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January Blog Income Report: How I Earned $139,233

Welcome to the January business income report, where I transparently share how I earned money online last month. If you’re new here, this post explains why I publish monthly income reports and shows the details for January.

img 29976 1I began publishing income reports as “extra income” updates because initially my earnings came from side hustles while I still had a full-time job. After leaving my day job as a financial analyst in October 2013, these reports evolved to include all the ways I make a living online.

I publish monthly income reports for three main reasons:

  1. Before I started blogging, I didn’t know much about side hustles or earning online. Seeing others publish income reports inspired me to try different income streams. I share my reports to show how side hustling can change a person’s financial life and to motivate readers to improve their own situations.
  2. Monthly income reports serve as a record and a learning tool. They help me reflect on what’s working, identify mistakes, and track progress—much like a business journal.
  3. I want to demonstrate that making legitimate side income from home is possible. There are many ways to earn online, and I aim to highlight those options so readers can find approaches that fit their lives.

Life is much better now that I’m my own boss and a full-time blogger. I genuinely enjoy waking up each morning and working on a business that suits my interests and lifestyle. Publishing these reports helps me show readers that you don’t have to be stuck in an unhappy job—you can create opportunities that let you enjoy life outside of work.

How was business income in January 2017?

I earned $139,233.11 blogging and online in January, before expenses.

This is the highest monthly income I’ve recorded so far. Several factors contributed to this strong month:

  • January is typically a high-traffic month for personal finance content as many people start the year focused on money management. I received around 790,000 page views in January, the best month ever for the site.
  • A feature in Forbes drove over 50,000 new visitors, resulting in many new email subscribers and increased exposure.
  • I’ve been diversifying income streams. In 2016 I launched my first paid product, the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course, which broadened my income mix to include affiliate marketing, a course product, sponsorships, and advertising.
  • I’m focusing on email marketing. After switching to ConvertKit in April 2016, managing newsletters became much easier and more effective, and my list has grown to about 40,000 subscribers.
  • I’ve been actively growing my Facebook presence. I went from roughly 6,500 followers at the start of 2016 to 46,000 by the end of January, helped in part by an ebook about Facebook strategies.

I’m excited about 2017. The business is healthy, income is growing, and I have many ideas for the year ahead. My course, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, continues to perform well and has delivered strong results for students, including measurable jumps in affiliate revenue for several bloggers.

If you’re a blogger, my affiliate marketing course explains the exact strategies I use. If you’re starting a blog, I also have a tutorial that walks you through setting up a self-hosted WordPress blog affordably—being self-hosted is important for monetization.

Here is my blogging income chart that displays my income for the past 2 years.
This chart only goes back to May of 2015. You can find all of my income reports on the income page.

Breakout of January 2017 income – $139,233.11:

In January 2017, total blog revenue was $139,233.11. Here’s how that amount breaks down by income source:

  • Affiliate income – $69,878.11 total, including top contributors such as:
    • Bluehost – $47,060.00
    • Survey companies – $14,098.50
    • MOTIF Investing – $1,472.00
    • SEO training course affiliate – $1,207.80
    • Amazon FBA-related content – $1,161.50
    • Ebates (estimated) – $1,000.00
    • Bookkeeper Business Academy – $740.75
    • Facebook strategies ebook – $444.00
    • Izea/SponsoredTweets – $320.00
    • Proofreading guide – $302.56
    • Personal Capital – $300.00
    • Uber – $240.00
    • $5 Meal Plan – $224.70
    • Digit – $195.00
    • Ibotta – $180.00
    • ConvertKit – $147.90
    • 30 Days Or Less To Freelance Writing Success – $124.80
    • Amazon – $121.60
    • Blog traffic strategies ebook – $70.00
    • Miscellaneous affiliates – $467.00
  • Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course – $49,078.00
  • Sponsorships and advertising – $17,000.00
  • Display advertising – $3,277.00

Total: $139,233.11

The amounts above reflect gross income for January before fees and operating expenses. Estimated fees and costs that reduce this figure total around $4,500 (virtual assistants, course platform fees, technical assistance, newsletter expenses, PayPal/Stripe fees, etc.), and affiliate payouts promoting the course totaled $3,563.60. After expenses and affiliate payouts, the approximate net income was $131,169. Taxes are not included and, as a business owner, I cover taxes (over 30%), health insurance, and other benefits on my own.

For a comprehensive overview of ways to monetize a blog, see The Ultimate Guide To Making Money Blogging.

