I wanted to start a new series this year. I’m taking a nod from one of my favorite blogs, Pinch of Yum, and talking about my goals to make more money blogging and how I’m (hopefully) going to do it.
Lindsay is the cook, photographer, and author behind Pinch of Yum, and her husband Bjork writes their monthly income reports. Seeing one of these reports is what got me subscribed to Pinch of Yum. I couldn’t believe how much money they were making blogging. I know I can’t do things exactly the same way they did, but they have a good foundation to learn from….and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I’m not an idealist. I didn’t think I would be making $4,000+ my first month. That’s not reasonable. So I went back to the beginning of their income series. The first month they made $104.48 – that sounds a little more where I was just a few months ago (if that). I’m taking notes and seeing what worked for them, and what goals I can make for myself to help my blog income become what I want it to be.
I’m not saying everyone has to run out and make a million dollars blogging. Heck, a lot of bloggers aren’t looking for money at all. But one of my goals IS to make enough blogging that I can be a stay-at-home mom again. I don’t mind working outside the home, but a steadier income and setting my own “work” schedule are high on my list of To-Do’s. Let the journey begin.
Breakdown:
- Google AdSense – $101.90
- Sponsored/Paid Posts – $221.97
Pollinate Media Group
- Diet to Go $100 (January)
Social Spark
- Dig.Drop.Done Bulbs $15 (November)
- Ad Payment $0.90 (November)
- Ad Payment $3.07 (December)
- Mrs. Smith’s Pies $15
- Duck the Halls $15
Clever Girls Collective
- Hyundai Santa Fe: Families That Rock $75 (December)
With the move to WordPress coming up in a week or two, I wanted to document my traffic as well. I’ve heard that with WP’s SEO optimizations that traffic can get a real boost. But more than that, I want to see where my traffic is coming from so I can maximize what those sites can do for me and WLOW.
Current traffic sources:
I can't figure out how to use social spark. One of my goals is to make money blogging, but I have made no money on google adsense or social spark…maybe I am doing something wrong?
I have had no luck with ad services either. Their measly $1-3 a month is not worth my prime side bar real estate. So, I have gave up on those.
Thank you again, Julie for recommending them in one of your past posts!
And I gave up on Social Spark too. I never heard back on any opps I applied for & they do not pay that much compared to social media networks like Clever Girls, Blogher, Pollinate, etc.
I *just* got accepted for my first Clever Girls opp & am so, so excited for it!
I have already figured that if I can get just 1 paid opp per month from each of the 4 networks I belong to, I can make between $300-$500 a month. Although I know I won't get picked for something from them for every month.
But I also factor in freebies I get to review.
It is funny because my husband & I were *just* talking about this very same thing yesterday. He said I need to start keeping track of everything I get “paid” for/in blogging- including the retail value of free products, paid posts, & gift certificates/coupons/etc.
I am going to start keeping a spreadsheet starting with this month.
Great post, Julie! Sorry for my rambling, lol.
I am so glad you are going to be sharing and talking about this. I would like to someday make a little money from blogging. I have had the pleasure of watching some big time bloggers start out small and become successful. Pioneer Woman, NieNie , and a few others.
I am looking forward to following you in your journey to make money from blogging. Maybe I will learn and be able to do the same thing.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks so much for sharing this. It seems to be a topic that no one wants to talk about. And when I hear bloggers say they are making money I have no idea if that means $100 a month or $3000 a month. I've been on Social Spark for awhile but haven't had any decent offers come up.
Keep up the great work, Julie! I'm hoping to follow in your foot steps here in the next few months! Cheers to blogging!
That's great–go you! I've had adsense up for over a year and just barely hit the $100 mark.
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Hi Julie! Thanks for including a shout out to Pinch of Yum!
Believe it or not, we actually only made 20 dollars during our first month last August – http://pinchofyum.com/the-food-blog-money-making-experiment-month-1 – and have learned so much since then! Keep at it and good job with writing your own income report!
First of all, just wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed this blog! I stumbled upon it through pinterest (I tried to avoid it for so long… Now it’s taken over my life ha ha) and you have such amazing and yummy ideas! So, thanks for your blog. In an unorthodox side-note (I guess) if you ladies really want to make some money (a few extra hundred or thousand per month) you let me know. I have no idea how to make money via blogs but I do know how to make that working from other means. Best of luck to all of you! Xoxo