honestly I'm surprised by this report. I have never had 0 direct traffic before, so that is definitely weird for me! And after digging a little deeper into my report, it appears that every traffic source is spam. So unfortunately, I have no idea how accurate any of this month's traffic report is.
On the bright side though, I figured out exactly how to protect my Google Analytics account from future spam! You can read all about it in my recent post, "5 Changes You Need to Make to Your Google Analytics Account Right Now!"
On the bright side though, I figured out exactly how to protect my Google Analytics account from future spam! You can read all about it in my recent post, "5 Changes You Need to Make to Your Google Analytics Account Right Now!"
Social Media Report
November Social Media Growth
- Instagram: 1193 (- 1.08%)
- Twitter: 1421 (+ 9.48%)
- Pinterest: 958 (+ 12.06%)
- Bloglovin': 272 (+ 8.37%)
- Facebook: 90 (+ 8.43%)
- Google+: 29 (+ 3.57%)
- Email Subscribers: 41(+ 13.89%)
Honestly, I'm pretty surprised by my social media report. I've done a horrible job this month and I'm pretty disappointed in myself. After my tests at the hospital, I was absolutely drained. I couldn't move or do anything and then I got an infection on top of that, not to mention all of my normal symptoms and struggles. So, in the end, I wasn't able to schedule/post anything on social media and I don't even think I sent out a newsletter. Somehow though, you guys kept finding my accounts and followed me anyways and I thank you for that!
Profit & Loss Report
November Income
- Freelance: $202.16
- Affiliate Programs: $31.85
- Ads: $10.82
- Miscellaneous: $19.85
- Products:
- Oska Pulse: Free ($399 + includes shipping)
- Book: Free ($14.99 + includes shipping)
- Total Income: $264.68 + $413.99 worth of free products
Guys! I'm so surprised! Honestly, I had no idea that this is what this month's income report would look like! I basically spent this month curled up in a blanket watching Gilmore Girls, so you can imagine how surprised I am with the amount I was able to make this month! It's probably all going to go towards Christmas presents, but still!
November Expenses
- Storenvy: $9
- Adobe *: $32.39
- ConvertKit *: $29
- Blog Boss Babes *: $37
- Total Expenses: $107.39
Total Profit: $157.29 + $413.99 worth of free products
Again, I'm really surprised by this month's numbers! I barely did anything this month and I still managed to make a profit! And the best part is, besides the freelancing jobs, I didn't have to lift a finger! I'm slowly but surely beginning to make a profit from passive income and it feels amazing!
I hope I can keep this pattern going next month, but I might get a little too carried away with giveaways! My loss is your gain though :)
Again, I'm really surprised by this month's numbers! I barely did anything this month and I still managed to make a profit! And the best part is, besides the freelancing jobs, I didn't have to lift a finger! I'm slowly but surely beginning to make a profit from passive income and it feels amazing!
I hope I can keep this pattern going next month, but I might get a little too carried away with giveaways! My loss is your gain though :)
Post Report
November Posts
- Number of Posts Published: 6
- Most Popular Posts:
- Tips for Recovering After Pushing Yourself Too Far (Published September 2016)
- September's Verse of Encouragement 2016 + Free Printable (Published Septembert 2016)
- Blog Stats and Income Report: August 2016 (Published September 2016)
- Following Your Dreams Despite Your Chronic Illness (Published August 2016)
- An Open Letter to the Doctors That Didn't Take Me Seriously (Published August 2016)
As you guys know, being chronically ill can be very taxing on one's body and its even harder when hospitals are involved. So, as a result, I wasn't able to write nearly as much as I normally do. However, it appears that some of my old posts are kicking but anyways! In fact, I saw earlier today that "Tips for Recovering After Pushing Yourself Too Far" had over 180 repins on Pinterest and that's a pretty big deal for me!
