Happy May, everyone. 2014 is already moving quickly, and it’s been a strong year so far.

April was exceptionally busy and marked my best month as a freelancer to date.

The month was hectic on both the business and personal fronts. In April 2014 I earned $14,468 in business income before expenses. While that figure isn’t the highest I’ve reported before expenses, it is my best month after expenses. I also have a number of outstanding invoices due to be paid in the next 30 to 45 days.

Reading my older income reports still motivates me tremendously.

In May 2012 I made just $672 in side income. That was a helpful amount then, but seeing the progress I’ve made over three years fills me with pride. This August will mark three years of blogging, and when I began I never imagined it would grow into what it is today.

I say this every month because it’s true: life is much better now that I get to do work I enjoy.

I originally started the blog as an outlet, not as a path to income. If someone had predicted this career a few years ago, I would have been skeptical—maybe even amused.

The figures above reflect April’s income before fees and expenses; fees and expenses that reduced the total by about $975 (including virtual assistants for my other sites, PayPal fees, etc.).

After deducting fees and expenses, I took home approximately $13,493. The totals shown reflect only my personal earnings from services I provided; I do not include the full revenue generated by client sites I manage. For example, if a site I manage earns $2,000, I report only the amount I’m paid for my services.

Self-employment is rewarding, but it’s still a job and a business.

Although this is my income now, please remember I spend many hours every day building and running my business.

This is not passive income—although I hope more of it will become passive over time. I invested years into growing these income streams, and for roughly a year I earned nothing while still committing full-time hours to side projects. Also keep in mind that taxes consume roughly 30% of my earnings, which many people overlook.

Tax day on April 15th was a wake-up call; I owed more than I expected and plan to set aside more for quarterly taxes going forward.

As I mention in every income update, this is hard work. Some assume I left a job and now relax all day; that’s far from the truth. I’ve learned to streamline tasks and hire help where needed, but this remains my full-time career. For several years I managed both a full-time job and my business simultaneously, which meant many sleepless nights.

See my 2014 goals update and all past income reports on my Extra/Business Income page. If there’s a particular metric you’d like me to include in future reports, let me know.

Blog news

There’s no major change to announce for my main site—I’m still happily writing and exploring new ideas. My sister’s blog, FITnancials, continues to do well; if you haven’t subscribed, consider checking it out.

My finance and self-employment site, Diversified Finances, has also been growing. I plan to increase publishing frequency there from once to possibly twice a week soon.

If you’re thinking of starting a blog, don’t miss my guides How To Start a Blog and How To Make Money Blogging for practical, step-by-step advice.

Plans for the blog and business (in no particular order)

1. Write an eBook. I haven’t given this enough focused time recently and plan to begin researching in July 2014.
2. Build my brand. This is an ongoing goal, and I’m still determining the best direction.
3. Promote more. I’ve improved my promotion but want to do even more outreach and marketing.
4. Explore podcasts. Podcasts are growing in popularity—should I start one?
5. Accept more interviews. I did four interviews in April and enjoyed them; I have more scheduled for May and welcome additional opportunities.

Staff writing

In April I took on a new staff writing role, which has the potential to grow substantially. It’s for a travel site, which is a welcome expansion beyond personal finance (I already write travel content for a few outlets).

Many readers ask how to get staff writing jobs. Often, site owners find me through my Contact/Hire Me page—something every blogger should have. Put a clear way for potential clients to reach you on your site; it’s the most important step.

I’m still open to additional writing gigs, whether ongoing or one-off pieces. If you need reliable, timely content—regular posts, gap-filling articles, or advertising copy—get in touch. I wrote the post Do You Want to Be a Freelance Writer? that covers this topic in more detail.

Buying websites

To date I’ve bought two sites and built four, and I manage several others. While I don’t currently plan to buy or build more, I’m pleased with the sites I own: they generate income and cover their costs.

Do you plan to buy websites in the future? Why or why not?

Blog and social media management services

In April I managed several client blogs and social accounts, and those engagements went well. I enjoy helping site owners by handling everything from email to fixing old posts and improving monetization, then remitting the owner’s share of earnings. For some clients I manage the entire site; others hire me for specific tasks like email replies or social media.

I’d like to grow this service. Many blog owners seek temporary management while on vacation or needing a break—I aim to make that transition seamless so they can relax without worrying about their site.

Pricing is customized because every blog has different needs. If you’re interested, email me and we can discuss options.

Services I provide for blog and social media management include:

• Moderating and approving comments: eliminate spam, approve genuine comments, and reply if that’s part of your routine.
• Monitoring uptime: I check sites throughout the day so you don’t discover problems while away.
• Managing emails: full email support for those wanting a complete break from their site.
• Ensuring scheduled posts publish: I confirm that everything goes live as planned.
• Writing articles while you’re away, including ghostwritten posts.
• Managing social media: growing followers, engaging the audience, and maintaining presence.

Interested in becoming a virtual assistant? Read about how to become one and what a virtual assistant does.

Affiliate income — I’m getting more serious about this

One of my 2014 goals is to increase affiliate income. Affiliate posts can act like semi-passive income: create a high-quality affiliate article, maintain it lightly, and it can continue to generate revenue over time.