Below are selected previous monthly reports; the full archive is available on the income page:

  • $672 extra in May (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)
  • $23,758 in February Income – My Monthly Online Income Report (2015)
  • How I Made $300,000 Online In 2015
  • How I Made $979,321 In 2016

Comparisons and 2017 online income total:

  • Total income in January 2017: $139,233
  • Total income in December 2016: $91,765
  • Difference from the previous month: +47,468
  • Total in 2017: $139,233

Blog news

Making Sense of Cents is doing well and I’m pleased with the progress. In January I started a small redesign to update the color palette and logo for a more minimalist look.

The Forbes feature was a significant boost in traffic and awareness, and I’m pursuing guest posting more consistently to reach new readers—my goal is to guest post at least once a month over the coming year.

Traffic rose substantially in January with around 790,000 page views. While February typically sees a dip, my objective for 2017 is to reach 1,000,000 monthly page views, so I’ll continue working on growth strategies.

Business updates:

  • I launched a free How To Start A Blog email course that has attracted over 12,000 signups.
  • Based on that success, I also created the Master Your Money email course with financial lessons and free worksheets.
  • I plan to launch a third free email course and a personal finance support group on Facebook in the coming months.

For readers asking how I stay connected while traveling in an RV, I use a Verizon MiFi device that provides reliable mobile internet when public Wi-Fi isn’t available or secure.

Popular new posts on Making Sense of Cents last month:

  • Blogging Changed My Life – Could It Change Yours?
  • The Busy Person’s Guide On How To Be Healthy
  • 59 Things To Do Instead of Watching TV So That You Can Take Your Life Back
  • How I Paid Off $40,000 In Student Loans in 7 Months
  • 65 Ways To Make Extra Money in 2017
  • The Less You Own, The Less That Owns You
  • 45+ Ways To Live An Amazing Life Starting In 2017

Featured Question: What are easy affiliate programs for new bloggers?

Each month I answer a reader question. A common concern for new bloggers is whether they need significant traffic or a large archive of posts before joining affiliate programs. The answer is no—many affiliate programs accept new blogs or don’t require a blog at all. Beginner-friendly options include:

  • Amazon Associates – a go-to for new bloggers because Amazon sells such a wide range of products that most niches can find relevant items to promote.
  • Awin – a large affiliate network with thousands of programs to choose from.
  • Ebates – anyone with an Ebates account can promote the service; it fits many niches and doesn’t require a blog.
  • Digit – a savings app suitable for finance, parenting, and travel niches; you can promote Digit without a blog if you have an account.
  • MaxBounty – an affiliate network that pairs publishers with affiliate managers who can help new bloggers find offers.
  • ShareASale – another large network with many programs that often accept newer blogs.
  • Courses and ebooks – if you used specific courses or ebooks to learn, you may be eligible to promote them as an affiliate right away.

These entry points let new bloggers test affiliate marketing and begin earning while learning how to effectively promote products.

Past featured questions cover topics like increasing affiliate income, whether you need huge page views to earn money blogging, how to build websites to sell, and many practical blogging strategies.

My plans for my blog and business

Working toward clear goals helps me stay motivated and run a successful business. Current priorities include:

  • Earn $1,000,000 from the business in 2017. This goal focuses on growing revenue while improving work-life balance and building more passive income.
  • Improve work-life balance. I want to step away from constant connectivity at times and enjoy life without frequently checking work devices.
  • Get at least three months ahead on blog posts. Being ahead in content allows freedom to travel and handle periods of limited internet access.
  • Grow the site to 1,000,000 monthly page views. Reaching more readers is a key growth objective.
  • Do more live interviews, podcasts, and webinars. I aim to increase live appearances despite the challenges of a mobile lifestyle.
  • Create another product to sell in 2017. Diversifying products helps stabilize income.
  • Promote the blog and business more effectively. I’ve made progress improving Facebook traffic and other promotional channels.
  • Keep learning and improving. I’m working through courses on Instagram tactics and SEO to sharpen skills.

Affiliate income results

In January 2017, affiliate income totaled $69,878.11. I value affiliate marketing for its passive potential and its ability to support a travel-friendly lifestyle. Affiliate income doesn’t require massive page views—new bloggers can succeed by promoting relevant products in an authentic way.

Since launching the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course in July 2016, over 1,400 students have enrolled. The course includes six modules, more than 30 lessons, worksheets, bonuses, and a private Facebook group, covering topics such as choosing products, boosting conversions, building reader trust, required disclosures, and promotion strategies.

How was January for you? Are you interested in earning blogging income?