November Online Income Report: $14,534 Earnings Breakdown

Welcome to my November online income report. Here I share how I earn money online, track monthly progress, and explain what changed over the past month.

 

Background information on my monthly income reports.

These reports began as “extra income” updates documenting earnings from side hustles, excluding my day job. In September 2013 I handed in my notice, and by October 2013 my full-time employment had ended. From that point on, these monthly reports have covered the various ways I generate income from my online business.

Many people wonder why I publicly share my income each month. Some think it’s unusual; others appreciate the transparency. I publish these reports for three main reasons:

• Before I started blogging, I didn’t know much about side hustles or making money online. I assumed raises and promotions at a full-time job were the only realistic way to increase income. Seeing others publish monthly income reports encouraged me to try side hustling. I share my reports to help others discover the possibilities and benefits of earning online.
• Publishing monthly income reports helps me reflect, learn from mistakes, and track what needs to change. It’s also fun to revisit earlier posts and remember the creative—or odd—ways I made extra money. Everyone starts somewhere.
• I want to show that making money online is possible and that genuine, ethical income streams exist. For readers exploring ways to earn online, these reports and other resources can be useful examples.

I often repeat this, but it remains true: life has improved dramatically since I started working for myself. I enjoy my work days and the flexibility my business provides. That’s the core reason I continue sharing monthly income reports—so others can see it’s possible to create a work life that supports activities you enjoy outside of work.

Now onto my November income report!

 

How was my online income in November?

November was a fantastic month for my online freelancing business. I took advantage of location independence and traveled for two weeks while maintaining a strong income.

I’m grateful to the bloggers who published their income reports before me; without their openness I might not have explored side hustles that eventually became my full-time business. Today I can travel (with our dogs), find ways to make money online, and enjoy life.

November was also productive in terms of getting ahead on tasks. Despite traveling, I completed a solid amount of work and advanced projects on my to-do list.

Last month I earned $15,634.43 in business income before expenses.

Related articles:

• How To Make Money Blogging
• How To Become Financially Stable and Keep The Job You Love
• Becoming a Work-Life Balancing Master

 

Figures above are for November and are shown before fees and expenses. Typical fees and expenses that reduce the total equal roughly $1,100, which covers virtual assistants and staff writers for my other sites, technical assistance, PayPal fees, and similar costs.

After expenses and fees, I made approximately $14,534. The reported totals reflect my personal earnings from services I provide and do not include the revenue generated for the websites I manage.

Below are examples of past monthly income posts. I publish an update each month; a full archive is available on my extra income page.

• $672 extra in May (2012)
• $1,425 extra in July (2012)
• $3,275 extra in September (2012)
• $6,523 in January Extra Income (2013)
• $11,927 in October Income – I Finally Left My Job (2013)
• $12,640 in January Income (2014)
• $14,136 in October Income – My Monthly Online Income Report (2014)

 

Blog news.

There haven’t been any major changes on the blog recently, but I’ve been focusing on improvements across the site. In October I added a Recommendations page and I’m continuing to refine it. I’m also revising older posts—there are over 1,300—to make them more SEO-friendly and to update images for better Pinterest appeal.

I’m also growing my email list. It’s only been about a month since I added AWeber, and I’ve already collected a few hundred subscribers, largely thanks to the SumoMe plugin. If you run a blog, building an email list is essential.

AWeber is a must if you have a blog. It allows readers to subscribe to posts and newsletters. If you’re still using a free RSS service, consider switching—email is the best way to build a reliable audience.

If you want to start a blog, read my guide on how to start a WordPress blog for step-by-step instructions.

 

Wes’s website.

We haven’t made progress on Wes’s blog this month. I need to prioritize it and set aside dedicated time. Our plan is to reserve one day each week to brainstorm and work on his site. Blogging takes more effort than many expect—Wes is learning that firsthand. He’s been a great help behind the scenes, though he hasn’t yet managed a blog on his own.

 

My plans for my website, online income, and making money online:

• Publish an ebook – I haven’t focused on the ebook for about a month. I’m undecided on the approach and whether I’m ready, so this project may be postponed.
• Promote more – I’ve improved in this area by accepting interviews, improving image quality, and being more active on social media. I plan to resume guest posting more regularly.
• Accept more interviews – I completed only one interview in November. The final months of the year are typically slower in the blogging world due to the holidays.

 

Staff writing.

Staff writing work has slowed. One larger client sold their site and left the blogging space, so this income dropped this month and will likely be lower next month. Fortunately, other revenue streams picked up and the change is manageable. This shift may be beneficial, as I’d like to focus more on passive income moving forward.

 

Update on my blog and social media management services.

In November I managed several websites for other owners and continue to enjoy this work. Website and social media management is an area I plan to grow; I enjoy finding ways to improve sites and metrics, even when it’s challenging.

Reader question: How do you find blog and social media management clients?

Most of my clients found me. One client contacted me after seeing a comment I left on another site; they clicked my name, visited my blog, and emailed to ask about management services. Another reached out after discovering my site. I did reach out to one client by responding to a Facebook job posting and explaining why I was a good fit, but otherwise clients approached me.

This underscores the importance of having a website if you’re trying to find online clients. A site demonstrates experience and gives clients a way to evaluate your skills. If you want to start a blog, my post on how to start a cheap WordPress blog provides step-by-step guidance.

Related articles:

• How To Become a Virtual Assistant
• What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?

 

Affiliate income – An improving area.

I didn’t focus heavily on affiliate income in November, but I plan to add one or two product reviews in December. I aim to strike a balance: I don’t want to push products aggressively, so I only review items I’ve used or genuinely recommend, and I keep reviews informative rather than sales-focused.