Welcome to my April online income report. Each month I publish a detailed summary showing how I make money online — what worked, what didn’t, and how my different income streams performed. These reports are part accountability, part teaching tool, and part inspiration for anyone considering side hustles or online business.
If you’re new here, you may wonder why I publish monthly income reports. In short: transparency. When I first started, I knew very little about side hustling or monetizing a blog. Seeing other bloggers openly share their earnings motivated me to try it myself. That’s why I continue to publish these reports — to show what’s possible, to track progress, and to learn from the results.
I began sharing income as a side income report because I wanted to exclude my full-time salary and focus on earnings from side projects. After leaving my financial analyst position toward the end of 2013, my reports evolved to cover the entire business income I generate each month. I publish these updates for three main reasons:
- To inspire others. Before I saw monthly income reports from other bloggers, I didn’t think side hustles could significantly impact income. Sharing my results helps show the potential of online income and motivates readers to pursue new opportunities.
- To learn and improve. Public monthly reporting forces me to reflect, review mistakes, and identify areas for growth. It’s rewarding and informative to look back at past months and see how strategies evolved.
- To prove it’s possible. There are many legitimate ways to earn money from home. Sharing real numbers and methods helps readers see concrete examples and learn which strategies might work for them.
Life has changed hugely since I left my day job. Being my own boss gives me better work-life balance and more enjoyment from daily work. I don’t claim to love every part of running a business, but my work now supports the life I want to live — spending time with family, pursuing hobbies, and building something meaningful.
If you have questions about making money online, feel free to email me. I answer messages when I can, and I’ve covered many topics across past income reports. If this post doesn’t address your question, check my archive where I’ve answered reader questions and written deeper guides on specific strategies.
How was my online income in April?
April was an exceptional month — the best to date. The primary driver was the sale of two websites, which produced a significant one-time gain. Affiliate income was also strong, and I made progress on several fronts. All together, my business income for April totaled $34,174 before expenses.
After accounting for fees and expenses such as virtual assistant support, staff writers, technical services, and payment processing (roughly $1,700), my net before taxes was approximately $32,474.
I remain excited about the future. I’m focused on growing the main blog, refining content, and developing new products and services. Selling some side sites enables me to concentrate on the projects that matter most to me.
Blog news
Since selling multiple websites, I’ve had more time to concentrate on my main blog. There’s still a lot of work to do: updating older posts, creating Pinterest-friendly images, and improving formatting across the site. I’ve completed a portion of these updates but still have much left to do. April wasn’t productive on that front due to a scheduling oversight, but it’s back on my list for the coming weeks.
I sold two more websites
In April I sold two websites, bringing the total to three site sales this year. I don’t plan to sell any more of my remaining sites, so this is likely the last big jump from website sales for now. One of the sold sites, DiversifiedFinances.com, was a personal favorite, but I decided to focus my energy on the main blog where my heart truly lies. Selling some properties allows me to dedicate time and creativity to the projects that align with my long-term goals.
Although these sales reduce future recurring income from those sites, I’m optimistic that concentrating efforts on my core site will create even greater returns over time. If you have questions about selling websites, leave them in the comments and I’ll share what I can.
Plans for my website, online income, and product development
- Create a product to sell — I’m leaning toward an ebook and am evaluating several topic directions.
- Increase promotion — Pinterest drove about 56,000 clicks to the blog in April. I plan to build on that momentum and diversify traffic sources.
- Accept more interviews — I’ll be more active with media and podcast appearances to widen reach and authority.
- Work on confidence — I aim to be less shy and more proactive about networking and promotion in 2015.
Staff writing, blog, and social media management
I continued some staff writing work in April and provided blog and social media management for clients. I lost one management client when they sold their website and the buyer already had an in-house manager. For now, I’m focusing on the sites I currently manage and on my blog coaching services rather than pursuing new management contracts. My goal is to grow the sites I own and the coaching business so I can consolidate income into the areas I most enjoy.
Affiliate income
Affiliate income was particularly strong in April, totaling roughly $12,000. These commissions often pay out with a delay, so the actual cash may arrive in June or July and will be reflected in future reports when received. Affiliate income growth has surprised me — I should have focused on it earlier, but it’s now a major component of my business revenue.
Breakdown of payments received in April ($34,174 before expenses)
- Staff writing – $750
- Website and social media management plus blog coaching – $2,839
- Website-related revenue from sites I own (advertising and partnerships) – $5,235
- Affiliate income – $6,350
- Sale of two websites – $19,000
- Selling items from home – $0
- Miscellaneous (not related to blogging) – $0
I’m often asked for a more detailed line-by-line breakdown. Historically I’ve kept some details high-level to protect client privacy and the confidentiality of private agreements. I plan to provide a more detailed breakdown in upcoming reports while balancing transparency with professional discretion.
Remember that as a self-employed person, I cover taxes (often 30%+), health insurance, and other costs that employers typically provide. The gross numbers in these reports don’t reflect those obligations.
Comparisons and 2015 year-to-date total (before taxes)
- Total income for April: $34,174
- Income in March: $15,151
- Month-over-month difference: +$19,023
- Total for 2015 so far: $88,479
How did you do in April? What are your extra, business, or online income goals? Why are you pursuing additional income streams? I’d love to hear about your progress and plans.
