Welcome to my February online income report. Each month I share how I earn money online and track changes in income, expenses and business activity. This report outlines what happened in February, why the month looked the way it did, and what I’m planning next.
Background on my monthly online income reports
If you’re new here, these reports began as a way to track side income away from my full-time job. I left my financial analyst position in 2013, and since then these monthly updates have reflected the various ways I earn income across multiple projects and services.
I publish these reports for three main reasons:
- To inspire others. Before I started blogging and side hustling, I didn’t believe making meaningful extra income outside of a full-time job was possible. Seeing other bloggers publish income reports motivated me to try, and I share mine to help others recognize what’s possible with consistent effort.
- To learn and measure progress. Publishing monthly forces me to review what worked, what didn’t, and which areas need improvement. Looking back at earlier reports shows how far I’ve come and helps guide decisions going forward.
- To show that legitimate ways to earn income online exist. Not everything online is a scam. There are many real paths to earning through blogging, freelancing, affiliate partnerships and site sales, and I want to demonstrate that with transparent reporting.
Publishing these updates also keeps me accountable and helps other readers who ask questions about freelancing, blogging, affiliate income and more. If a detail isn’t covered in this single post, I often link to previous reports and relevant articles where I’ve discussed topics in depth.
How was my online income in February?
February was a strong month and my highest month to date, largely due to a one-time event: the sale of a smaller website. Even with a major move that limited my available work time, earnings held up because I prepared in January and worked ahead where possible.
For the month of February I recorded $25,557.90 in business income before expenses and fees. After accounting for most expenses (virtual assistants, staff writers, technical assistance, PayPal fees and similar costs totalling around $1,800), my net for the month was approximately $23,758. This number excludes taxes, which I handle separately as a self-employed business owner.
Although the website sale caused an unusually large spike in revenue this month, the rest of my business also performed well despite reduced hours due to the move.
Why I sold a website
Last month I sold one of my smaller sites to focus more effort on Making Sense of Cents, which has begun growing again after a period of flat performance. Owning multiple sites is valuable, but I decided that concentrating on a few core projects will let me produce higher-quality content, better promotion and more strategic growth.
As a result, future monthly income may fluctuate lower in the short term, but I’m optimistic that investing more time in my main site will increase long-term revenue and reach. I may sell one or two additional smaller properties depending on how priorities evolve.
IZEA and other monetization channels
One monetization option I recommend to bloggers and social media users is IZEA, a marketplace that connects content creators with sponsored opportunities. It’s a straightforward way to earn by promoting brands through blog posts or social channels. IZEA partners with recognizable companies and pays electronically. For creators who want to diversify income quickly, signing up and connecting social accounts can open simple earning opportunities.
Wes’s website
The move set back progress on Wes’s site. Over the next few months our goal is to schedule posts, develop marketing plans and outline future content. We plan to get the blog back on track once our schedule stabilizes.
Plans for the site and online income
- Publish an ebook – Progress has been slow and I’m reconsidering timing and priorities for an ebook in 2015.
- Promote more – Promotion has been going well, especially on Pinterest. In February Pinterest drove roughly 55,000 clicks to the blog, up from 43,000 in January. That growth in referral traffic has been an important driver of income.
- Accept more interviews – I completed several interviews in February that will result in media mentions and increased exposure.
- Be less shy – Growing the business requires pushing past personal comfort zones. I’m working on outreach and visibility as a 2015 goal.
Staff writing and client services
I continued staff writing and client work in February. Much of my writing income is bundled into broader blog management packages for clients, where I provide site management, content creation and promotion for a monthly fee. I still do staff writing but I’m not actively seeking additional positions right now.
Blog and social media management services
Managing blogs and social media for clients remains a service I enjoy. Nothing major changed in February, and this work continues to be a steady revenue stream that complements other income sources.
Affiliate income
February produced strong affiliate income—roughly $6,000—much of which will be paid out in the following months and may appear in later reports. I was surprised by this performance given that I didn’t publish dedicated affiliate posts in February; it demonstrates the value of evergreen content and past promotions continuing to convert.
February business and extra income (approximate, after most expenses)
- Staff writing – $550
- Managing websites and social media for clients, plus blog coaching – $5,150
- Website-related (from six sites: advertising, partnerships & AdSense) – $5,428
- Affiliate income – $1,630
- Website sale – $11,000
- Selling items from our home – $0
- Miscellaneous (not related to blogging/online income) – $0
Comparisons and 2015 running total (after most expenses, before taxes)
- Total for February: $23,758
- January income: $15,396
- Difference: +$8,362
- Total for 2015 through February: $39,154
One question I’m frequently asked is whether I can break down income further. I typically don’t disclose client names or detailed line-item billing because much of my income comes from private clients and revealing specifics could compromise their privacy. I will, however, continue to share high-level categories so readers can understand where revenue comes from.
How did you do in February? What are your goals for extra or online income, and why do you pursue them? I welcome questions and will continue to share updates to help others who are exploring blogging, freelancing and online business.