Welcome to the June online income report. Each month I publish a transparent summary of how I earned money online. This post reviews last month’s performance, lessons learned, and what I’m planning next.
If you’re new here, you might wonder why I publish these monthly income reports. If you already follow along, feel free to skip ahead.
This began as an extra income report because I originally tracked side-job earnings only. At the time, I excluded wages from my day job, which were fixed. In October 2013 I left my role as a financial analyst, and since then these monthly reports reflect the multiple income sources I rely on to make a living.
Many readers ask why I publish my income publicly. Some think it’s unusual, while others appreciate the transparency. I share these reports for three main reasons:
- When I first learned about side hustles and online income, I had no idea how transformative they could be. Other bloggers’ monthly reports inspired me to try side work. I publish mine to show readers the potential benefits of side hustling and to motivate them to improve their financial situation.
- Monthly reports serve as a journal and a way to track progress. Reviewing earnings and decisions helps me learn from mistakes and identify areas that need improvement.
- I want to demonstrate that making legitimate income from home is possible. To help readers explore options, I’ve compiled recommendations and examples from other income-reporting bloggers. If you wonder whether blogging can generate income, the answer is yes—my experience shows it can work with dedication and strategy.
I truly enjoy being my own boss. Life feels better now: I look forward to each day, and I value the flexibility to spend time on the things that matter most.
Publishing these reports allows me to show that you don’t have to stay in a job that makes you unhappy. You can change your situation, pursue side income, and arrange work that supports the life you want—whether that’s more family time, hobbies, or travel. I’m not saying you must love every aspect of your work, but your job should allow you to enjoy life outside of it.
How was my online income in June?
June was another strong month and my second-highest earning month to date. Summer is often considered slow for many niches, but I’ve seen good results over recent summers, and I’m curious how fall will perform.
The month was busy. Several trips in May created a backlog that affected June and is flowing into July. My aim is to get back on track by eliminating distractions and dedicating focused time to work.
Overall, the business is healthy and improving in both income and work-life balance. I’m optimistic about future plans and opportunities.
In June I earned $26,171 in gross business income before expenses.
After fees and expenses (roughly $2,700 for virtual assistants, staff writers, technical support, newsletter costs, PayPal fees, etc., not including taxes), my net was approximately $23,471.
Below you’ll find links to other monthly reports I’ve published over the years. For a complete archive, visit the extra income page on my site where all reports are available.
- $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 – monthly online income report (2015)
- $20,635 in May – my monthly online income report (2015)
Blog news
Making Sense of Cents continues to do well and I still enjoy blogging. Page views increased to about 210,000 in June, and I expect roughly 250,000 in July.
I need to update many older posts—improving formatting, swapping in Pinterest-friendly images, and optimizing content. So far I’ve updated about 15% of posts and plan to spend a few focused hours each week tackling the rest, as this work is likely holding me back.
Top new posts last month:
- Why I’m Happy I Made The Decision To Leave My High Paying And Secure Job For Blogging
- Living Life To The Fullest Is Something Everyone Should Start Doing
- Reaching Financial Independence IS Possible And Here’s How You Can Do It
- Do You Have An Emergency List For Your Family?
Should I add a staff writer or two?
I’ve considered hiring one or two staff writers. The site is currently driven by my voice, and I’m cautious about changing that. However, adding new voices could help the blog grow. I’m weighing the benefits of expansion against preserving the site’s tone. What do you think?
Featured question: How do you build websites up to sell them?
For this income report and future ones I will include a featured reader question. Leave a comment if you’d like a question answered in a future report.
Many readers ask whether it’s possible to make money by building and selling websites. Over recent months I sold three sites for a total of $30,000, so yes—blogs can be grown and sold. I sold all three to the same buyer, a freelance client, so I didn’t need to market them broadly.
I built one site from scratch and acquired and improved two others. Each took about one to two years of work. The key actions I used on those sites are similar to what I apply here: consistent content, design improvements, and audience growth. It’s challenging but achievable and often worth the effort.
Ways to build a website for sale:
- Improve layout and design so the site is user-friendly and looks professional.
- Publish high-quality, search-friendly content that keeps visitors coming back.
- Increase engagement and social media presence to show active audience interaction.
- Grow the site’s income. Buyers value sites with predictable, increasing revenue, even if current earnings are modest—growth trajectory matters.
My plans for the website and online income
- Create a product to sell – I’m preparing to write an ebook, though I’ll likely focus on it in the fall due to a busy summer schedule.
- Promote more – Pinterest drove about 65,000 clicks in June and is rising again; I expect roughly 75,000 clicks in July.
- Accept more interviews – I did a few in June and want to take on more as time allows.
- Stop being shy – Growing my business means pushing beyond my comfort zone; this is a personal goal for the year.
Staff writing, blog, and social media management
I worked on two staff writing gigs in June and signed a third. June was my highest staff-writing income month in a while. July may be similar or slightly lower depending on when the new gig starts.
I continue offering blog and social media management to existing clients but am not taking on new clients due to time constraints. I want to focus on growing the sites I manage and expanding my blog coaching services so I can concentrate income around my core business.
Affiliate income
Affiliate income continues to be a valuable, somewhat passive revenue stream. In June I earned roughly $10,000 from affiliates. Affiliate earnings are often seasonal, and my managers expect increases later in the summer and early fall.
Affiliate payouts typically take 60–90 days, so the revenue shown in income reports may reflect earnings delayed by a couple months. Bluehost remains my main affiliate source through my blog tutorial, but I’m diversifying other affiliate partnerships to reduce reliance on a single program. Last month about $3,000 came from non-Bluehost affiliates.
Breakdown of payments received in June ($26,171 before expenses)
- Staff writing – $1,825
- Managing websites and social media for clients – $1,952
- Blog coaching and consulting – $1,115
- Website-related (from the three websites I own — advertising and partnerships) – $10,317
- Affiliate income – $10,962
- Selling items from home – $0
- Miscellaneous – $0
Please remember that as a self-employed business owner I cover taxes (often over 30%), health insurance, and benefits that a typical employer might provide.
Comparisons and 2015 year-to-date online income (before taxes)
- Total business income for June: $26,171
- Income in May: $22,735
- Difference: + $3,436
- Total in 2015: $137,385
How did you do in June? Can you make money blogging? Yes—many people build profitable blogs, but it requires consistent effort, strategy, and persistence.
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own and links are provided to help you on your blogging journey.