Hey there! Welcome to February’s business update where I share how I made money online and traveled full-time last month. If you’re new here, you might wonder why I share my business reports monthly. It all started as a way to track my extra income from side jobs. Back then, I only included earnings from side gigs, excluding my day job as a financial analyst. I left that job in October 2013, and now these reports cover all the ways I make a living through my business.
People often ask why I share my monthly progress publicly. Some think it’s crazy, while others appreciate the transparency. I enjoy sharing for three main reasons:
1. **Inspiration:** Before blogging, I knew nothing about side hustles or online income. Reading others’ income reports motivated me to start side hustling. I hope to inspire others to see the benefits of side hustles and how they can change lives.
2. **Self-Reflection:** These reports help me look back, learn from mistakes, and identify areas for improvement. They keep me accountable and track my progress.
3. **Proof of Possibility:** I want to show that making side money is possible and that there are many legitimate ways to earn from home.
Life as my own boss and full-time blogger is fantastic. I look forward to each day and love waking up every morning. Sharing my journey helps others see that you don’t have to hate your job or life. You can make changes and earn money in ways that allow you to enjoy life.
Last month, I announced a shift from detailed income reports to more general business updates. Many of you wanted me to continue sharing, so I’m now focusing on business performance and goals without specific numbers. If you’re looking for past income figures, you can find them on my income page.
In February 2019, I used a pie chart to show where my income came from, as many requested. My main income sources include:
– **Affiliate Marketing:** The biggest chunk of my income.
– **Sponsored Partnerships**
– **Courses:** Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing and Making Sense of Sponsored Posts
– **Display Advertising:** I use Adthrive.
Despite not sharing exact numbers anymore, my traffic and email subscriber growth have remained steady. February was a great month for my blog and business. I earned a good income and enjoyed my time. My business is growing, and I have many exciting ideas for the year.
In terms of blog and life news, February was fun. We sailed from Bimini to Grand Bahama to the Berry Islands. I took a lot of time off to explore, but by the end of the month, I needed to get back to full-time blogging.
Many have asked how I manage to work while in the Bahamas. Surprisingly, the internet here is better than what we had in the U.S. We use a service called MyIslandWifi, which offers unlimited internet for $75 a month, perfect for our needs.
Here are some other updates:
– I’m a little over a month ahead in blog posts and aim to be 2-3 months ahead.
– Traffic was around 500,000 page views.
– I’m working on a series to help readers with financial questions and tutorials.
– My community group on Facebook has over 14,000 members.
– I released a free course on starting a blog, which has been well-received.
– I also created a free Master Your Money email course with great responses.
Popular new posts last month included topics on making money from blogging, living your best life, and balancing school and work.
A frequently asked question is, “If blogging is so great, why doesn’t everyone do it?” Blogging isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. It requires hard work, and not everyone wants to do the same thing. Businesses can fail, and not everyone finds blogging enjoyable. It took me six months to make my first $100, and now I earn over $100,000 a month. Blogging is challenging, but it’s also rewarding and constantly evolving.
My plans for 2019 include getting ahead on blog posts, working less than 30 hours a week, being more present, and having fun. I’m also focusing on improving affiliate marketing, learning about SEO, using Facebook ads, creating high-quality funnels, and planning affiliate offers for the year.
Affiliate marketing is a significant part of my income. I’m grateful for it, especially when I’m busy with travel. I have a course, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, which covers everything you need to know about affiliate marketing.
Sponsored partnerships were also great in February. The first quarter is popular for financial blogs, and I started new partnerships with financial companies. I now charge around $5,000 per sponsored post. If you’re interested in earning blogging income, check out my free guides and courses.
I hope you found this update helpful. If you have any questions or topics you’d like me to cover, please let me know in the comments below!