How I am changing my thinking…
When I first started a blog last June I thought it would be pretty easy to start making a few hundred dollars a month. I figured a few months of writing content and I would be getting enough visitors to make one or two hundred anyway.
Fast forward nine months and I have no income for my blog again, for the third month in a row. Thank goodness I have my virtual assistant business and that is making money! And I can see income that is coming to me, either once I hit a payout threshold or a 30 day waiting period.
But I am still encouraged. Maybe I am being naive or dumb but I still think I will be able to make money from this eventually. But I am trying to change my mindset a little bit on that though…
I think I am focusing too much on myself and what I want. I need to focus more on what I can do to help others. My goals have been totally about myself and that is not why I started this blog. So I am going to try to offer more to others this month.
What do you need? Are you trying to start a business? Do you have a question or need help with brainstorming? I’m here! Send me an email, comment on this post, message me on Facebook and I answer any question you have!
Why share my income?
I started this series with sharing my expenses in getting my blog set up. It was important to me to share how much it cost to get my business of the ground. Now, I continue to share the goals I set for myself each month and (the little bit of) income I am making.
Traffic stayed around the same as last month. I’m hoping to grow as I go through Elite Blog Academy and implement what I learned in Sticky Blogging SEO. Pinterest traffic has gone way down for me and I am not sure why…
March Goals
- Work on Elite Blog Academy 10 hours a week – I’m loving EBA! It is hard and thought provoking and fun and overwhelming all at the same time.
- Finish Sticky Blogging SEO – This course is amazing. It is the first time I feel like I understand SEO and how to create a plan for it.
- Write and submit two guest posts – I haven’t submitted any new posts but I was published on Her View From Home!
April Goals
- Continue working on EBA – Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…
- Offer to help other people more – Seriously, gonna starting thinking about ways I can help other moms who want to start a business.
- Prepare for the first two weeks of May – On May 3rd I will be entering the hospital to undergo Radioactive Iodine Treatment for my Thyroid Cancer. I will have to be completley away from my children for two entire weeks. I both look forward to and dread this time. To make it productive and worthwhile I want to have a detailed plan to make the most of my time.
Expenses
ConvertKit – $29.00 – I love ConvertKit! It makes content upgrades and freebies so easy to distribute!
BoardBooster – $30.00
Canva – $12.95
Teachable – $0.00 I have downgraded to the free version for now.
SmarterQueue – $19.95 – This is my new social media scheduler and I love it! Makes creating recurring post so easy!
Total – $ 91.90
Income
Maybe I need to just get rid of this section 😉
I remember what self-growth guru Zig Ziglar used to say, “you can get anything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want”. True! Also did you catch where Ruth says in EBA that blogging for income is a bad reason to start? Many of us start off this way, but it’s much harder on us because blogging is a long game. Stick with it! I’m finding that EBA is really tiring and stretching me too. (Did you see my recent video in the group about how it’s shaking up my confidence?)
Thanks for the encouragement Carrie! I will have to go check out your video, that group is so active I seem to miss a lot!
Emma – You will get there soon because I believe in you. One consideration is to adapt this report to be the money that was earned during the time period (even though it will come later). It will certainly be more motivating, but also, it ties to the activities you’ve been doing for the month.
Everyone’s traffic on Pinterest has been declining, so you’re not alone. I have seen this in every forum. Part of it is prob an algo change, but part is time of year (as I believe it picks up later in April). Over the last few ways, I’ve adapted how I’m doing some of my pins. I’ve now had 3 good days in a row. Not sure if it is a blip or if I’m onto something.
Thanks for believing in me Debbie 🙂 I am glad you have had some good days on Pinterest, can’t wait to hear how you have changed your pins!
I had thought about doing when the money was earned but it almost seemed like cheating? I don’t know, maybe I should change it up. I do keep track of the money both ways since I need a little encouragement at the end of the month….
I’m taking the Elite Blog Academy right now too. I haven’t gotten to the seo section yet but you’ve made me super excited to check it out. I think your change in focus is awesome. I have a feeling it will really increase your numbers.
Thanks Amy!
I’m a new blogger so I have no idea what I’m talking about, but I feel like bloggers should get better at sharing each others content.
Bloggers (and especially women) need to realize that they aren’t competitors, even if their blog is in the same niche. Because people don’t just follow one blog. They follow a couple blogs that complement one another.
At least that’s my theory 🙂 what do you think? And I would Love if you’d give s review of eba when you’re done. I’m thinking of taking it the next time
I totally agree Viktoria! I try to always think of other bloggers as friends and not competition.
I will definitely do a review of EBA when I am done…but it might not be for a while. So far it is really good, making me think a lot.
Now I feel like such a bitch! I hope that the two Weeks at the hospital flies by!
I really wanted to take EBA but just didn’t have the money. You’ll have to let me know how it is and maybe next year. As for income, I’m in the same boat. I was hoping to generate some money from my blog. We have to stick with it & we will get there!! Thanks for sharing and good luck with your treatment. Hope you are ok!
Thanks so much Sarah! So far EBA is worth it, start saving up for next year!
Emma
I love your blog so much! You are authentic and true to yourself. I like that you are switching focus and wanting to help others (although your blog is very helpful!).
I know your income will come! Do you have an email list? That’s where I get a lot of buyers for my course!
I’m sorry to hear you have to be away from your children for 2 weeks! I hope everything turns out positive!
Sending you best wishes for your cancer treatment and for making money in April. :p I’m in the trenches with you, and I must say, it’s just inspiring to know that someone else is working hard, hitting roadblocks, and trying to find a way around them.
Thank you Emily!
I’m also in EBA and although I have been blogging for many years, I am still learning so much! I found this article through Pinterest, by the way!
I love that you share your income reports so honestly. If making money with your blog is what you want to do, don’t give up! Are you doing any affiliate programs? I think they could tie in nicely with what you write about. Great to “meet” you! 🙂
Nice to meet you too Mandy! I am in some affiliate programs, still working on how to do that successfully. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
I’m so sorry that you have to be away from your children for two weeks – that’s really rough 🙁 Sending you positive thoughts and vibes <3
Thank you so much Ashli! I’m not looking forward to it but will be so glad to have it over with!