Welcome to the March online income report, where I transparently share how I earn money online. Below I provide an update on this month’s performance, my lessons, and what I plan to focus on next.
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Background: Why I publish monthly online income reports
If you’re new here, you might wonder why I publish income reports every month. This began as a side income report, documenting earnings from side hustles while I still had a day job. After leaving my job as a financial analyst late in 2013, these reports evolved to reflect the multiple income streams I build and manage full time.
I publish these reports for three main reasons:
- To inspire others. Before I discovered blogging and side hustles, I didn’t realize how much potential there is outside traditional raises and promotions. Seeing other people publish income reports encouraged me to try side hustling. I share my numbers to help others see the possibilities and motivate them to improve their financial situation.
- To learn and improve. Monthly transparency lets me review progress, learn from mistakes, and identify opportunities for growth. It’s also interesting to look back and remember how far I’ve come.
- To show that making extra money is possible. There are many legitimate ways to earn from home. I point readers to other bloggers who publish income reports and provide practical examples of diverse income strategies.
Being my own boss has been transformative. I enjoy my days, have better work-life balance, and have more time for what matters outside of work. If you have questions about making money online, you can always email me—I reply whenever I can. For more topics and past reports, check my archive of income updates.
How was my online income in March?
March was a solid month. I’ve been outsourcing more of the routine tasks, which has not slowed growth—if anything, it’s allowed me to focus on higher-impact activities for the business.
I continue to shift toward passive income, particularly affiliate income, which gives me time to work on strategic projects. I’m also in the process of selling two websites; once those sales are complete I plan to hold onto the remaining sites long term.
In March I earned $17,051 in business income before expenses.
Note: Some fees and expenses reduced that total by roughly $1,900 (virtual assistants, staff writers, technical assistance, giveaways, PayPal fees, etc.), resulting in an approximate net of $15,151 before taxes. I could operate the site for as little as $25 per month, but I choose to outsource more to free up time while traveling.
I also want to highlight that affiliate income has been growing rapidly. In March I earned around $10,000 from affiliates—my best month yet for that category. Most affiliate payments arrive later, so those amounts may appear in future reports as they are paid.
Blog news and priorities
I’m in the middle of selling two websites, and selling the first one already freed up meaningful time. In March I wasn’t as proactive as I’d like with outreach and publicity—I published posts and did some networking, but I didn’t pursue interviews or media placements as much as planned. That will change next month.
I also plan to refresh many older posts: improve formatting, update and replace images with Pinterest-friendly graphics, and ensure everything is easy to read. I’ve completed about 15% of that work, so there’s more to do.
Traffic on Making Sense of Cents
Some readers have asked for traffic numbers. Traffic doesn’t always correlate directly with income—site strategy and monetization choices matter more than raw pageviews. That said, traffic has grown significantly in recent months, largely thanks to Pinterest. In March, Pinterest drove a large share of visits, but my bounce rate from Pinterest traffic is relatively high, so I need to improve retention and on-site engagement.
If you are starting a blog, know that you can build an audience. Create useful content, promote it consistently, and focus on the promotion channels that work for your niche.
Monetization and services
Staff writing and blog management remain services I offer and enjoy. Some of my staff writing income is bundled into blog management contracts, so the line between categories can blur. Blog and social media management income dipped in March due to the commission-style structure on some client projects, but I expect this to even out in subsequent months.
Affiliate income highlights
Affiliate income was a standout in March at roughly $10,000. This increase demonstrates the power of evergreen affiliate content and focused optimization. I periodically update my recommendations page to improve conversions and visitor experience.
March income breakdown (Business and extra income: $17,051 before expenses)
- Staff writing – $750
- Managing websites and social media / blog coaching – $3,565
- Website-related (advertising and partnerships from sites I own) – $6,826
- Affiliate income (Bluehost, Republic Wireless, and others) – $5,910
- Website sale – $0
- Selling items from home – $0
- Miscellaneous (non-blogging) – $0
I generally avoid breaking every client relationship or contract down publicly to protect client privacy and maintain professional discretion. As my income mix shifts further toward affiliate and product revenue, I’ll be able to share more granular details without revealing client information.
Comparisons and 2015 totals (after most expenses, before taxes)
- Total net for March: $15,151
- Income in February: $23,758
- Difference: -$8,607
- Total for 2015 so far: $54,305
Plans and goals
- Create a product to sell: I’m considering ebooks or courses and exploring which idea to pursue next.
- Promote more: Pinterest has driven large gains; I’ll continue to optimize promotional channels and bring steady traffic back up after a slight dip.
- Accept more interviews and publicity opportunities to grow visibility and authority.
- Be less shy: I’ve set personal goals to push past comfort zones and expand the business.
Staff writing and blog management: In March I completed several staff writing assignments and continued providing blog and social media management for clients. These services remain a stable income source and help diversify revenue.
How did you do in March? What are your online income goals, and why are you pursuing extra income?
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