Goal Report
Last Month's Goals:
- Finish secret project
- Publish at least 18 blog posts
Hit 4k total followers/subscribersWrite at least 2 guest blog posts
This Month's Goals:
- Finish secret project
- Publish at least 18 blog posts
- Hit 5k total followers/subscribers
- Write at least 3 guest blog posts
It's been a rough couple of month's for me and my work has definitely showcased it, but I'm determined to catch up and do better! So even though I'm slightly disappointed with this month's numbers, I'm going to accept them for what they are. I will just have to try better next month!
Overall, I did a pretty good job without trying lol. I kept my promise to avoid any big purchases and I was able to make a profit by doing so! I also think that although my blog stats were skewed, I did increase in traffic. I almost doubled my Google Adsense earnings, so that must mean I'm doing something right! Here's to hoping December is my best month yet!
Overall, I did a pretty good job without trying lol. I kept my promise to avoid any big purchases and I was able to make a profit by doing so! I also think that although my blog stats were skewed, I did increase in traffic. I almost doubled my Google Adsense earnings, so that must mean I'm doing something right! Here's to hoping December is my best month yet!
How was your November? Tell me in the comments!
* This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive some type of compensation. However, this adds no additional cost or inconvenience to you. For more information, you can read our full disclosure here. *
Join the Perfectly Ambitious Newsletter!
Sign up for our latest content, products, and coupon codes!
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- 6:00:00 PM
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A couple months ago, I decided that I was going to start tracking all of my blog stats, social media followers, income, and expenses. I've seen a lot of big bloggers do this and I've been inspired to do the same, especially by Melissa Griffin. I mean did you see her report from July 2016? She made over $100k!
Obviously my numbers will be no where near hers, but they're still worth keeping track of! I know sometimes it can get overwhelming to see bloggers making thousands of dollars, so I thought it was important to show what it looks like for me. I only launched this blog in January 2016, so I still have a lot to learn, but I'm glad I can share it with you!
Actually, I'm more than glad, I'm super excited! I have been watching my numbers and waiting for the month to be over, so I can finally compare everything. Usually my husband is the math guy, but I can't wait to calculate everything!
Traffic Report
October Traffic
- Pageviews: 1,444 (- 30.9%)
- Unique Visitors: 670 (- 14.25%)
- Sessions: 861 (- 27.22%)
- Duration: 1:35 (- 16.67%)
- Bounce Rate: 75.15% (+ 4.96%)
- New Sessions: 72.36% (+ 0%)
Honestly, I'm not surprised to see these numbers this month. We've been having a lot of internet problems lately and I just haven't been able to get all of my blog posts and social media posts up in a timely manner. I'm hoping that these issues will resolve themselves and I'll be back on track in November!
October Traffic Sources
- Social: 57.1% (- 1.09%)
- Pinterest: 54.88% (+ 81.06%)
- Facebook: 27.64% (- 44.48%)
- Instagram: 4.07% (- 24.91%)
- Twitter: 6.5% (- 33.74%)
- Blogger: 5.49% (+ 31.65%)
- Google+: 1.42% (+ 846.67%)
- Direct: 20.1% (- 4.1%)
- Referral: 7.8% (+ 1.43%)
- Organic: 15% (+ 10.95%)
As I mentioned earlier, I haven't been able to stay very consistent with my social media & blogging schedules, but I'm so glad that my social media game is still going strong without me! I'm pretty happy with these numbers too. I obviously want social media to bring in a lot of readers, but I also like that my referral and organic traffic has increased as well.
Social Media Report
October Social Media Growth
- Instagram: 1206 (+ 4.33%)
- Twitter: 1298 (+ 8.71%)
- Pinterest: 856 (+ 20.56%)
- Bloglovin': 251 (+ 11.56%)
- Facebook: 83 (+ 25.76%)
- Google+: 28 (+ 16.67%)
- Email Subscribers: 36 (+ 24.14%)
Yay! New followers!
