Welcome to the June business income report, where I share how I earned money online last month. Here’s the monthly update and a breakdown of how things went.
If you’re new to Making Sense of Cents, you might wonder why I publish an income report every month. Feel free to skip ahead if you’re already familiar.
This began as my extra income report, documenting side income before I left my day job. In October 2013 I left my role as a financial analyst, and since then my monthly reports have covered the multiple ways I earn a living online.
People ask why I publish these reports publicly. Some find it odd, while others appreciate the transparency. I publish monthly income reports for three main reasons:
- When I started, I knew very little about side hustles and making money online. If others hadn’t shared their income reports, I may never have tried side hustling. I publish my reports to illustrate the benefits of side income and to encourage others to improve their financial situation.
- Monthly income reports give me a useful record to review—helping me learn from mistakes, track progress, and see where I can improve.
- I want to show that earning money from home is possible through many legitimate methods. I also maintain a roundup of bloggers who publish income reports to highlight different approaches and inspire others.
I truly enjoy being my own boss as a full-time blogger. I wake up excited for each day. Publishing these reports is part of sharing a realistic picture of how someone can build a business that supports the life they want—so you don’t need to hate your job to improve the rest of your life.
How was business income in June of 2018?
I earned $100,324 blogging and online in June 2018, before expenses.
June was a strong month for Making Sense of Cents. I expect income to hover near this level for the next few months, perhaps rising again in the fall. Summer can be a slower time for personal finance sites, and I’ll be busier over the coming months.
My primary goal this year remains improving work-life balance. I’m getting better, but aim to work less than 10 hours a week over the summer months.
June’s results reflect years of growth from starting at zero. If $100 or $1,000 seems out of reach, remember that steady effort can produce significant gains over time. I once thought $1,000 per month was unattainable. Now I share these reports to demonstrate that progress is possible with dedication.
Overall, the business is doing well. I’ve had many ideas and projects, and I’m excited about the future. My Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course continues to perform strongly, with new students joining regularly.
Breakdown of June 2018 income – $100,324.00
In June 2018, my blogging business earned $100,324.00. Below is the breakdown by income category:
- Affiliate income – $57,228.00 total:
- Bluehost – $30,800.00
- Survey companies – $8,062.25
- Six Figure Blogger – $1,328.46
- Bookkeeper Business Academy – $868.50
- Credible Student Loan Refinancing – $600.00
- How To Work From Home Selling On Amazon FBA – $524.99
- ConvertKit – $508.80
- Ebates – $500.00 (estimated)
- Pinterest Virtual Assistant Course – $389.40
- Personal Capital – $300.00
- $5 Meal Plan – $156.90
- VIPKid Teach English Online – $110.00
- Miscellaneous affiliates – $13,078.70 (includes some affiliate promotions reported privately and small affiliate earnings)
- Sponsorships and advertising – $21,000.00
- Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course – $19,004.00
- Display advertising – $3,092.00
Total: $100,324.00
The totals above are before fees and business expenses. Roughly $5,000 in operating expenses—virtual assistants, course platform fees, technical help, newsletter costs, payment processing fees, etc.—reduced the gross amount, and I paid $3,908.80 to affiliates promoting my course. After those costs (but before taxes), my net was approximately $91,415.20.
Keep in mind that as a self-employed business owner I cover taxes (which can exceed 30%), health insurance, and benefits typically provided by employers.
For a full guide to blog monetization, see the site’s comprehensive guide to making money blogging.
Below are a few selected earlier monthly income reports. For a full archive, visit the income page on the site.
- $672 extra in May (2012)
- $6,523 in January extra income (2013)
- $11,927 in October – I finally left my job (2013)
- $12,640 in January income (2014)
- $23,758 in February income (2015)
- How I made $300,000 online in 2015
- How I made $979,321 in 2016
- How I made $1,536,732 in 2017
Comparisons and 2018 business income total:
- Total income in June 2018: $100,324
- Total income in May 2018: $136,807
- Difference from the previous month: -36,483
- Total in 2018 (so far): $876,796
Blog news
Making Sense of Cents continues to do well. A major update in June was BoardBooster’s shutdown; I moved everything to Tailwind and have seen a noticeable increase in Pinterest traffic since switching. Given that summer usually brings lower Pinterest traffic, the improvement suggests Tailwind has helped.
