Welcome to October’s online income report. In this post I explain how I earned money online last month and share the details of my results and strategies.
If you’re new to Making Sense of Cents, you might wonder why I publish a monthly income report. If you’ve been following along, skip ahead—if not, here’s a brief explanation.
This began as an “extra income report,” detailing the money I made from side jobs while still working a full-time role. Initially I included every source of extra income except my salary. In October 2013 I left my job as a financial analyst, and since then my monthly reports reflect the various ways I earn a living online full-time.
Many readers ask why I publicly post my income every month. Some people find it surprising, while others appreciate the transparency. I publish these reports for three main reasons:
- When I first learned about side hustles and blogging, it was because other people shared their income reports. Those examples motivated me to try side hustling. I publish my reports to show others the positives of side hustling and to demonstrate how online income can change a person’s financial life.
- Monthly income reports act as a personal record. They help me look back, learn from past decisions, and identify areas that need improvement. I treat these updates like a business journal.
- I want to show that earning side income from home is realistic and legitimate. There are many ways to make money online, and sharing real numbers helps others see what’s possible.
Life has been great since I became my own boss and transitioned to full-time blogging. I enjoy waking up each day, and being self-employed has given me more freedom and a better work-life balance. You don’t have to hate your job or your life; it is possible to make changes that let you enjoy both work and personal time.
How was my business income in October?
I earned $99,607.18 blogging and online in October, before expenses.
October was an excellent month across the board—blogging, courses, and personal life. Because I’m ahead on my posting schedule, I had time to focus on priorities like learning more about SEO.
October 2016 also marked three years since I left my day job. In that time my life has changed significantly:
- My income reached roughly six figures per month.
- We now travel full-time in an RV with our dogs; being location-independent has been transformative.
- I enjoy a much better work-life balance.
Self-employment isn’t for everyone, but it’s been the right choice for me. If you’re interested in becoming your own boss, start exploring possibilities and take steps toward that goal.
My course, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, continues to do well. I receive many impressive student stories, such as bloggers who significantly increased their affiliate income after taking the course or who earned their first affiliate sale within days.
If you’re a blogger focusing on monetization, my affiliate marketing course outlines the strategies and steps I used to build sustainable affiliate revenue. It’s helped many bloggers improve their results.
My business continues to grow, and I have many plans and ideas for the rest of 2016 and 2017. I’m thrilled with the direction of my business and grateful for the progress so far.
Breakdown of October 2016 income – $99,607.18:
- Affiliate income – $54,432.18 total:
- Bluehost – $35,040.00
- Survey companies – $10,565.25
- Amazon FBA-related content – $2,168.03
- Ultimate Bundles – $1,110.10
- MOTIF Investing – $1,104.00
- Credible and SOFI payout – $1,050.00
- Ebates (tiered) – $1,000.00 (estimate)
- Bookkeeper Business Academy – $573.50
- Uber referrals – $340.00
- $5 Meal Plan – $258.60
- Izea/SponsoredTweets – $200.80
- ConvertKit – $162.90
- Facebook growth guide – $155.20
- Proofreading course/referrals – $126.08
- Blog traffic strategies product – $88.00
- Digit – $65.00
- Pinterest strategy guide – $55.20
- Amazon affiliate – $50.52
- Miscellaneous affiliates – $319.00
- Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course – $30,987.00
- Sponsorships and advertising – $12,275.00
- Display advertising – $1,913.00
Total: $99,607.18
The amounts above are gross for October and are before fees and expenses. Estimated fees and expenses that reduce gross income total around $3,500 (virtual assistants, course platform fees, technical help, newsletter tools, PayPal and Stripe fees, etc.), not including taxes. Affiliates promoting my course accounted for $8,749.40 in payouts. After expenses and affiliate payouts, my rough net for the month was approximately $87,358.
Please keep in mind I am self-employed, so I cover taxes (more than 30%), health insurance, and other benefits and costs that an employer might otherwise provide.
Comparisons and 2016 online income total:
- Total income in October 2016: $99,607
- Total income in September 2016: $102,911
- Difference from the previous month: -$3,304
- Total in 2016: $781,172
Blog news
Making Sense of Cents continues to do well. I remain roughly two months ahead on posts and I’m actively participating in an SEO mastermind that’s been very useful. The mastermind includes two core courses plus weekly instructor-led sessions focused on growth and search strategies.
