October Online Income Report: How I Earned $14,136

Welcome to the October online income report. This post reviews my monthly earnings and tracks the progress I made over the last month.

 

Background on these monthly income reports

This series began as an extra income report because before October 2013 I still had a day job. In those early reports I listed all income I earned outside that job. After I left my position in October 2013, these reports evolved to include the many income streams I now run as my business.

I share these reports publicly for two main reasons:

• Before I discovered blogging and side hustles, I didn’t believe they were worthwhile. Seeing other people publish monthly income reports inspired me to try new income streams. I publish mine to help others learn how side hustles and online work can change their financial future.
• Monthly reports are a useful record for me to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and where to focus next. They also make it fun to look back at early efforts and remember how I got started.

 

I know I say this every month, but it’s true: life is much better now that I’m doing work I enjoy. I look forward to each workday, and I often find it hard to step away from projects—something I never experienced at my old job.

October was an especially fun month because I won a giveaway. I did not include the prize in my business income because it wasn’t related to my work, but winning was a nice surprise and reminded me to enter more contests. If you enjoy giveaways, what’s the best thing you’ve ever won?

Now, onto the income report.

 

How was my online income in October?

October was another strong month—slightly lower than September but still very positive. I’m excited about a number of projects I have planned, and I hope that momentum will translate into new revenue and progress toward my goals.

I’m focusing more on affiliate income so I can increase passive earnings that continue to pay even while I work on longer-term projects such as an ebook. This approach helps maintain cash flow while building other products and services.

In October I earned $15,245.81 in business income before expenses.

This figure is for October and is shown before fees and expenses. Typical fees and expenses that reduce the gross amount are around $1,110 and include virtual assistants and staff writers for other sites, technical support, PayPal fees, and similar costs.

After most expenses and fees, I made approximately $14,136. These figures do not include amounts I manage for client websites—I report only the earnings that belong to me personally.

Below are highlights from other extra income updates I’ve published over time (I publish many updates; these are a selection):

• $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)
• $15,272 in September Online Income (2014)

Blog news

On the blog, I reorganized the menu to group content into clearer categories and started a Recommendations page that’s still a work in progress. I also finally began promoting a newsletter and collecting subscriber emails—something I regret not doing sooner. If you’re considering a newsletter, using a reputable email service is important; switching from free tools to a proper email provider is a step I recommend for serious bloggers.

In October I participated in a few interviews and mentions that went live, including features about paying off student debt and personal budgeting tips, among others. I also continue to encourage anyone interested in starting a blog to follow step-by-step resources that explain how to set up a self-hosted WordPress blog.

Wes’s website

We haven’t done much work on Wes’s site lately—actually, nothing in the past month. It’s on my to-do list to prioritize that site soon.

Plans for the website and online income

• Publish an ebook — I’ve sketched ideas for two books and begun outlining one. I don’t have a firm timeline yet, but it’s an active project.
• Promote more — I’ve improved post promotion and image quality, which has increased traffic from Pinterest. For image editing I use a simple online tool that offers both free and affordable upgraded plans.
• Accept more interviews — Saying yes to interview opportunities has brought exposure and new connections. My first podcast interview is scheduled for December; interviews still make me nervous, but I’m working to get more comfortable.

Staff writing

Staff writing continues to go well, and I’m planning to add one more client in November. That will likely be the last ongoing client I take on for a while to maintain balance.

If anyone needs a reliable writer for regular or one-off content, I’m available for staff writing, blog posts, and content projects with quick turnaround and consistent quality.

Blog and social media management services

In October I managed several client websites and social profiles. I enjoy this work and plan to grow this area carefully over time.

Affiliate income — growing at last

Affiliate earnings have begun to grow after I started focusing on them more in September. I now prioritize reviewing products I personally use and recommend, which makes creating authentic content easier and more effective. Affiliate revenue remains a modest portion of total income but is increasing, and I expect November payments to reflect October’s efforts.