June Earnings $12,787: Site Redesign, Growth Strategy & Motivation

At the start of every month I publish a business income report.

What began as an “extra income” update changed when I left my day job in October 2013. Before then, my reports excluded earnings from my job; they documented only side income. Since leaving that position, these reports reflect my primary source of income: my freelancing business.

I share these monthly reports for several reasons. First, reading other bloggers’ income reports (from sites like Smart Passive Income and Budgeting in the Fun Stuff) inspired me to pursue side hustles. Seeing real people make real money online motivated me more than anything else and helped me believe it was possible.

Second, publishing these reports helps me learn from past months, track progress, and set goals. Writing the report forces me to review what worked, what didn’t, and what needs improvement. It’s a helpful accountability tool as I build my business.

I still can’t believe how much life has changed since I pursued self-employment full time. I started blogging as an outlet, never expecting it to become a career. If someone had told me a few years ago that this would happen, I would have laughed — and yet here I am, grateful every day to do work I enjoy.

How was June?

June was a very good month. Although my income increased by only $40 compared to May, I count that as a win. I also got married, and finishing wedding planning freed up a lot of time. With fewer distractions and many new ideas, I’ve been working intensely and expect July to be a strong month based on the first week.

For June 2014, my business income before expenses was $13,787. After typical fees and expenses (around $1,000 for virtual assistants, technical support, PayPal fees, etc.), my net came to approximately $12,747. Note: I only report amounts I personally earn from services; I don’t list total revenue that a client’s site generates when I’m managing it.

This figure is for June and is shown before fees and expenses. After fees and expenses I earned approximately $12,747.

To read my posts about extra income, visit the extra income category on my blog. Below are past monthly updates and historical extra income figures going back to 2012, showing how the business has grown over time.

• • $672 extra in May (2012)
  • $994 extra in June (2012)
  • $1,425 extra in July (2012)
  • $1,603 extra in August (2012)
  • $3,275 extra in September (2012)
  • $3,700 extra in October (2012)
  • $5,114 extra in November (2012)
  • $5,770 extra in December (2012)
  • $6,523 in January extra income (2013)
  • $5,983 in February extra income (2013)
  • $7,862 in March extra income (2013)
  • $7,859 in April extra income (2013)
  • $7,641 in May extra income (2013)
  • $10,192 in June extra income (2013)
  • $11,117 in July extra income (2013)
  • $9,554 in August extra income (2013)
  • $12,334 in September side income (2013)
  • $11,927 in October business income – I finally left my job (2013)
  • $13,387 in November business income (2013)
  • $12,160 in December business income (2013)
  • $12,640 in January business income (2014)
  • $13,454 in February business income (2014)
  • $12,100 in March business income (2014)
  • $13,493 in April business income (2014)
  • $12,747 in May business income (2014)

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

It’s important to remember that running a freelancing business is still hard work. I spend many hours each day, and I’ve learned to streamline tasks and outsource work that others can do better. Finding your strengths and delegating other tasks is key.

This income is not passive. I hope to earn more passive income in the future, but for now I put in full-time effort. There was a period of about a year where I invested full-time hours into side projects without seeing income — that persistence paid off, but it required sacrifices and late nights.

Also keep in mind taxes and benefits: roughly 30% of my extra income goes to taxes, and I must cover retirement, health insurance, and vacation time personally. That’s an important reality for anyone considering self-employment.

If you have questions you’d like me to address in future monthly income reports, let me know.

Blog news — I had a site redesign

The biggest recent update is a full site redesign. My designer, Chelsea at Olive & Ivy Design, created a clean, simple look that fits my style and needs. She was patient and nailed the brief even when my ideas were scattered.

I’m also maintaining my financial independence blog, Diversified Finances, and plan to redesign it soon. I started a travel blog last year too; I’ll share it once it has a finalized design. Travel writing is a creative outlet I enjoy alongside personal finance.

If you’re starting a blog, check out detailed guides on how to start and how to monetize a blog — they provide step-by-step instructions and practical tips.

Working on the road

In June we took a two-week road trip to Colorado. Working while traveling was manageable because I scheduled and completed much of my work ahead of time. Planning and prioritizing allowed me to enjoy the trip without falling behind.

How do you manage work while traveling?

Plans for the website and business

1. Start an eBook — I’ve drafted an outline but need to allocate more time to finish it.
2. Build the brand — progress is steady but ongoing.
3. Promote more — I’m improving promotion but want to push harder in hopes something goes viral.
4. Accept more interviews — I completed three interviews in June and already have another scheduled for July.

Staff writing

June was an average month for staff writing. Over the coming months I’ll apply for more staff writer roles to increase exposure. I’ve been adding travel blogs to my portfolio, which gives variety to my writing beyond personal finance.

How to find staff writing or virtual assistant jobs

This question comes up every month. There are two main approaches: let clients find you or proactively look for work yourself. Waiting for clients can be slow; if you need income sooner, actively search job boards, pitch publishers, and reach out to potential clients.

If you want clients to find you, make sure your site has a clear Contact/Hire Me page so website owners can discover and hire you. Post in relevant forums and communities and ask people to share your services.

For those who prefer to find clients: search job boards, reach out to sites you admire, and follow guides on finding writing work. I also offer writing and staff-writing services for anyone needing regular content, quick turnaround, or one-off articles.

Read resources about becoming a freelance writer and what virtual assistants do if you’re exploring those paths.

Buying websites

I’ve bought two websites and built four, so I own six sites in total. I also manage several other sites. I’m considering acquiring more to grow them and potentially monetize them in the future. Do you plan to buy websites? Why or why not?

Blog and social media management services

In June I managed multiple client sites and social accounts. Some clients hire me for full management — handling emails, updating content, and optimizing monetization — while others hire me for specific tasks like email replies or social media. Blog management is a service I enjoy and plan to expand.

If you want a break from your blog, I can manage day-to-day tasks so you can take time off without worry. Pricing is individualized since each site’s needs differ; contact me if you’d like help.

Typical services offered for blog and social media management

• Manage and approve comments, remove spam, and respond to reader questions when requested.
• Monitor uptime and check the site multiple times daily to ensure it stays live.
• Manage emails and reply when necessary for clients who want a full break.
• Ensure scheduled posts publish correctly and troubleshoot when they don’t.
• Write or ghost-write articles while the owner is away.
• Manage social media, engage with followers, and find new audience members.

If you’re interested in becoming a virtual assistant or learning more about the role, look into guides that explain virtual assistant responsibilities and how to start.

Affiliate income — progress is slow but steady

One of my 2014 goals is to increase affiliate income because it has the potential to act like passive income: create reviews and evergreen posts, maintain them occasionally, and let them continue earning. I began focusing on affiliate content in June but found reviews require deeper research and careful presentation to be useful rather than read like promotions.

What types of product or service reviews would you find most useful?