I absolutely love connecting with each of my followers and I'm so glad that I get the chance to! So thank you to all of you that are already following me! Again, I'm sorry that I haven't been as active as I wish I could be! This month has been full of obstacles between my internet connection and my health. Here's to hoping for a better report next month!
Profit & Loss Report
October Income
- Freelance: $394.96
- Affiliate Programs: $43.84
- Ads: $20.64
- Miscellaneous: $20.22
- Products:
- Bible: Free ($49.99)
- Total Income: $479.66 + $49.99 worth of free products
I can't believe how much I made this month! I know I won't get to keep much of it, but it's just so nice to know that I'm actually making progress on the monetization of my blog! And if you can't tell, I'm pretty excited about it!
Ideally, I'd really like the bulk of my income to be through passive work, but I know I've got a bit of a ways to go before I get there. I can't wait to see how next month goes though!
Ideally, I'd really like the bulk of my income to be through passive work, but I know I've got a bit of a ways to go before I get there. I can't wait to see how next month goes though!
October Expenses
- Storenvy: $9
- Adobe *: $32.39
- ConvertKit *: $29
- Blog Boss Babes *: $37
- Best Buy *: $1,083.86
- Legging Army Giveaways *: $34.00
- Total Expenses: $1,225.25
Total Profit: - $745.59 + $5.89 worth of free products
This month's expenses were a little over the top, which is why I didn't end up with much of a profit, or any profit really.
In the end though, I'm not too concerned about it. Ultimately, the bulk of my expenses came down to my giveaway prizes and my Best Buy purchases. And realistically, both of these things will help my business in the log run!
This month's expenses were a little over the top, which is why I didn't end up with much of a profit, or any profit really.
In the end though, I'm not too concerned about it. Ultimately, the bulk of my expenses came down to my giveaway prizes and my Best Buy purchases. And realistically, both of these things will help my business in the log run!
Post Report
October Posts
- Number of Posts Published: 15
- Most Popular Posts:
- Following Your Dreams Despite Your Chronic Illness (Published August 2016)
- The Most Popular Posts from My First 6 Months of Blogging (Published August 2016)
- Product Review: LuLaRoe Haul + Giveaway!* (Published August 2016)
- Book Review: Gray's Dilemma + Giveaway!* (Published October 2016)
- Legging Army Haul + Giveaway!* (Published October 2016)
I didn't get to post as many blog posts as I had wanted to, but I beat my number from September, so I think that's a win!
I'm not at all surprised that three of my recent giveaways made it onto the most popular posts list for October. Especially because the list was in a different order just a few days ago! It's so interesting to see which posts you guys lean more towards and connect with the most.
I'm not at all surprised that three of my recent giveaways made it onto the most popular posts list for October. Especially because the list was in a different order just a few days ago! It's so interesting to see which posts you guys lean more towards and connect with the most.
Goal Report
Last Month's Goals:
- Finish secret project
Publish at least 15 blog posts- Hit 4k total followers/subscribers
- Write at least 2 guest blog posts
This Month's Goals:
- Finish secret project
- Publish at least 18 blog posts
- Hit 4k total followers/subscribers
- Write at least 2 guest blog posts
I'm a tad bit disappointed that I didn't hit all of my goals this month, but I know that I tried my best. Sometimes we just have to listen to our bodies and accept our limitations. So I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for understanding :)
Overall, I think I did pretty well for my third month of trying to monetize my blog. Honestly, had I not bought an ipad pro, a MacBook pro case, and a new memory card, I would have made a decent profit! Here's to no big purchases next month!
Overall, I think I did pretty well for my third month of trying to monetize my blog. Honestly, had I not bought an ipad pro, a MacBook pro case, and a new memory card, I would have made a decent profit! Here's to no big purchases next month!
How was your October? Tell me in the comments!
* This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive some type of compensation. However, this adds no additional cost or inconvenience to you. For more information, you can read our full disclosure here. *
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- 6:00:00 PM
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Recently, I started posting a series of Blog Stats & Income Report posts and in doing so, I've received a lot of questions from you guys!
