It’s time for last months income report: May 2012.
As a reminder, this is why we do the income reports:
- Accountability. These will allow us to finally keep track of our total online revenue – something that I’ve been horrible at.
- Progress. Now that we have it documented, we’ll be be able to chart our progress as our income increases (hopefully!)
- Truth. To show people that you really can make money online
- Transparency: We want others to see how we do it so that others can do it too.
Remember: We started blogging in July of 2008 so it’s taken us a lot of time to figure this blogging thing out. And truthfully, we still have a lot to learn. Don’t get the impression that you can start a blog today and turn a profit tomorrow. I promise you, it ain’t going to happen.
What went down in May
Well, I’m sure you can tell that it’s been crazy around here being the fact it’s the 22nd and we’re just now doing the income report!
I’ve spent a lot of time in the past several weeks working on finishing my book (mostly the book proposal), adding new content to our niche site, filming videos for the niche site, and also adding regular content to my main blog.
I think I slept sometime in that time frame, too. 🙂
Niche Site Traffic
The niche site continues to see a growth in traffic. Just look at the chart below:
The site was officially launched around February 1st and it just 4 short months, our traffic has almost quintupled! June is definitely going to surpass that as we’ve seen our record number of visits in one day broken twice.
But just because I’m getting traffic, does that mean that I’m actually making money? Sorta. Let me explain below:
Income Breakdown
Good Financial Cents
- Adsense: $2,120.05
- Adspeed: $1,973.97
- Commission Junction: $274.00
- Flex Offers:$965.50
- Direct Advertising: $1,489.10
- Consumer Track: $42.00
- Contx: $4.00
- Media Net: $97.00
- Aweber: $78.00
- Beta Test New Affiliate: $151.00
- Total: $7,194.62
Other Niche Sites
- Adsense: $206.00
- Flex Offers: $138.00
- Direct Advertising: $300.00
- Media Net: $12.91
- Blogging Your Passion: $92.50
- Niche Site Conversion (new): $71.00
- Total: $820.41
- Blog Her Ads: $295.00
- Direct Advertising: $240.00
- Total $535.00
- Equifax: $200.00
- Total: $200.00
Financial Planning
- Online Planning Fees: $250.00
- Total: $250.00
Total Revenue for April: $9,000.03
- Revenue Last Month: $8,908.96
- Difference: +$91.07
- Total for 2012: $31,369.02
What Happened in May
Say what? Wow, another record month. I had to add it up twice just to make sure I didn’t make a mistake. 🙂 Let’s breakdown some of the numbers.
- Adspeed. This is my CPM network (banner ads) and my traffic was very good in the month of May on main site, so the revenue earned was very nice.
- Media.Net. This is a new PPC (pay per click) that I’m testing on my sidebar near the bottom. For being near the bottom of my blog, making $97.00 isn’t too shabby. My CPM network is going to be on hiatus starting today for about 1 or 2 weeks due to the 2nd quarter ending. I’m going to test the Media.net ads above the fold near the top of my sidebar to see how it performs in that time frame. I’ll be sure to report back!
- New “Secret” Beta Affiliate. Nothing like the word “secret” to make you curious, huh? 🙂 I was contacted by a new online startup that has to do with retirement planning and they wanted to use my blog as a beta test. It’s a combination PPC and CPA (cost per acquisition) campaign. Basically, that means I make a nominal fee if someone clicks the ad and then I get a larger fee if they actually open an account with the ad they clicked. Having a combination of the two, getting paid up front and potentially on the backside, is pretty atypical in affiliate marketing so I was excited to test it out.
- Wifey Bringing in Some Dough! I still need to confirm this with her, but I’m pretty sure $535 is the most she’s made on her blog in one month; not counting the free stuff that we’ve received. Keep it up babe! {Confirmed and correct. Most I’ve ever made in one month! – Mandy}
- Get Passionate! We were excited to do our first Skype interview with Bob from ChristianPf.com and BloggingYourPassion.com. The interview was awesome (see HERE) and Bob shared his latest product for those that want to really make money blogging. Several of you bought it – thank you so much! We know Bob put a lot of time into his product and I’m sure you’ll all benefit from it. If you didn’t get a chance to check it out, click here.
- Niche Site. As you can see the niche site only brought in $70 this month. That’s a pretty stiff reduction from the $1251 we made last month. Why you ask? With the product/service I’m offering on the niche site, conversions take time. The day you get an interested party that wants to buy, it may take 2-3 months to actually see some revenue. It’s definitely a waiting game. The good news is that I’m several leads in the pipeline. 🙂 The bad news is that I don’t think I’m going to get paid on any of them in the month of June. 🙁 Fingers crossed, I think the July Income Report will be extra special.
Until next month…..
Lance@MoneyLife&More says
You guys are great inspiration. I hope I can develop my blog and eventually online business to a fraction of what your business is. Keep up the hard work!
Susan says
As always, thanks for the info. Mandy, you are really growing. Missed you at Haven! I’m sure Tonya will catch you up on all the deets.
Saiful Nayeem says
hi,
I just discovered this site today and find this income report very useful.
I never heard regarding some ads platforms that you use!
B. (Below Her Means) says
Just found you two. Can’t wait to learn more! Monetize, monetize, monetize.