I plan to increase guest posting to expand the site’s reach. Traffic in October totaled around 400,000 page views. Pinterest traffic declined due to platform changes, but organic search and Facebook referrals both improved significantly.
This month’s experience reinforces that income doesn’t rely solely on page views. Diversifying traffic sources and growing the email list are priorities so income remains stable even when specific channels fluctuate.
- I’m testing Haute Chocolate for blog images with a three-month subscription and I’ve been pleased with the results.
- I launched a free “How To Start A Blog” email course that has had strong signups and positive feedback.
- Following that, I released a free “Master Your Money” email course with money-management lessons and worksheets.
- I plan to create a free personal finance support group on Facebook to foster open discussion and peer support.
- In April I switched to ConvertKit for email automation, which has made newsletter creation and automated courses much easier and more effective for affiliate promotion.
I often get questions about staying connected while traveling in an RV. I use a Verizon MiFi device that provides reliable mobile internet for work when free Wi-Fi is unavailable or unreliable.
Popular new posts last month:
- You’re Not That New Pair Of Shoes – 9 Ways Buying Things Won’t Make You Happy
- Do You Know These 8 Important Things About Your Money?
- 7 Ridiculous Phone and Online Scams People Are Falling For
- How I Started a Pinterest Consulting Side Hustle
- 12 Easy Ways To Earn Free Amazon Gift Cards
- 16 Smart Ways To Save Money On Groceries
- The Ultimate Guide To Starting A Side Business
- 16 Ways To Treat Yourself Without Going Broke
Featured Question: Why does a blogger need an email list?
Each month I answer a reader question in my income report. This month’s featured question addresses the value of maintaining an email list.
My biggest blogging mistake was waiting years to start an email list and even longer to take it seriously. I didn’t begin building an email list until roughly one-and-a-half to two years after starting the blog, and I only started using it effectively after switching to ConvertKit.
That delay cost me opportunities. I now strongly recommend every blogger prioritize their email list early. Here’s why:
- Your newsletter is yours. Unlike social platforms, your email list belongs to you and gives you direct access to your audience without relying on changing algorithms.
- The money is in your list. Email is one of the best channels to promote affiliate products because subscribers have opted in to hear from you and are more likely to take action.
- Your email subscribers are loyal followers. People who allow you into their inbox tend to trust your recommendations and return to your content.
- Email delivers other content effectively. Tools like ConvertKit let you create automated email courses, drip content, and targeted sequences that engage readers and nurture them over time.
Do you have an email list? If not, consider starting one now—it’s one of the most valuable assets for a blogging business.
My plans for the website and business
Clear goals help guide growth. Current priorities include:
- Promote better. I’ve improved my promotion strategy and seen a large increase in Facebook referral traffic—from around 100 visits a day to 2,000–3,000 on some days.
- Diversify traffic sources. I’m working to reduce reliance on Pinterest by investing time in Facebook and SEO.
- Continue learning. I’m deep into SEO training and reading to strengthen long-term organic traffic.
- Accept more interviews. I completed over 20 interviews in October related to my course launch and participated in my first podcast.
- Double business income. My ambitious goal is to double 2015’s income; 2016 is already outperforming that target.
- Increase page views to 1,000,000 per month. This measurable goal is targeted for Summer 2017 through stronger Pinterest, Facebook, and SEO strategies.
Affiliate income
Affiliate income totaled $54,432.18 in October 2016. I value affiliate revenue for its ability to generate passive, scalable income—especially helpful while traveling full-time.
Affiliate earnings dipped slightly but remained strong even during one of the lower traffic months. This underscores that blog income doesn’t depend solely on page views: the right promotion and audience trust can generate sales even with modest traffic.
My affiliate course, launched in July 2016, has helped many bloggers improve their results. The course covers practical steps and real tactics, including how to choose products, increase conversions, build trust, and disclose affiliate relationships. It’s designed for bloggers at all stages and in any niche.
How was October for you? Are you interested in earning blogging income?