The biggest one being, how do bloggers make money? And since it's been such a popular question, I decided to dedicate an entire blog post to my answer!
So, after figuring out what works best for me and checking in with a few other bloggers, I have come up with a list of six different ways to monetize your blog!
1. Ads
From my experience, ads are the best way to monetize your blog and earn a passive income! At the moment, I have two different types of ads on my blog: Google Adsense & sponsor advertising.
Google Adsense allows you to earn money whenever your ads are seen or clicked. That's it! You don't have to do anything except upload the ad's code to your blog template and then they practically run themselves!
In addition to my Google Adsense ads, I also have the option for sponsor advertising on my blog! I got the idea from some of the other blogs that I love and I thought I'd implement it myself! Basically, brands, bloggers, and businesses pay me to put their ad in my sidebar for a predetermined amount. Currently, I have multiple packages that range from $1-$10 and they include various benefits. The reason that these ads work for me, is because I get to pick and choose who is the right fit for my blog and what I will do for them. Most of the time, I just have to put the ad on my sidebar and schedule a couple shoutouts for each sponsor.
To get more of an idea of how it works, you can check out my advertising page here!
2. Products
Products are another great way to monetize your blog and there are so many awesome bloggers out there that do this too! If you've checked out my sidebar recently, then you know that I have a shop of my own as well!
A lot of the bloggers that I follow make a majority of their income from their products. And I'm not just talking spare change either, some of them make thousands of dollars from their products each month! It definitely helps that bloggers have so many different product options too! From e-books to courses, to printables and physical products, your options are endless!
The best part about having your own products is, you only have to create these products once! And if you play your cards right, you can have them sent directly to your customers and you won't have to handle the orders at all! I mean, who doesn't love passive income?
3. Referral Programs
I have a love hate relationship with referral programs! At the moment, I only use a couple and I'm not a huge fan of them. Mostly due to the fact that I don't actually earn cash, but instead earn a shop/service credit! And although this isn't exactly what I'm looking for, it's perfect for other bloggers!
The way referral programs work is pretty simple. After signing up, you'll get a link to share with your friends and family, and each time someone uses that link, you'll earn something for that referral! For me, most of my referral programs pay between $5-$15 per referral. However, as I mentioned earlier, the majority of these programs pay with credits instead of cash. So if you're looking for cash, I recommend affiliate programs!
4. Affiliate Programs
Besides my usual ads, I'd have say that affiliate income is my second favorite way to monetize my blog! There are just so many wonderful affiliate programs out there, you are bound to hit the jackpot with one of them! For me, I signed up with about 15 different brands and I've made less than $5 total in the past few months, then I signed up with another company and I've made a little over $60 in about three weeks!
Now, there is a little bit more work involved with affiliate programs, but it's worth it! Most affiliate programs have pretty great commission rates compared to regular ads and other forms of monetization. In fact, the one I was just talking about gives 25% commission to the affiliate that makes the sale. Of course, it's important to note that not all affiliate programs have commissions this high, but it is something to look forward to! In my experience, a majority of companies stick around the 8% range, which is still pretty good!
Another perk is that as long as you're recommending things that you love, you're actually getting paid to enjoy those things! So for me, I earn money for wearing leggings, using Photoshop, and even shopping at Walmart!
5. Sponsored Posts
Similar to sponsor advertising, bloggers can also get paid for sponsored posts! Usually, brands and businesses will reach out to the blogger directly for this type of collaboration, but many bloggers also get jobs by pitching to brands on their own. Personally though, all of my sponsored posts have been through different networks that specialize in connecting sponsors and bloggers.
One of the great things about sponsored posts is that you get to choose who you work with, how much you make, and what you have to do! Honestly, I love that sponsored posts aren't limited to blog posts alone. Some bloggers get paid just to post a picture on Instagram or give a shoutout on Twitter! So don't let your blog stats deter you from exploring sponsored posts! Some companies care more about your social media engagement, so as long as you're doing well on one platform, you've got everything you need!