June was also busy personally: we closed on a sailing catamaran in May and have been focused on boat-related tasks. Because of that, I’ve been working ahead on content to maintain consistency while adapting to life on the boat.
Site traffic for the month was around 400,000 page views.
Other updates:
- My sister joined as a virtual assistant in July 2017 and helps with Pinterest images, Facebook group moderation, social scheduling, and other tasks, freeing me to focus on product creation and content.
- I’m considering group coaching in the future to help more people while using my time efficiently.
- The community Facebook group for Making Sense of Cents continues to grow and has over 10,000 members offering support on finance, blogging, travel, and business topics.
- I launched a free “How To Start A Blog” email course; over 40,000 people have signed up. I also created a free “Master Your Money” email course with practical financial lessons and worksheets.
Popular new posts last month:
- The Digital Nomad Lifestyle – A Day In The Life
- You Wouldn’t Work For Free, Right? So, Why Do You?
- 4 Mindsets That Will Rob You Of Your Dream Life
- From Backpacker Working For $3 An Hour To Sailor With An Online Business
- 10 Easy Homemade Snacks To Bring On Your Next Hike
- Is Too Much House Making You House Poor?
- How Kayla Earns $10K/Month From Home as a Virtual Assistant
- How I Started Earning $3,600 a Month As A Pinterest Assistant After Just 6 Months
- Minimum Wage Waitress to Full-Time Blogger in 9 Months – How I Did It!
Featured Question: What’s the best topic to write about so that I can make money blogging?
I get this question frequently. Many assume only blogs about blogging can earn money because those bloggers publish income reports, but bloggers in almost every niche make income: health, fashion, home renovation, travel, finance, food, parenting, DIY, personal stories, and more.
Choose a topic you’re passionate about, knowledgeable in, or interested in learning—this keeps blogging enjoyable rather than a chore. You can niche down or cover several related topics. My blog covers personal finance, travel, RVing, sailing, self-help, and lifestyle topics.
You don’t usually need professional credentials to start a blog. Many successful bloggers share personal experiences and the lessons they learned. That said, for legal or tax advice you should be qualified if giving specific professional guidance.
Topic ideas include:
- Lifestyle
- Home
- Family
- Finance
- Crafts
- DIY
- Small business
- Outdoors
- Fitness and health
- Food
- Inspiration and advice
- Animals
- Travel
- Games
- Relationships
- Education
- Electronics
Pick a topic that fits you—your blog can be anything you want it to be.
Plans for the blog and business
Having clear goals keeps me motivated. Current priorities include:
- Get at least three months ahead on content. I’m currently less than a month ahead; buying the boat set me back. I plan to use July to build a buffer so I can focus on boat life without disrupting the blog.
- Grow monthly page views to 1,000,000. I want to help more readers and increase engagement by year-end.
- Create two more products to sell. After launching Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, I aim to diversify income with additional products.
- Grow the email list to 150,000 subscribers. This remains a major focus for audience growth and product reach.
- Work under 20 hours per week. I want a better work-life balance—fewer marathon laptop days and more consistent hours.
- Have fun. Not a measurable goal, but an important one.
Affiliate income results
In June 2018 I earned $57,228 in affiliate income. Affiliate revenue remains a key part of the business, especially when my time is limited. Affiliate earnings can be passive and enable travel and lifestyle flexibility.
Blogging income isn’t solely driven by page views. Even new bloggers can earn through affiliate marketing if they promote products correctly. That’s a core focus of my Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course, which includes modules on picking products, increasing conversion rates, disclosure requirements, tools, and promotion strategies.
The course launched in July 2016 and has attracted thousands of students. It covers affiliate marketing fundamentals, practical strategies, and actionable steps to build reliable affiliate income regardless of niche.
How was June for you? Are you interested in earning blogging income?