6. Freelance Services
Just like products, many bloggers offer up their own freelance services too. Whether they're selling coaching sessions, content editing, or graphic design services, many bloggers are also freelancers! In fact, I'm a freelancer and that's where a majority of my blogging income comes from!
Usually, if you've been a blogger for a while, then you've picked up a couple of important skills! For me, I've learned a lot about graphic design and social media marketing. So, I've taken those skills and turned them into an opportunity for income!
In addition to these types of services, other bloggers also freelance as virtual assistants for other businesses and bloggers. Personally, I've tried my hand at this, and I wasn't too fond of it. It was fun and all but ultimately, I just had too much of my own work that needed to get done. On the plus side though, the job paid pretty well!
Honestly, there are so many different ways that you can earn money as a blogger! This post just includes my favorite six from, what I can only imagine is, a list of 100+ different ways!
Ultimately, I'd like to share them all with you and I hope to do so soon! Not only that, but I plan on making lists of all the best affiliate networks and brands to work with too!
Do you have any other tips or questions in regards to monetizing your blog? Take a moment to share them with me in the comments below!
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- 6:00:00 PM
- 0 Comments
A couple months ago, I decided that I was going to start tracking all of my blog stats, social media followers, income, and expenses. I've seen a lot of big bloggers do this and I've been inspired to do the same, especially by Melissa Griffin. I mean did you see her report from July 2016? She made over $100k!
Obviously my numbers will be no where near hers, but they're still worth keeping track of! I know sometimes it can get overwhelming to see bloggers making thousands of dollars, so I thought it was important to show what it looks like for me. I only launched this blog in January 2016, so I still have a lot to learn, but I'm glad I can share it with you!
Actually, I'm more than glad, I'm super excited! I have been watching my numbers and waiting for the month to be over, so I can finally compare everything. Usually my husband is the math guy, but I can't wait to calculate everything!
Traffic Report
September Traffic
- Pageviews: 2,092 (+ 5.34%)
- Unique Visitors: 898 (+ 23.35%)
- Sessions: 1,183 (+ 16.21%)
- Duration: 1:54 (- 11.6%)
- Bounce Rate: 71.60% (+ 4.1%)
- New Sessions: 72.36% (+ 7.69%)
To be expected, I think this is my best month so far! It's partly due to the giveaway I hosted, but I will take whatever numbers I can get!
Unfortunately, I did go down in two sections: duration and new sessions. Honestly, I think I might be to blame for my duration going down. I know that I will go to my site just to copy a link for someone, plus I host a lot of giveaways which could negatively affect duration. Also, I noticed that my bounce rate went up this month, which is slightly disappointing, but I know it's something a lot of other bloggers struggle with too.
September Traffic Sources
- Social: 57.73% (+ 19.28%)
- Pinterest: 30.31% (- 16.52%)
- Facebook: 49.78% (+ 102.85%)
- Instagram: 5.42% (- 64.85%)
- Twitter: 9.81% (- 16.85%)
- Blogger: 4.17% (- 63.29%)
- Google+: 0.15% (- 75.41%)
- Direct: 20.96% (- 12.67%)
- Referral: 7.69% (- 10.58%)
- Organic: 13.52% (- 28.84%)
I'm honestly and completely surprised by this month's traffic source break down. I figured social would continue going up, but there was a huge change within the social media source percentages.
I have to admit that I've been a little off my blogging and social media game this month, so I'm pretty surprised to see that the traffic from my Facebook page increased so much! Of course, the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. Since I wasn't posting as frequently, I didn't have a lot of new material to post to Pinterest. Plus, since I don't schedule my Instagram posts, I didn't end up posting a lot on there, which of course will lead to a lower percentage.
I have to admit that I've been a little off my blogging and social media game this month, so I'm pretty surprised to see that the traffic from my Facebook page increased so much! Of course, the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. Since I wasn't posting as frequently, I didn't have a lot of new material to post to Pinterest. Plus, since I don't schedule my Instagram posts, I didn't end up posting a lot on there, which of course will lead to a lower percentage.
Social Media Report
September Social Media Growth
- Instagram: 1156 (+ 7.04%)
- Twitter: 1194 (+ 11.48%)
- Pinterest: 710 (+ 26.56%)
- Bloglovin': 225 (+ 30.81%)
- Facebook: 66 (+ 37.50%)
- Google+: 24 (+ 20%)
- Email Subscribers: 29 (+ 123.08%)
Yay! New followers!
As I mentioned earlier, I haven't been the best on social media lately. So I am very surprised to see how much some of my social media accounts grew!
Not only that, but I set a goal to increase my Email subscribers and I'm happy to say that they more than doubled! I mean look at that! My numbers are still small, but in just a month I was able to increase my newsletter stats by 123.08% !
Not only that, but I set a goal to increase my Email subscribers and I'm happy to say that they more than doubled! I mean look at that! My numbers are still small, but in just a month I was able to increase my newsletter stats by 123.08% !
Profit & Loss Report
September Income
- Freelance: $52
- Affiliate Programs: $45.05
- Miscellaneous: $22.47
- Products:
- Book: Free ($5.89 + includes shipping)
- Total Income: $119.52 + $5.89 worth of free products
It's a little hard to compare this income report to last month's because I really sat down and focused on my freelance work. While this month, I really put a focus on affiliate programs. So the numbers will definitely vary each month, but I don't think it's possible to compare my income from August and September.
Ideally, I'm hoping to be able to increase both my freelance and affiliate income simultaneously. I can't wait to see how next month goes!
Ideally, I'm hoping to be able to increase both my freelance and affiliate income simultaneously. I can't wait to see how next month goes!
September Expenses
- Storenvy: $9
- Adobe: $32.39
- ConvertKit *: $29
- Blog Boss Babes *: $37
- Legging Army Affiliate Kit *: $29.99
- USPS P.O Box: $70.00
- Business Cards: $18.33
- Giveaway: $31.58
- Total Expenses: $257.29
Total Profit: - $137.77 + $5.89 worth of free products
This month's expenses were a little over the top, which is why I didn't end up with much of a profit. In fact, according to this report, I actually lost money.
In the end though, I'm not concerned about it. Ultimately, the bulk of my expenses came down to my P.O. box purchase. I was going to keep putting it off, but the need arose. I realized that the more that my email list grew, the more I felt uncomfortable sending out my personal address to each of my subscribers.
Not only that, but I also started a new affiliate program which required a couple upfront expenses. The company I'm working for actually had a couple of other cheaper affiliate kits, but I decided to go for the bigger one. In the end, it was the better deal. And after wearing my leggings out a couple of times, I got an insane amount of compliments and realized that I needed to order some business cards. So that's exactly what I did!
Finally, there was a giveaway expense this month. Usually, I send out gifts from the wonderful brands and authors that I collaborate with, but this time I picked up something special for one lucky winner. However, I didn't intend on shipping to be so much, so there was a little bit of a loss there. So not a big deal though!
This month's expenses were a little over the top, which is why I didn't end up with much of a profit. In fact, according to this report, I actually lost money.
In the end though, I'm not concerned about it. Ultimately, the bulk of my expenses came down to my P.O. box purchase. I was going to keep putting it off, but the need arose. I realized that the more that my email list grew, the more I felt uncomfortable sending out my personal address to each of my subscribers.
Not only that, but I also started a new affiliate program which required a couple upfront expenses. The company I'm working for actually had a couple of other cheaper affiliate kits, but I decided to go for the bigger one. In the end, it was the better deal. And after wearing my leggings out a couple of times, I got an insane amount of compliments and realized that I needed to order some business cards. So that's exactly what I did!
Finally, there was a giveaway expense this month. Usually, I send out gifts from the wonderful brands and authors that I collaborate with, but this time I picked up something special for one lucky winner. However, I didn't intend on shipping to be so much, so there was a little bit of a loss there. So not a big deal though!
Post Report
September Posts
- Number of Posts Published: 13
- Most Popular Posts:
- Product Review: Vera Bradley + Giveaway! (Published September 2016)
- Book Review: Deceitful Circle + Giveaway!* (Published August 2016)
- Chronic Illness + Loneliness (Published September 2016)
- What You Should Do If One of Your Medications Is Recalled (Published September 2016)
- Guest Post: Living Life One Day at a Time with Chronic Pain and Illness (Published September 2016)
I'm sad to say that I definitely didn't publish as many posts as I had planned to. Things just got a little complicated this month. Between my health problems and the overall craziness of life, things just got in the way.
I'm not at all surprised that the my recent giveaways are the two most popular posts for September. However, you guys continue to amaze me with which posts fill the rest of this list. It's so interesting to see which posts you guys lean more towards and connect with the most.
I'm not at all surprised that the my recent giveaways are the two most popular posts for September. However, you guys continue to amaze me with which posts fill the rest of this list. It's so interesting to see which posts you guys lean more towards and connect with the most.
Goal Report
Last Month's Goals:
- Finish secret project
Gain Newsletter followersHost an awesome giveawayHit 2k pageviews
This Month's Goals:
- Finish secret project
- Publish at least 15 blog posts
- Hit 4k total followers/subscribers
- Write at least 2 guest blog posts
I'm a tad bit disappointed that I didn't hit all of my goals this month, but I know that I tried my best. Sometimes we just have to listen to our bodies and accept our limitations. So I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for understanding :)
Overall, I think I did pretty well for my second month of trying to monetize my blog. I definitely shouldn't have as many expenses next month, so I'm really hoping to see some more profit in October!
Overall, I think I did pretty well for my second month of trying to monetize my blog. I definitely shouldn't have as many expenses next month, so I'm really hoping to see some more profit in October!
How was your September? Tell me in the comments!
* This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive some type of compensation. However, this adds no additional cost or inconvenience to you. For more information, you can read our full disclosure here. *
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Last month I decided that I was going to start tracking all of my blog stats, social media followers, income, and expenses. I've seen a lot of big bloggers do this and I've been inspired to do the same, especially by Melissa Griffin. I mean did you see her report from July 2016? She made over $100k!
Obviously my numbers will be no where near hers, but they're still worth keeping track of! I know sometimes it can get overwhelming to see bloggers making thousands of dollars, so I thought it was important to show what it looks like for me. I only launched this blog in January 2016, so I still have a lot to learn, but I'm glad I can share it with you!
Actually, I'm more than glad, I'm super excited! I have been watching my numbers and waiting for the month to be over, so I can finally compare everything. Usually my husband is the math guy, but I can't wait to calculate everything!
Traffic Report
August Traffic
- Pageviews: 1,986 (+ 21.21%)
- Unique Visitors: 728 (+ 40.54%)
- Sessions: 1,018 (+ 42.58%)
- Duration: 2:09 (- 27.93%)
- Bounce Rate: 68.76% (- 3.30%)
- New Sessions: 67.19% (- 1.70%)
To be expected, I think this is my best month so far! It's partly due to the giveaway I hosted, but I will take whatever numbers I can get!
Unfortunately, I did go down in two sections: duration and new sessions. Honestly, I don't really know how to change those, so I'm not too worried about them. However, my bounce rate went down which is awesome!
August Traffic Sources
- Social: 48.4% (+ 20.70%)
- Pinterest: 36.31% (+ 20.75%)
- Facebook: 24.54% (- 6.41%)
- Instagram: 15.42% (+ 145.15%)
- Twitter: 11.76% (- 23.54%)
- Blogger: 11.36% (- 37.51%)
- Google+: 0.61% (-82.57%)
- Direct: 24% (+ 10.59%)
- Referral: 8.6% (- 29.37%)
- Organic: 19% (-23.89%)
I've really never paid attention to these numbers before, but I'll definitely be looking at them from now on!
After writing my piece, "How I Tripled My Pinterest Following in 10 Days", I'm glad to see that my Pinterest profile is bringing in a lot of traffic. I've also been working a lot on Instagram, so that's good to see a return from as well.
I have to be honest though, I don't really like Facebook. I schedule all of my posts ahead of time and I don't get very much engagement. I guess I just haven't quite learned their algorithm yet. There was also a huge decline in Google+ traffic, but many other bloggers say that it's a dying platform. I publish every post directly to it, but I don't really put a lot of effort onto that account.
Social Media Report
August Social Media Growth
- Instagram: 1080 (+18.29%)
- Twitter: 1071 (+27.20%)
- Pinterest: 561 (+ 56.27%)
- Bloglovin': 172 (+ 41.80%)
- Facebook: 48 (+ 77.78%)
- Google+: 20 (+ 25%)
- Email Subscribers: 13 (+ 8.33%)
Yay! New followers!
I've spent a lot of time trying to bring my social media numbers up , but it's pretty clear that I focus on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. I plan to move towards my Facebook page next, but I'm not sure how well that will do.
I also plan on building my newsletter audience. I'm working on a secret project and I know it will boost my subscribers. I can't wait to show it to you all!
Profit & Loss Report
August Income
- Freelance: $152
- Storenvy Shop: $23.95
- Affiliate Programs: $0.26
- Miscellaneous: $10.95
- Products:
- Glasses: Free ($134) - includes shipping)
- Book: Free ($31 - includes shipping)
- Total Income: $187.16 + $165 worth of free products
Since I'm completely new to monetizing my blog, I didn't expect to make much; which is why I included the free products that I've received in exchange for reviews.
I think one of the most important parts of sharing these reports with you is being completely transparent with you all. Being a blogger can be glamorous and pay well, but it doesn't usually start out that way. As you can see, I didn't make much and I'm about 7 months in.
Of course, I'm still going to hope that changes next month! Plus, I got excepted into a couple new affiliate programs, so those should help too!
August Expenses
- Storenvy: $9
- Adobe: $33
- ConvertKit *: $27
- Blog Boss Babes *: $37
- Total Expenses: $106
Total Profit: $81.16 + $165 worth of free products
Post Report
August Posts
- Number of Posts Published: 19
- Most Popular Posts:
- An Open Letter to the Doctors That Didn't Take Me Seriously (Published August 2016)
- Product Review: LuLaRoe Haul + Giveaway!* (Published August 2016)
- What I Took Away from Kira Lynne's Aches, Pain, & Love (Published July 2016)
- PAB Feature: McKenzie Ryan Cherrington (Published August 2016)
- 50 Blog Post Ideas for Lifestyle Bloggers (Published August 2016)
I'm actually quite surprised by this report. I thought there would be a wider variety of posts from different months. However, only one of these was not published in August. I guess after writing, The Most Popular Posts from My First 6 Months of Blogging, I thought I'd see more of the one's that were on that list.
Goal Report
Last Month's Goals:
Switch to ConvertKitHit 1k on InstagramHit 1k on TwitterJoin affiliate programs
This Month's Goals:
- Finish secret project
- Gain Newsletter followers
- Host an awesome giveaway <-- Already started!
- Hit 2k pageviews
Overall, I think I did pretty well for my first month of trying to monetize my blog. I'm hoping to increase revenue over the next month and build a larger audience as well; and of course, create awesome content for you guys!
How was your August? Tell me in the comments!
* This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive some type of compensation. However, this adds no additional cost or inconvenience to you. For more information, you can read our full disclosure here. *
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